Andreas De Rosi Editor at PhotoLatest.com A seasoned expert with over a decade of experience in photography gear and software. Delivering in-depth insights to help creators stay at the forefront of their craft.

The Nikon Z6 III is a powerful all-rounder for shooting stills and video, but it’s not cheap. Pairing the Z6 III with excellent Nikon Z glass results in incredibly sharp images. While the Z6 III doesn’t offer the fine-grain detail of the Z7 II, Z8, or Z9, it provides plenty for most ordinary all-rounders. However, the lower pixel count means that shooting in DX (APS-C) crop mode yields only 10MP, which is less usable than with Nikon’s 45MP cameras.

Image Quality and Comparisons

The image quality is similar to that of the Nikon Zf, which also has a 24.5MP sensor, as well as the Z6 II. There was never an issue with the quality of the final image from the Z6 II, but it was more challenging to get the desired results when shooting fast-moving subjects. The new 4K video sample and 6K video sample both have excellent detail and very little rolling shutter effect, thanks to the new sensor. The internal mic is suitable for clips on the fly, coping relatively well with some background noise. Serious content creators will likely invest in external audio kit.

Testing Scorecard

Price: It’s a little on the pricey side compared to previous Z6 models, but it’s cheaper than the Z8.

Design: A slightly chunkier build, a stunning new EVF, and an articulating screen make the Z6 III a joy to use.

Features & Performance: This is an impressively big update from the Nikon Z6 II, making the III a powerful and speedy all-rounder.

Image and Video Quality: Fantastic image and video quality with a spec sheet that makes it easy to get the shots you want.

Should You Buy the Nikon Z6 III?

Buy it if…

  • You want a powerful all-rounder for stills and video.
  • You need excellent image and video quality.
  • You want a camera with a partially stacked sensor for faster performance.

Don’t buy it if…

  • You want a budget full-frame camera. Although the Z6 III is cheaper than the Z8 or Z9, it’s still more expensive than others like the Z7 II.
  • You prefer a tilting screen. An articulating screen is great for video and content creation, but some prefer a tilting screen for quick shots.

A Comprehensive Overview of the Nikon Z6 III

The Nikon Z6 III is a significant upgrade from the Z6 II, offering better autofocus, faster performance, and design tweaks such as a vari-angle screen. It also features a few surprising best-in-class features, especially for video. The full-frame sensor has the same 24.5MP resolution as the Z6 II, but it’s a partially stacked sensor with best-in-class readout speeds. This allows for faster burst speeds and a lower rolling shutter value without the high cost of a fully stacked sensor.

The camera can push up to 14 frames per second with continuous autofocus and the faster reading sensor allows the electronic shutter to sync with flashes at 1/60 of a second and give burst rates up to 20 frames per second, while still shooting RAW images. It can also shoot up to 60 frames per second in JPEG-only mode or 120 frames per second with a 1.5x crop factor.

The Z6 III uses the latest autofocusing algorithms, but the partially stacked sensor won’t give quite the same performance as seen in the Z8 and Z9. However, the performance is a definitive improvement over the older Z6 and Z7 bodies. The face and eye detection work effectively at long distances, and the autofocus can be customized depending on the situation. Many wildlife, journalism, and sports photographers will find the Z6 III to be an effective tool for capturing critical action shots.

The camera can autofocus in extremely low levels of light, rated to focus at -10EV with an f/1.2 lens. From testing at night, this is accurate. The Z6 III also supports a multi-shot high-resolution mode, stacking up to 32 images to create 96-megapixel images. This has a noticeable advantage in detail and dynamic range, although the shots must be taken on a tripod and compiled using the NX Studio desktop software.

Design and Build Quality

The Z6 III has a new EVF, which is Nikon’s best-ever, with a 5.76m-dot display, 60fps refresh rate, and 4000 nits of brightness DCI-P3 color gamut. It’s the brightest EVF around with the most dynamic range, even better than the Z8 and Z9. The video specification is super impressive, offering 4K & 6K raw in-camera up to 60fps, and 4K can be oversampled. There’s 10x slow motion up to 240fps in Full HD, plus Nikon’s N-raw codec, ProRes Raw HQ, ProRes 422HQ/H.265, H.264, and 12-bit raw & 10-bit log recording, with 120 minutes of record time despite no cooling fan.

The body is slightly larger than the Z6 II, largely due to a chunkier and more comfortable hand grip. The Z6 III is still quite a bit smaller than the Z8. There’s a new optional MB-N14 battery pack, which provides additional power and grip comfort. The build quality remains largely the same as the Z6 II, with the camera being 750g and weather-sealed to the same standard as the Z8, working down to -10°C. The camera has dual card slots: CFexpress B compatible with XQD, plus a SD UHS-II slot.

Conclusion

Overall, the Nikon Z6 III is an exquisite all-rounder that’s close to perfection. It’s a powerful tool for both stills and video, with a spec sheet that makes it easy to get the shots you want. While it’s not cheap, it’s a significant upgrade from the Z6 II and offers excellent performance for most photographers.

Source: Nikon Z6 III review – an exquisite all-rounder that’s close to perfection by TechRadar

What Others Say About Nikon Z6 III Review: Near-Perfect All-Rounder Mirrorless Camera

Performance and Features

The Nikon Z6 III is praised for its impressive performance and feature set.

“The combination of the Z6III’s unique new sensor design and EXPEED 7 image processing engine results in an approximately 3.5x increase to readout speed compared to the previous-generation Z6II. This unlocks enhanced performance across the board, enabling benefits such as 6K internal N-RAW and ProRes RAW video, Full HD video up to 240p, and rapid continuous shooting of stills up to 120 fps with Pre-Release Capture.”

BCG Forums

The new partially-stacked sensor and advanced image processing engine significantly enhance the camera’s capabilities, making it a versatile tool for both photographers and filmmakers.

Image Quality

The Nikon Z6 III is noted for its excellent image quality, particularly in low-light conditions.

“I’ve found it to produce very clean images in low light situations, with even very high ISO shots (such as ISO 64000) resulting in a high-detail, low noise JPEG. There’s more noise in the corresponding raw file, which gives you the option to tweak noise-reduction settings as you see fit.”

TechRadar

The camera’s ability to produce high-quality images with minimal noise, even at high ISOs, makes it suitable for a variety of shooting conditions.

Autofocus System

The Nikon Z6 III features an advanced autofocus system inherited from the Z8 and Z9 models.

“The Z6III features an impressively fast AF system inherited from the Z8 and Z9, which includes highly advanced multi-subject detection with the speed and accuracy needed for maximum confidence.”

BCG Forums

The camera’s autofocus system is praised for its speed and accuracy, making it suitable for a wide range of subjects and shooting scenarios.

Viewfinder and Handling

The Nikon Z6 III is noted for its excellent viewfinder and intuitive handling.

“The new viewfinder is cool. It’s the brightest on the market, but that’s probably more of a technical thing than anything. At the moment of writing this article, I’ve got a z8 in my office. I also regularly use a Canon EOS R5, Canon EOS R3, Leica SL2s, and Panasonic S5 II. To be honest with you, I can’t really tell the difference between the viewfinders all that much.”

The Phoblographer

The camera’s viewfinder and handling are praised for their technical specifications and real-world usability.

Video Capabilities

The Nikon Z6 III is highlighted for its impressive video capabilities.

“The 6K video is impressive, and the new articulating screen makes it easy to record to camera too.”

TechRadar

The camera’s video capabilities, including 6K internal N-RAW and ProRes RAW video, make it a strong contender for content creators.

Value for Money

The Nikon Z6 III is considered a good value for its price.

“The $2,500 Nikon Z6 III simply represents a major upgrade at a reasonable price and it’s hard not to respect a camera when it can do that. It is most certainly the spiritual successor to the D750, a camera that was capable enough for most situations and earned the respect of photographers whether they shot Nikon or not.”

PetaPixel

The camera’s combination of features and performance at a reasonable price makes it a compelling option for photographers and filmmakers.

Nikon Z6 III Tech Specs

SpecificationValue
Product NameNikon Z6 III
ManufacturerNikon
Sensor Resolution24.5MP
Video Resolution4K & 6K up to 60fps
EVF5.76m-dot display, 60fps, 4000 nits
Frame RateUp to 20 fps (RAW), 60 fps (JPEG-only), 120 fps (with 1.5x crop factor)
AutofocusAdvanced with face and eye detection, -10EV with f/1.2 lens
Multi-shot High Resolution Mode96MP images stacking up to 32 images
Weight750g
Weather-sealedYes, up to -10°C
Card SlotsDual: CFexpress B/XQD, SD UHS-II
PriceHigh compared to past Z6 models

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