It is a truism that wildlife photographers always want a faster camera. The wonders of mirrorless technology have made some terrific cameras available, but getting maximum performance has meant paying for it in size, weight, and price. Until now, it’s been equally true of Sony, Canon, and Nikon. But with the Z 6 III ($2,499.95), Nikon has done its best to bring all the power from its flagship Z 9 ($5,999.95) and smaller sibling, the Z 8 ($3,999.95), down to a relatively more affordable price tier. I tested one extensively with the company’s new Nikkor Z-series 28-400mm f4/8 zoom lens ($1,296.95) and found much to like with the Z 6 III, but not as much with the superzoom.
Credit: (c) David Cardinal
Nikon Z 6 III by the Numbers
The number that has attracted the most attention—and disappointed some fans—is the Z 6 III sensor’s resolution. It stays the same as previous generations at 24MP. Instead of moving to a higher resolution, Nikon used the updated technology in the camera to dramatically increase its speed and video capabilities. So, the camera’s target market has shifted more to videographers. As a simple example, the camera’s processing speed allows it to capture 6K full-frame video—essentially running the sensor at full resolution at high frame rates for long periods.
The same camera, except with the lens extended out to 400mm
Credit: (c) David Cardinal
In exchange for not using a higher resolution sensor, the Z 6 III is one of the fastest cameras I’ve ever used. It’s not a Z 9, but it’s less than half the price. It features 20fps Raw captures and has borrowed most of the high-speed autofocus system from the Z 8 and Z 9, featuring 299 focus points.
By the numbers, the camera has a 24MP partially-stacked sensor with 5-stop in-body sensor-shift stabilization. Using the electronic shutter, it can capture up to 20fps, and its mechanical shutter can still capture up to 14fps. Those numbers are music to the ears of action and wildlife photographers.
Nikon Z 6 III with the Z-series 28-400mm lens locked at 28mm
Credit: (c) David Cardinal
Two features I appreciate: First, one of the two card slots is a standard SD slot. The other is CFExpress, which is a great format but requires carrying yet another reader. Second, I’ve grown to love articulating rear displays—in part because I’m not as spry as I used to be. Shooting from ground level is much easier with an adjustable rear display. And partially because if you’re photographing some species of mammals, you want to have some height and not just be sprawled out on the ground.
One of my quibbles with mirrorless cameras has been that you’re essentially looking at the world through a tiny television when you use them rather than actually seeing the world through the lens on a DSLR. At this point, at least when using the Z 6 III, the benefits of mirrorless are worth the tradeoff. With the excellent electronic viewfinder on the Z 6 III, there is even less reason to return to a DSLR. The Z 6 III EVF features 100% coverage, nearly 6MP, 4,000 nits brightness on the back screen, and 120fps.
The full list of specs is too long to list here, but you can find them on Nikon’s site for the camera.
Even with the relatively-slow 28-400 zoom, the Z 6 III was able to track a running bear headed right past me.
Credit: (c) David Cardinal
Partially stacked Sensor: Pros and Cons
Stacked sensors allow for faster readouts—and, therefore, faster shooting. However, high-quality stacked sensors are expensive and require a lot of processing power. That’s part of the reason for the cost (and size) of flagship cameras. For the Z 6 III, Nikon took a middle ground between a traditional CMOS sensor and a stacked sensor, using a partially stacked sensor.
The result is technically a bit of a mixed bag. The Nikon Z 6 III is by far the fastest camera I’ve ever owned in autofocus speed and frames per second, and even in some amazing “party tricks” like the ability to record 120fps in JPEG format. And it costs less than half of what I spent on various flagship DSLRs over the years.
However, based on our analyses, it seems clear that Nikon did give up some sensor dynamic range performance in exchange for the nearly unbelievable speed of the camera. The sensor testing site PhotonstoPhotos found it losing up to 1-stop of Dynamic Range versus the Z 6 II. In fairness, if we’re talking about 11.5 stops versus 12.5 stops, this is a bit of an edge case. More importantly for wildlife photographers, the key is the subject, the “moment of action,” and of course a good background. So, when shooting wildlife, it doesn’t make a difference to me.
If you’re looking for the best dynamic range and resolution, the Z 6 family is already not the best fit for you. The Z7 offers more resolution and possibly better pure image sensor quality, although at a higher cost. It also sacrifices AF speed, frame rate, and other critical specs for sports and wildlife photography.
Pixel peepers definitely have some issues with the Z 6 III’s partially stacked sensor. So it’s a tradeoff. If you value action photography, it’s a dream. But if you want the best possible scenics, the Z7 or perhaps even a lower-cost Z 6 II are options.
Credit: (c) David Cardinal
This is Not Your Father’s Nikon: It Really Needs Some Customization
The Z 6 III is also unlike the Nikon you used 20 or even 10 years ago. Just as with the Z 8 and Z 9 (from which it borrows many features), you’ll be doing yourself a disservice if you don’t take the time to learn about and program the seemingly innumerable settings.
You may want to start by mapping some of your favorite functions onto one of the many programmable buttons available. Fortunately, there are quite a few, as the smaller form factor of the Z 6 III means fewer dedicated buttons than on its larger siblings.
For example, since there is no dedicated AF mode button, I programmed the AF-On button to do that for me. Similarly, since I’m often switching between single shot and bracketing, I programmed the burst mode button to perform the function of the BKT (Bracket) button.
I was very impressed by the Z 6 III for bird photography even in cloudy conditions. Not quite a Z 8 or Z 9, but pretty close.
Credit: (c) David Cardinal
Bird Photography with the Z 6 III and 28-400 Zoom
The Z 6 III’s upgraded autofocus system is ideal for bird photography. In addition to an overall increase in AF speed, the custom target mode allows it to track in a horizontal band, which is ideal for birds in flight. In testing, it had no problem locking on to Puffins flying against a sky or water background but didn’t perform as well as the Z 9 at tracking them in front of foliage.
Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, the 28-400 doesn’t hold up its end of the arrangement. Not because of an issue with focus, but it just isn’t as sharp at the long end as a lens with fewer compromises (e.g., typically one with a fixed focal length, or a more expensive zoom with a smaller focal range). I also missed having the additional reach of a 500mm or 600mm lens, as cropping images that aren’t tack sharp to begin with is never optimal.
The 28-400 also makes another important tradeoff that will be an issue for some photographers. The maximum aperture is a decent f/4 at the short end of its zoom but increases rapidly towards the f/8 maximum at the long end. Realistically, the combination of better image stabilization, lower-noise images at high ISOs, and dramatically improved autofocus systems means that having a faster lens isn’t as important as it used to be. But wider apertures offer more control over depth of field and provide an edge in low light conditions.
Is the Nikon Z 6 III the Right Camera for You?
If all you’re interested in is raw image quality, then I think an older Z 6 might be a much better value. Since I shoot a lot of wildlife and sports, I wanted the faster autofocus and frame rates of the Z 6 III. Similarly, the Z 6 III is a large upgrade if you shoot a lot of video.
Going the other way, if you have the budget and are willing to carry a larger camera, the fully stacked sensors on the Z 8 and Z 9 offer better image quality. They also offer even more features for those willing to learn how to use them.