The Nikon Z6 III is a major update compared to the Z6 II and features a 3.5x faster sensor readout, better autofocus, brighter viewfinder, vari-angle LCD, the latest built-in image stabilization and impressive video functions; the cameras have the same 24.5 MP resolution, the same familiar construction and operation. The Z6 III is more expensive, but you get a lot more bang for your buck.
For
- Partially stacked 24.5 MP sensor
- Clear viewfinder with 5.76 million pixels
- Excellent autofocus for action
- Excellent video features
In return for
- More expensive than Z6 II
- The resolution is only 24.5 MP
Launched in October 2020, the Nikon Z6 II is now a little dated, but it’s still an excellent all-rounder, producing sharp 24.5MP photos and excellent low-light image quality, as well as snappy 14fps continuous shooting and decent video performance. However, the more expensive Z6 III improves on the Z6 II in every area that counts, and is an all-round faster camera that’s even better for filmmakers.
For
- Excellent all-rounder
- A cheaper option than the Z6 III
- Excellent service
In return for
- Easier autofocus with subject detection
- Tilting touchscreen only
- Slower sensor reading than Z6 III
I’ve been shooting with the Nikon Z6 II for years now, and it’s a fantastic all-round mirrorless camera that has served me well for personal and professional work – so when the Nikon Z6 III was in the works, I was in a great position to writing about the three things I wanted most in a Z6 II successor.
Basically, these three things were more versatile autofocus for subject detection, improved design and handling, and improved speed. Now the Z6 III is official, and it’s a surprisingly big upgrade that ticks all three boxes above, but also brings so much more to the table. While the Z6 II was a small upgrade over the Z6, the Z6 III delivers a whole range of improvements.
After thinking about the specs of the latest model and my hands-on experience with the Z6 III, I’ve put together a list of the most meaningful improvements the Z6 III offers over the Z6 II. Both cameras are excellent, but the Z6 III is making me seriously consider an upgrade – here are my top five reasons why the Z6 III could become my new main camera, and one reason why I might wait.
1. Better subject tracking and autofocus in low light
Earlier this year I took the Nikon Z6 II, with a 400mm professional prime lens, on safari, and I felt held back by the camera’s autofocus performance for subject detection for a variety of subjects, including animals. I’d previously sampled the Nikon Z9 and Nikon Z8’s excellent autofocus for people, animals and vehicles, and now, going back to the Z6 II, I made do with a simpler system, often having to intervene manually to get a sharp focus – a luxury not normally afforded to you by fast-moving wildlife.
Better autofocus performance ended up on my wish list, and if I upgraded to the Z6 III, that wish would be granted. The new camera has the same autofocus speed and performance as the mighty Z8 and Z9, and while the range of subjects is smaller (for example, birds are lumped into the general autofocus setting for animal subject detection rather than having a dedicated mode) Nikon says the Z6 III will still pick up birds in that mode.
When I shot fast-moving basketball players with the Z6 III, and compared it directly to my own Z6 II that I also had with me, the autofocus felt much stickier. The Nikon Z6 II’s autofocus really impressed me the first time I upgraded from a DSLR, and with the Z6 III I get that feeling all over again.
2. Brighter viewfinder and versatile screen
The 3.76 million pixel electronic viewfinder (EVF) on the Nikon Z6 II isn’t bad, but the Z6 III’s screen is noticeably brighter and in more detail – again I had the opportunity to directly compare the screens during my short Z6 III hands-on.
Plus, the Z6 III’s EVF is the best of them each Nikon camera, which surpasses the camera used in the more expensive Z8 and Z9. It is the highest resolution EVF Nikon has made with 5.76 million dots. What’s super impressive, though, is how bright and powerful it is – Nikon went out of its way to tell TechRadar that the Z6 III’s EVF is the brightest on the market, rated at 4,000 nits (vs. 3,000 nits on the Z8 ).
It also has a wide DCI-P3 color gamut – which is a first for any mirrorless camera – with an almost HDR-like display. Unlike some other systems, full resolution display is maintained during shooting and playback – there are no compromises.
There’s also a change in screen design: the Z6 II has a tilting touchscreen, while the Z6 III has a flip-out vari-angle LCD screen. With the screen extended, that bulky EVF no longer gets in the way of the screen display when shooting from a low angle.
3. A faster sensor
Nikon has designed the first ‘partially stacked’ sensor for the Z6 III. It’s not as fast as the stacked sensor in the Z8 and Z9, but it’s 3.5x faster than the regular sensor in the Z6 II and offers best-in-class performance, beating the Canon EOS R6 II and Sony A7 IV exceeds.
The Z6 III’s improved sensor readout speed should reduce shutter distortion and deliver a better video camera than the Z6 II. It also improves continuous burst shooting performance. The Z6 II was already a fast performer, but the Z6 III takes things up a notch, delivering 120fps burst shooting with continuous autofocus and autoexposure when shooting JPEG only and in ‘DX’ APS-C crop mode, or 60 fps shooting with 24.5 MP full-frame JPEGs. Buffering performance is also better, as the Z6 III can shoot at high speed for longer.
You also get a pre-release recording of up to one second, for those times when your reactions aren’t quite up to speed – the Z6 II doesn’t have a pre-release recording.
4. Improved image stabilization
I’ve always felt that in-body image stabilization (IBIS) is the main reason to upgrade from a DSLR to mirrorless: you can shoot handheld and get sharper photos and smoother videos. The Z6 II has reasonable IBIS; however, it does not match the competition. That could change with the Z6 III, which features vastly improved in-body image stabilization performance to the same extent as the Nikon Zf.
It’s Nikon’s best 5-axis IBIS implementation yet, with up to eight stops of compensation and electronic vibration reduction for video. Nikon is also touting its Focus Point VR mode, which adjusts the 5-axis system’s starting position to suit your subject, improving performance by up to one stop over normal mode, which is fixed in the center of the frame.
I hope that with more extensive testing, the Z6 III’s stabilization will indeed prove more effective than the Z6 II’s, and perhaps bring Nikon up to speed with the competition.
5. Better video features
Many of the above points affect video performance; the partially stacked sensor combats rolling shutter distortion, improved IBIS ensures smoother handheld shooting, and subject detection autofocus is stickier. There’s also an impressive range of video recording modes, more than on the Z6 II.
You get 4K and 6K 12-bit raw video at up to 60 fps, in-camera, without the need for an external recorder. That 4K video is oversampled, while regular 10-bit 4K video in log profile is available up to 120 fps. Slow motion recording is now possible at up to 240 fps (10x) in FHD.
There’s also a direct audio input, and now a full-size HDMI, plus a high-resolution zoom mode. The maximum recording time has also been improved, up to 120 minutes despite the camera (like its predecessor) not having a cooling fan. These are incredible video features for any camera and a big step up from the Z6 II.
Why the Z6 II is still a great option
As you might expect, especially with almost four years between cameras, the newer Z6 III model costs more. And despite the fact that the older Z6 II can now be purchased at reduced prices, the Z6 III comes to the market at a much higher price.
The Nikon Z6 II launched at $2,000 / £1,999 / AU$3,399, while the Z6 III costs $2,500 / £2,699 / AU$4,499 for body only. Additionally, most retailers are offering a price cut on the Z6 II, and it now stands at around $1,500 / £1,500 / AU$2,600, which is almost half the price of the Z6 III.
The argument for the Z6 III is that it gives you a lot of extra bang for your buck, and that’s certainly the case. And by today’s standards, the Z6 III is reasonably priced, and even, arguably, aggressively priced: the Canon EOS R6 II launched at exactly the same price. However, not everyone needs that extra bang, and the fact that Nikon will continue to sell the Nikon Z6 II is telling.
Both cameras shoot 24.5MP photos and offer largely similar controls. Unless you shoot particularly fast action shots or need next-level professional video features, you’ll probably get the same image quality from either camera. If portraits and landscapes are more your thing than nature and sports, then you could do without the Z6 III, while photographers new to the system could opt for the Z6 II instead of the Z6 III, and the savings would can use to take their photography to the next level by picking up a nice Nikon Z lens instead.