Nikon Z6 III + Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4

Nikon Z6 III - The hybrid photographer's choice from Nikon

The Nikon Z6 III offers a very attractive body for its price range, offering a wide range of photographic and video features, also familiar from the Z9 flagship. At the heart of it all is the market's first partially stacked 24.5 megapixel CMOS sensor. The ultra-fast sensor allows you to capture fast-moving subjects at high speed, yet with almost imperceptible rolling-shutter distortion. Thanks to the sensor's moderate megapixel count (24.5 MP), shooting in low light at high ISO produces significantly less noise when compared to larger megapixel sensors.

Photography

Alongside the sensor, the camera speed is enabled by the EXPEED 7 processor, familiar from the Z8 and Z9. This makes the Z6 III up to 10 times faster than its predecessor. Z6 II. Sensor and processor speeds enable high continuous shooting speeds, fast autofocus, high buffer capacity and smooth video recording at high resolutions and frame rates. For continuous shooting, the Z6 III is capable of up to 20 fps in RAW with an electronic shutter or 14 fps with a mechanical shutter. When ultra-high speed is required, JPEG images can be shot at up to 60 fps (full cell) or 120 fps (APS-C body). At all shooting speeds, autofocus and exposure are fully engaged.

”Pre-Release” recording allows images to be recorded for up to 3 seconds before the shutter button is pressed. When the feature is enabled and the shutter is pressed halfway, the camera will store up to 3 seconds of images at the selected burst rate until the shutter is pressed halfway, leaving images on the memory card even before the shutter is pressed. This feature is very useful for sports and nature photographers, for example. For example, when shooting a small bird and waiting for it to take flight, it can be very challenging to time the shutter release at just the right moment. Thanks to the Pre-Release feature, you can be sure to capture the entire take-off at a maximum speed of 120 frames per second.

The 493-point Phase Detection autofocus ensures that the right target always stays in focus. Working seamlessly with the Nikkor Z series lenses, the autofocus system keeps focus on moving subjects, even when shooting at 120 fps. The autofocus also works in low-light conditions down to -10 EV. 3D tracking autofocus and object detection algorithms keep people and other objects in focus.

Pixel-Shift technology allows you to take high-resolution images when needed, even though the camera sensor is ”only” 24.5 MP. Up to 96 megapixel images can be captured by subtly moving the sensor between shots. The photographer can then merge the images in NX Studio to create a single high-resolution photo. Taking high-resolution images must be done from a tripod, but can be useful for landscape, architecture, or macro photography, for example.

Video photography

Recording 6K video at its highest, the Nikon Z6 III is a truly capable and versatile tool for videographers too. 6K 60p video can be shot across the entire sensor area, and there's no limit to the recording time. At 4K and Full HD resolutions, it works in the same way at 60p and below. At 4K resolution, it's also possible to shoot stunning 120p slow-motion video, although the footage is cropped to APS-C mode. If 120p slow-motion isn't enough, FullHD resolution allows you to shoot up to 240p slow-motion video.

An advantage over similar cameras from Sony and Canon, among others, the Nikon Z6 III has built-in 12-bit RAW video recording capability. The N-RAW format, combined with ProRes RAW, delivers maximum image quality and the best colour and exposure post-processing capabilities. Recording with N-RAW is best achieved at 6K 60p and with ProRes RAW at 6K 30p. In addition, 10-bit colour 4:2:2 ProRes 422 HQ and H.265 codecs can be recorded in-camera at 5.4K 30p and 5.4K 60p resolutions.

Hull characteristics

The Nikon Z6 III's viewfinder is definitely one of the best on the market today. The 5.76 million pixel viewfinder is capable of 4000-nit brightness at best, making it the brightest viewfinder of any mirrorless camera on the market to date. Another feature that sets the Z6 III's viewfinder apart from other mirrorless cameras on the market so far is its DCI-P3 colour space compatibility. When shooting a series, the viewfinder is so-called ”blackout-free”, meaning that you can see live images through the viewfinder without the image ”flashing” black with the shutter. In addition, the viewfinder image is smooth thanks to the 120 Hz refresh rate. Like the Nikon Z9 and Z8, the Z6 III has a 3.2-inch screen that rotates in all directions and contains 2.1 million pixels.

As you'd expect from a professional SLR, the Z6 III has two card slots. One slot fits CFexpress Type B or XQD -memory cards and the other with standard UHS-II memory cards. SD-memory cards. When shooting at the fastest continuous shooting speeds or best 6K RAW video quality, it is recommended to purchase the fastest CFexpress Type B memory cards for a smooth user experience.

The body of the Z6 III is largely the same as the Z6 II. It has a high level of weather protection against dust and moisture, so you can use the camera in more demanding conditions. The body's internal image stabilizer now supports Synchro VR, a feature that synchronizes the lens with the image stabilizer to achieve shutter speeds up to 8 stops slower with selected Z-series lenses.

With multi-camera productions in mind, the Nikon Z6 III supports Atmos' Ultrasync Blue technology, which combines time codes from multiple cameras to facilitate editing.

The full-size HDMI interface is a big plus for videographers who need to record to an external storage device. Recording high quality audio is made easy with a 3.5mm headphone output for monitoring and a new line-in input jack. A multi-purpose USB-C port allows data transfer, tethering and battery charging. In addition, a dedicated USB-LAN adapter allows the camera to provide 1000BASE-T LAN output. For wireless connectivity, the Z6 III offers Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) and Bluetooth 5.0 support.

Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S - The basic zoom with the new bayonet

The Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S offers a handy range of focal lengths in a compact package. The Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S is a multi-purpose zoom that gives you wide-angle shots and pots with ease. With an aperture of f/4 covering the entire focal length range, it's a convenient and lightweight alternative to f/2.8 glass. On the optical side, the solutions are almost unprecedented. A unique aspherical extra-low dispersion element, and a single aspherical element keep chromatic aberrations at bay and distortion at bay. Nano crystal coating keeps reflections to a minimum in backlit situations.

The optics are partnered by a fast and quiet autofocus using stepper motor technology, which also produces a sharp image. Full-time manual overdrive suitable for both still and video photography. The focus ring can be programmed to do other things like aperture adjustment or whatever, handy because the focus ring is comparatively useless in today's world of autofocus time. Also, the lens is a buttonless retractable design, so the size is quite compact when retracted.

Combining a beautiful outline with a surprisingly smooth bokeh, this glass is a kind of trusty workhorse of a journalist. A budget-conscious choice and the first native zoom for this system.

• Z-Mount new Z bayonet
• Maximum aperture: f/4
• Aspherical Extra-Low Dispersion Element
• 1 Aspherical element
• Nano Crystal coating
• Stepping Motor AF system
• Programmable AF ring
• Weatherproof construction
• Rounded 7 leaf opening
• Sizeable design

Key features of the Z6 III

• Partially stacked 24.5 MP sensori with ultra-fast sensor reading speed and a wide dynamic range.
• Even 120 fps continuous shooting with autofocus and exposure (10MP APS-C JPEG) or 60 fps (24MP full-cell JPEG). Also works in Pre-Release mode, which means the camera records 120 fps continuous shooting even before the shutter is pressed.
• 6K RAW -video recording internally up to 60p. At the same time, 4K 60p videos are also very accurate, as they are oversampled from 6K images. In addition, FullHD resolution slow-motion video can be recorded at 240p frame rate, i.e. 10x slow-motion.
• Familiar from the Z9 flagship frame EXPEED 7 -processor, providing fast and accurate autofocusing
• Powerful image stabilizer enables shutter speeds up to 8 stops faster when used with a Nikkor image-stabilized lens
• High resolution display (2.1 million pixels) and viewfinder (5.67 million pixels). The viewfinder supports a frame rate of 60 fps. In addition, the Z6 is the first mirrorless camera with a wide viewfinder DCI-P3 colour space and up to 4000-nit maximum brightness. The screen rotates in all directions, making it easy to position the camera for the right focus.
• Two slots: One slot supports CFexpress Type B or XQD cards and the other supports UHS-II SD cards

Z6 III technical specifications

• Bayonet: Nikon Z
• Sensor: full-frame 24.5 megapixel CMOS (Partially Stacked Sensor)
• Internal image stabilizer: 5-axis (sensor shift)
• Fastest shutter speed:
  • Mechanical shutter: 1/8 000
  • Electronic shutter: 1/16 000
• ISO range: 100 - 64 000 (Extended: 50 - 204 800)
• Image size: 6000 x 4000 px (3:2 RAW/JPEG)
• Serial photography at most:
  • Mechanical shutter: 14 fps (24.5 MP RAW)
  • Electronic shutter: 20 fps (24.5 MP RAW), 60 fps (24.5 MP JPEG) or 120 fps (up to 1000 frames, APS-C JPEG)
• Internal video recording:
  • RAW/ProRes RAW/ProRes RAW HQ:
    • 6048 x 3404 @ 23.98/25/29.97/50/59.94 fps
    • 4032 x 2268 @ 23.98/25/29.97/50/59.94 fps
    • 3984 x 2240 @ 23.98/25/29.97/50/59.94/100/120 fps
  • H.264/H.265 8/10-bit:
    • 5376 x 3024 @ 23.98/25/29.97/50/59.94 fps
    • 3840 x 2160 (4K UHD) @ 23.98/25/29.97/50/59.94/100/120 fps
    • 1920 x 1080 (FHD) @ 23.98/25/29.97/50/59.94/100/120/200/240 fps
• External video recording (HDMI): 4K (3840 x 2160)
• Colour profiles: HDR-HLG and Nikon N-Log
• No recording limit in video
• Audio recording: 16-bit 48 kHz AAC audio and 2-channel 24-bit 48 kHz LPCM audio
• Memory card slots:
  • Slot 1: CFexpress Type B or XQD
  • Slot 2: SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II)
• Connections:
  • Video: HDMI (full size)
  • Audio: 3.5mm TRS Stereo input (2 input jacks) and 3.5mm TRS Stereo headphone output
  • Power and data: USB-C
  • Remote control: Nikon DC2
• Wireless connectivity: 2.4/5 GHz Wi-Fi 5 (802.11 ac) and Bluetooth 5.0
• Screen size: 3.2” (2.1 million pixels)
• Detector size: 0.5″ (5.76 million pixels)
• Autofocus modes: manual focus, single focus AF and continuous-servo AF
• Automatic focus points: 493 (photo and video)
• Autofocus sensitivity: between -10 and 18 EV
• Maximum external flash sync speed: 1/200 s
• Battery type: EN-EL15c (Lithium-Ion)
• Main material: magnesium alloy
• Dimensions: 138,5 x 101,5 x 74 mm
• Weight: 670 g (frame only)