1. Insights on the Latest Nikon Z6III Camera Model
Holler! Here's the lowdown on the fresh Nikon Z6 III:
The Z6 III debuts with a substantial leap from its earlier counterparts, like the Z6 II. Making waves with a partially stacked CMOS sensor, it's the only Nikon Z-series camera to sport this tech, alongside the stepped-up Z8 and Z9. Let's dive into the top 5 features you might miss if you just skim the specs.
1. Stacked Sensor Breakdown
The shows-no-signs-of-slowing elephant in the room is the "partially stacked" CMOS sensor lurking on the Z6 III. For a quick refresher, the only two Nikon Z cameras boasting a stacked sensor so far have been the Nikon Z8 and Z9. Stacked sensors facilitate faster readout speeds, making the Z8 and Z9 able to discard the mechanical shutter and rely on their electronic shutters alone. Theoretically, there can be a slight noise and dynamic range penalty with stacked sensors, but the Z8 and Z9 don't have noticeably worse image quality than their non-stacked counterparts like the Z7 / Z7 II.
The electronic shutters on the Nikon Z8 and Z9 are a game-changer because their readout speed is fast - about 1/270th to 1/280th of a second (roughly 3.6 milliseconds). This eliminates almost all of the potential drawbacks of electronic shutters, such as rolling shutter effects with fast-moving subjects. The Z6 III's partially stacked sensor mirrors some of these benefits when using the electronic shutter but may not catch them all. The flash sync speed with the electronic shutter is 1/60th of a second (it's 1/200th second on the Z8 and Z9), which means that the readout speed of the Z6 III must be 16 milliseconds or faster. Most likely, to build in some cushion, the readout speed on the Z6 III is approximately 1/80th second or 12.5 milliseconds - expect an exact figure soon.
This is a big step up from the readout speed of previous Z6-series cameras. The Nikon Z6 II has approximately a 1/20th second readout speed (50 milliseconds), so the new partially stacked design is a major improvement. The electronic shutter on the Z6 II could sometimes lead to significant rolling shutter with fast-moving action, while the Z6 III should seldom have that problem. This means that its 20 FPS electronic shutter mode is going to be genuinely useful and not a gimmick.
2. The Magnificent Memory Cache
Nikon has a peculiar habit of hiding buffer numbers from their spec lists, especially for cameras like the Z6 III with a considerable memory cache. Fortunately, Nikon does at least mention it elsewhere in their announcement for the Z6 III if you do a little digging.
The Nikon Z6 III boasts a "maximum buffer of 1000+ shots" in 20 FPS continuous high mode, including when shooting RAW. If you're equipped with a fast card (the Z6 III supports CFExpress Type B and UHS-II SD), you should have no issue photographing fast-moving action with this camera.
3. Slightly Advanced Pre-Release Capture
As anticipated, the Z6 III embraces a pre-release burst mode, similar to the Zf, Z8, and Z9 cameras. It's worth noting that the pre-release mode on the Z6 III is JPEG-only, which is a bit of a bummer, as competing cameras like the Canon EOS R6 II can shoot RAW pre-burst. However, Nikon's pre-release implementation on the Z6 III does feature an advantage over its previous iterations. Specifically, the Z6 III can reach 60 FPS at full resolution!
Compared to the pre-release burst max on the Zf, the Nikon Z8 and Z9 max out at 30 FPS, but they can only manage this with 19 megapixel JPEGs from the DX area of the frame. While this can be useful for getting more reach, it compromises the image quality and noise performance. With the Z6 III's ability to capture full-resolution 60 FPS images in this mode, it's arguably the most useful Nikon camera yet for those who value pre-release functionality.
4. The Mesmerizing New Electronic Viewfinder
While Nikon has been utilizing the same 3.69 million dot EVF since the original Z6 and Z7, including in its Zf / Z8 / Z9 cameras, the Z6 III represents a change. It's equipped with a 5.76 million dot display, but that's not the only improvement. Something rarely revealed in every spec sheet (though Nikon hasn't shied away from advertising it) is that the Z6 III's viewfinder can reach a higher brightness than any other full-frame mirrorless camera today, at 4000 nits (compared to the Z9's 3000 nits). It also boasts an extended color gamut of DCI-P3, which is roughly the same size as Adobe RGB, though shaped differently.
Moreover, the new EVF boasts a 120 Hz refresh rate, matching the Z8 and Z9 and representing a marked improvement over the previous 60 FPS rate on all Nikon Z cameras so far. Viewfinder quality impacts composition, the most crucial aspect of photography, and the Z6 III appears set to showcase Nikon's finest EVF to date.
5. Raw Video Beyond the Headlines
Certainly, the headlining specification for the Z6 III is its capability to shoot 6K Raw video. But there's more to the story than that. The Z6 III can shoot Raw video in a variety of ways:
- 6K Raw at 60/50/30/25/24p
- 4032 x 2268 (4K) Raw at 60/50/30/25/24p
- 3984 x 2240 (4K) Raw at 120/60/50/30/25/24p
Plenty of buzz surrounds internal 6K/60p Raw - and justifiably so - but this camera can also shoot 4K Raw video at 120 FPS! This could prove just as useful, if not more so, for many projects. Keep in mind that Nikon hasn't shared whether the 4K Raw video shot on the Z6 III is cropped or not. On the Z8 and Z9, it is cropped (about a 2.3x crop to reach the 4K area of the sensor); we'll update as more information becomes available.
Conclusion
Stay tuned for more info on the Z6 III, as we're still learning about the ins and outs of this new camera every minute. But it's evident that Nikon went beyond just the specs with the Z6 III - it has plenty of hidden gems that could impact everyday photography.
If you're considering pre-ordering the Nikon Z6 III, don't forget to support our site by doing so through our affiliates B&H or Adorama. Let me know in the comments if you have any questions or thoughts about this new camera!
- The Nikon Z6 III boasts a partially stacked CMOS sensor, a technology that facilitates faster readout speeds, similar to the Z8 and Z9.
- The Nikon Z6 III has a massive buffer capacity of over 1000 shots in 20 FPS continuous high mode, making it suitable for photographing fast-moving action.
- The Z6 III introduces a pre-release burst mode that can capture full-resolution images at 60 FPS, setting it apart from earlier Nikon cameras.
- The Z6 III features an improved electronic viewfinder with a higher brightness of 4000 nits, the highest among full-frame mirrorless cameras, and a 120 Hz refresh rate.
- The Nikon Z6 III is capable of shooting 6K Raw video, but it can also capture 4K Raw video at 120 FPS, which may prove more useful for many projects.
- The Z6 III's electronic shutter readout speed is approximately 1/80th second, a significant improvement over the Z6 II, reducing rolling shutter effects with fast-moving action.
- When choosing to pre-order the Nikon Z6 III, supporting our site through affiliates like B&H or Adorama is recommended.
