After numerous leaks and teases, including from the company itself – Nikon has finally revealed the Nikon Z6 III. As the number might suggest, the Z6 III is a follow-up to the original Z6 and Nikon’s 2020 successor, the Z6 II. While the Z6 II added incremental quality-of-life improvements to the Z6, the Z6 III takes the Z6 line even further, with new sensor technology and a new emphasis on hybrid video and content creation.
Launched in 2018, the Z6 series kicked off Nikon’s new mirrorless lineup, and today the Z6 III may be a signal of Nikon’s future ambitions.
While the sensor resolution remains at 24.5 megapixels, it features an all-new ‘partially stacked’ sensor that offers much faster read speeds. This enables an electronic shutter capable of shooting up to 120 frames per second in DX crop mode and 60 frames per second in full FX mode.
The maximum shutter speed has been increased to 1/16000s, although it doesn’t match the 1/32000s of the Z8 and Z9. The mechanical shutter provides a speed of 20 frames per second for JPEG images and 14 frames per second for RAW images. Flash photography will still require a mechanical shutter due to the limitation of the electronic shutter’s read speed.
(Image credit: Nikon)
The sensor is supported by Nikon’s internal image stabilization (IBIS), which offers up to 8.0 EV of stabilization, up from 5.0 EV on the Z6 II. IBIS also borrows a trick from the recent Nikon Zf and rotates around the active focus point for better subject sharpness. IBIS also supports a high-resolution mode that combines multiple images for a 96MP output via Nikon NX Studio software for very large prints.
Autofocus points are spread across the entire sensor with a total of 299 AF points, an increase from the previous 273 points on the Z6 II. The autofocus system works in light conditions as low as -10EV, making it suitable for astrophotography.
For video, the Z6 III targets serious content creators and enthusiast filmmakers with internal RAW recording up to 6K60p. There are also a number of other recording options, including 5.4K/60P recording or 4K60p video from upsampled 6K, as well as Full HD recording up to 240p (10x slow motion).
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The EVF offers a resolution of 5.76Mp and is the first ever to support the DCI-P3 color gamut for truer colors. (Image credit: Nikon)
At first glance, the Z6 III looks very similar to the previous Z6, but the new model is slightly larger and heavier (750g). However, this small increase in size means that custom accessories such as L-mounts and battery grips will potentially not fit the Z6 III. The camera is launched together with the newly developed battery grip MB-N14 for longer shooting and vertical grip.
The camera has two memory card slots – one CFexpress Type B (and XQD cards) and one SDXC UHS-II slot. Connectivity options include a microphone, headphones, USB-C, HDMI and an accessory jack.
The rear flip-up touchscreen LCD has a resolution of 2.1 million dots, which is more than any previous Nikon camera, including the Z8 and Z9. This screen is fully rotatable and offers a new level of flexibility compared to previous Z6 series cameras. The Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) is also improved with 5.76Mp resolution and 4000 nits brightness, improving usability in bright conditions. The EVF supports the DCI-P3 color gamut for more faithful colors.
Powered by the EXPEED 7 processor, the Z6 III offers advanced autofocus capabilities and subject detection modes for people, animals and vehicles. Nikon says autofocus performance is on par with the Z8 and Z9. In testing, the camera accurately tracked fast-moving subjects such as basketball players. The information EVF mirrors the rear LCD and includes overlays for important information such as histograms and grids.
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(Image credit: Nikon)
(Image credit: Nikon)
(Image credit: Nikon)
(Image credit: Nikon)
The Nikon Z6 III is available for pre-order now and is expected to reach the first buyers in July. The Z6 III will cost $2,499 / £2,699 / AU$4,499. body only and will also be available in a kit with the Nikon Z 24-70mm f/4 S lens for $3,099 / £3,249 / AU$5,499.
Looking for another Nikon? Then check out our guide to the best Nikon cameras and best Nikon Z lenses.
