At the start of a recent photography walk with a Nikon representative, I was told that it was only a matter of time before I became a “birder”. Because eventually every photographer runs out of things to photograph and is left with only one subject: birds. Which, thanks to advances in camera technology, have become a much easier target.
I had a few hours with the new $2,500 Nikon Z6 III on the same photo walk. And the big new feature of this camera is its 24.5-megapixel partially stacked CMOS sensor. It is the first ever camera using this technology. Instead of the perimeter parts and pixel area spanning the full dimensions of the image sensor from corner to corner and sitting on top of each other like the more expensive Nikon Z9 or Nikon Z8, or not being stacked at all like the previous Nikon Z6 II, the Z6 III’s perimeter parts are stacked as bars at the top and bottom of the pixel area.
The result is a higher burst rate, faster autofocus, higher video frame rate and less scrolling effect than the previous Z6 II with a BSI CMOS sensor in electronic shutter mode. But it also means the Z6 III isn’t as fast as the more premium Z8 or Z9 with their fully stacked sensors. Simply put, the partial stacking of the sensor allows Nikon to keep the price of this camera below that of the Z8 and Z9 while improving its performance over the previous generation.
Other major updates are the Z6 III’s incredibly bright electronic viewfinder, which can reach a maximum brightness of 4,000 nits, and the camera’s ability to shoot 6K RAW video at up to 60fps and 4K RAW at up to 120fps. Nikon also promises Z8-level build quality, which means the camera is sealed against dust and moisture and rated for operation down to 14°F/−10°C. Simply put, Nikon makes very durable cameras that don’t skimp on specs. And also cameras that can turn any photographer into a birder.
For my photo walk with the Z6 III, I chose the Staten Island Ferry for its endless people-watching opportunities and incredible views of lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. Combine that with the iconic orange color of the ship and you’re guaranteed to get at least a few great shots. What I had never paid much attention to before were all the birds using the boat’s current to move across the harbor.
While the Z6 III doesn’t have a dedicated bird focus mode, Nikon claims its autofocus is 20% faster than the Z6 II and has an extended range down to -10EV, meaning it’s more sensitive even in low light. And he had absolutely no problem locking the birds when he was on the back of the ferry. Within minutes of taking off from Lower Manhattan, I was whipping the Z6 III from left to right trying to catch seagulls. Finally, I sharpened and framed One World Trade Center and waited for a bird to fly over the frame. As the bird entered, the camera focused directly on the moving object, which was a seagull. I took over 100 photos in a matter of minutes.
Photos taken with Nikon Z6 III + Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR
Then, of course, there was a moment where I thought, “What the hell am I going to do with all these bird photos.” So I’d like to thank you all for clicking through the slideshow above and giving my newfound passion for bird photography a reason to exist.
Like the Z8 and Z9, Nikon is increasingly making cameras that are so responsive and intuitive that you don’t have to spend so much time thinking about things like focus, handshake, or shutter speed. You can quickly point the camera in any direction and it will capture something in focus.
That being said, there’s only so much I could try in a few hours with this camera. I didn’t have a low-light environment to test ISO ranges or low-light autofocus, I didn’t have multiple subjects to test skin tone representation, and I didn’t have ND filters to get the video exposure right. testing 6K RAW. So while I had a lot of fun and am now a certified “birder”, there is definitely a lot more testing to be done on this new partially stacked sensor technology. But in my short time with him, I can safely say that it didn’t feel like a step back in any way. The Z6 III will be available starting today for $2,500.