Nikon Z6 – Picture Assessment

In abstract

The Z6 is the lower-resolution mannequin of Nikon’s two ‘full-frame’ mirrorless cameras introduced on 23 August. Twenty-four megapixels is greater than sufficient to supply glorious color and detail-rich footage that may be printed to A2 measurement. It should additionally present loads of cropping potential for photographs that shall be displayed on pc screens and UHD TVs.

Given the prevailing lenses – and people being launched in the course of the 12 months – the Z6 can be a good selection for travellers, marriage ceremony picture/videographers and people concerned about on a regular basis and/or road images.

Full evaluate

The Z6 is the lower-resolution mannequin of Nikon’s two ‘full-frame’ mirrorless cameras introduced on 23 August.  Its 35.9 x 23.9 mm bottom illumination CMOS sensor delivers an efficient decision of 24.5 megapixels, simply over half that of the 45.7-megapixel Z7.  As a result of the ensuing recordsdata are smaller, the Z6 can help burst charges as much as 12 fps (though solely 9 fps for 14-bit NEF/RAW recordsdata) when focus and publicity are locked on the primary body. The lower-resolution sensor additionally has fewer AF factors and helps a distinct ISO vary.

Entrance view of the Z6 with the Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S lens that shall be provided with the digital camera physique. (Supply: Nikon.)

The Z6 gives the identical video recording capabilities because the Z7, providing maxima of 4K video at 25 fps (PAL format) or Full HD at 100 fps. It additionally helps the identical video codecs and profiles, together with the brand new N-LOG Image Management. Customers also can switch 10-bit 4:2:2 HDMI output straight from the digital camera to an exterior recorder.

We obtained the evaluate digital camera with the identical Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S lens as we used when reviewing the Nikon Z7 digital camera.

Construct and Ergonomics
Bodily, the Z6 is equivalent to the Z7 with the one exterior distinction being the mannequin identify on the entrance panel. It additionally contains the identical cladding and weatherproof sealing in addition to the identical management structure, as proven within the illustrations under.

Entrance view of the Z6 with no lens fitted. (Supply: Nikon.)

The highest panel of the Z6 with no lens fitted. (Supply: Nikon.)

The rear panel of the Z6 with the monitor flat on the digital camera again. (Supply: Nikon.)

The digital camera is equipped with the BF-N1 physique cap, DK-29 rubber eyecup (connected), EN-EL15b rechargeable Li-ion battery with terminal cowl, MH-25a battery charger plus mains energy cable, AN-DC19 strap, HDMI/USB cable clip, UC-E24 USB cable and BS-1 accent shoe cowl.

Who’s it for?
Whereas the Z6 is kind of a bit cheaper than the Z7, it’s nonetheless an costly digital camera and priced at the same stage to the competing Canon EOS R  and Sony α7M3 (see desk under). It’s tempting to say the Z6 is for these photographers who can’t afford the higher-resolution Z7 – however that might be an over-simplification.

Whereas the 2 cameras are bodily equivalent and use the identical battery (which helps USB charging) and XQD reminiscence card (single slot), they differ in a couple of necessary traits. Variations in decision imply a distinct picture sensor and this largely accounts for the value variations between the 2 fashions, in addition to affecting elements just like the variety of focus factors and the native ISO  ranges.

Whereas the Z6 makes use of the identical section/distinction detection autofocusing system because the Z7, the variety of focus factors is lowered from 493 within the Z7 to 273 within the Z6. The bottom worth within the native ISO vary is larger within the Z6 (ISO 100 vs ISO 64) however the Z6 tops out at ISO 51200, whereas the Z7 ends at ISO 25600. Each cameras supply growth settings protecting one cease down from minimal and two stops up from most in increments of 03.EV.

Its principal rivals are the Canon EOS R and Sony α7M3, as proven within the desk under.

Worth-wise, the Z6 is extra inexpensive for picture lovers, significantly in the event that they don’t require actually excessive decision they usually can benefit from its elevated sensitivity vary. Given the prevailing lenses – and people being launched in the course of the 12 months – it will be a good selection for travellers, marriage ceremony picture/videographers and people concerned about on a regular basis and/or road images.

Sensor and Picture Processing
Just like the Z7, the  Z6 boasts a 35.9 x 23.9 mm FX-format backside-illumination CMOS sensor but it surely has a decrease efficient decision of 24.5 megapixels. No anti-aliasing filter is used, enabling most decision from the sensor array.

The sensor chip has an array of 231 AF factors that cowl most of its floor and  the hybrid AF system has been optimised to offer quick focusing, due to a brand new AF algorithm. Just like the Z7, the Z6 can file NEF.RAW recordsdata with 12 or 14 bit depth, uncompressed or with lossless compression. TIFF recordsdata are additionally supported and RAW+JPEG pairs could be recorded with fantastic, regular or primary compression.

As a result of its recordsdata are smaller, the Z6 can help steady capturing at as much as 12 frames/second when focus and publicity are locked on the primary body or 9 fps with AF/AE changes. The buffer reminiscence within the Z6 also can maintain extra photos, as proven within the desk under.

The EXPEED 6 picture processing engine allows the digital camera to help a local sensitivity vary extending from ISO 100 to ISO 51200. Lo and Hello extensions broaden the vary to ISO 50 and ISO 102400 in addition to ISO 204800. Changes all through the whole vary could be made in 0.3EV steps.

Video
Just like the Z7, the Z6 can file 4K video at 25 fps (PAL format) or Full HD at 100 fps and may ship 10-bit 4:2:2 HDMI output. Lively D-Lighting is on the market for film recording however digital stabilisation is barely obtainable with 4K decision, the place it barely will increase the obvious focal size of the lens.

Whereas the huge amount of video information from the Z7 is generally subjected to  pixel-skipping and down-sampling previous to demosaicing, the Z6 can use alerts from each pixel within the 16:9 picture space. Pixel binning is used to mix information from blocks of pixels to extend the signal-to-noise ratio.

As a result of demosaicing is dealt with by the picture processor, the picture could be sampled on the Nyquist Frequency, thereby lowering each learn noise ranges and the incidence of moiré patterning. Banding and pixellation are additionally minimised and the ensuing video high quality is larger. Sony’s α7M3 makes use of related processes.

Sluggish-motion motion pictures could be recorded with 1920 x 1080-pixel decision and the digital camera helps recording at as much as 4x the traditional velocity. A ten-second film clips recorded on the most velocity performs again over 40 seconds. (Flicker discount, digital stabilisation and time code output can’t be used for slow-motion recordings.)

You too can crop the body and file a ‘DX-based film’ from a 23.4 x 13.2 mm space of the sensor at 4K decision or 23.4 x 13.1 mm at 1080p. This provides you a cropping magnification of 1.5x for the focal size setting of the lens.

Playback and Software program
The Z6 affords the identical primary playback settings as different Nikon cameras with related touchscreen capabilities and in-camera retouching choices to the D850 (https://www.photoreview.com.au/evaluations/dslr-cameras/professional/nikon-d850/). No software program was equipped with the evaluate digital camera however the printed consumer’s guide gives URLs for linking to Nikon’s obtain centre, the place you can too discover ViewNX-i and Seize NX-D, the advisable packages. Additionally obtainable are Nikon’s Digital camera Management Professional and Image Management Utility packages.

ViewNX-I is a browser/file administration utility for nonetheless photos and movies. It gives a launch pad for Seize NX-D which is equipped for processing uncooked recordsdata from Nikon cameras. NEF.RAW recordsdata from the Z6 are supported by Adobe Digital camera Uncooked (v11.1 on), Lightroom Traditional CC 8.1, Affinity Picture 1.6.7, Seize One 12, DxO Photolab 2.1 and OnOne RAW 2019.1 conversion software program when this evaluate was revealed.

A Community Information can be obtainable to assist customers with the digital camera’s Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities and supply recommendation on utilizing the optionally available WT-7 wi-fi transmitter. There’s additionally a downloadable information to N-Log video recording.

Efficiency
As a result of we obtained the identical lens with the Z6 as we used for the Z7, we discovered the take a look at photographs we took with the Z6 had been related in character to pictures from the Z7, although their decision was decrease. Apparently, when the variations in decision had been accounted for, the outcomes of our Imatest assessments had been additionally very related.

JPEG recordsdata had been in a position to match expectations for the sensor’s decision close to the centre of the body and fell solely somewhat brief in the direction of the sides. NEF.RAW frames had been transformed into 16-bit TIFF format with Adobe Digital camera Uncooked (our most popular uncooked file converter) and produced barely larger decision (though not fairly excessive sufficient to benefit the very excessive score we gave the Z7.

Decision for each file sorts peaked on the ‘native’ ISO 100 setting and remained excessive by way of to ISO 6400 (one cease larger than within the Z7) earlier than declining step by step thereafter, as proven within the graph of our Imatest outcomes above. As within the Z7, two highest settings delivered larger decision than anticipated however had been considerably decrease than the utmost worth.

Imatest confirmed color accuracy to be marginally higher  within the Z7 however the variations between the 2 cameras had been small. Each cameras’ saturation ranges had been virtually equivalent and near the perfect worth. Color shifts had been marginally better in JPEGs from the Z6 however, once more, the variations had been minimal.

Lengthy exposures at night time contained spectacular quantities of element. Photographs captured within the native ISO 100 to ISO 51200 vary had been typically sharp with pure color ranges, though noise had change into evident by ISO 25600  By ISO 51200, noise was apparent and shadowed areas started to dam up. The 2 highest ISO settings confirmed rising noise ranges coupled with a discount in dynamic vary and deteriorating color constancy.
With out a flash, we may solely take a look at the evaluate digital camera with tungsten, fluorescent and warm-toned LED lights.

Just like the Z7, the auto setting within the Z6 has three sub-sets: the default A1, which retains the ‘general ambiance’ plus two further settings. One retains heat tones, whereas the opposite is meant to bias colors in favour of white. We couldn’t see a lot distinction between them.  As anticipated, the A1 auto setting was in a position to ship impartial color rendition below fluorescent lighting and got here very shut with warm-toned LED lighting. But it surely couldn’t get rid of the nice and cozy forged of incandescent lighting.

There’s no white stability pre-set for LED lighting and the presets for tungsten and fluorescent lighting tended to over-correct. Like most trendy cameras, the Z7 gives loads of in-camera changes for tweaking colors on-the-fly and they’re simple to make use of.

Autofocusing was typically fast and correct in regular mild ranges and lighting circumstances – together with indoors below synthetic lighting. It was additionally fairly quick for our night time photographs, together with 30-second exposures. Nonetheless, we detected traces of searching when the lens was close to its close-focusing restrict, even in vivid outside lighting. It was typically temporary and most certainly to happen on the widest lens apertures.

We recorded our film assessments with the auto capturing mode and sensitivity on the auto setting. Most clips had been recorded with the high-quality setting, though we additionally shot a few comparability clips on the regular high quality.  Apart from decision and body charges, the remainder of the settings had been the identical as we used for capturing stills. A few clips had been recorded with the slow-motion settings, which file silently.

Video high quality was considerably higher than we obtained from the Z7, significantly with the high-quality setting, most likely as a result of the Z6 doesn’t crop the body and doesn’t use pixel skipping. Each 4K and 1080p recordings appeared extra like recordings from the Sony α7MIII, which gained a score of 9.0 indicating superior high quality.

The place soundtracks had been recorded their high quality was typically excellent and, regardless of the small microphone orifices on the digital camera, each high- and low-frequency sounds had been captured clearly and realistically, due to the broad frequency setting. With out the attenuator and wind noise filter, recordings had been prone to wind noise, though to a lesser diploma than we anticipated.

For our timing assessments we used the identical lens and Sony G Collection XQD reminiscence card as we’d used for the Z7 and located the Z6 had related response instances to the Z7 in most conditions. It took roughly 1.5 seconds for the digital camera to power-up prepared for capturing and between 0.5 and 1.0 seconds extra to file the primary shot.

Seize lag averaged 0.2 seconds, the identical as for the Z7. It was lowered to a mean of 0.65 seconds when photographs had been pre-focused in addition to in guide focus mode. On common it took 0.4 seconds to course of every JPEG and a fraction mores for a 14-bit NEF.RAW file.

Shot-to-shot instances within the single-shot mode averaged 0.4 seconds, which is identical because the Z7. We discovered no situations of the digital camera pausing whereas photographs had been processed.

The Z6 gives three steady capturing settings. The highest setting is a Steady Excessive (Prolonged) mode that may file JPEGs and 12-bit NEF-RAW frames at as much as 12 frames/second with autofocusing supported however publicity locked on the primary body. Additionally obtainable are a traditional Steady H setting that helps 5.5 frames/second and a Steady L setting at 5 fps.

Within the Steady Excessive (Prolonged) mode, recording was paused after 47 frames and indicated the buffer was full, after which picture seize  slowed to file at a mean of 1.5 frames/second. The buffer reminiscence cleared inside 3.5 seconds. If you happen to swap to 14-bit uncooked recording, the body charge drops to 9 fps, the buffer capability decreases to roughly 35 frames and it takes barely longer for the buffer to clear.

The buffer capability was lowered to round 30 frames wit RAW+JPEG seize and the 12 fps body charge was maintained with 12-bit uncooked recordsdata. Nonetheless, the seize charge for the total buffer reminiscence slowed to six.5 seconds as frames had been processed. It took roughly 5.4 seconds on common to clear the buffer reminiscence from the 30-frame level.

Swapping to recording losslessly-compressed 14-bit NEF.RAW  recordsdata with JPEGs, lowered the buffer capability was lowered to twenty-eight frames with out altering processing instances. It took 3.9 seconds to clear the buffer reminiscence. The above instances are averages of 5 runs of photographs at every setting.

We discovered some variations in seize charges after  the buffer was full, particularly with 14-bit uncooked recordsdata, though we’re undecided they might be statistically important. We didn’t run timing assessments within the Steady H or Steady L modes or when the picture measurement was lowered to DX format, though the slower body charges and smaller frames ought to improve the buffer depths and capacities somewhat.

Conclusion

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SPECS

Picture sensor: 35.9 x 23.9 mm bottom illumination CMOS sensor with 25.28 million photosites (24.5 megapixel efficient decision); low-pass filter
Picture processor:  EXPEED 6
A/D processing: 12 or 14 bit (lossless compressed, compressed, or uncompressed)
Lens mount: Nikon Z mount (accepts  F mount Nikkor lenses with mount adapter; restrictions might apply)
Focal size crop issue:  1x (1.5x in DX mode)
Picture codecs: Stills: JPEG (DCF 2.0, Exif 2.31), NEF.RAW, RAW+JPEG, TIFF; Films: MOV, MP4 (H.264/MPEG-4 Superior Video Coding, Linear PCM, AAC audio)
Picture Sizes: Stills – FX picture space: 6048 x 4024, 4528 x 3016, 3024 x 2016 ; DX picture space: 3936 x 2624,  2944 x 1968, 1968 x 1312;  1:1 facet: 4016 x 4016, 3008 x 3008, 2000 x 2000; 16:9 facet: 6048 x 3400, 4528 x 2544, 3024 x 1696; Pictures taken throughout 4K film recording: 3840 x 2160; Pictures taken at different body sizes: 1920 x 1080; Films: 3840 x 2160 (4K UHD) at 30p/ 25p/24p; 1920 x 1080 at 120p/100p/60p/50p/30p/ 25p/24p; 1920×1080 (slow-mo) at 30p x4, 25p x4, 24p x5
Picture Stabilisation: 5-axis picture sensor shift (integrates with lens shift in VR lenses)
Mud removing: Picture Mud Off reference information (requires Seize NX-D); picture sensor cleansing
Shutter (velocity vary): Electronically-controlled vertical-travel focal-plane mechanical shutter; digital front-curtain shutter; digital shutter; (1/8000 to 30 sec. in steps of 1/3 or 1/2 EV, Bulb, Time, X-synch at 1/200 sec.)
Publicity Compensation: +/- 5EV in 1/3EV or 1/2EV steps in P, S, A, and M modes
Publicity bracketing: 3, 5, 7 or 9 photographs at increments of 0.3EV. 0.7EV, 1EV, 2EV or 3EV
Different bracketing choices: Publicity, Flash, White stability, ADL
Self-timer: 2, 5, 10 or 20 seconds delay; 1 to 9 exposures at intervals of 0.5, 1, 2, or 3 s
Intervalometer: Sure, for time-lapse motion pictures
Focus system: Hybrid phase-detection/distinction AF with AF help; 273 factors in single-point AF mode; detection vary:  -2 to +19 EV (-4 to +19 EV with low-light AF)
Focus modes: Single-servo AF (AF-S), Steady-servo AF (AF-C), full-time AF (AF-F; obtainable solely in film mode) ; predictive focus monitoring Handbook focus (M): Digital rangefinder can be utilized
AF-area modes: Pinpoint, single-point, and dynamic-area AF (pinpoint and dynamic-area AF obtainable in picture mode solely); wide-area AF (S); wide-area AF (L); auto-area AF
Publicity metering:  TTL metering utilizing digital camera picture sensor with Matrix, Centre-weighted (75% weighting on 12 mm circle in centre of body) and Spot (4mm circle on chosen focus level) and Spotlight-weighted metering patterns
Capturing modes: Auto; programmed auto with versatile program (P); shutter-priority auto (S); aperture-priority auto (A); guide (M); consumer settings (U1, U2, U3)
Image Management modes: Auto, Customary, Impartial, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait, Panorama, Flat Artistic Image Controls (Dream, Morning, Pop, Sunday, Sombre, Dramatic, Silence, Bleached, Melancholic, Pure, Denim, Toy, Sepia, Blue, Purple, Pink, Charcoal, Graphite, Binary, Carbon); chosen Image Management could be modified; storage for customized Image Controls
Particular capturing modes: Lively D-Lighting could be chosen from Auto, Further excessive, Excessive, Regular, Low, or Off; a number of exposures; HDR (excessive dynamic vary), picture mode flicker discount; digital vibration discount, time codes, film log output (N-Log) obtainable for video recording
Color area choices: Adobe RGB, sRGB
ISO vary: Auto, ISO 100 to 51200 in steps of 1/3 or 1/2 EV; Growth to approx. 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, or 1 EV (ISO 50 equal) under ISO 100 or approx. 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 1, or 2 EV (ISO 204800 equal) above ISO 51200 obtainable
White stability: Auto (3 sorts), pure mild auto, direct daylight, cloudy, shade, incandescent, fluorescent (7 sorts), flash, select color temperature (2500 Ok to 10,000 Ok), preset guide (as much as 6 values could be saved), all besides select color temperature allow fine-tuning
Flash: Exterior flash solely;  i-TTL flash management
Flash modes: Entrance-curtain sync, gradual sync, rear-curtain sync, red-eye discount, red-eye discount with gradual sync, gradual rear-curtain sync, off
Flash publicity adjustment: -3 to +1 EV in steps of 1/3 or 1/2 EV obtainable in modes P, S, A, and M
Sequence capturing: Max. 12  frames/sec. (14-bit NEF/RAW: 9 fps) with focus and publicity locked on the primary body
Buffer capability: Approx. 44 Giant/Fantastic JPEGs or 34 uncompressed 14-bit NEF.RAW recordsdata (43 compressed uncooked recordsdata)
Storage Media: XQD playing cards
Viewfinder: 0.5-inch OLED EVF with approx. 3,690,000 dots (Quad VGA), 21 mm eyepoint, 100% body protection, 0.8x magnification,  -4 to +2  dpt adjustment,  color stability and auto and 11-level guide brightness controls and eye sensor
LCD monitor: Tilting 3.2-inch TFT touch-sensitive LCD with 2,100,000 dots, 170° viewing angle, roughly 100% body protection, and color stability and 11-level guide brightness controls
Playback capabilities: Full-frame and thumbnail (4, 9, or 72 photos) playback with playback zoom, playback zoom cropping, film playback, picture and/or film slide exhibits, histogram show, highlights, picture info, location information show, image score, and auto picture rotation
Interface terminals: USB Sort C, HDMI Sort C, 3.5 mm mini-pin jacks for microphone and headphones, accent terminal for MC-DC2 and different optionally available equipment
Wi-Fi perform: IEEE 802.11b/g/n 2412 to 2462 MHz (channel 11) 2.4 GHz band: 7.0 dBm Open system, WPA2-PSK; Bluetooth 4.2
Energy provide: EN-EL15b rechargeable Li-ion Battery Pack; CIPA rated for approx. 310 photographs/cost
Dimensions (wxhxd): Approx. 134 x 100.5 x 67.5 mm
Weight:  Approx. 675 grams with battery and card

Distributor: Nikon Australia,1300 366 499; www.nikon.com.au.

TESTS

Primarily based upon JPEG recordsdata.

Primarily based upon NEF.RAW recordsdata (14-bit, uncompressed) transformed into 16-bit TIFF format with Adobe Digital camera Uncooked.

SAMPLES

Auto white stability with incandescent lighting.

Auto white stability with fluorescent lighting.

Auto white stability with  warm-toned LED lighting.

30 second publicity at ISO Lo 1 (ISO 50), 52mm focal size, f/4.

25 second publicity at ISO 100, 52mm focal size, f/4.

10 second publicity at ISO 800, 52mm focal size, f/8.

4 second publicity at ISO 6400; 52mm focal size, f/8.

2 second publicity at ISO 12800; 52mm focal size, f/8.

2 second publicity at ISO 25600; 52mm focal size, f/11.

2 second publicity at ISO 51200; 52mm focal size, f/16.

1 second publicity at ISO Hello 1 (ISO102400); 52mm focal size, f/16.

1/2 second publicity at ISO Hello 2 (ISO 204800); 52mm focal size, f/16.

Shut-up at 24mm focal size; ISO 100, 1/1000 second at f/4.

Shut-up at 35mm focal size; ISO 100, 1/1250 second at f/4.

Shut-up at 70mm focal size; ISO 100, 1/2000 second at f/4.

Indoor close-up; 24mm focal size, ISO 100, 1/4 second at f/6.3.

Indoor close-up: 52mm focal size, ISO 200, 1/10 second at f/4.

41mm focal size, ISO 100, 1/400 second at f/9.

Crop from the sting of the above picture at 100% magnification.

70mm focal size, ISO 100, 1/320 second at f/5.

24mm focal size, ISO 4500, 1/100 second at f/8.

33mm focal size, ISO 200, 1/2 second at f/6.3.

33mm focal size, ISO 640, 1/8 second at f/6.3.

33mm focal size, ISO 51200, 1/640 second at f/6.3.

 30mm focal size, ISO 1400, 1/60 second at f/8.

57mm focal size, ISO 200, 1/400 second at f/9.

 
Large brightness vary topic; 24mm focal size, ISO 200, 1/1000 second at f/8.

The next video clips had been all shot from the identical place.

Nonetheless body from 3840 x 2160 (4K UHD) video clip recorded at 30p.

Nonetheless body from 3840 x 2160 (4K UHD) video clip recorded at 25p.

Nonetheless body from 1920 x 1080 video clip recorded at 100p.

Nonetheless body from 1920 x 1080 video clip recorded at 50p.

Nonetheless body from 1920 x 1080 video clip recorded at 25p.

Nonetheless body from 1920 x 1080 video clip recorded in slow-motion mode at 25p x4.

Nonetheless body from 1920 x 1080 video clip recorded in slow-motion mode at 24p x5.

Ranking

RRP: Approx AU$3400; US$2149.90 (physique plus adaptor)

• Construct: 9.1
• Ease of use: 9.0
• Autofocusing: 8.9
• Nonetheless picture high quality JPEG: 8.9
• Nonetheless picture high quality RAW: 9.0
• Video high quality: 9.0

Purchase