Nikon, a long-time leader in the DSLR world, initially struggled with mirrorless cameras, and now its Z series, especially the Z6 Mark III, is competing strongly with Sony, Canon, and Fujifilm.
Coming to you from Tom CaltonThis detailed video discusses how Nikon has made significant strides with its recent full frame releases. Zf And Z8 The models have received positive reviews and are now, Nikon Z6 Mark III is also generating a lot of excitement. Calton was lucky enough to be loaned a unit from Nikon and has some thoughts to share after a few weeks of use.
The Z6 Mark III’s handling is excellent, offering everything you’d expect from a camera. There are plenty of buttons and manual dials, including two command dials on the top, a joystick on the back for moving the AF point, and a touchscreen. The deep, rubberized grip ensures a secure hold, and all the controls are within easy reach with your right hand. Nikon’s methodical button placement is spot-on, making adjustments intuitive and efficient.
The Z6 Mark III’s standout feature is its EVF. It’s sharp and bright, making it one of the best EVFs Calton has ever used. Inside, the camera houses a new 24-megapixel partially stacked sensor, which offers faster readouts than traditional sensors. This design improves video and stills by reducing rolling shutter effects. Calton tested the camera in real-world situations, taking portraits of his friend in rainy weather in the UK. The weather-sealed construction held up well, and the unedited raw files looked impressive straight out of the camera.
The Z6 Mark III’s autofocus speed is said to be 20% faster than its predecessor. While shooting, Calton found the AF to be fast and accurate, though not quite perfect. The camera’s 3D tracking mode, borrowed from the Z8, locked onto moving subjects even as they passed over obstacles. The mechanical shutter allows for continuous shooting at up to 14 frames per second, and when using a CFexpress card, you can boost this to 20 frames per second with the electronic shutter.
Another point of discussion is dynamic range. While some have argued that the new chip design offers less dynamic range than traditional sensors, Calton didn’t find this to be a significant issue during his time with the camera. Images look great, and unless you’re someone who needs to push and pull raw files significantly, this isn’t likely to be an issue.
Video is where the Z6 Mark III really stands out. It can shoot 6K 12-bit raw internally, with options for N-RAW and ProRes RAW, both up to 60fps. There are also options for 4K 10-bit video up to 60fps without crop, and 4K 8-bit up to 120fps with DX crop. The camera includes eight stops of IBIS, which effectively reduces shake in handheld video. Check out the video above for Calton’s full rundown.
