FixThePhoto Verdict: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
The Nikon Z6 is an awesome camera for experts because it has a 24.5MP full-frame sensor that takes clear pictures. It works great in low light and has a fast 273-point autofocus system to keep things sharp. It can shoot 4K videos and has one card slot for extra storage. Plus, it's small, easy to carry, and works with Z-mount lenses to help you take pro-level photos and videos.
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✔️ Amazing EVF |
❌ Autofocus could be better |
Key Nikon Z6 Specifications:
The Nikon Z6 came out in November 2018 as one of Nikon's first full-frame mirrorless cameras, along with the Z7. People liked it because it was cheaper than the Z7 but still worked really well for both photos and videos.
Over time, Nikon made it even better with updates that added features like Eye-Detection Autofocus, Animal Eye Autofocus, and improved tracking, keeping it competitive in the mirrorless camera world.
When I unboxed my Z6, my first thought was how expensive and well-packed it looked. Inside the box, I found the camera body, a battery (EN-EL15b), a USB-C cable for charging, a strap, and the FTZ adapter (because I bought the kit for F-mount lenses).
The Z6 Nikon photography camera felt solid and high-quality. It's small but strong, with a weather-sealed magnesium body that felt great to hold.
One of the first things I did was attach the Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S lens, which is a great all-around lens for testing. I also added an XQD memory card, which the Z6 needs. After that, I connected the camera to my computer to check the firmware and update it to the latest version. This made sure all the new autofocus and video features worked. Everything went smoothly, and my first impression was incredible.
The Nikon Z6 has become one of my favorite cameras for shooting commercial, wedding, and fashion photography. It’s not as quick to start up when comparing this mirrorless vs DSLRs like the Nikon D850, which can feel a bit weird if you’re used to those instant responses. But once the Z6 is ready, it performs so well that the small delay doesn’t bother me anymore.
The camera can shoot up to 12 FPS, which is amazing for action shots — like a bride spinning on the dance floor. However, at that top speed, you can only shoot 12-bit RAW files, and the camera can take about 37 RAW photos before it needs a moment to process them. So, it’s not a sports camera like the D5, but for weddings or fashion work where I don’t need long bursts, it’s been totally fine.
Some people didn’t like that the Z6 has only one XQD card slot, but honestly, I’ve never had an issue. XQD cards are reliable and powerful. I’ve had problems with other SD cards in the past, but not these. Sure, two slots would’ve been nice, but it’s not a big deal for me.
The EVF (Electronic Viewfinder) was a big change for me at first. Coming from DSLRs with optical viewfinders, it felt strange. But now I love it! It shows you exactly how your photo will look with the exposure and colors in real time. This makes shooting so much easier, especially in tricky lighting, like at wedding receptions or during golden hour outside.
When it comes to the design, it was super important for me to have a camera that’s comfortable to hold because I usually shoot without a tripod. I need to hold the camera in my hands for hours, so it has to feel good and easy to grip.
After using the Nikon Z6 for my first wedding shoot, I can say the grip is amazing — just what you’d expect from Nikon. It’s deep and secure, so the camera feels comfortable to hold, even during long shoots. Whether I’m quickly moving around at a wedding or holding the camera for hours during a fashion shoot, it never feels heavy.
Even though the Z6 is a compact camera, it still has the solid build quality that Nikon is famous for. It’s lighter than DSLRs, but it doesn’t feel cheap or breakable — it feels like a proper professional camera.
The buttons and controls are easy to find without having to look away from the viewfinder. This is super helpful when I’m trying to capture quick moments, like during a wedding ceremony or a fast-paced commercial shoot.
The flip-out touchscreen is another feature I love. It makes it easy to take pictures from creative angles — like above my head, at waist level, or even close to the ground — without me having to twist my body to see through the viewfinder. For fashion shoots, it helps me get cool, unique shots, and for weddings, it’s perfect for getting candid pictures without being too noticeable. The touchscreen works smoothly, and I can tap to focus and take a photo quickly, which saves me time.
The focus on the Nikon Z6 is a bit of a mixed experience, but it’s gotten better over time.
When the camera first came out, the autofocus wasn’t as good as people expected, especially if you were used to the super-fast focus on a DSLR like the D850. It wasn’t terrible, just not amazing. But Nikon has worked hard to fix this with updates. By firmware version 3, I’d say the autofocus is now "very good," though not perfect.
In good lighting, the autofocus works really well. It locks onto subjects quickly and tracks moving people or objects accurately. If you’re shooting something fast using AF-C mode, like a bride spinning or a kid running, it can keep up and give you sharp photos in a burst.
However, in low light, the autofocus sometimes struggles. As a wedding photographer, I often shoot in dark churches or venues with bright lights behind the subject, and this is where the Z6 can have trouble. Sometimes it takes a moment to find focus, or the camera can miss completely, which can mean losing an important shot — like the first kiss or a special moment on the dance floor.
There’s a focus assist beam in AF-S mode to help in low light, but I don’t really use it. It’s a bright green light that shines on your subject to help the camera focus, and it’s not great for intimate or emotional moments. Imagine a bright green light on someone’s face during a quiet wedding moment — not ideal! So, while the feature exists, it’s not super helpful for me.
One thing I love about this mirrorless camera for video and photos, is how much of the frame it can focus on — 90%! This means I can focus even on the edges of the picture without having to move the focus point and then adjust the shot. It makes framing and getting creative with my composition so much easier.
Also, it’s good to keep in mind that the Z6 isn’t meant to compete with Nikon’s top cameras like the D5 or D850 when it comes to autofocus. That’s not what it was made for. Instead, it’s smaller, lighter, and much more affordable, which makes it a great option to add to a professional photographer’s gear collection.
The Nikon Z6 is a fantastic camera that takes amazing photos, competing with some of the best cameras out there.
I used it with the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.8 S lens, and together they made super sharp pictures that looked great from edge to edge. Nikon’s new Z-mount lenses, which are designed to work perfectly with this camera, really show how much better Nikon lenses have become.
The camera has an anti-aliasing filter that’s a bit stronger, which makes the details a little less sharp compared to some top cameras, but it helps reduce fake colors in photos. For most photos you take in real life, this is a good trade-off.
Another impressive thing about the Z6 is its dynamic range. You can fix pictures with tricky lighting (like really sunny skies or dark shadows) and still see lots of details in those areas. It’s great for things like outdoor weddings or photos with dramatic lighting.
There’s one small issue, though: if you brighten super dark shadows in editing, you might notice some faint lines. This happens because of phase-detect autofocus rows on the sensor. But frankly, it’s not a big deal and rarely shows up in normal use. I only saw it when I made shadows a lot brighter while editing, and even then, it didn’t happen often.
This camera for photography, immediately takes photos with true-to-life colors. Whether I’m shooting the soft details of a bride’s dress in natural light or the colorful look of products, the pictures always turn out beautiful. Skin tones look especially natural, which is important for weddings and fashion shoots.
One cool thing about the Z6 is how it handles light when the settings aren’t perfect. If you take a too dark picture at ISO 800 or higher, you can brighten it later without losing much quality. This is super handy when you’re shooting something like a sunset and want to make sure the bright parts (like the sun) still look good. I’ve used this trick during sunset photos, and it worked perfectly.
I’ve used the Nikon Z6 for taking videos during weddings, and while it has some good features, it’s not the best Nikon camera for video work.
The camera can shoot clear 4K video using its full sensor, which is better than older models. It also has 5-axis stabilization that helps keep videos steady when you’re holding the camera, and the autofocus works better than Nikon’s older DSLR cameras. It’s not amazing, but it gets the job done for simple videos.
You can also record slow-motion videos in 1080p at 120 frames per second, which looks smooth and works great for romantic moments like at weddings. I’ve tried this, and it looks nice.
But the camera has a big problem for professional videos. When you use an external microphone, there’s a noticeable hissing sound in the audio. For wedding videos, where it’s super important to capture clear sound, this is a big issue. That’s why I wouldn’t recommend it for professional video jobs.
The Nikon Z6’s autofocus is better than Nikon’s older DSLRs, but it’s not the best out there. Sometimes, it struggles to track moving subjects, like a bride walking down the aisle and, therefore, can miss important moments.
Another issue is a rolling shutter. When shooting in full frame 4K, fast movements or quick camera turns can look warped or stretched, which doesn’t look good if you’re filming exciting or action-packed scenes at a wedding.
There’s also a difference in quality when switching between full-frame 4K video camera mode and cropped 4K. The cropped version has more noise, and it can be tricky to match the two types of footage in the same video.
By default, the Z6 adds a lot of sharpening to videos, which can create an unnatural look with halos around objects. This isn’t ideal for professional-quality videos. Because of these problems, I only use the Z6 for simple behind-the-scenes videos, like during product photoshoots or other calm, non-action shoots. It’s just not great for fast-paced or detailed video work.
The Nikon Z6 is a great mirrorless camera for all kinds of photography, but there are other cameras you might like more, depending on what you need.
One popular option is the Sony A7 III. It’s called a “workhorse” because it does almost everything well. It has a 24.2 MP sensor, works great in low light, and has super-fast autofocus. It’s great for taking pictures of people, action, or just about anything. It also has two memory card slots and a battery that lasts a long time.
If you want super-detailed photos and videos, the Canon EOS R5 is an amazing choice. Its 45 MP sensor makes sharp images, and it can even record 8K video. This video camera has advanced autofocus that can track animals' eyes and is built to handle tough weather, making it perfect for professionals.
If you care about having a small, lightweight camera that’s not too expensive, the Fujifilm X-T4 is a great pick. It has a 26.1 MP sensor, built-in stabilization to keep photos steady, and cool film-like color modes that make your photos look unique. It’s a favorite for travel and street photography.
For those on a budget who don’t want to get an expensive camera like the Nikon Z6, the Panasonic Lumix S5 is a fantastic deal. It has a full-frame 24 MP sensor, shoots 4K video, and is compact and easy to carry. It’s perfect if you want both good photos and videos without spending too much.
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