Z 6

Wow. I´ve shot Pentax since i was about 12 starting with the old Spotmatic. Have had tons of fun and some really great images with Pentax—including an honorable mention in a NatGeo Traveler contest. But I never could get the sharpness i wanted. Since I will be doing portraits and videos now for one of my clients, I did months of research and chose the Z6. OMG. Took a beginner photog class last weekend with friends to start getting familiar with my Z6. Being able to ´see´´ the exposure TTL. OMG. The small size and everything within a finger´s reach—I´m still struggling to re-calibrate my hand around it because it´s too easy. The photo quality just messing around for one day—OMG. As my first Nikon, wow-the Z6 is so danged smart. The website is so inspirational. Wow. I hold in my hand the power to change the world through real stories.

I bought this as a video camera first, stills camera second, and I love the way video looks on this camera. I upgraded from a Lumix G85 (Little brother of the GH5) and WOW the video is so much better, even on the internal recording. The other thing I love is the option to upgrade. If you ever want to get more serious about video work, you can get an external recorder for 10-bit N-Log video. AND if you want to upgrade even further, you can even get 12-bit ProRes RAW video! NO other camera in this class has this. 5 years ago you would have to pay three times as much for those features.

I bought a Z 7 and I couldn´t be happier with it. I use it mostly for landscapes at static wildlife because of the high resolution. I read a couple of reviews that were totally of base, claiming the Z 6 didn´t focus well in low light. Nothing could be further from the truth! Maybe turn on low light assist? My Z 7 focuses in low light like a champ, practically in the dark. I bought the Z 6 to get the absolute best quality out of the video capabilities. To get this kind of quality in a dedicated full frame video camera would cost MANY times more than the Z 6. It is amazing!

I purchased the Z6 along with the 24-70mm kit lens and the FTZ adapter. The Z6 delivers outstanding picture quality right out of the camera. I have used Nikon DSLRs for many years and have a significant investment in Nikon lenses. Being able to use them with the FTZ adapter was one of the prime reasons I stayed with Nikon when entering the mirrorless age. So far no issue with any of my F mount lenses including non-Nikon F mounts.. The electronic viewfinder will change the way you shoot. ´´Chimping´´ is no longer required. What you see in the viewfinder is what is delivered. Even exposure compensation is seen through the viewfinder. The ability to shoot silently is a plus. One tip: You have shoot a 12-bit file to get the 12 fps on continuous high. Very pleased with Z6. Glad I purchased it.

I am new to full frame mirrorless cameras and photography overall for that matter, but i must say that the nikkor 24-70 mm f4 lens is such a joy to work with. This lens goes from wide angle to zoom with ease and with an aperture of f4 can still take awesome portraits with blown out backgrounds. Shooting at 4k at 24 frames per second could not be more crisp. The nikkor 24-70 is a very well balanced lens and is able to go from portrait to landscape photography with no problem. I feel that this lens handles low light situations without a problem.

I´ve used various cameras (non-Nikon included) for over 20 years but this is by far the most versatile and well-balanced camera for a photo/video enthusiast like myself. When Nikon entered the so called ´´full-frame mirrorless war´´ with the Z6 and Z7 back in 2018, I had an option to switch to other brands despite being a Nikon shooter for years. However, after tons of research and brainstorming, I concluded that the Z6 would be the best choice for me, and I do not regret my decision even after more than a year of ownership. I still own several camera bodies but Z6 is always the choice when I really need to have the work done without compromise.

Honestly, every camera these days are great. You can pick any camera and shoot great photos/videos. But still, compare to other full-frame mirrorless cameras, I think the Z6 is the best choice for photo/video enthusiasts. It has the best ergonomics which is very important. I can hold the body very comfortably and it feels very rugged. Buttons and dials aren´t flimsy and has a certain feedback. EVF is truly gorgeous, and the back LCD is crisp and clear. Menu is intuitive and well thought out. And most importantly, it is a camera from a company I can trust. This is an expensive, very high-tech equipment which I carry to various locations like snowy mountains, rainy forests, windy deserts, etc. I don´t want to rely on a gadget that just seems good on paper but works well only in controlled environments. Nikon has been around for more than a century and has been trusted by thousands of professionals. This is a real device I can rely on when capturing important moments of my life.

I picked the Z6 over the Z7 because Nikon wasn´t offering the top-notch Z mount lenses like the holy-trinity and fast primes at launch. I believe these lenses are essential if you really want to benefit from the extra megapixels on the Z7. No doubt the f/4 zooms and f/1.8 primes are amazing, and I´m truly loving them on my Z6. However, I would´ve been drooling for the f/2.8 zooms and f/1.4 (or f/1.2) primes if I had the Z7. So today, the Z6 is a more well-balanced camera for me considering the current lens line-up. Now the 24-70mm f/2.8 is released, and others should be coming in 2020 or 2021 according to Nikon´s roadmap. By that time, Nikon may release the Z6/Z7 successor which shall be a good timing for me to consider upgrading to a higher megapixel body.

Although I´m loving the Z6, here´s what I “don´t” like about this camera. They´re not deal-breakers to me, but it could be for some. (1) It has only 1 memory card slot, and it takes XQD cards. XQD cards are more expensive than SD cards, and I don´t have the backup because it doesn´t have 2 slots. From a reliability standpoint it is indeed better to have an XQD slot rather than an SD slot, but ideally an XQD SD combination would´ve been better. (2) The location of the exposure compensation button is awkward. It is on the right side of the shutter button and extremely difficult to press when you have your finger on the shutter button. Good news is that there´s an option which allows you to adjust the exposure comp without pressing this button, but then what´s the point of having a button in such an awkward location? And (3) the last and most critical one to me is the lack of f/4 tele-zoom lens. I know this isn´t about the camera itself, but I wanted to highlight it because it could impact one´s dedication to the Z mount system. Nikon doesn´t even have it in the roadmap, which is really, really disappointing.
They have the 70-200mm f/2.8S coming soon, which is great, but to me an f/4 is such a sweet spot for just about everything. It is lighter and more compact than the f/2.8, but still with high image quality. The F mount 70-200mm f/4G was awesome, so I was very excited to see the Z mount version. But as of today (Dec 2019), there´s no information about such lens. I don´t understand why - they already have the 14-30mm f/4S and 24-70mm f/4S, which are fantastic. Why 70-200mm f/4S is not even on the roadmap??
So, I´m basically stuck with the F mount lens adapted to my Z6 via the FTZ adapter. While the FTZ adapter works great, it does create some bulk to the system, and the biggest problem is when using it on a tripod. The adapter has a hump and its own screw hole, which will interfere if you have a tripod plate attached to the Z6 body. If I´m using a Z mount lens like the 24-70mm f/4S, I attach my tripod plate to the Z6 body. When I want to swap to a F mount lens FTZ adapter, I need to unscrew the plate from the body and then screw it in to the FTZ adapter. This process is really annoying and inconvenient. Wish Nikon had 2 FTZ adapters – a simple one without the screw hole, and another heavy-duty one to hold huge lenses.

Overall the Z6 is a wonderful camera which I´m truly loving and is a great choice for photo/video enthusiasts. It does have some minor flaws, but they aren´t critical to me and I can recommend this camera without hesitation. Just check the lens line-up and roadmap, and make sure you´re OK with it.

My first five years of photography experience were with a Nikkormat, Nikon FTN and a Nikon F2. These cameras produced great prints with exceptional color and clarity. I remember when I switched to another brand, since my wife found the size of the F2 cumbersome for her small hands. The images were good most of the time, but the color and sometimes the sharpness were less than what I had achieved with my Nikons.
I am very passionate about photography. A couple of years ago I started the search for a new camera. I studied a lot of reviews, looked at numerous recommendations and viewed hundreds of images to see what camera was used. My requirements for a new camera were a sound technology foundation, ergonomically flexible design, reduced editing time and, most importantly, an accurate rendition of what I saw.
The Z6 is what placed at the top of my list. I purchased my Nikon Z 6 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 24-70mm Lens, and FTZ Mount Adapter. I also purchased an AF-S 50mm f/1.4 lens. Out of the box, a review of the settings was simple with the menu layout. I spent time reviewing the control placements. They were simple to use, well-placed and adaptive. I shot a couple dozen or so test images with the 24-70mm lens. Nikon is well known for its color science and its outstanding glass. The image color is spot on to that of subjects. The image quality is superb. A quick review of the focusing modes and I was ready for my next test. The Eye-Detection AF worked great. I could move from one eye to the other with the control on the back while looking through the viewfinder. The eyes in the image where sharp and clear. Low light seemed to be no issue. I switched to video mode and shoot a quick test video. The quality was great. A flick of the switch and I was ready to take more stills.
While I have not tested my Z6 extensively, I´m certain that I made the right choice. My goal is great images. The Z6 is part of that endeavor. Sound technology, great glass, adaptive design and less time at my desk correcting what I was trying to capture; these things aside, I know that great images ultimately rest with the photographer.
I´m looking forward using my Z6 as I travel the world.

The images are as shot, except for some cropping.

I´m a former press photographer on the red carpets at Hollywood´s biggest events. Doing event coverage means you are in constantly different lighting situations, and low light in night clubs and at concerts has always been an issue. Today I photograph set still and publicity photos for movies.

Being mirrorless, a sound blimp to silence the camera noise is no longer required. Neither are the sticks that were needed to hold the camera when fitted with a blimp. Today, after capturing the required production stills, I´m free to move about the set and capture behind-the-scenes like never before.

As a test, I went to the Santa Monica pier at night to shoot in natural light with two Z6 bodies, one with the standard kit lens 24-70mm f4 and the other with the 50mm f1.8 and shooting at up to 21,800 ISO. I have to say, the blacks are black. And when focused on a park name in the center of a ferris wheel, with roller coaster in motion in the foreground ... the lettering in the center of the Ferris Wheel is TACK sharp!

From the 50mm f1.8 ... absolutely gorgeous bokeh!

I LOVE these cameras and Z-Series lenses!

I have worked as a nature fine arts photographer for close to 50 years. In the later of my career, I have devoted much i passion to our sustainable rivers...To. ? A River! And by that living in a tent with the rivers to obtain the desired imagery of which some subjects turn into original hand-painted photos. So, quality is everything and it only takes a moment to capture the Spirit and Soul of a River if one is willing to wait in patience! Gear to depend on is vital and if one is in loss of eyesight going down-stream and don´t drive...Well, the new Nikon Z- class series will do the Job!