Nikon Z6 Field Test Part II

The Z6 proves to be a very capable landscape & wildlife camera

by Jeremy Gray | Posted 08/06/2019

Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6E lens adapted with Nikon FTZ adapter at 330mm, f/5.6, 1/640s, ISO 250. This image has been cropped. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Recap of Field Test Part I

In our previous coverage of the Nikon Z6, we evaluated the Z6's body and design, image quality, autofocus and performance. We have also discussed the Z6's video features in a separate video-centric Field Test.

In this second Field Test, I will be looking at the Z6 as a wildlife and landscape camera, including considering how the FTZ adapter works on the Z6 and what type of image quality you can expect from its 24-megapixel sensor in low light situations. I will also look at how the camera's raw files handle extensive edits during raw file processing.

Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S lens at 70mm, f/8, 1/80s, ISO 220. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

In the Field

I know that the design of the Z6 (and identical Z7) camera bodies has been discussed here previously, but I wanted to touch on a few aspects of the design which I really like. First, the electronic viewfinder is excellent. With 3.6 million dots and a 0.8x magnification, the EVF is large, sharp and very easy to use. While there is some blackout while shooting at its fastest speeds, the EVF works well for tracking subjects while shooting. The only aspect of the EVF I don't like is that I found that the eye sensor was a bit inconsistent, and I occasionally found myself accidentally turning off the rear display because the camera thought I was looking through the viewfinder. You can change the EVF mode to deal with this, but this means losing the automatic switching which, in many cases, works well.

Another nice aspect of the camera's design are its two displays: the top information display and the rear 3.2-inch touchscreen. The top display is a dot-matrix OLED display and shows important camera settings. The rear touchscreen has 2.1 million dots of resolution, making it very vivid and sharp. The tilting design feels very robust and works well. With that said, it only tilts up and down and not a fully-articulating display nor a triaxial design such as what you find on a number Fujifilm cameras.

Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6E lens adapted with Nikon FTZ adapter at 500mm, f/5.6, 1/640s, ISO 2800. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

I have been using Nikon DSLR cameras since I started with photography, so over the years, I have grown used to the general design layout of Nikon cameras and menus. The Z6, despite being much smaller than something like a Nikon D850, feels immediately familiar. For users who might not be accustomed to Nikon controls, I think that there's a lot to like. The dedicated ISO and exposure compensation buttons being located near the shutter release makes a lot of sense, allowing you to access major exposure-related controls in one area. There have been some minor compromises, however. For example, there's no dedicated AF-L button on the camera, meaning you will need to assign one of the two function buttons on the front or the rear AF-ON button to this task.

Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S lens at 70mm, f/8, 1/80s, ISO 140. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

All in all, the Nikon Z6 looks and feels like a Nikon camera. For me, this is a positive, although I understand that some potential users may prefer the control layout of a competing camera brand. However, I am confident that everyone will appreciate the excellent electronic viewfinder and sturdy feel of the Z6.

Landscape photography with the Z6 is a good experience

The Z6 is a good landscape camera for a variety of reasons, although perhaps not as compelling of an option as the Z7, due to the difference in megapixel count and resolving power. With that said, you get the same great mirrorless camera body, including an excellent electronic viewfinder and solidly-built tilting touchscreen.

Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S lens at 70mm, f/9, 8s, ISO 100. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

To recap, the Nikon Z6 has a 24.5-megapixel backside-illuminated CMOS image sensor, which delivers a native ISO range of 100-51,200. This image sensor is paired with Nikon's latest EXPEED 6 image processor.

When considering dynamic range, let's see how the Z6 fares compared to the Z7, Sony A7 III and Canon EOS R. All four are full-frame mirrorless cameras and save for the 45MP Z7 are in the same general megapixel class. Thanks to our friends at Photons to Photos, we can compare all four cameras across their respective ISO ranges. At base ISO, the Sony performs best with an 11.6 EV dynamic range and the Canon EOS R delivers the smallest dynamic range at 10.6 EV. The Nikon Z6 and Z7 are very similar to one another, at 11.01 and 10.98 EV, respectively. In most situations, the difference between these four cameras won't be very noticeable, which is to say that all four, including the Z6, are solid performers for even the most demanding types of landscape photography.

Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S lens at 50mm, f/2.8, 1/160s, ISO 100. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S lens at 50mm, f/2.8, 1/160s, ISO 100. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Another aspect to consider when looking at a camera for landscape photography is the extent of fine detail it can resolve. As mentioned earlier, the Z7's resolving capabilities are top-notch and, in that respect, the Z6 cannot quite keep pace. However, the Z6 does produce very flexible raw files (as does the Z7, for that matter), which is also an important consideration. You are able to push the shadow and highlight details quite far when working with Z6 raw files, which makes it easier to realize your creative vision, even when the lighting conditions are less than ideal. Further, the Z6 produces images with pleasing colors and smooth tonal transitions.

Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S lens at 24mm, f/8, 1/25s, ISO 500. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

If you want to shoot nightscapes, you may be curious how the Z6 performs in low light. In a particularly extreme example, consider the ISO 51,200 image below, which is the maximum native ISO of the Z6. Now, the image quality is not great, of course, but considering the ISO, I think it's pretty impressive.

Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S lens at 70mm, f/2.8, 1/25s, ISO 51,200. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S lens at 70mm, f/2.8, 1/25s, ISO 51,200. 100 percent crop from original JPEG image. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S lens at 70mm, f/2.8, 1/25s, ISO 51,200. 100 percent crop from original JPEG image. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

 

Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S lens at 70mm, f/2.8, 1/25s, ISO 51,200. Raw image processed with Adobe Camera Raw default settings. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S lens at 70mm, f/2.8, 1/25s, ISO 51,200. 100 percent crop from raw image processed with Adobe Camera Raw default settings. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S lens at 70mm, f/2.8, 1/25s, ISO 51,200. 100 percent crop from raw image processed with Adobe Camera Raw default settings. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

 

Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S lens at 70mm, f/2.8, 1/25s, ISO 51,200. 100 percent crop from raw image processed with additional noise reduction than Adobe Camera Raw default settings. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file. By applying additional noise reduction to the raw file, you can reduce noise further while maintaining better detail retention than the JPEG file with in-camera noise reduction applied. Of particular importance during raw noise reduction at ISO 51,200 is removing color noise, which is quite bad with the raw file straight from the camera.

Back to more realistic landscape shooting scenarios, the Z6 is simply an enjoyable camera to use and a very capable landscape camera for under $2,000 USD. It produces sharp images with good dynamic range and pleasing colors, and the camera body itself is well-designed.

Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S lens at 24mm, f/8, 1/25s, ISO 280. Original JPEG image. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S lens at 24mm, f/8, 1/25s, ISO 280. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file. As you can see, you can recover quite a lot of detail from the shadow and highlight areas when processing raw files from the Z6. The highlights behind the large tree to the left proved unrecoverable, but overall, it's a dramatic transformation.

 

Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S lens at 70mm, f/13, 3s, ISO 100. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Provided you have an FTZ adapter, the Z6 is a capable wildlife camera

The Nikon Z6 is a really solid all-around wildlife camera for a variety of reasons. Not the least of which is that the camera's autofocus system works really well and offers wide coverage of the image area. Further, the focus is quite quick, especially after recent firmware updates that improved both continuous autofocus and low-light autofocus performance. The Z6 has a 273-point phase-detect autofocus system, which is fewer points than are found on the Z7's higher-megapixel image sensor. However, I found that the Z6's autofocus system performed comparatively.

Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6E lens adapted with Nikon FTZ adapter at 500mm, f/5.6, 1/640s, ISO 5600. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file. Part of the appeal of the Z6 as a wildlife camera is that it performs really well in low-light, both in terms of image quality at high ISO and with respect to autofocus performance.

The large, crisp electronic viewfinder is another reason why I enjoy shooting wildlife with the Z6, and the same goes for the built-in image stabilization. The Z6's IS system works very well, especially when trying to keep the viewfinder image stable when shooting, even when using a long lens such as an adapted Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6E telephoto zoom. Plus, the ability to shoot with a completely silent shutter is great for particularly skittish animals, though I didn't find the mechanical shutter on the Z6 all that noisy, to be honest. You can also easily switch to the silent (electronic) shutter mode by assigning it to the "i" quick-access menu, which is very convenient.

Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6E lens adapted with Nikon FTZ adapter at 500mm, f/5.6, 1/640s, ISO 5600. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Speaking of the 200-500mm f/5.6E lens, to use this with the Nikon Z6 you must use the FTZ adapter, which does add cost to the Z6 unless you get it in a special bundle which has been available at various points since the camera launched. At the time of writing, the adapter adds over $200 to the purchase price. With that said, it's absolutely worth it if you already have Nikon F-mount lenses or want to use your Z6 for wildlife photography, as there are no native Nikkor Z mount lenses well-suited to most wildlife situations (at this time).

Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6E lens adapted with Nikon FTZ adapter at 480mm, f/5.6, 1/640s, ISO 2500. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Fortunately, when using an adapted lens, the Z6 performs well. Autofocus performance is quick, and it doesn't ever feel like you're using a non-native lens or being subjected to a second-class shooting experience. Given the wide array of excellent long F-mount lenses and how well the FTZ adapter works, the lack of telephoto native Z-mount lenses wouldn't dissuade me from considering the Z6.

Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6E lens adapted with Nikon FTZ adapter at 500mm, f/5.6, 1/640s, ISO 500. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

In fact, compared to Nikon's other full-frame cameras in this price range, the Z6 delivers very good autofocus area coverage, autofocus performance and shooting speeds. The Z6 can shoot at up to 12 frames per second, which is very quick. At these speeds, you are limited to 12-bit raw files and the buffer fills up in about three seconds, but it also clears quickly. If you want 14-bit raw files, shooting speeds are capped at 9 fps. Nikon also added recently continuous AE in the Continuous H+ shooting speeds via firmware 2.0, more on that shortly.

Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6E lens adapted with Nikon FTZ adapter at 500mm, f/5.6, 1/400s, ISO 2800. This image has been cropped. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

For both landscape and wildlife photographers, it's worth considering how rugged a camera is. While I wasn't personally subjected to harsh weather while shooting with the Z6, the identical Z7 body has been through our rigorous weather testing protocol. To read the full details on the sealing found on Nikon's two Z camera bodies, click here. The primary takeaway is that the Z6/Z7 are at the top of their class in terms of weather sealing and you should feel confident photographing wildlife in moderate precipitation.

Overall, the Nikon Z6 is a very good camera for wildlife photography. While the smaller size of the Z6 relative to Nikon's full-frame DSLR cameras is canceled out slightly by the need to use adapted F-mount telephoto lenses, many other aspects of the mirrorless camera's design work well. The autofocus system and overall performance impress in particular, while the excellent electronic viewfinder, the silent shutter mode, and very good build quality also pay dividends for wildlife shooting.

Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6E lens adapted with Nikon FTZ adapter at 500mm, f/5.6, 1/500s, ISO 5000. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Where does the Nikon Z6 stand in the summer of 2019?

When I tested the Nikon Z7 last fall, I had numerous positive takeaways. Many of these opinions of the Z7 apply to the Z6, especially when considering the overall design of the camera. There are some usability compromises to be made when moving from a full-frame Nikon DSLR such as the D850 to a mirrorless camera like the Z6, but there are also advantages to be gained. The electronic viewfinder in particular is fantastic. Further, despite the more compact nature of the camera, most controls remain intact.

Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S lens at 52mm, f/8, 0.4s, ISO 100. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

A concern I had with the Z7 was a lack of native lenses, which Nikon has been addressing. There are now six native Z-mount lenses available for the Nikon Z6 and Z7 cameras, including a very interesting 14-30mm f/4 zoom lens and what I think is Nikon's best-ever 24-70mm f/2.8 zoom. Other lenses in the pipeline for 2019 include the Nikkor Z 58mm f/0.95 S Noct, which will be fascinating, and a new 70-200mm f/2.8 S pro zoom. In 2020, Nikon currently has seven lenses listed for release, including three they've announced: the 20mm f/1.8 S, 50mm f/1.2 S and 14-24mm f/2.8 S. Nikon still has a ways to go to catch up to Sony's full-frame mirrorless lens selection, for example, but given how well the FTZ adapter works, there is not necessarily a dire need. If you have a bevy of AF-S F-mount lenses already, the Z6 can handle basically any type of photography very well.

Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6E lens adapted with Nikon FTZ adapter at 410mm, f/5.6, 1/500s, ISO 1100. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Firmware

It's also worth considering that Nikon has continually been improving the Z6 via firmware updates. In firmware version 2.0, which was released in May just before I got my hands on the Z6, Nikon added eye-detect autofocus, improved the low-light autofocus accuracy and speed, and updated the continuous shooting performance, among other smaller changes.

Firstly, eye-detection autofocus is a big deal for portrait and event shooters. This new feature continuously tracks eyes throughout the frame in AF-S and AF-C focus modes. It also allows you to choose eyes from multiple people in the frame and can reacquire focus on the eyes if the subject is temporarily obstructed. You can read more about this feature and see how it compares to the Sony A7 III by clicking here.

Regarding improved autofocus performance in low light, while I don't have a scientific way to test this, anecdotally, compared to the Nikon Z7 (with version 1.0 firmware) I used last fall, the Z6's low-light autofocus performance does seem improved. I think that there might be a bit more room for improvement here, but the fact that Nikon has been able to add autofocus features and improve autofocus performance bodes well for future improvements via firmware.

Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6E lens adapted with Nikon FTZ adapter at 440mm, f/5.6, 1/800s, ISO 1800. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

For continuous shooting, Nikon has added AE tracking to the Z6 when it is shooting in fastest Continuous H+ (12 fps) burst mode, which used to only offer continuous AF. Previously, the camera offered full AF/AE tracking only at up to 5.5 fps, so this is a significant change and should make the camera better suited to outdoor sports and general wildlife photography.

Overall

The Nikon Z6 is a great full-frame mirrorless camera, and it is as much a jack-of-all-trades as any camera Nikon has released. As Nikon continues to flesh out the Z-mount lens selection and introduces improvements and new features to the Z6 via firmware, it will only become better. Of course, the lens selection is the kicker at the moment because until the native lens selection is more fleshed out, the Nikon Z6 will primarily appeal to Nikon DSLR users rather than brand-new full-frame photographers.

Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6E lens adapted with Nikon FTZ adapter at 500mm, f/5.6, 1/640s, ISO 1250. This image has been cropped. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Nikon Z6 Field Test Part II Summary

A very capable all-around full-frame mirrorless camera

What I like:

• Great camera body design, including an excellent EVF and impressive weather resistance
• Reliable autofocus performance
• Impressive image quality in many situations

What I didn't like:

• Native lens selection remains a concern, although Nikon is actively addressing it
• You basically need the FTZ adapter to use the Z6 as a wildlife camera

The Nikon Z6 offers a lot of value for photographers who already have AF-S Nikon F-mount lenses, thanks to the capable FTZ adapter. However, for those who are brand-new to Nikon, the situation is murkier. Having used most of the native Z lenses, including both 24-70mm f/2.8 zoom lenses and the 14-30mm f/4 S, the Z6 is a great choice for general shooting and landscape photography, even without an existing selection of Nikon F-mount lenses. For portrait shooters, the recent addition of eye-detect autofocus and three native f/1.8 primes (with a pair of even faster 50mm lenses on the way) are sure to make the Z6 an appealing option. If you want to shoot wildlife images, a personal favorite type of photography for me, then you simply must use long Nikon F-mount lenses with the FTZ adapter. Nikon's lens roadmap does little to change this current reality, as the longest lens listed yet is their upcoming 70-200mm f/2.8 zoom. Sports photographers will likely enjoy the Z6's impressive autofocus performance and AF area coverage, although blackout times while shooting bursts may make it tricky to track very fast action while shooting.

Moving past lenses and considering just the Z6 itself, it's definitely a highly capable camera. It is very well-designed, and its image quality and overall performance are impressive. Mirrorless is no longer "the future" for Nikon full-frame photography, it's the present, and based on the Z6, this longtime DSLR shooter doesn't mind that at all.

Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S lens at 70mm, f/6.3, 1/80s, ISO 3200. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.