Nikon has introduced the $2,500 Z6 III with the world's first “partially stacked” 24.5 megapixel (MP) sensor. This allows for high-speed shooting in both photo and video modes, while unlocking features like RAW video and faster autofocus, making it much more capable than its predecessor, the Z6 II.
Stacked sensors are rare so far, having only appeared in expensive models like the Sony A1 and Nikon's Z8 and Z9. Those chips have circuitry covering the entire sensor designed to read pixel data much faster than regular CMOS sensors.
By contrast, Nikon's new partially stacked sensor has circuitry that covers only the top and bottom portions of the sensor. These still accelerate readout speeds to much higher levels than ordinary CMOS chips, but are a bit short of full sensors, at a lower cost.
That, combined with the Expeed 7 image processor used in the Z8 and Z9, provides the gift of speed. The Z6 III can shoot RAW up to 20fps with the electronic shutter or 14fps with the mechanical shutter (yes, unlike the Z8 and Z9, the Z6 III has a mechanical shutter). It also comes with a pre-release capture feature that shoots at up to 120fps that works before you press the shutter, allowing you to capture fast-moving subjects that you might otherwise miss.
It offers autofocus (AF) that is 20 percent faster than the Z6 III, Nikon said. At the same time, it performs in low light down to -10 EV2, “superior to even flagship-level cameras,” the company claims. Nikon also borrowed advanced subject detection from the Z8 and Z9, allowing nine types of subject detection, including people, animals, and vehicles.
The video capabilities also seem formidable. Supports N-RAW capture up to 12-bit 6K/60fps and ProRes RAW 10-bit 5.4K/30fps, along with 4K/60fps (uncropped) and 4K/120fps (1.5x cropped) video, plus 1080p/240 fps recording.
Nikon is now matching the Canon EOS R5 with eight stops of vibration reduction with the built-in 5-axis stabilization system. Rolling shutter should be minimal with the sensor partially stacked, although Nikon has yet to specify the exact readout speed.
Other features are what you would expect from a hybrid camera. It has a fully articulated 3.2-inch rear display, along with “the brightest EVF on any mirrorless camera” with a dazzling 4,000 nits (and 5.67 million dots of resolution), according to Nikon. Finally, it has a CFexpress card slot for N-RAW video and fast photo burst speeds, along with a UHS-II SD slot.
It looks like a formidable alternative to the similarly priced 33-megapixel model. Sony A7IV, which offers faster speeds but slightly lower resolution. It also competes with Canon R6 II, which is missing features such as N-RAW video recording. Whether it can keep up with those models in the real world remains to be seen, but Nikon has certainly boosted the line in terms of specs. It arrives at the end of June for $2,500 (body only), or $3,100 in a kit with the Nikkor Z 24-70mm F/4/S lens.
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