Nikon Z6 mirrorless camera review – a wedding photographers perspective and hands on experience The preamble to my ramble What is this review? It’s purely my experience and thoughts from using the Nikon Z6 for one wedding season as part of a dual camera setup alongside the Nikon d850. I didn’t do any tests…
Using the Sigma 24mm 1.4 ART Lens for weddings First of all I’ll get the usual “this is not an in depth chart and numbers review” disclaimer out of the way and just let you know this is a real world review. If you want to check out the in depth MTF charts and everything…
Pentax Lx: Pentax’s best 35mm film camera and possibly one of the best 35mm cameras ever made. My main film camera is now the Pentax LX :) This little blog is about my experience and findings with this little gem of a camera rather than a fully blown technical review, but I hope it gives others a little insight…
The Nikon 85mm 1.8 G is the lens I’ve owned for the longest and is part of my 35 / 85 lens combo I use for weddings. Its light, fairly quick to focus and is sharp wide open. It’s the lens I’ve owned the longest as it’s one of the most useful. Is it my…
Ok, so this blog is a work in progress as the announcement of the Nikon I am advancing campaign seems to have been delayed(it was originally due for January 19th). I first heard about the new firmware update program via Nikon Rumors who had access to a leaked press announcement that had made its way…
Shallow depth of field? Crazy bokeh? It seems everyone wants and often gets fixated on achieving that amazing look when shooting wide open. I like to shoot primes and I like to shoot wide open so count me in that group too! I like sharpness in an image but it’s usually second to something just…
My Obsession with the Electro 35 series of cameras This post is half an homage to the Yashica Electro 35 Rangefinder film camera, and half an homage to Todd McLellan and his disassembly series. I have a little bit of history with the Electro 35. I first knew I wanted one when I saw…
I have wanted a 35mm lens with shallow depth of field capabilities ever since I sold off my Fuji X100. I loved the 35mm equivalent angle of view on the Fuji, but one thing that it always lacked was the ability to get really nice shallow depth of field photos. You certainly can with…
Thanks for the review. Finally, working photographers started to talk about their use of Z6. Reviews from YouTube celebrities are not the same. I’m looking for upgrade from D7100 to D750 or Z6 and your thoughts are quite helpful. What would you say about using Z6 for concert photography, studio work and news reportage? Thank for you time
Hi Kirill
I’m not sure about news reportage as those guys usually use big camera beasts like the D4, D5 etc but for everything else – definitely. I would certainly use the Z6 over the d750 for anything that has low light and concerts would be a good example of low light. You can only try and see. It did take me a little while to get used to the Z6, but the internet is now packed full of useful tips on how to set the Z6 up for success :)
Thanks ?
Great shots. Thanks for the review. I’ve sold my Sony gear and come back to Nikon full time. Just really don’t use my DSLRs any more. Loving the Z’s
Thanks for the kind words Paul – glad you like your Z6’s. Settling on any new camera these days is quite hard especially when everything out there is a really high standard.
This article is so helpful! So good to have some insight from someone who persevered (not my strong suit). I’m only on week 2 with the Z6 and doing all the research and trials I can. Can you tell me how to set up the “video record button so hold-pressing it gives you an exposure preview and depth of field preview.”? Thank you so much!
Hi Joanna – Go to custom settings then f2 – then select the movie record button to change what it does :)
Great to see a working review of the Z6. If you want to see another wedding photographer’s experience look up The Monochrome Memoirs on YouTube. The D780 is the camera you were waiting for but I’d rather have two Z6 than a Z6 and D780.
Has the d780 sparked your interest then? Or is it too smaller an incremental upgrade?
The D780 sparked my interest so much, I traded in my D850 for one. I know have a Z6 mirrorless and DSLR with effectively the same sensor :) First impressions are it’s great! Everything I wanted the D750 to have – 1/8000 shutter speed and live view focusing that is as fast as mirrorless. Looking forward to using it alongside the Z6 this season :)
Excellent write-up and fantastic pictures! Truly impressive :)
Am considering the Z6 as an entry into the full frame world for my starting professional career (with a lot of indoor events) since it seems to offer the best bang for the buck together with the new 1.8 primes. The 3d tracking from the new firmware update also looks awesome and fast for getting good compositions (where you point the white box, hold focus and it sticks to the subject while you frame the shot)
How were you satisfied with the new 35mm 1.8s? Was thinking of pairing that and the 85 1.8 to cover most bases.Cheers, awesome work and really appreciate “real world” usage examples like this.
Hi Luka – thank you for the kind words :) I was very satisfied with the 35mm 1.8s, but I already had the 35mm1.4 F mount and whilst the new S lens is sharper wide open and has excellent contrast and colours, I was just missing that extra bit of shallow depth of field you get from the older 1.4. It would be great if Nikon brought out a 1.4 or 1.2 version of the S line but with it being taken off the roadmap, I think they never will!
Hi! Thank You for review. Have You compared already Z6 to D780
Yes – and honestly I think I prefer the Z6 – there is some disparity between the AF settings in Liveview and the Viewfinder. The settings remain the same, but the way they work between the two focus systems is massively different. E.g – if you set it to skip every other point in liveview – so you can move the point around much faster it does the same thing in the viewfinder. But there the viewfinder has less points so it moves around far far too fast!
Thats a great review…I was and am toying between the Z6 and Canon R as I have glass in both camps . I also have an 850 and 750…but finding the 850 +24-70 f2.8 to be really heavy to lug round all day at a wedding. I also bought a Canon 5D4 plus a load of glass as I wanted to try the Canon colour science, skin tones etc. which was always being lorded over Nikon, I have concluded this is just BS.
But having researched this for a long time and read your experiences I think you have swung it for me! Plus I have also discovered that there are adapters for Canon EF to Nikon Z….so I can still use my canon glass !
Many thanks and loved the shots!
Thanks for your kind words Chris, both the Z6 and EOS – R are great cameras, I’m definitely happy with my Z6 for sure!
So have you decided between the Z6 and D850? Also can I ask what lenses you use for weddings?
Ergh. Every couple of months I find myself having a look at some Nikon Z series reviews for wedding togs and everytime I feel like I want to get one to see what it’s like compared to the Sony A7III. The A7III just feels a bit souless compared to when I shot D750’s.Since you’ve shot both, if you had no cameras and were offerd a set of A7iii’s or Z6’s what would you go for?
I would 100% choose a Z6 over a sony A7III – my big reason was the feel of the camera and how I can use it and the second was the files. I prefer Nikons lenses and RAW files. If those arnt big draws its a difficult decision because the A7III has dual card slots and a better focus system.
Hi
I just wanted to ask if you have a backup strategy for the most important pictures like the first kiss?
I absolutely love my two Z6 but still the one slot makes me worry.
I could imagine to switch to the Z5 if the AF is as good as the Af of the Z6
Hi Richie – I shoot with dual cameras and one of them is the new d780 (Previous I had the D850) This has dual card slots, so the fact I have two cameras all day means I have my photos spread across two cameras. I also carry multiple backup cards and backup using a gnarbox on my break. The Z5 looks like a worthy Z6 replacement. I’m curious to see a review of the noise performance as the sensor is non BSI but so far from the sample images it looks great. I’d consider the Z5 over the Z6 but with a possible Z6/Z7s update announcement, I’m more inclined to hold on to see how those cameras pan out because I have a lot XQD cards that may come in handy if the new Z6s uses XQD cards (It may use the newer CFExpress format but if its XQD backwards compatible then holding onto the cards for the time being makes a lot of sense!)
In this review you only said about Firmware 2.0as far as we know, the latest firmware right now is 3.0have you noticed any big improvements from 2.0 to 3.0..?thnks…
Not in terms of speed or accuracy. Firmware 3.0 brought around something similar to the 3d tracking you get on DSLR so if you really liked that on Nikon’s DSLR’s then that obviously is an improvement.
Thank you for writing such an informative review. I’ve been tempted by the Z6 for a while now but have been put off by the lack of reviews from non-landscape photographers (who rightly rave about it – the IQ looks superb). I currently use a D750 for my portrait and branding work and have been hesitant about how a Z6 would fare “on the job” and in a studio environment where your needs go beyond just IQ. Your review has been really insightful and given some reassurance that it can be a workhorse camera, just like a DSLR. With that in mind can I ask what your thoughts are to the D780? I’ve looked at it in detail but, on balance, I continue to feel pushed towards the Z6.
I have the D780 now and shoot them side by side. Personally I prefer the Z6, the experience between liveview and the viewfinder on the Z6 is seamless – its the same experience. With the D780, the liveview is almost exactly like using the liveview/rear screen on the Z6 but The D780 viewfinder however is optical, which obviously has its advantages but here is where the focus system is a little different. Its still really good but if you set dynamic point on the D780, it behaves very differently between the viewfinder and the liveview. This annoys me a little. Also, with the d780 I had to fine tune all my lenses again, but with the Z6 I never had to bother. I’m currently keeping the D780 because it has two card slots and I’ve adapted so I no longer use the dynamic area AF. Right now, I’m holding out for the potentially new Nikon Z6s/Nikon Z7s updates that could give me all I need. Have you checked out the newly released Z5? That has two card slots and is a consideration over the Z6 right now. It has less FPS but really thats about all your missing out on. I believe the Z6 has better low light ISO performance and slightly better low light autofocus performance so thats why I’m likely to stick with my Z6 over the Z5.
Great review and really beautiful photos. I also want to take photos of weddings and think about a new camera. I decide between Z6 and D780. The Z6 is discouraged by low battery life, only 1 memory card slot and very expensive (but reliable) XQD cards. D780 works better with an external flash (uses flash focus in the dark), has an optical viewfinder (more eye-friendly), has 2 memory card slots and excellent battery life. I know the technical parameters, so I am more interested in practical experience.What would you recommend? You use both models, so I would like to hear your opinion. Which model do you prefer or which is better for all-day wedding photography?
Btw .: don’t you have tired eyes from EVF after all day of shooting? Because that’s also one of my concerns :)Thank you for your time.
Hi Michal, thanks for your kind words! I guess now they have announced the Z6mk2 it’s a different story. It’s now a case of whether you want an EVF over an OVF. Personally I think the Z6mk2 is now a better choice over the D780.
To answer your original question about the D780 vs the Z6 mark 1, It’s too close to call. I have both for a reason, but personally I prefer using the Z6. But I don’t prefer using it that much over the D780 that I’m willing to lose the dual card slot advantages and the OVF
Just found your review while contemplating the Z6 II. So pleased to read your thoughts about the Z6 and how you’ve made it work for you. Great write up and awesome shots, exactly what a wedding photographer wants to know about a camera. Just glad that I didn’t read it months ago as I wouldn’t have waited till now! I’m now officially very excited about the Z6 II!
Thanks Rik!! For sure! I do think it’s a shame Nikon didn’t upgrade the new Mark 2 with more to at least match the competition, if not better it, but the Z system is now a very attractive replacement for existing Nikon DSLR users! I’m very interested to see how the new AF improvements work out as there not much info or video stuff on the internet right now. I guess we will have to wait until the Internet youtube dudes get their hands on production models. My guess is its slightly better than the exisiting Z6 but I feel we will see another performance improvement when they bring out the new firmware in February!
Hi
I am planning to buy Z6 Mark 2,but confused with Sony A7 3.In your opinion which one would be a better choice? Sony A7 3or Nikon Mark 2?
As you can tell from the review I prefer Nikon over Sony. So the mark ii is what I’d choose.
Thanks for the amazing article!
My first every wedding shoot is very near and I am not sure which lens will be the best for the z6. which lens would you recommend I buy?
That’s a tricky question with many many answers, a 50mm lens will work well if you zoom with your feet! You may also need a wider lens for group photos!
Thanks for a great article! I’m a new and learning photographer and currently shoot portraits and engagement pictures on a Nikon d3500 using a 50mm 1.8. I am looking to upgrade and I’m trying to decide between a Nikon d750 or the Nikon Z6. Would you still recommend the Nikon Z6 if I’m still learning and eventually wanting to get into wedding photography? Thank you!
Hi Chelsea, at this stage I would recommend a Z6mk2 or d780 over the d750. Good luck in your photography journey!
Very nice review and great photos. What lens did you use in this article?
Several…sigma 135mm, nikon z 35, nikon 58 1.4, nikon F 85mm 1.8
Absolutely stunning images, and very informative review!
Many thanks for an extremely useful review, Che. I’m considering moving to Nikon for full frame (a happy MFT user for daily shooting) and am weighing up a Z5 against a Z6 original. Have you used the 5 at all? Curious about the twin card slots but slightly lesser sensor technology.
Hi Jason :) Thanks for the lovely comment.
I have considered the Z5 but I knew the Z6mkii would be on the horizon so didnt jump at it. The twin slots are useful if you need them professionally. If not, I wouldn’t worry too much, there are plenty of other areas of the backing up chain that people forget about even if they have two slots. The Z5 isnt as good at low light AF as far as I can tell and it also isnt quite as good in high iso low light scenarios where image quality is concerned. However I do think it is an excellent camera. The less FPS is slightly annoying but if you dont need the extra FPS and twin slots is a big draw I would go for the Z5 overall, especially if you dont need really low light z6 AF.
So I’ve been shooting commercially for some years now. I use two 750’s and an 800. My business colleagues all switched to Sony – a7lll … Of course they tease me which is fine. I trust my 750’s completely but I won’t deny the benefits of mirrorless. With this in mind I thought I’d change one 750 for a used a7, buy a lens converter which will allow my to use my Nikon lenses and off I go. But no, that’s not possible with Nikon as they lose certain functions namely auto focus etc. So I’m considering a Z6 (with the Nikon converter) Despite their little issues – one card slot, not so great focusing I’m likely to get one.
Thanks for posting the images. I am a new Z6 user (JPEGS only) and love the yellowish tint. Reminds me of the Fuji Classic Negative.
Thanks for your review Che – very informative. I know this is a couple of years old now, so I wonder if you’re still using a mixture of Z and F mount lenses?
Hi Che,
I just found your review, over 2 years down the line from when you published it and it is very interesting. Like you, I’m not brand loyal and have used Canon, Nikon, Fujifilm S5 Pros (Nikon D200 with Fuji’s sensor), which I loved, as they were the first digital cameras that could really cope with the dynamic range of a bride’s white dress and a groom’s dark suit without losing detail in either! Fast forward 10 years though and I was using Fujifilm X-T3 and X-T2 cameras for weddings. Earlier this year I decided that I needed to (or was it wanted to) go “full frame” for better low light performance. I seriously looked at the Z6, also at the Fujifilm GFX 50S/R medium format series, but in the end I went for the Sony A7 iii with an A7 ii for my backup. Like you, after a couple of weddings, I didn’t really “click” with the Sony cameras and before long they were on ebay and I went back to my trusty Fujis. For me, being “old school” brought up in the days of film, the X-T series cameras have absolutely first class handling with physical dials for everything that you normally want to change, instead of delving into menus, or customising function buttons and dials. It’s like going back to an Olympus OM1,orOM2, which are my all time favourite film cameras, but digital. The other thing was the sheer weight difference of a 16-55mm f2.8 on the Fujis and the 50% extra weight of a 24-70 f2.8 and other prime lenses on the Sonys. My shoulders and back really didn’t thank me for the extra weight on an all day wedding shoot!
After reading your review for weddings, I really wish that I had gone for the Z6 instead of the A7 iii. Now, of course, the Z6 ii is here and has 2 card slots. However, like you, in all my years of shooting weddings on digital, I have never suffered an actual catastrophic card failure, so with the current price difference here in the UK of around £1000 more for the Z6 ii compared to the Z6, I may well go for the Z6, using my Fuji X-T3 as a second camera. Like you, I always shoot with two bodies with different focal length lenses,usually a 24-70 2.8 (equivalent) on my main camera and either a 35mm or85mm equivalent on my second body.
Love your example photos too, showing just how good the Z6 is, for covering weddings. Of course, as always, the camera is just a tool and it is the photographer who really takes photographs to remember!
Thanks for the comment Gorden. Gear…its a tricky one right. Every system has its pros and cons. And now Fuji have just announced some lovely new gear too! It never ends ha ha.