Photography News Issue 62

Camera test 23

Photography News | Issue 62 | photographynews.co.uk

Performance: ISO

ISO 800

ISO 1600

ISO 3200

Original image

ISO 6400

ISO 12,800

ISO 25,600

The Z 6’s IBIS works in five axes – pitch, yaw, roll and x and y axes – and when you use a F mount VR-equipped lens on the Z 6 via the FTZ adapter, you still get a benefit up to 3EV. In my test, I used the Z mount 24-70mm S f/4 at 70mm and two F mount lenses, the VR 70-700mm f/2.8 at 200mm and the non VR 85mm f/1.8. With the 24-70mm Z, I got five out of five sharp shots at 1/15sec, The Z 6 has fewer pixels in its full-frame sensor than the Z 7 and D850 so the theory is that noise performance at high ISOs should be superior to those cameras. We shot full ISO sets from ISO 50 to 204,000, with in- camera high ISO noise reduction switched off. The native range is ISO 100-51,200. Raws were processed through Nikon Capture NXD with no noise reduction. For a comparison, we shot the scene using a Nikon D850 and used the same lens on each camera, a 50mm f/1.4 (with the FTZ adapter on the Z 6). Shots were compared on- screen at 100%. The Z 6’s noise performance is impressive. Very clean at the slower and medium settings and even at ISO 800 images are flawlessly clean with no mottling even in areas of deep shadow.

Signs of noise start to appear at ISO 1600, but it’s smooth and fine with no impact on detail. Some noise reduction in processing would easily get rid of it. At ISO 3200, contrast and blacks are affected very slightly; so too is detail in the shadows. Detail suffers across the image at ISO 6400 and grain is more obvious but it wouldn’t stop me using this speed if I needed an action- stopping shutter speed. Images at ISO 12,800 show obvious noise and overall loss of picture quality. The image continues to suffer as ISO increases and I wouldn’t go any further if I cared about quality. For viewing the Z 6 and D850 shots we viewed at 73% and 100% respectively so subject size was the same. Viewing in this manner showed the Z 6’s 6400 file was similar to the D850’s 3200 shot.

ISO 51,200

ISO 102,400

ISO 204,800

D850 ISO6400

D850 ISO 12,800

D850 ISO 25,600

Images The Imperial War Museum, Duxford, was the location for the ISO test, comparing the Z 6 with Nikon’s D850, a 45.7-megapixel DSLR. The same lens, a 50mm f/1.4, was used with the Raws going through Nikon Capture NXD software. The Z 6 does have an impressive high ISO performance.

three at 1/4sec but none at 1/2sec. With the 70-200mmI got four sharp at 1/15sec, three at 1/8sec and none at 1/4sec. Moving onto the 85mm, I got three sharp at 1/15sec and 1/8sec. All round, the camera’s IBIS workedwell on S lenses and together with VR-equipped F mount lenses. The Z 6 has much more than IBIS and the ability to accept existing Nikon fit lenses. The exposure and focusing systems are fully featured. For AF the Z 6 has 273 points (the Z 7 has 493), the hybrid system covering 90% of the viewfinder frame with operating sensitivity down to -2EV. With the option of silent shutter, three Raw sizes, focus stacking and 4K video, the Z 6 wants for little and handling rates highly, too. Start-up time is a pretty quick at 1.3secs, with the on/off switch conveniently placed on a collar around the shutter release. Much has been said about the battery life of mirrorless cameras but the Z 6 with the supplied EN-EL15b seems good. I got 1400 shots from a full charge until the battery icon went red with 14% power remaining. The touch monitor delivers a high-quality image and the EVF is especially impressive with a

The camera’s exposure and

focusing systems are fully featured

Above The control layout of the Z 6 is good and will feel familiar to existing Nikon users.