Nikon Z6 II Review

The Z6 was Nikon’s first full-frame mirrorless camera, and the Nikon Z6 II is the company’s second iteration of that model. The Nikon Z6 has been around for more than three years; throughout that time, it has held the title of our finest mirrorless camera.

However, there is still potential for improvement. Therefore, with the Nikon Z6 II, Nikon has chosen to preserve the basic specifications and design of the Z6 while at the same time correcting some of its shortcomings.

Consequently, the Nikon Z6 II has practically all of its primary characteristics inherited from the Nikon Z6. This includes the superb full-frame 24.5MP BSI CMOS sensors responsible for delivering photos with exceptional levels of detail, plenty of dynamic range, and solid high-ISO noise performance.

Compared to one of the Nikon Z6 II’s closest competitors, the 20.1MP Canon EOS R6, the additional pixels in this camera provide a little more versatility regarding framing and cropping. However, the EOS R6 has a slight advantage at higher sensitivities. However, when it comes to the outcomes, there is not much of a difference between the Nikon Z6 II and its other major competitor, the Sony A7 III.

Even though Nikon has not changed the sensor in the Nikon Z6 II, the company has added a second EXPEED 6 image processor to the camera. This results in various performance enhancements, the most notable of which is an increase in the maximum burst firing speed from 1d to 14 frames per second.

That is on par with the speed of the EOS R6, and it is faster than the Alpha A7 III (although the R6 can shoot at 20fps using its electronic shutter).

Because the Nikon Z6 has an additional CPU, Nikon was also able to improve the 273-point autofocus system included in the camera. In addition to general performance enhancements and the ability to focus in darker settings, human and animal eye/face detection is now accessible in Wide area AF mode. This mode can now focus on conditions where there is less available light.

If you’re shooting a lot of action (or portraits), the EOS R6 and A7 III focusing systems have the edge here. However, this does not take away from the fact that it is a reliable system that works well for general photography.

Nikon Z6 II Design

The design is almost identical to the Nikon Z6, which now has a second card slot. Unfortunately, the tilt-angle display is not ideal for watching videos.

Nikon has decided to maintain the design of the new camera practically identical to that of its predecessor to coincide with the release of the Nikon Z6 II a little over two years after the Nikon Z6 was first introduced.

Although this may appear to be a lack of imagination on the part of Nikon (and also a way to save some money on R&D costs), the decision to use the same body is not wrong. The Nikon Z6 is one of the best-handling mirrorless cameras available, with controls that fall easily to hand and critical settings that are easy to access.

The joystick, which is technically referred to as the sub-selector, has a great weight to it, and all of this is supported by a broad hand grip that is comfortable to hold and a thumb rest that is clearly defined.

To put it another way, shooting with the Z6 II is one of the most enjoyable experiences available among mirrorless cameras.

Nikon Z6 II Performance

• a quick rate of fire during bursts
• Competent performance in the AF department
• Longer runtime for the battery than the Z6.

Even while the Nikon Z6 II can shoot at 14 frames per second, there is a catch: at this maximum rate, you can only use 12-bit raw files, and there is only room for one AF point.

This reduces to a still perfect 12fps if you want a bit more dynamic range in your files and want to make use of the Z6 II’s tracking AF, which is quicker than the Alpha A7 III’s 10fps and is on par with the EOS R6’s 12fps (though the R6 can shoot at up to 20fps using its electronic shutter).

The buffer should be more than sufficient for most cases, with the Z6 holding 124 12-bit raw files or 200 JPEGs at its maximum frame rate.

Although the autofocus system in the Nikon Z6 II offers 90% coverage throughout the frame, which is good when viewed in isolation, it lags behind the 693-point system in the Alpha A7 III and the 6,072-point AF system in the EOS R6, both of which top the pack in their respective categories.

Even though the systems in the Z6 II’s competitors are a bit more sophisticated regarding eye and face tracking, the Z6 II still does an excellent job in this regard, locking quickly and accurately onto the subjects we tested on. As a result, those who primarily shoot people (or pets) may prefer the systems in the Nikon Z6 II’s competitors.

If you’re tracking subjects, the situation is precisely similar: use the Nikon Z6 II by itself, and you’ll be impressed with the speed of acquisition, but it’s not nearly a match for the EOS R6 (which uses pretty much the same AF system as the flagship Canon EOS-1D X Mark III).

The image stabilization mechanism integrated into the Nikon Z6 II and offers five stops of correction delivers reliable results. But, again, it is not nearly as spectacular as the 8-stop system that the EOS R6 has (whicreliesnt on the lens). Still, you can shoot at prolonged shutter rates without worrying about blurry or unsharp photographs being produced.

The battery is another essential component that Nikon improved upon with, unfortunately, the Z6 II. The Z6 could only obtain an official number of 310 shots (even though it performs better in real-world circumstances). Still, the Z6 II has an upgraded EN-EL15c battery rated for 410 images when using the LCD and 340 photos while using the viewfinder. This is a much-appreciated advancement, although the Z6 II is still behind competitors in this regard, like the EOS R6 and the Alpha A7 III.

Nikon Z6 II Image & Video Quality

• The same level of image quality as the Z6.
• Outstanding clarity and fidelity of the details Good performance at high ISO

The Z6 uses the same sensors used in the Z6, as noted previously. This is excellent news, as the results obtained with the Z6 were virtually unrivaled in their category.

The Z6 II’s full-frame 24.5-megapixel backside illumination (BSI) sensor captures impressive information. If you need to print larger than A3 regularly, you could be persuaded to go with the 45.7-megapixel sensor in the Z7 II (or the D850). Still, the resolution that is provided here should be enough to satisfy most photographers.

It performs well across the sensitivity range, delivering excellent results at higher ISOs, thanks partly to the back-illuminated technology in the Z6 II’s sensor (which is missing from the lower-priced Z5). However, if you’re shooting JPEGs, it’s essential to remember that the default noise reduction can be a bit heavy at higher ISOs, resulting in unnecessary loss of detail.

If you’re shooting raw, the dynamic range is also extreme, and you’ll have lots of leeway in post-processing to recover detail from the shadows and dial back the highlights.

A quick note on lenses before we wrap up: the 24-70mm f/4 is a good option that delivers excellent performance; however, since its introduction more than two years ago, the range of lenses available in Nikon’s S-series has significantly expanded. This range now includes some excellent f/1.8 primes as well as f/2.8 zooms.

Nikon Z6 II Specs

Body type	SLR-style mirrorless
Body material	Magnesium alloy
Sensor
Max resolution	6048 x 4024
Other resolutions	3936 x 2624 (DX crop), 4016 x 4016 (1:1), 6048 x 3400 (16:9)
Image ratio w h	1:1, 3:2, 16:9
Effective pixels	25 megapixels
Sensor photo detectors	25 megapixels
Sensor size	Full frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm)
Sensor type	BSI-CMOS
Processor	Dual Expeed 6
Color space	sRGB, Adobe RGB
Color filter array	Primary color filter
Image
ISO	Auto, 100-51200 (expands to 50-204800)
Boosted ISO (minimum)	50
Boosted ISO (maximum)	204800
White balance presets	12
Custom white balance	Yes (6 slots)
Image stabilization	Sensor-shift
Image stabilization notes	5-axis
CIPA image stabilization rating	5 stop(s)
Uncompressed format	RAW + TIFF
JPEG quality levels	Fine, normal, basic
File format	JPEGRaw (NEF, 12 or 14-bit)
Optics & Focus
Autofocus	Contrast Detect (sensor)Phase DetectMulti-areaCenterSelective single-pointTrackingSingleContinuousTouchFace DetectionLive view.
Autofocus assist lamp	Yes
Digital zoom	No
Manual focus	Yes
Number of focus points	273
Lens mount	Nikon Z
Focal length multiplier	1×
Screen/viewfinder
Articulated LCD	Tilting
Screen size	3.2″
Screen dots	2,100,000
Touch screen	Yes
Screen type	TFT LCD
Live view	Yes
Viewfinder type	Electronic
Viewfinder coverage	100%
Viewfinder magnification	0.8×
Viewfinder resolution	3,690,000
Photography features
Minimum shutter speed	900 sec
Maximum shutter speed	1/8000 sec
Exposure modes	ProgramAperture priorityShutter priorityManual
Built-in flash	No
External flash	Yes (via hot shoe)
Flash modes	Front-curtain sync, slow sync, rear-curtain sync, red-eye reduction, red-eye reduction with slow sync, slow rear-curtain sync, off
Flash X sync speed	1/200 sec
Continuous drive	14.0 fps
Self-timer	Yes (2, 5, 10, or 20 secs)
Metering modes	MultiCenter-weightedHighlight-weighted spot
Exposure compensation	±5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps)
WB Bracketing	Yes
Videography features
Format	MPEG-4, H.264
Modes	3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 144 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 144 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 144 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 120p / 144 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 100p / 144 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 56 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p / 56 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p / 28 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p / 28 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 24p / 28 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Microphone	Stereo
Speaker	Mono
Storage
Storage types	CFexpress Type B / XQD, UHS-II SD
Connectivity
USB	USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec)
USB charging	Yes
HDMI	Yes (mini HDMI)
Microphone port	Yes
Headphone port	Yes
Wireless	Built-In
Wireless notes	802.11ac + Bluetooth
Remote control	Yes (via MC-DC2 or smartphone)
Physical
Environmentally sealed	Yes
Battery	Battery Pack
Battery description	EN-EL15c lithium-ion battery & charger
Battery Life (CIPA)	410
Weight (inc. batteries)	705 g (1.55 lb / 24.87 oz)
Dimensions	134 x 101 x 70 mm (5.28 x 3.98 x 2.76″)
Other features
Orientation sensor	Yes
Timelapse recording	Yes
GPS	None

Nikon Z6 II Final Verdict

Nikon has improved upon one of our most favored mirrorless cameras by addressing the primary flaws in its design. Although it is possible that the Z6 II is not the best in its class in specific crucial categories, it performs so well in every type, making it a very tempting option.

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