Nikon Z6iii - I finally succumbed!

[@neoshazam]

I've had it for about 4 months now and it's been awesome for me.

[@dct124]

As far as manual focus, turn, turn back quick instead of lining up with an indicator. Feel it, and do it quickly. Your brain will figure out the sweet spot after regular use. Also if your manual lens has markings, you can do a tripod focus test. Once it lines up, look at the marking to see if it's more left or more right of an indicator. Usually it'll be consistent throughout the focus. I did this for a few weeks on my 50 2H and I don't even need to look at the indicator, like my brain just knows where to spin the lens even when distance changes.

[@Digmen1]

Allen I always like your videos. I have a Z6ii, and Id love to get a Z6iii due to the a/f, i don't care about dynamic range. It really comes down to money and my useage (which is getting less and less)

[@frankm0023]

Hi Allen, great video, as always trying to get to the point where image quality, comfort ,ease of use meet you to get the job done. I had the Z6iii and still own the z6ii. I used the z6iii and I found the auto focus a bit off, but later reset the camera and it was user error. Besides the noise, the deal breaker for me was even shooting in mechanical shutter with flicker reduction on I was getting banding with some leds lights. Test for that. I bought the ZF and it's been great I bought a grip and I have been getting accustomed to it. Just my 2 pounds

[@CreativePixelPhotos]

@@frankm0023 thanks I'll do some tests and make sure I don't get caught out 👍

[@frankm0023]

@@CreativePixelPhotos Awesome, We all feel your struggle.

[@marleenvandam6931]

I have a M 10R and a Nikon Zf. I will defintely buy the Z6 iii end this year.The Zf files are so nice and easy to work on! I still like my Leica M lenses though!

[@CreativePixelPhotos]

Ah yes - I should have said - all 3 of my Leica lenses are regularly used on the Zf 🙂

[@marleenvandam6931]

@ what adapter do you use?

[@CreativePixelPhotos]

@@marleenvandam6931 K&F Concept - had no problems at all and not expensive

[@misiekziomal7121]

How nice are those files? What do you mean by that?

[@marleenvandam6931]

@ colour rendering!

[@alexkerry11]

Thanks so much for your review. Yiur opinion is really valuable as you are not a 'professional KZbinr'. Whilst I don't wish to criticise them, their assessments are mostly driven by their business needs rather than honest opinion.

[@stephenkaras1523]

When did you go back to Nikon??!!😂. I bought the D780 primarily on your love of it and was a little disappointed when you switched away from Nikon. I also bought the Z6 3 about six months ago. It’s an amazing camera. Let’s get you out there using it in the field so you can produce some KZbin content about your experiences with it. Cheers

[@CreativePixelPhotos]

Could only work with Sony for about 5 months then missed Nikon!! Stilll have the D780 and Z6ii, ZXf and now Z6iii. Two weddings in last 3 days - lovely camera! A Mini Z8. BUT - I used a CFExpress card and Lightroom is not happy - have you had any issues with the CF Express (if you use them) Up until now always used XQD with no priblems.Weird - lightroom won't import them. Bugger 😞 I'll find a way but real pain.

[@kynio3433]

Do you now that there is an option which allows you to not keep the ISO button pressed when scrolling the dial? You just have to enable F7.

[@CreativePixelPhotos]

You learn something everyday! Thank you - also the Z6ii has it 🙂

[@kynio3433]

@@CreativePixelPhotos Yes, I remember that Z50 also had it, so most likely there are many models that have it.

[@StephonRen]

Thank you for the nice video with real opinion and experience with Z6 III. But maybe I missed it: how are you going to use 135mm F2D DC? It does not sound like you are going to use it with manual focus during a wedding. In fact, any screw-drive AF lens left to use on Z mount. And if not, could you share what are the replacements? Thank you very much in advance!

[@CreativePixelPhotos]

I actually swopped the 135 for the 105 as more useful length at weddings. I just manual focus (sorry if I gave any impression that I don't manually focus) Obviously only at certain times but really is dead easy 🙂

[@StephonRen]

@@CreativePixelPhotos Thank you for your answer. I also use 105mm F2 DC and 135mm F2 DC on my D780, and think 105mm is more versatile. 135mm, of course, is useful and necessary if I cannot get closer but need a tighter shot. Another question: based on your experience, during a rather fast-paced event such as wedding, which lens do you use more often between 58mm F1.4 or 85mm F1.4, considering focal length practicality, image quality/character, focusing speed/accuracy, etc.? Thanks so much again in advance!

[@CreativePixelPhotos]

@@StephonRen Simple - 58! I love it so much:-) Maybe for say bridal portraits and speeches (where I can't get very close) the 85 or 105 but as I say 58 mostly.

[@jvkrause]

Apologies at the start not necessary. Cheers

[@philipsutton2316]

Allan, dude - what on earth are you doing with your Z6ii that the AFC is that terrible - it truly isn't? I'm the photographer here in Perth, WA, for the lady that organises all the big events in our city. We had the Blessing of the Fleet, at Fremantle three weeks ago, there were thousands of people there. They even flew a bunch of the 'Holy' Fathers over from Rome. I was the photographer for the whole day. Another big shoot for this Sunday 'Grandies Big Day Out'. All of my events are fast moving, dancing action - I would not have a job if my camera didn't grab fast moving focus. That last gig, I took 1,200 images and 10 were out of focus. I have 2 Z6ii's, one with the fantastic Z 24-70 2.8s and the other body with the awesome AFS 28mm 1.4E (and FTZii). Both have Godox flashes for outdoor, daylight-balanced, HSS, fill-flash. You have to know your camera well, use the 'wide-area AF people', use back button AFC. 'Custom Setting Menu, A3', 'Focus tracking' set on 'delayed 5'. There are other things too but not enough room here. Set it up properly and you don't need no Z6iii or ZF with that wretched, stinking, dealer-killer selfie screen. Now Allan - don't you go flipping back to Sony again or some other 'Floozy'!

[@CreativePixelPhotos]

Thank you 🙂 When I saw awful it's relative - the biggest complaint everyone had about the Z6ii was it's AF - so not just me! But yes, I've clicked 68k wedding shots with it (just now exceeded the D780 at 65K) and honestly very very few out of focus. But - it's a bit "old school" and much like the D780 where I'd use D9 for anything moving - works great. BUT - the D780 also has 3D tracking that I've also used a lot. The Z6ii implementation of tracking is just unuseable and not (in my experience) on par with the D780. But the Z8, Zf and D6iii all have super tracking abilities which I do use almost all the time - so just makes life a bit easier :-) Oh and for me I love the flippy screen as I said - it's usually folded away so I have no screen - no distractions; but when I need to get high or low I find it better than a flip out screen - even a double action one like on the Z8/9 I find more difficult to use. But, hey, maybe you like Marmite - I hate it!! 🙂

[@philipsutton2316]

@@CreativePixelPhotos I agree - Vegemite is a national treasure here in Australia, but I too, hate it. Allan - I trialled the Z8, because it has the screen I like, but it's a bit too big and heavy, don't need those huge 70mp images bogging my already slow computer, and here in Australia it is 7K, body only. I'd love my Z6ii to be a bit faster in the AFC department, but for me now, it has to do, because the only Z camera with 24mp, has that wretched screen, so I'm hoping above hope that Nikon will one day bring a new camera with the old screen. Keep up the good work!

[@RomanatorII]

9:15 lens cap?

[@richardrh3623]

Good morning Allen, have you still got the DF? If so, what type of photos are you using it for? I’m loving my ZF and am now thinking of selling my Z5 and D700 to get the DF .

[@CreativePixelPhotos]

Yep still got that. I use at weddings for a few special shots usualy outdoors as it just so perfect for outdoor colours. Otherwise anything where I want gorgeous colours - this time of year is exactly what it's made for! Must get out this week with it!

[@Pixelpeeps-69]

Great video 👍 so is 24mp enough resolution for weddings? I suppose a good sharp lens is all that’s needed really and editing 45mp 1000 images is a lot of demand for storage on hard drives

[@CreativePixelPhotos]

Years ago I used my D700 12mp and even that's enough! Not a wedding but I have a 24x16 print from the d700 of a winter tree taken with a 35 f2D lens from 30 m away and every single twig is sharp and clear! 24mp is good enough for anything!

[@brusselssprout1]

Zf vs Z6III: after a year of using the Zf, I've come to the same conclusion as you, EXCEPT that the dial/knob top plate setup becomes an advantage in one case only: the full manual mode that you say you are increasingly using with the Z6III. In that use case only, the Zf procures a faster, more intuitive way of viewing the preset exposure triad. If you use lenses with a dedicated aperture ring, you do not even have to turn the camera on (same as on your M10). But that is the only scenario where the fake retro setup makes any sense. I am now finished with the whole hipster/fake vintage thing, and will probably waste money again and swap the Zf for a Z6III or even a Z8.

[@CreativePixelPhotos]

@@brusselssprout1 if only Nikon produced z lenses with an aperture ring! Oh but they do. I have the 50 1.4 with a ring that could be an aperture ring. But Nikon failed. It has no means to make it clickable so it's utterly useless. Sad. I had a Sony a7cii with a 40g prime with aperture ring. Beautiful!! Iso on front dial speed on back so perfect manual setup. Simple but beyond Nikon even with their unique retro camera. A wasted opportunity

[@brusselssprout1]

@@CreativePixelPhotos i agree it is unfortunate Nikon dropped aperture rings for decades now (since F-mount G lenses). i use z-mount Voigtlanders a lot. they shine. Regarding the Sony example: nice to have aperture ring on some lenses of course, but the top deck of Sony cameras does not provide any info at all on speed or iso. You have to use the EVF or the back LCD. I prefer having visibility of ALL the info before I even start raising the camera to shoot. That is what still seduces me with the Zf in full manual mode but I also like readable high contrast top plate LCD screens (such as Z8/9 or Z6/7 series). Sony top plates make me feel blind.

[@christianpetersen1782]

Hi Allen, I didn’t think I was going to like another ramble of yet another of your cameras but to my surprise I really enjoyed it. Have you tried Voightlander lenses? They are all manual focus and on the Zf and presumably the the Z6 III the focus point turns green when focus is achieved. The focus rings turn as smoothly as butter and are fully mechanical meaning much better control than electronic coupling. Their build is exquisite and made to last several lifetimes! Voightlander have a smashing range of large aperture character lenses with smooth bokeh - some for F mount and some for Z mount. Could even be the subject of a short video. All the best.

[@ansgarbook712]

do you btw puplish some of your work somewhere?

[@dct124]

I heard from guy's that they turn the Fn2. to AF/AF Area mode select. They swap between dynamic af and a af mode of choice then deselect the others they don't use.

[@fredmuellerphotographer4532]

investigate "release button to use dial" to avoid finger gymnastics

[@StephonRen]

Set that way since I picked up D700 many years ago.

[@ThruTheLens-lw5ky]

I watch lots of your videos and you are an interesting person. You sure are having a hard time finding the right camera. You change cameras almost as often as the lighting from the sun coming in and out of your window. What ever happened to your Sony A9 setup which you purchased when you got rid of your Nikon gears. I am glad that I did not go far the D780 but this time you sold me on the Z6iii

[@Stop-All-War]

£2500 on Nikon website.. I'd rather a D850 myself. How's battery life?

[@CreativePixelPhotos]

Hi - not sure about the Z6iii as haven't yet done a wedding but the Zf gets almost to 1000 during the weddings I've done. The Z6ii is down at about 600 so hoping the Z6iii is up there with the Zf. I have had a D850 and agree it's superb but I must admit to the ease of use with mirrorless - EVf and focus - Eye Af and Subject detect etc.

[@PGphoto2011]

Do you still shoot sony as well?

[@CreativePixelPhotos]

Not now. I did switch to Sony Dec23 as I was so fed up with Nikon's Z lenes - I had all the F1.8 S prime lenses (24,35,50 85) and for me they all lacked character so ended up using my F mount primes instead - Sony have gorgeous 1.4 GM primes so switched. By April I was missing the colours and character of the Nikon F primes and was tempted by the Zf too. So I recently sold the A7cii which was my lst Sony. Happy to be back with Nikon as the recent 50 F1.4 Z mount prime DOES have character and accept I need to use the F mounts for other focal lengths. :-) Allen

[@bricegreenville8141]

The Z6ii autofocus is very good. Perhaps you need some training

[@CreativePixelPhotos]

Hmm - not a very kind comment given I've been a professional for over 10 years ;-( If you think the Z6ii Af is "very good" then I guess you've never experienced "very good" Af like on the D5 or Z8/9, Zf and Z6iii That's "very good" Af not the Z6ii