We Aren't Worthy... Nikon Z6 III Wildlife Review with 600mm f6.3

Introduction

I just got back from the most incredible day. Armed with the new Nikon Z6 III paired with the Zigor 600mm f/6.3 lens, I embarked on what I thought would be a simple walk, only to come across some amazing wildlife. Let me share my thoughts, experiences, and impressions of this fabulous setup.

The Beauty in the Footage

There are a couple of minor annoyances with this setup, which I'll get to, but when you look at the footage, you can't help but be impressed. It feels like I’ve captured the best footage of my career. The prime lens and the Nikon Z6 III's 6K 60fps raw capability have truly blown me away.

My Walk and First Impressions

On my walk, I managed to capture a deer, a toad eating a fly, a squirrel smoothly running, a Robin, and a song sparrow. While birds in 6K 60 raw can show some moire in the feathers, it's decent enough. Animal eye detect took a bit to latch on but ultimately delivered sharp, beautiful images.

Stability and Color

The first thing I noticed was the stability and the excellent color reproduction. The viewfinder was rock solid, reminding me of Panasonic's level of stabilization. Although it has some slight jerks when moving, it's tolerably stable when standing still.

Slow-Motion Capabilities

Comparing the 6K 60 raw, 4K 120 with crop, and HD 240, the raw footage at 4K 120 was a delightful surprise! No press release had mentioned it, but it's 12-bit raw, delivering incredible detail. Wildlife photography benefitted immensely from the ability to punch in and get closer.

A Dial That's a Dealbreaker

One major gripe is the dial locked at all times. You need to stick your nail in the middle spot to move it, which is incredibly irritating, especially when quickly switching between frame rates. This locked dial can be a significant impediment when you are in the field, trying to capture fleeting moments.

Aperture Priority Lock

Another annoyance is that in custom mode, you’re locked into aperture priority. While useful for some, it would be great to allow manual controls. This would offer the flexibility to match professional standards at will.

Missing Features Compared to Nikon ZF

There are some video features missing in the Z6 III that are present in the ZF, like the waveform monitor. Additionally, you can’t punch in to focus while recording in most modes. While the ability to do so in HD 240 is a relief, it’s frustrating that the primary modes lack this essential function.

File Handling and Proxy Creation

When shooting in raw, the camera creates a proxy 1080p file which clutters the storage and organizing process. It’s a minor nuisance, but when you’re dealing with large files (a single project folder being 184GB), it would be beneficial to have the choice to turn this off.

The Prime Lens Performance

The prime lens provides sharp, 3D pop images that weigh lighter compared to an APS-C with a zoom. The Nikon’s autofocus was impressive throughout the day, only failing in a few instances. The manual focus override feature, while generally hassle-free, sometimes didn't entirely stop the autofocus, indicating a potential bug.

Final Thoughts

Despite the gripes about the dial and the few missing features or bugs, the Nikon Z6 III performs remarkably well in wildlife scenarios. The footage it captures is stunningly sharp, the colors are true-to-life, and the overall usability of the camera makes it a joy to use. Using it for wildlife photography, I felt at home and was able to capture incredible moments effortlessly.

With the lens and camera achieved, I'll be heading out on more walks, ready to capture the next incredible moment I encounter.

Keywords

Nikon Z6 III
Wildlife Photography
600mm f/6.3 lens
6K 60 raw
4K 120 raw
HD 240
Animal eye detect
Prime lens
Stabilization
Aperture Priority Lock
Missing Video Features
File Handling

FAQ

Q: What are the primary annoyances with the Nikon Z6 III?
A: The dial is locked and requires a nail to adjust, and you are locked into aperture priority in custom mode. Additionally, there are missing video features like waveform monitoring.

Q: How does the Nikon Z6 III perform in wildlife photography?
A: It performs extremely well, delivering sharp, beautiful images with impressive stabilization and color accuracy.

Q: Can you punch in to focus while recording in all modes?
A: No, you cannot punch in to focus in most modes while recording, except for HD 240.

Q: Does the camera create proxy files when recording in raw?
A: Yes, the camera creates a 1080p proxy file along with the raw video, which can clutter storage.

Q: How does the 4K 120 raw compare to other modes?
A: The 4K 120 raw offers impressive details and a 12-bit raw quality that wasn’t widely advertised, making it incredible for wildlife photography.