My first assignments with the Nikon Z6

Georgia vs Alabama, Fanzone Georgia World Congress Center [NIKON Z 6, 24.0-105.0 mm ƒ/4.0, ISO 5600, ƒ/8, 1/60]

This past week I picked up the Nikon Z6 mirrorless camera. In s few days, I could put it through some assignments.

[NIKON Z 6, 85.0 mm f/1.8, ISO 100,f/3.2, 1/125]

The first assignment I did with the camera was a headshot. I was thrilled with the performance of the camera with the headshot. The 85mm ƒ/1.8 never looked this sharp before to me.

Before I did this first assignment, I ran tests, and the first thing I realized was the files would not open in PhotoShop or Lightroom. The camera is so new that the RAW files are not readable.

The BETA-Version Adobe RAW converter is available on:

Georgia vs Alabama
Georgia World Congress Center [NIKON Z 6, 24.0-105.0 mm f/4.0, ISO 11400, ƒ/5.6, 1/250]

The second assignment was shooting the SEC Fanzone event at the Championship game between Alabama and Georgia.

Georgia vs Alabama
Georgia World Congress Center [NIKON Z 6, 24.0-105.0 mm f/4.0, ISO 1100, ƒ/5.6, 1/30]
Georgia vs Alabama
Georgia World Congress Center [NIKON Z 6, 24.0-105.0 mm f/4.0, ISO 2200, ƒ/5.6, 1/50]
Georgia vs Alabama
Georgia World Congress Center [NIKON Z 6, 24.0-105.0 mm f/4.0, ISO 900, ƒ/5.6, 1/30]
Georgia vs Alabama
Georgia World Congress Center [NIKON Z 6, 24.0-105.0 mm f/4.0, ISO 5000, ƒ/5.6, 1/125]

I enjoyed using all my Nikon F-mount lenses and seeing what you will get before you press the shutter. I wanted the incredible sharpness due to no more anti-aliasing over the sensor.

I shot over a thousand images at the Fanfest with the Nikon Z6. I got a lot of great shots and was please with the performance of the camera.

Georgia vs Alabama
Georgia World Congress Center [NIKON Z 6, 24.0-105.0 mm f/4.0, ISO 400, ƒ/5.6, 1/25]

I had to use an on-camera flash to get this photo of Hines Ward with a young fan. The image of Ward behind them was super bright jumbotron, and the only way to get them from not being silhouetted was with a flash. The Godox V860iiN worked just incredible with the camera.

[NIKON Z 6, 24.0-105.0 mm f/4.0, ISO 8000, ƒ/5.6, 1/100]

After all day shooting, I charged up my batteries for the camera and me. By the way, I used three batteries all day shooting with the Nikon Z6.

Then Sunday, I shot another 1000+ images at a church covering all types of settings. Once again, the Nikon Z6 performed flawlessly.

[NIKON Z 6, 24.0-105.0 mm f/4.0, ISO 4000, ƒ/5.6, 1/100]

The camera, without putting it into silent mode, was already quiet compared to my Nikon D5, which I was also shooting.

[NIKON Z 6, 24.0-105.0 mm f/4.0, ISO 7200, ƒ/5.6, 1/100]

I think the files look much better than my other Nikon D5 files. I think the new CMOS sensor with the new Expeed 6 processor gives much sharper images out of the camera.

[NIKON Z 6, 24.0-105.0 mm f/4.0, ISO 22800, ƒ/5.6, 1/100]

It is fantastic to see what you will get before you click the shutter in those tricky lighting situations with mixed lighting.

I think the Z6 performed well and compared very similarly to the Nikon D750 I used to own. I think the Nikon D5 is the camera for sports and outperforms the Nikon Z6 in responsiveness. Well, it ought to be better at a ticket price of $6,500.

The best part of the Nikon Z6 for me is to have all the things I love about mirrorless but can now use all my Nikon glass.