Nikon Z6 & D5 at Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl

Top photo specs [NIKON D5, 14.0-24.0 mm f/2.8, ISO 20000, ƒ/5.6, 1/4000, Focal Length = 17]

Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl 2018 Florida vs. Michigan [NIKON Z 6, 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6, ISO 450, ƒ/5.3, 1/100, Focal Length = 90]

I was able to do some testing of the Nikon Z6 at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl game of Florida vs. Michigan. The final for those interested in the score was Florida 41 and Michigan 15.

Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl 2018 Florida vs. Michigan [NIKON Z 6, 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6, ISO 18000, ƒ/5.6, 1/4000, Focal Length = 150]

I can say that the Nikon Z6 sensor gives you great dynamic range and very little noise at high ISO numbers.

Andy Stanley – Invocation Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl 2018 Florida vs. Michigan [NIKON Z 6, 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6, ISO 40000, ƒ/5.6, 1/4000, Focal Length = 300]

The mirrorless Nikon Z6 used an electronic shutter at 1/4000, which gave some lines if the LED signage was in the photo at those shutter speeds. At the slower speed of 1/100, the jumbotron came out just fine.

Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl 2018 Florida vs. Michigan [NIKON D5, 120.0-300.0 mm f/2.8, ISO 22800, ƒ/5.6, 1/4000, Focal Length = 320]

Regarding the fast action on the field, my Nikon D5 did a superior job of focusing. I do not think the Nikon Z6 is in the same league for sports as the Nikon Flagship D5.

Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl 2018 Florida vs. Michigan [NIKON Z 6, 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6, ISO 25600, ƒ/5.6, 1/4000, Focal Length = 125]

Due to the performance not being equal to the Nikon D5, I put the Nikon 28-300mm on the Nikon Z6 and shot some with it in the Red Zone.

Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl 2018 Florida vs. Michigan [NIKON Z 6, 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6, ISO 14400, ƒ/5.6, 1/4000, Focal Length = 300]

When you compare the image quality, the Nikon Z6 is fantastic. Good dynamic range.

Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl 2018 Florida vs. Michigan [NIKON D5, 120.0-300.0 mm f/2.8, ISO 25600, ƒ/5.6, 1/4000, Focal Length = 600]

The big difference was that whenever the LED boards were in the photos, the Z6 gave those lines, and the D5 didn’t look at the 1/4000 shutter speed.

Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl 2018 Florida vs. Michigan [NIKON D5, 120.0-300.0 mm f/2.8, ISO 32000, ƒ/5.6, 1/4000, Focal Length = 550]

I am still very pleased with the Nikon D5 for sports. However, I do love seeing what you will get with the EVF of the Nikon Z6.

Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl 2018 Florida vs. Michigan [NIKON D5, 120.0-300.0 mm f/2.8, ISO 40000, ƒ/5.6, 1/4000, Focal Length = 460]

So for sports, I will continue to rely on the Nikon D6, but I think the Nikon Z6 is much more fun to shoot for almost everything else.

FanZone at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl 2018 Florida vs. Michigan [NIKON Z 6, 24.0-105.0 mm f/4.0, ISO 2800, ƒ/4, 1/100, Focal Length = 52]

I love walking around with the Nikon Z6. It is a lot lighter than the Nikon D5.

Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl 2018 Florida vs. Michigan [NIKON Z 6, 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6, ISO 640, ƒ/4.2, 1/100, Focal Length = 48]

Another thing that the Nikon Z6 is great about, but not a factor at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, is how quiet the camera is when clicking the shutter.

Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl 2018 Florida vs. Michigan [NIKON Z 6, 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6, ISO 22800, ƒ/5.3, 1/4000, Focal Length = 105]

Many think I should lower the ISO and shoot at a slower shutter speed of 1/1000. I can tell you that the sharpness goes up with the higher shutter speed.

I hope you enjoyed seeing the results from the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. In summary, buy the Nikon D5 for shooting sports, and for most everything else, the Nikon Z6 is just perfect.