James May
New member
I'd like to know which camera is the best for low light the D6 or Z6 II. ?
D6 or Z6II ?
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Calson
Well-known member
I was going to ask for a comparison of the two in terms of wildlife photography overall. They have similar BSI sensor resolution and comparable fps rates. I have a good idea as to the autofocus performance of the D5 and expect the D6 to be slightly better, but I have no idea as to how they compare to the new Z 6II camera in this regard.
The D6 is more durable but then one can buy 3 of the Z 6II cameras for less than the cost of one D6 camera.
The Z 6II has the 5-axis image stabilization that should result in sharper images with super telephoto lenses and the ability to use much lower shutter speeds and also lower ISO settings. At half the weight of the D6, adding a Z 6II to my backpack with its two D850 cameras would be a consideration as well.
A key concern of mine is the need for the FTZ adapter to use any of my lenses and to what degree it will make for problems mounting the camera, FTZ, teleconverter, and 600mm lens to a gimbal head and getting it all balanced properly.
The D6 is more durable but then one can buy 3 of the Z 6II cameras for less than the cost of one D6 camera.
The Z 6II has the 5-axis image stabilization that should result in sharper images with super telephoto lenses and the ability to use much lower shutter speeds and also lower ISO settings. At half the weight of the D6, adding a Z 6II to my backpack with its two D850 cameras would be a consideration as well.
A key concern of mine is the need for the FTZ adapter to use any of my lenses and to what degree it will make for problems mounting the camera, FTZ, teleconverter, and 600mm lens to a gimbal head and getting it all balanced properly.
arbitrage
Well-known member
I think for everything other than fast action (sports, BIF) the Z6II is what I would buy. But if you are after action then the D6 will be the ticket. There are still too many compromises with the EVF in H+ mode (slideshow) to accurately pan/track fast subjects. You will be stuck at 5.5FPS on the Z6II to get the new EVF improvements.
Not sure about low light. Low light noise could be compared on DPReview widget selecting D6 and Z6. But AF performance is probably still unknown as the Z6II says it is improved and yet no reviewers seem to have the camera yet to test it against the Z6 or D6.
Not sure about low light. Low light noise could be compared on DPReview widget selecting D6 and Z6. But AF performance is probably still unknown as the Z6II says it is improved and yet no reviewers seem to have the camera yet to test it against the Z6 or D6.
Since the Z6II uses the same sensor as the Z6, I can tell you the D6 will have an advantage in low light for noise - not a huge advantage, but an advantage (probably between 1/3 and 1/2 stop). However, everything else is in the air until we can really test it (although I think Geoff is hitting the nial on the head in the post above).
Do we know at this point that there will be no improvement in the EVF for high extended shooting? The slideshow you get with the Z7 and Z6 now in high extended is one of the things I have most wanted to see fixed. I hoped the extra processing power of the new ZII bodies might be used, in part, to improve the EVF in high extended to allow better panning with fast moving subjects.
Warren D
Well-known member
The other advantage of the D6 would be in AF. Just for the record, I've never seen any information that says the D6 has a BSI sensor.
Graham Clark
gc-graphs
I thought the same, D6 sensor is the same as the old Toshiba designed D5 sensor.
James May
New member
I think I'll buy the D6 and then I have the D850 so I will have all the bases covered. I like shooting birds and Aircraft at airshows so I think the D6 would be the best. I. have my D4 and D800 up for sale .
The testing so far is only with pre-production cameras and pre-production firmware 0.5. So we don't know for sure. When final firmware is released - and probably after it has been updated once with production cameras available - we'll know. What I have heard so far from Ricci's video review is the preproduction camera has a much shorter delay and minimal blackout.
Steve's right about the D6 performance in low light - it's definitely a little better. But other cameras are better at base ISO and lower ISO levels, so you have to consider ISO a tradeoff. The reality with ISO performance is we are not going to see changes from model to model that have a major impact. The differences today can't be observed with the naked eye at a half stop or less. Any difference you see is usually related to rendering settings rather than noise.
Thanks Eric. When I heard the suggestion that there would be less/minimal blackout, I was hopeful that that might mean less of a slideshow effect in extended. Looking forward to people getting a regular production body in hand to test.
Calson
Well-known member
According to Nikon, both the Z 6II and the Z 7II have BSI sensors. It should not come as a surprise that they would use the sensor technology that they introduced with the D850 in 2017 and that is used in the D780 as well.
James May
New member
Thanks I made my mind up I ordered the D6.
Warren D
Well-known member
Congrats! You'll love it!
IainD
Well-known member
I cannot imagine that the D6 could possibly be a disappointment.
Nice hint to evaluate to what level you can get with a mirrorless system with regard to low light. Comparing this to the old world it is the kind of slight advantage that was reported for the D500 against the D7200, but I think and 1/3 to 1/2 stop is certainly not a game changer.
However, it will be very interesting to see what people like you, that are used to pushing things like D5 or D6 to their limits, will find out about the Z6 II and I am looking forward to that.
I remember how easy it was to push the AF low light tolerance of the D750 from -2 to -3 Ev just by pushing the sensors closer together - and keeping quiet about the price you have to pay for it - I can see similar things happening other marketing relevant figures up to things like low light tolerance in terms of IQ straight out of the camera, so there is nothing better than a thorough real world test.
I have D5 and it performs very, very well in low light given a the selection of the lens, F-stop, ISO and shooter skill. I would imagine the D6 to be an improvement. The Z6II is yet to be seen. A further consideration is the cost difference. Actually, I am considering a Z6II and the FTZ simply because I like learning and with that combination, would be able to use my current Nikon glass.
arbitrage
Well-known member
On Nikon USA they make note that EVF improvements are for H mode. Also in a livestream that Ricci did with a UK shop he was asked if H+ had changed and he said that it is unchanged from the Z6(7).
Thanks. Watched the video while my car was being repaired. I was hoping Nikon would fix the slideshow effect, as I find it disorienting, making it hard to follow a moving subject in high extended. Makes high extended and the increased buffer much less useful than it could be.
Ekedar
New member
I think we might have to wait for the Z9 for a possible Nikon mirrorless camera for wildlife and BIF.
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While I am a Nikon shooter I do have a Sony RX 10 Iv for videos and BIFs.There is absolutely no black out during long bursts.
While it is only a 1" camera the software does the job pretty well.
Hence not having this feature on Z 6ii is really dampening
While it is only a 1" camera the software does the job pretty well.
Hence not having this feature on Z 6ii is really dampening
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I bet the Z9 will be out in early 2021. JMO