Nikon Z6III Experience - The Still Photography Guide to Operation and Image Creation with the Nikon Z6III

1. INTRODUCTION to the Z6III

1.1 Meet the Nikon Z6III

With the Z6III full frame mirrorless camera, Nikon has significantly improved upon the excellent Z6II, and has incorporated several of the improvements, advanced features, and specifications of their powerful Z 9, Z 8, and Zf models. The Z6III boasts a 24.5 megapixel partially-stacked CMOS sensor, fast Expeed 7 processor, and versatile autofocus system with subject detection for people, vehicles, airplanes, and animals including dogs, cats, and birds. With the autofocus points spread widely across nearly the entire frame, the camera will allow the user to focus on and track subjects, faces, and eyes throughout most of the scene. The Z6III can shoot RAW or JPEG images at up to 20 frames per second (fps) using the electronic shutter, and up to 14 fps with the mechanical shutter and electronic front-curtain shutter. Using High-Speed Frame Capture, it can capture JPEG images at up to 120 fps, and offers a pre-release capture feature that can save buffered JPEG images up to 1 second before the shutter is released, to help you capture a moment you may have previously missed. The camera can shoot at shutter speeds up to 1/16,000 with the electronic shutter, or up to 1/8,000 with the mechanical shutter.

Figure 1.1 - Detail of the Nikon Z6III full-frame mirrorless camera, with the NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S lens.

The Z6III offers great image quality at high ISO settings for low-light shooting, with the native ISO range of 100 - 64,000, expandable down to 50 and up to 204,800. The camera offers in-camera 5-axis image stabilization for Z-mount lenses, which can be enabled for both stills and video shooting, plus 3-axis image stabilization is available with F-mount lenses attached via the FTZ or FTZ II Adapter. The Expeed 7 processor enables improved features including faster continuous shooting and a significantly increased image buffer, exceeding 1,000 frames with any of the RAW or JPEG settings. A Silent Mode will allow you to shoot in sensitive situations, with no shutter sounds and no wear on the mechanical shutter. The Focus Shift Shooting mode allows you to automatically shoot up to 300 images of a scene at varying focus distances, which can be combined into a focus-stacked image, using optional software.

The camera includes dual card slots, one slot for either CFexpress Type B or XQD memory cards, and one for UHS-II SD cards. The two card slots allow for various card slot configurations such as overflow to the other card when one fills, or simultaneously saving all images to both cards for backup, and well as a copy function to copy saved images from one card to the other. The Z6III uses the EN-EL15c battery, though it is compatible with previous versions of the EN-EL15. The camera can be charged or powered over the USB port, and it accepts the optional MB-N14 battery grip, which holds two batteries as well as offers duplicated controls for vertical shooting.

The partially-stacked CMOS sensor of the Z6III includes processing circuits at the top and bottom of the image sensor, enabling fast readout, high frame rates, reduced rolling shutter, and 6K RAW video. The camera boasts the brightest electronic viewfinder of any mirrorless camera, up to a brightness level of 4000 nits. The Z6III also incorporates the Nikon Imaging Cloud service, where images can be uploaded from the camera and then automatically sent to social media and storage sites such as Lightroom, Dropbox, and Google Photos. It also offers access to Cloud Picture Control presets that can be downloaded to the camera, and enables firmware updates over Wi-Fi.

Figure 1.2 - 1961 Plymouth Fury Convertible - Bay State Antique Auto Club Auto Show, Endicott Estate, Dedham, Mass. Nikon Z6III with NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S lens, Shutter speed 1/250, Aperture f/4.0, ISO 100.

Most of the camera controls and the touch screen of this mirrorless model are similar to what you may be used to with a Nikon dSLR or mirrorless camera. The Sub-Selector joystick is used to quickly position the autofocus point while shooting, and can be used as a focus lock and exposure lock button when pressed straight in. It can even be customized to perform functions such as temporarily switching to different autofocus settings or to a different Metering Mode during shooting. The touch screen can be used for menu selection, image playback, as well as for adjusting exposure settings, autofocusing, and shutter release. And the 3.2" high-resolution (2.1M dot) rear monitor extends and tilts in multiple directions to assist shooting from unique high and low vantage points. The inclusion of the i Button, now standard on current Nikon models, allows photographers to quickly access mode-specific settings, whether shooting through the viewfinder, working on the rear monitor, in movie mode, or during image playback.

The electronic viewfinder of mirrorless cameras differs from the optical viewfinder of a dSLR. The bright, high-resolution (5.76M dot) OLED viewfinder, with 100% coverage, will enable you to preview the exposure, white balance, Picture Control settings, and depth of field of the final image, as you shoot, as well as make use of a virtual horizon to keep your images level. You can also make use of the customizable i Menu in the viewfinder, so that you can change numerous camera settings without taking the camera from your eye, including the viewfinder brightness level. And you can utilize focus peaking and scene-magnification in the viewfinder, as well as the electronic Rangefinder function, to assist with manual focusing.

Filmmakers will be able to take advantage of the numerous video improvements, including a wide variety of options for Video File Type, Tone Mode, and Video Frame Size and Rate including 4K (3840 x 2160), 5.4K (4032 x 2268), and 6K (6048 x 3402). Video File Type options include N-RAW, ProRes RAW HQ, ProRes 422 HQ, H.265, and H.264, which make use of the NEV, MOV, or MP4 formats depending on the file type. Tone Mode selection includes the standard SDR, high dynamic range HLG, and Nikon’s unique N-Log with updated LUTs. The Frame Size and Rate options include 6K, 5.4K, and 4K up to 60p, plus 4K 120p / 100p choices for creating slow motion video.

For movie shooting, you can make use of the same autofocus AF Area Modes and subject detection options as with still image shooting, although the Subject-Tracking AF option is available rather than 3D-Tracking. Video features also include highlight display zebra stripes (Zebra Pattern) shown on the monitor to indicate overexposed areas of the frame, and focus peaking to indicate the parts of the subject that are in focus when using manual focus. And you can choose to use either a histogram or a wave-form as the brightness information display. You can also make use of the in-camera, mechanical Vibration Reduction feature to help stabilize the image while hand-holding the camera, as well as the additional Electronic Vibration Reduction, which stabilizes the video frame, and thus will slightly crop the frame. The Hi-Res Zoom feature enables you to zoom in on the scene with no loss of video resolution. With the Z6III you can capture 4K time-lapse in-camera.

The Z6III offers built-in stereo microphones with the ability to manually adjust the audio input and choose the desired audio frequency range, as well as make use of the Attenuator option. You can also make use of Power Aperture to smoothly adjust the aperture setting during shooting. When recording in Manual (M) Shooting Mode, you can make use of Auto ISO so that the camera adjusts the exposure settings as the lighting or scene changes. The Metering Mode is no longer limited to Matrix when shooting video, and you can make use of Center-Weighted and Highlight-Weighted Metering. And the Z6III offers the Flat Picture Style, which is preferred by videographers. It preserves details in the shadow and highlight areas of the scene, and allows you to capture videos with the widest tonal range. This will provide the greatest amount of flexibility to make adjustments in post-processing.

The Z 7 and Z 6 cameras introduced the Z-mount lens mount, which continues to be used on the Z6III. Several Z-mount lenses are now available, as well as an F to Z (FTZ II) mount adaptor which enables you to use many of your F-mount NIKKOR lenses. The wider Z-mount design allows for lenses with extremely wide maximum apertures, such as the NIKKOR Z 58mm f/0.95 S Noct. In addition, the Z6III includes a ruggedly built, weather-sealed body, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities through Nikon’s SnapBridge app, and numerous customization options.

The high-resolution image sensor of this camera, along with the highly versatile and customizable autofocus system, on-sensor exposure metering with scene recognition and subject detection, and fast continuous frame rates will serve the needs of dedicated photographers of every level, from enthusiasts to professionals. The advanced features and customizable controls of the Nikon Z6III will enable photographers to consistently capture sharp, clean, and well-exposed images in a wide range of shooting situations.

But the Z6III is merely a tool. It is up to you to make use of its features and capabilities to create the images you envision. While the camera manual can tell you about all the settings and controls, how to change them, and their intended functions, this guide will build upon that and explain when and why you may wish to use them. All of the buttons, dials, menu items, and Custom Settings of the Z6III are there for a reason: to help you consistently capture the images you want. Some of them are more useful to different types of photographers and shooting situations, and you don’t necessarily need to learn and use them all immediately, but this guide will help to give you the knowledge to confidently use the features that turn your Nikon Z6III into an image capturing tool that works best for you.

Figure 1.3 - Flowers, Concord, Mass. Focus modes, exposure metering mode, aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and white balance all considered, even in creating this straightforward image. NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S lens, Shutter speed 1/500, Aperture f/4.0, ISO 400.

1.2 Take Control of Your Camera

Since the Z6III is a tool to take the images you want to take, you obviously can’t always allow the camera to make decisions for you. You have to take control of the camera to ensure that you capture exactly the images you intend - by autofocusing precisely where you intend, setting the aperture and shutter speed that you want, and obtaining the exposure you desire. While the Z6III is a highly intelligent camera, it cannot read your mind and your intentions and does not know that you wish to focus on and properly expose the flowers in the foreground, while making the background appear out of focus, and the flowers to be caught still and not be blurred from the motion of the wind, on a bright, overcast day (see Figure 1.3).

You have to tell the camera to do all of this, through the various controls and settings, such as the Focus Mode and AF-Area Mode (lock focus on the desired flowers), the exposure metering mode (properly expose the flowers and the scene), the aperture setting (the out-of-focus background), the shutter speed (freezing the motion of the flowers from the wind), the ISO (bright day) and the white balance (overcast day). Taking control of all of these functions and settings will enable you to consistently create the dramatic and compelling images you envision.

Figure 1.4 - 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible - Bay State Antique Auto Club Auto Show, Endicott Estate, Dedham, Mass. Nikon Z6III with NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S lens, Shutter speed 1/600, Aperture f/4.0, ISO 100.

Learning to use and get the most out of an advanced digital camera like the Z6III takes time, practice, patience, mistakes, and experimentation. If you are used to working with a dSLR, there will be some adjustments to using a mirrorless camera, including the electronic viewfinder and the autofocus system. However, you may find that these differences can help you to successfully capture scenes and situations that you may have been limited in consistently attaining before. The sophisticated and accurate autofocus system with subject detection, coupled with the fast continuous shooting speed, plus the exposure metering system and high ISO capabilities will help you get sharp images of subjects and moments that previously you may have missed.

If you are still in the process of learning all the controls of your camera and the exposure concepts of digital photography, you have perhaps jumped into the proverbial deep end of the pool by choosing the advanced Z6III! But don’t worry, this book will help guide you through its features, controls, and capabilities. Be sure to take it slowly and patiently as you learn the features and concepts that I will explain. With practice and experience you will soon be shooting with confidence and can begin to take advantage of your camera’s more advanced functions. Even if you are an intermediate or experienced photographer, don’t expect to just pick up all the new information at once, in one reading of a single book. (In fact, you wouldn’t want to, as the never-ending journey of learning and mastering photography is a big part of what it’s all about!) Try not to become frustrated if you don’t quite understand something or aren’t always getting the results you desire. Instead learn the controls, functions, settings, and concepts bit by bit, try them out in real life shooting situations, and return to this guide, to the Nikon Z6III Reference Guide, and other photography books to address questions and problems you encounter. Continue to learn and to photograph often and it should all begin to come together, sometimes slowly and sometimes in rapid bursts of discovery and understanding.

1.3 Using This Guide

There are many different ways to use an advanced digital camera and its controls to capture images, and many diverse situations in which photographers work. I’m going to concentrate on the techniques that I believe are the most practical, useful, and effective for the majority of enthusiast and advanced photographers using the Z6III, while also explaining how settings can apply to specialized uses. The settings and techniques I discuss can apply to various types of photography including general photography, action, wildlife, portrait, and travel photography. Once you have a firm grasp of the controls, settings, and basic techniques you will have the tools and knowledge to address different issues, specific situations, and challenging scenes. I encourage you to then experiment and continue to learn, and to find the techniques that work best and are most comfortable or intuitive for you.

The Z6III is a highly sophisticated tool that deserves to be used to its full potential, and that involves taking control of your camera and its numerous functions. While this may be challenging at first, these are the techniques that are necessary to take full advantage of the capabilities of any camera including the Z6III, and will lead you to having more control and consistency over your image making. Hopefully this will inevitably lead to better images!

This guide is intended to be used with the camera in your hands. That is the best way to directly follow and understand the controls, functions, and settings as they are being explained. (All of the controls, menus, and functions are fully illustrated, to assist those readers still awaiting their Z6III.) It is also intended to be used in conjunction with and in addition to the camera manuals, not to completely replace them, so every bit of information in the brief Nikon Z6III User’s Manual and the more complete Nikon Z6III Reference Guide will not be repeated here. Among the often-brief descriptions and sometimes frustratingly incomplete and disjointed explanations in the manuals, there is some very valuable information, as well as the basics for buttons, controls, menus, and how to access and change all the settings. And I will refer to the manuals for very specialized or less-often used functions that are well-explained there.

In this text, the page number references that I give for the Z6III Reference Guide will be for the version with firmware version 1.02 on the cover. This can be obtained as a PDF file from the Nikon website, at the webpage below:

https://downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com/en/products/629/Z6III.html

Figure 1.5 - Nikon Z6III shown with the NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S lens.

As you can see, there is a lot to make sense of regarding terminology and controls, so I recommend that you familiarize yourself with the controls and displays of the camera body, starting on page 41 of the Z6III Reference Guide and explained in the Camera Controls chapter of this book, as well as read through the manual at some point and attempt to understand or absorb as much as possible. Yes, much of it may be complicated or unclear at first, but this guide will explain and clarify the numerous buttons, controls, menus, and settings and explain when and why you will want to use them in your photography.

Various settings of the Nikon Z6III can be controlled in multiple ways including using the buttons and Command Dials on the camera body while reading the settings on the top Control Panel, in the Viewfinder, or on the rear Information Display. Or they can be changed through the menus accessed with the Menu Button and the Multi Selector thumb pad or touch screen and read on the rear Monitor. Plus the i Button and i Menu can be used to change numerous settings, while viewing them on the rear Monitor or in the Viewfinder. Explore the options (which will be explained throughout this guide) and find the ways that work most quickly and intuitively for you.

Any time I capitalize something in this text it is a proper term that can be looked up in the Nikon Z6III Reference Guide. I will capitalize the names of actual buttons, controls, camera parts, and menu items, such as Fn1 Button, Main Command Dial, Monitor, and White Balance. Words that are capitalized and bold refer to chapters and sections within this guide, such as Menus and Custom Settings. Access the contents navigation panel or the Table of Contents of your e-book reader if you wish to quickly navigate to these different sections, and use the search function to locate desired terms

Many of the functions and controls of a digital camera such as the Z6III are closely inter-related, such as the shooting modes, exposure settings, and the metering modes. As a result of this I must sometimes indicate that a previous or upcoming section of the text has further explanation of a related function. However, there is no need to jump ahead or behind in the text - this is merely a heads-up that the feature will be fully explained in the appropriate section. It is best to read through the entire text, in the order it is organized. The Menus and Custom Settings chapter is particularly prone to referring to upcoming chapters, but this initial menu walkthrough is placed at the beginning of the guide in order to help set up your camera before use. The features and functions introduced in that chapter will be addressed in more detail in the applicable sections of the text.

After reading the text you may then wish to return to specific sections for further study. It may take multiple readings followed by experimentation and practice to fully understand both the individual functions and the relationships between functions. 

Example Images

In the captions to the example photos throughout the text I include the exposure settings that were used. With digital photography, while there is typically an ideal exposure and there are certainly incorrect settings, there are not necessarily best settings for any given situation. A digital camera gives you quick access to the basic and essential settings because they often need to be changed to adapt to the subject, the scene, the lighting, and perhaps most importantly your creative intentions. The choices you (or the camera) make depend on a number of variables and relationships as well as the photographer’s desires. Because the settings used for the example images are based on many variables including the lighting and time of day, the motion of the subject, the lens and focal length used, as well as the overall situation being photographed with a combination of moving subjects, still subjects, and changing lighting, these settings should not be viewed as proper or best settings. In truth, they often reflect the reality of photography and adjusting (or failing to adjust) to fluid situations.

Figure 1.6 - 1959 Cadillac Fleetwood Sixty Special - Bay State Antique Auto Club Auto Show, Endicott Estate, Dedham, Mass. Nikon Z6III with NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S lens, Shutter speed 1/250, Aperture f/4.0, ISO 100.

Many of the example photographs throughout this guide were taken with the Z6III, though note that some example images were taken with various cameras. Due to the fact that I am usually working with a variety of different camera bodies in my shooting and research for writing, I wish to use images that best exemplify the topic or point I am describing, such as shutter speed, exposure metering, or bracketing. Example photos taken with the Z6III are noted in the image captions. Larger versions of the example photographs from this text can also be viewed online (and in color for Kindle readers) here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/dojoklo/albums/72177720318125691

Updates to the Text:

Although I have carefully reviewed and edited this text, I may later find typos or wish to make corrections. And sometimes as I use the camera more and answer user questions, I may discover changes I would like to make to the text to clarify an explanation or better describe a process, setting, or function. So I will keep a log of updates, corrections, and clarifications for Nikon Z6III Experience on my blog at:

http://blog.dojoklo.com/nikon-z6iii-experience-updates-page/

You can also sign up to receive notices of any important updates and to be contacted about receiving free e-book copies of updated versions of Nikon Z6III Experience (if any major updates are made to the text). For example, Nikon may release future firmware which could add features and menu items, and I will update the guide accordingly. Or I will update the guide if an important addition or correction is made to the text. Please sign up to be notified of these major updates, here:

http://blog.dojoklo.com/ebooks/sign-up-for-full-stop-e-book-updates/

1.4 Getting Started

Batteries: The first thing to do, if you haven’t done so already, is to fully charge the battery. You will probably want a second battery, the EN-EL15c, for extended shooting sessions, traveling, or for those times you forgot to charge the battery. Remember that mirrorless cameras do not have as long of a battery life as you may be used to with a dSLR, due in part to the electronic viewfinder and increased use of the rear Monitor of a mirrorless camera. The optional EH-8P AC Charging Adapter allow you to directly charge an EN-EL15c or EN-EL15b battery while in the camera, via the included USB Power Delivery (PD) cable. They will also allow you to power the camera when the camera is in use. Note that the camera needs to be turned off in order for it to charge, and it will not charge older EN-EL15a or EN-EL15 batteries. The Z6III is incompatible with many third-party batteries.

Figure 1.7 - Nikon EN-EL15c battery with XQD memory cards and an SD memory card.

You will want to make sure that both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are disabled, so that they don’t drain the battery when these features are not in use. You can enable the Airplane Mode menu item in the Network Menu, which will turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

At the end of this book I will provide Amazon.com product links to the accessories and items I mention throughout the text, as well as other Photography Accessories and books, if you wish to view or purchase them. There is also a full version of this list, with Amazon links, on my blog:

http://blog.dojoklo.com/2011/02/10/gear-accessories-and-books/

Memory Cards: You will want to have a couple high speed XQD or CFexpress memory cards. If you will be capturing images in the NEF (RAW) format, the files will be very large, and thus a 64 GB or larger card will be most practical. Nikon suggests using the Nikon 660GB MC-CF660G Type B CFexpress memory card to achieve the maximum buffer capacity of the Z6III, listed on pages 944-945 of the Z6III Reference Guide. The more reasonably priced Sony CEB-G128 CFexpress memory card and the Sony 64 GB QD-G64E XQD (or larger capacity) are also options, with the Sony CFexpress card having nearly the same read and write speeds as the Nikon card. Additional memory card recommendations, including for use with RAW 12-bit video, are given on page 943 of the Z6III Reference Guide. You must use a 64 GB or larger card to record N-RAW 12-bit (NEV) or ProRes RAW HQ 12-bit (MOV) videos. Also, a CFexpress or XQD memory card with a maximum data transfer rate of 250 MB/s or faster is recommended for use with High-Speed Frame Capture+ release mode.

The Z6III offers two memory card slots, with slot 1 accepting either CFexpress or XQD memory cards, and slot 2 accepting SD memory cards. The camera supports Type B Sony CFexpress memory cards, as well as ProGrade, Lexar, and SanDisk Type B CFexpress cards. XQD memory cards allow for high-speed transfers (read and write speeds) and large storage sizes, as well as a physically larger, stronger card than an SD memory card. They can enable the camera buffer to clear quicker, so that shooting does not lag during long continuous bursts, and is also important when recording 6K and 4K video. Faster transfer speeds can also enable you to more quickly transfer image files to a computer, if the card reader and computer allow the faster speeds. The inclusion of the XQD card slot also allows the Z6III to be a convenient companion camera to the Nikon D850, Nikon D500, or Nikon D5 (XQD model), so that you can make use of the same card type.

CFexpress memory cards have the same physical size and pin compatibility as XQD cards, plus have the ability to offer much faster transfer speeds. In the future, cameras, card readers, and computers will be designed to make use of the faster CFexpress speeds (potentially up to 8GB/s in the future), while XQD cards can only reach 0.5GB/s. So CFexpress cards will likely be the preferred format in the near future, including for video use. The image buffer capacity figures used in the Nikon manual and in this book are based on the use of the Nikon 660GB MC-CF660G Type B CFexpress memory card.

Figure 1.8 - 1961 Dodge Polara - Bay State Antique Auto Club Auto Show, Endicott Estate, Dedham, Mass. Nikon Z6III with NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S lens, Shutter speed 1/1000, Aperture f/4.0, ISO 100.

Be sure to always insert and remove a memory card only when the camera is turned off. When downloading the images from a card to a computer, use a card reader and simply copy or import the images, then remove the card once the card reader has been stopped and you are sure it is no longer being accessed by the computer. Do not add or delete photos or files to a card via the computer, unless required for Custom Picture Controls or other uses. Only erase or format a card in the camera itself. This will all help to prevent card errors or corruption. If a memory card has functioned properly after several uses, with proper care it is likely to continue to work properly for a long time.

1.5 New Features and Hidden Features of the Z6III

For those coming to the Z6III from a previous, advanced Nikon dSLR, and who are already familiar with the typical features, functions, and controls and wish to immediately learn about the new, different, and upgraded features and buttons, below is a summary of several aspects that have been added, changed, or improved with the Z6III compared to recent Nikon models such as the Z 7II, Z 6II, D850 and D750. And as a mirrorless camera rather than a dSLR camera, there will be some additional important differences, such as the electronic Viewfinder, the hybrid autofocus system, the in-camera Vibration Reduction, and some new menu options.

I’ve described some of these features as hidden features, because they can only be accessed in very specific ways, sometimes outside of using the menus or Custom Settings, and may be challenging to find if you are not familiar with them. All of these new and hidden features and items will be discussed in more detail in the applicable chapters and sections of this guide.

New Features of the Z6III

-Hybrid Autofocus System - The Z6III has a hybrid autofocus system, which makes use of phase-detection AF for quick focusing, and contrast-detection AF for accurate adjustment of the focus. The Z6III boasts 273 selectable AF Points, with 90% coverage of the frame. When using Auto-Area AF, the camera makes use of 299 AF Points. The large number of points, spread widely across nearly the entire frame, will allow you to more accurately track moving subjects when using AF-C Autofocus Mode. This will also allow you to locate the active AF Point exactly where you want it, most anywhere in the frame, when shooting in AF-S Autofocus Mode. This eliminates the need to lock focus and recompose.

However, the AF Area Modes and the procedure for tracking moving subjects will differ from what you may be used to with a Nikon dSLR. Pinpoint AF is an AF-Area Mode first included on the D850, Z 7, and Z 6. It is similar to Single-Point AF, except that it makes use of an even smaller focus point that is about half the size, so that you can focus on a more precise area or detail. The Dynamic-Area AF area modes can be used along with Continuous AF focus mode (AF-C), and are designed for moving subjects. You will focus on the subject with the selected AF Point, and the surrounding AF Points will help retain focus on the subject if it moves away from the selected point. With the Wide-Area AF area modes you can select the small or large size, or create your own custom size. For 3D-Tracking AF-Area Mode, you will position the AF Point over the intended subject then press the AF-ON Button or half-press the shutter button to begin tracking that subject throughout the frame. When using Auto-Area AF, the camera will automatically select a subject and focus on it.

When subject detection is enabled in the Shooting Menu > AF/MF subject detection options, the camera will automatically detect and follow a subject when using the Wide-Area AF, 3D-Tracking, Subject-Tracking, or Auto-Area AF area modes. (Chapter 5 - Autofocusing). The camera can detect people, faces, eyes, animals including birds, vehicles, and aircraft (see Figure 1.9 - left).

Figure 1.9 - Left: Making use of face and eye detection for people. Right: Making use of subject detection to assist with manual focus.

-Subject Recognition in Manual Focus - With previous models, subject detection was only available when using autofocus, however the Z6III has added subject detection for manual focus. This is enabled with the AF/MF Subject Detection Options in the Photo Shooting Menu, where you can select Auto, People, Animal, Vehicle, or Airplanes. The Auto option will detect all of these subject types, and the Auto and Animal options will detect birds. The MF Subject Detection Area menu item of the Photo Shooting Menu is then used to select the size of the focus area that will be used to detect the subject (see Figure 1.9 - right). (Section 5.3 - Manual Focus). You can place the focusing frame over the intended subject, and a smaller subject detection frame will appear if the desired subject type is detected. You can then manually focus until the in-focus indicator dot appears at the lower-left of the screen.

-Electronic Viewfinder - The 5,760K dot electronic Viewfinder of the Z6III mirrorless camera differs from the optical viewfinder of a dSLR. As an OLED screen, the high-resolution Viewfinder will enable you to preview the exposure, white balance, Picture Control settings, and depth of field of the final image, as you shoot, as well as make use of a virtual horizon to keep your images level. You can also view playback images in the Viewfinder, and make use of the customizable i Menu in the Viewfinder, so that you can change camera settings without taking the camera from your eye. And you can utilize focus peaking in the Viewfinder, as well as the electronic Rangefinder function, plus zooming-in, to assist with manual focusing. The electronic viewfinder boasts an adjustable brightness level up to 4000 nits, much brighter than most other mirrorless cameras.

-Dual Memory Card Slots - The two card slots provide various options on how they can be configured. The Primary Slot Selection item of the Photo Shooting Menu allows you to choose if the CFexpress/XQD card slot or the SD card slot is the primary slot. The Secondary Slot Function menu item is used to choose the role of the second card slot, such as Overflow, Backup, or RAW primary - JPEG secondary. Use of the Nikon 660GB MC-CF660G Type B memory card will help to achieve the maximum buffer capacity of the Z6III, including up to 1000 consecutive images when capturing any type of JPEG or RAW file, including lossless compressed NEF (RAW) files. The Destination item of the Video Recording Menu is used to select which slot movies will be recorded to, and the Playback Menu offers a Copy Image(s) item, to copy image files from one card to the other. When an image is saved to both cards, you will be able to choose to delete one or both copies.

-Monitor Mode Button - In order to select if the Monitor or the Viewfinder will be in use, you will need to press the Monitor Mode Button, which is located on the side of the Viewfinder bump. Press it repeatedly until you see the Automatic display switch option, as you look on the rear Monitor or in the Viewfinder. Set it for this option for now, so that you can make use of both the Viewfinder and the rear Monitor. The other options will be described in Chapter 2 - Camera Controls. If you are pressing the Playback Button or the Menu Button and not seeing anything appear on the rear Monitor, be sure to look in the Viewfinder and set the Monitor Mode to Automatic display switch, as well as check the viewfinder sensor for dust.

-Controls - The Z6III includes the Sub-Selector joystick control, which can be used to select AF Points as well as navigate menus. Pressing it straight in can be customized to your desired function, such as focus lock and/ or exposure lock, thus providing an AE-L/AF-L button, which this camera does not have. The Z6III also has two customizable Fn (Function) Buttons, and the Video Record Button can be assigned to another function for use during photo shooting mode. Many of the buttons and controls can be customized in the Custom Setting f2 and g2 menus, so that you can quickly access various functions and settings during photo and movie shooting. The Z6III does not have a Focus Mode Button, but you can use the Fn2 Button (if assigned to the default Focus Mode / AF Area Mode) to quickly change the Focus Mode and AF-Area Mode. The Release Mode can be quickly changed with the button on the rear of the camera. (Chapter 2 - Camera Controls, and Section 3.5 Custom Setting Menu).

Figure 1.10 - Left: Photo-Mode i Menu, accessed by pressing the i Button. After highlighting the desired setting, either press the OK Button or use the Command Dials to change the settings. For the AF Area Mode, the rear Main Dial will change the AF Area Mode, and the front Sub-Command Dial will change the Subject Detection type. Right: For the White Balance setting, the rear Main Command Dial will select the White Balance setting, and the front Sub-Command Dial will select any available sub-options.

-i Menus - The i Button enables quick access to the i Menus, to change various functions during shooting, movie mode, and playback. For example, during photo shooting you can quickly access and change the Picture Control, White Balance, Image Quality, Focus Mode, and Metering Mode (see Figure 1.10 - left). You will even be able to access and change additional, related sub-options via the i Menu, without having to go into the menus. For example, when selecting a Picture Control, you can adjust its parameters as well. And when choosing a White Balance setting, you can select available sub-options, such as for the Auto and Fluorescent white balance settings (see Figure 1.10 - right). Using Custom Setting f1, you can replace the default i Menu options with other functions that you often use, such as Monitor / Viewfinder Brightness. The Movie-Mode i Menu offers similar options and customizations. During image playback, you can access an i Menu that will enable you to quickly access features such as Rating, Protect, Record Voice Memo, and Retouch. You can even access the various i Menus while looking in the electronic Viewfinder, so that you can change settings without having to take your eye from the Viewfinder.

-Large 3.2" high-resolution (2,100K-dot), articulating touch-screen LCD Monitor - The touch screen capability allows you to navigate menus and select options, view, zoom, and scroll through playback images, enter text with a touch screen keyboard, as well as position the autofocus point and release the shutter in Live View. When viewing an Information Display screen or a Live View screen on the rear Monitor, the exposure settings will be surrounded by a box. This indicates that you can use the touch screen to change those settings (see Figure 1.11). The Monitor can be color customized with the Monitor Color Balance item of the Setup Menu. There is also a new display option, so that you can view the scene on the screen without any of the shooting information. This allows you to focus on your composition without any distraction from the numbers and symbols. To make use of this, you need to assign one of the camera buttons to the Live view info display off option.

Figure 1.11 - Left: Live View display on the rear Monitor, with the exposure settings surrounded by a box, indicating they can be changed with the touch screen. Right: Changing the aperture setting using the touch screen.

-Touch Fn Feature - The Touch Fn (Touch Function) feature of the Z6III enables the rear screen to be used to perform certain functions during Viewfinder shooting. With your eye at the Viewfinder, you can use your thumb on the rear Monitor to either move the focus AF point, switch which eye is selected, turn on the framing grid or virtual horizon level, or zoom in on the display. Use Custom Setting f4 - Touch Fn to enable this feature and assign the desired function. 

-In-Body Image Stabilization (IBIS) - The Z6III includes in-camera, sensor-based Vibration Reduction, to help stabilize images during still photography and movie shooting. The camera offers 5-axis stabilization when using a Z-mount S lens, and 3-axis stabilization when using an F-mount lens via the FTZ or FTZ II Adapter. This includes lenses with and without built-in VR, as well as Non-CPU lenses that are registered in the camera menu. Movie shooting also offers an additional Electronic Vibration Reduction. The camera also adds the ability to link vibration reduction to the focus point, to help ensure that the subject is in focus, with the Link VR to Focus Point menu item.

FTZ / FTZ II F-Mount Lens Adapters - These optional adapters will allow you to use numerous older and current F-mount lenses with the Z6III, including CPU lenses, manual focus lenses, and Non-CPU AI lenses. AF-S, AF-P, and AF-I type lenses will have full autofocusing, and all compatible lenses will have full metering. When attaching a lens with an aperture ring, be sure to set the aperture to the narrowest setting, such as f/22 or f/32. (Chapter 16 - Lenses).

-Highlight-Weighted Metering Mode - This metering mode helps to prevent the overexposure of highlights, in certain types of lighting situations such as a subject under bright stage lighting. It is not intended for general use, but rather for specific types of lighting and subject situations, as will be explained in Chapter 8 - Metering Modes.

-No Built-In Flash - The Z6III requires an optional external Speedlight if you wish to make use of flash. You will be able to control the flash and wireless flash settings from the camera.

-High Speed Bursts with Pre-Release Capture - The Z6III offers the High-Speed frame rates of C30, C60, and C120, which can be used to capture rapid bursts of JPEG images. The Custom Setting d3 - Pre-Release Capture Options enable you to buffer images before fully pressing the shutter release, which will then be saved when the shutter is released, to help you capture the exact moment you may have missed as you reacted.

-Low Light Shooting - Custom Settings d11 - Starlight View (Photo LV) and d12 - Warm Display Colors can assist you in viewing the display when shooting in dark environments.

-Expanded Native ISO Sensitivity Range - The native ISO range of the Z6 III is 100 - 64,000, with an expanded range down to 50 and up to 204,800. The high ISO capabilities of this camera will help you to capture images with decreased noise, in low-light situations. (Chapter 7 - Exposure Part 1 - Shooting Modes).

Figure 1.12 - Left: ISO Sensitivity Settings, including the versatile Auto ISO options. Right: Fine-tuning the Auto Minimum Shutter Speed setting.

-Auto ISO Options - As with the other current Nikon models, the Z6III offers a powerful Auto ISO option, which will change the ISO setting if necessary in order to obtain a proper exposure, including when capturing images or recording video in Manual (M) Mode. You can set the parameters of Auto ISO, including the Maximum Sensitivity and Minimum Shutter Speed that the camera will use for Auto ISO (see Figure 1.12 - left). One useful option is that if you set the Minimum Shutter Speed to the Auto setting, the camera will select a shutter speed based on the focal length of the lens. For example, a longer telephoto lens requires a faster shutter speed to avoid blur from camera movement. But, if you are unhappy with the choice that the camera is making, you can continue to press right from the Minimum Shutter Speed > Auto setting, and you can fine-tune this setting so that the camera selects a faster or slower Auto shutter speed (see Figure 1.12 - right). Choosing an ISO setting and taking advantage of Auto ISO will be explained in Section 3.3 - Photo Shooting Menu, as well as the Exposure chapters.

-White Balance Improvements - You can choose between three different Auto White Balance options, including Keep white (reduce warm colors), Keep overall atmosphere, and Keep warm lighting colors, as well as a Natural Light Auto setting, which adjusts the colors for what is seen by the eye under natural light. And you can store up to 6 custom Preset (PRE) White Balance settings. You can also select a separate white balance for movie shooting while retaining the current photo shooting white balance, or set the movie white balance to be Same as photo settings (Section 10.1 - White Balance). Other additions include the HLG Tone Mode, to capture images with a wider dynamic range, and the Skin Softening and Portrait Impression Balance features.

-Focus Shift Shooting - This feature of the Z6III enables you to take a series of images of the same scene or object, where the focus distance is automatically changed by the camera for each image (see Figure 1.13 - left). The images can then be combined, using optional software, to make use of a technique called focus stacking. This is often used in close-up and macro photography, since it is difficult or impossible to capture the entire depth of a subject in-focus in a single image, at such a close distance.

Figure 1.13 - Left: The Focus Shift Shooting menu, used to set up and initiate this feature used for focus stacking. Right: Picture Control options, as accessed on the Monitor via the i Button and Photo-Mode i Menu. Note the ability to make adjustments in 0.25 increments using the front Sub-Command Dial, as shown by the icon at the lower-left.

-Picture Controls and Creative Picture Controls - The Z6III offers the Flat Picture Control, which is desired by videographers as it provides the greatest latitude for post-processing by helping to retain details in both highlights and shadows. It can also be used for still images that are going to be heavily processed. Also, the Picture Controls offer the Clarity setting, the Brightness adjustment allows a wider range, and the settings allow finer (0.25 step) adjustment increments, plus an Auto option (see Figure 1.13 - right). And the Z6III includes a Mid-Range Sharpening parameter, in addition to the Sharpening and Clarity parameters, which can be used for still image shooting or movie shooting. As with white balance, you can also select a separate Picture Control for movie shooting while retaining the current photo shooting Picture Control, or set the movie Picture Control to be Same as photo settings.

The Z6III includes the Creative Picture Controls. They can be used to create processed images with a wide variety of artistic filters, such as Dream, Bleached, Somber, Toy, or monochromatic options including Charcoal and Graphite. These are 20 different Creative Picture Control options that are available. (Section 10.2 - Picture Controls).

-Cloud Picture Controls and Imaging Recipes - The Z6III has added the Cloud Picture Controls feature, where advanced pre-made Picture Controls, called Imaging Recipes, can be downloaded to the camera via the Nikon Imaging Cloud connection which is found in the Network Menu. These Cloud Picture Controls can be loaded and then accessed at the end of the Set Picture Control menu, below the Creative Picture Controls (see Figure 1.14 - left). Imaging Recipes include toning information, shooting information, and any notes added by the creator. You can create your own Imaging Recipes from a photo on either Nikon Imaging Cloud or Nikon Image Space, or from a photo currently saved in your camera.

Figure 1.14 - Left: Some of the available Cloud Picture Controls, uploaded to the camera from the Nikon Imaging Cloud website. Right: Pixel Shift Shooting, with the camera set up to take 16 images, as seen near the upper-right of the frame.

-Pixel Shift Shooting - The camera will automatically capture a series of NEF (RAW) images where the sensor is repositioned with each image. These images, typically of a still subject, can then be combined using Nikon NX Studio software and adjusted in editing software to create a high resolution image, up to about 96 megapixels (see Figure 1.14 - right).

-Electronic Shutter and Electronic Front-Curtain Shutter - These shutter types can help to reduce shutter sounds plus camera vibrations that can lead to blur, in controlled situations such as landscape and macro shots (see Figure 1.15 - left). With a high-resolution sensor, these slight movements can become more apparent in images. Note that the Electronic Shutter can cause banding under certain types of lighting as well as rolling shutter effects (Section 3.6 - Custom Setting d6 - Shutter Type, and Chapter 6 - Release Modes).

-Silent Mode - This option can be used to completely eliminate the sound of the shutter, as well as reduce internal camera movements which can lead to image blur when working on a tripod with still subjects. It will also avoid wear on the mechanical shutter, such as when taking a large number of Interval Timer photos. Silent Mode has some limitations: when Silent Mode is used under artificial lighting that cycles, it will cause banding in the images. The banding can be eliminated by using very slow shutter speeds, such as 1/15 or slower, but that is not practical for many shooting situations. Also, you will not be able to use flash with Silent Mode. This silent shutter feature will result in distortion or rolling shutter when photographing movement and action.

Figure 1.15 - Left: The available Shutter Types, including Electronic front-curtain shutter and Electronic Shutter. Right: Photo Flicker Reduction and High-Frequency Flicker Reduction, available in the Photo Shooting Menu.

-Flicker Reduction and High-Frequency Flicker Reduction Shooting - With the Photo Flicker Reduction option, the camera will detect the flickering of certain types of lighting often found in stadiums and arenas, and will adjust the timing of the shutter release in order to maintain more consistent exposures (see Figure 1.15 - right). The High-Frequency Flicker Reduction feature will enable you to adjust the shutter speed in smaller increments to help reduce flicker in images of scenes with high-frequency LED lighting (Section 3.3 - Photo Shooting Menu). Note that if the camera displays shutter speeds such as 1/62.8 or 1/127.4, it means that High-Frequency Flicker Reduction has been enabled. If you didn’t intend to use this function, be sure to disable it.

-Menu and Custom Settings options - In addition to the above improvements, the Z6III offers several new options in various menu items and Custom Settings, such as the option to batch-process multiple images when using the NEF (RAW) Processing feature of the Retouch options. The After Burst, Show item of the Playback Menu will enable you to choose which image in a burst is initially shown during image playback, either the first or the last. The Diffraction Compensation and Auto Distortion Control options can assist in automatically correcting for lens issues. When Custom Setting d10 - View mode (Photo LV) is set to Show effects of settings, the Live View scene on the Monitor or in the Viewfinder will reflect all the current shooting settings and exposure settings applied, such as White Balance, Picture Control, and Exposure Compensation. This