Nikon Z6ii - Cash it or Trash it?

Overview

Investing in a camera is a HUGE decision. With camera companies quickly evolving into the era of mirrorless, as we see with Canon potentially discontinuing the EOS M lineup according to insights from Jared Polin, Nikon has been trying to pave the way with their evolving technology.

Nikon’s mirrorless camera series, the Z series™, starts with the cheapest at $859.95, the Z 50. Next up, the Z fc at $959.95, the Z 5 at $1,299.95, the Z 6 at $1,599.95, the Z 6ii at $1,999.95, the Z 7 at $2,499.95, the Z 7ii at $2,899.95, and finally the Z 9 at $5,499.95.

This powerhouse lineup of mirrorless cameras ranges from 20.9 MP devices all the way to 45.7 MP; 11 fps to 8K UHD videos. In the case of these cameras, with more money comes more power – Nikon’s latest Z 9 is evident in showing this.

Landing solidly in the middle of the bunch is the Nikon Z 6ii, the successor to the Z 6, released in November 2020. This camera is considered a “true multimedia powerhouse” according to Nikon, and my experience with it has been considerably close that claim.

Note that, according to Nikon, the Z 6 was designed to be a hybrid device for both photo and video. For someone like me who has a heavy focus on both photo and video content, the Z 6 has been an immense help in delivering quality content for me, containing incredible low-light features, shooting modes, video capabilities, and more.

Electronic Viewfinder (EVF)

One of my biggest obsessions with the Z lineup is the Electronic Viewfinder (EVF). It allows you to see in real-time the changes you are making to your settings – allowing for you to focus more on shooting and making it easier to learn the controls of the camera. 

Switching from viewing through the EVF to the LCD screen is extremely easy – all you do is put your eye up to the EVF and the LCD turns off automatically, while the EVF automatically turns on. When you pull your eye away, the LCD turns back on. There is minimal lag when switching from the EVF to the LCD screen and vice versa, but if you are in a moment where a second truly matters – don’t try to switch until after the moment is over. There is juuust enough lag to where you might actually miss a shot of that moment. Other than that, the EVF is truly remarkable and something I will never be able to turn back from. If this isn’t something you prefer, Nikon USA describes how you can change settings for your mirrorless to represent the similar feel to a DSLR.

"The 'Apply settings to live view' function sets the camera so the EVF and the LCD monitor will display a similar color, brightness and contrast. Turn the setting OFF and both display a look more akin to what you’d get with an optical viewfinder, so whether you want to use the camera like a conventional DSLR’s optical viewfinder or not, the choice is yours," the article recaps.

My one irritation with the EVF viewfinder is that there is a protection window surrounding it. The protection itself I love, but the silicone material surrounding it moves a bit too much and actually tends to cover my EVF sensor, turning off my LCD when I am not anticipating it, causing frustration while in-shoot. It is easy to push back into place, but it is something I did not anticipate nor want to deal with during a photoshoot.

Additionally, I often get frustrated by the fact that the LCD screen can only fold down, and not sideways. I often am filming vertical video for content creation and social media such as TikTok and Instagram. When I am filming something above or below eye level, because the LCD does not fold sideways, I either find myself crouching extremely low to get close to the screen to see what I’m filming, or just aim and hope I am getting the shot. Not ideal, and something I miss about my D5600!

Silent Photography Mode

Single-handedly one of the most important features for me on this camera, and it was truly worth the whole investment. I tend to shoot a ton of religious events that incur many silent moments during services. Having a camera clacking away is something that can deter from these prayerful moments, and the LAST thing I want to be is a distraction.

Using the silent shutter mode has been a GODSEND for me – it is seriously…well…silent. Using it every time leaves my mouth agape, and I am immensely pleased with the continual capabilities of the camera especially while in silent mode. It is a true plus in favor of mirrorless cams. Before switching to the Z lineup, I do want to note that I primarily used a D5600 which also has a silent shutter capability, but it is far inferior to that of the Z 6ii. 

Autofocus

I know almost every photographer can agree that autofocus (AF) is arguably the most important feature on a camera, period. That’s why I am disappointed that the Z 6ii falls short.

When testing out the Z 6ii and the Z 7ii in-store, I did immediately notice the inability for the bodies to focus the way I wanted them to, as they seemed to almost be indecisive on whether to focus on the foreground or background. That being said, I only held them for a few moments and (prematurely) assumed they would be great just because they were “newer”. Tip: don’t make that same mistake as me. There is still remarkable crispness in the focus, just an issue in which the camera can’t always decipher what is foreground and what is background, hence creating a focus issue.

Also note that Nikon recently released its v1.4 firmware update that contained an AF update – I did sense an improvement with general object AF, although not a huge difference with moving subjects. I recently shot a commencement in which there were grads in front of my lens. I was trying to photograph someone in their background, whose facial features were clearly the main focus of the screen, yet the camera still could not find the focus on them, but was instead focusing on the gowns of the grads in the foreground. Quite frustrating!

The primary AF mode I shoot in to avoid this issue is the Wide-Area (L) Mode with eye-detection. This mode allows me to move the rear toggle at the top right of the LCD screen to control the box in which I want the eye-detection to search within, selecting an area within the 273-point Hybrid AF system grid. When I have an area selected with the digital box, the AF is extremely accurate and I have never had a notable issue with the quickness of the AF features.

Additionally, the AF overall is insanely quiet, especially when shooting video. There literally is nothing better. All this being said, I could write for days about all the different focus modes on the camera – each has a specific purpose and executes it very well, especially the Wide-Area modes and the autofocus for animals!

Function Buttons

I am obsessed with the function button feature on my Nikon Z 6ii. There are two buttons on this camera, located to the right of the lens on the camera body that can be customized to perform certain functions based on what I shoot most with. My Fn1 button is customized to change focus modes quickly and easily, and my Fn2 button is customized to turn silent photography on and off at the click of it.

Having these buttons has completely streamlined my photography flow during shoots and allows for a lot more focus on the shoot itself rather than taking time to change settings.

Low-light Photography

For someone like me who is constantly shooting in churches and event spaces that have inconsistent and awkward light sources, low-light capability was a priority when I was looking for a new camera. Luckily, I feel I have hit the goldmine with the Z 6ii.

I got to test out the low-light capabilities of the Z6ii during Orthodox Christian Holy Week this past year. This week consists of multiple services in which the lights within the church are most often fully turned off, with mere singular light or a few candles illuminating the space.

I paired the Nikon Z 6ii with the Z 70-200 2.8 and the 24-70 2.8 for this specific week, knowing the lighting I would encounter. Shooting in a dark church with the Z 6ii’s ISO sometimes at 8000 was impressive quality.

So…the final verdict?

Overall, I say CASH IT! to the Nikon Z 6ii. There are too many features for me to go into detail about the camera – I merely skimmed the rim.

The Z 6ii truly gets the job done for capturing special moments, and it helps photographers themselves execute exquisite image composition. If you are a beginner, this camera is not the first direction you should go in, but if you know your way around your DSLR and are ready to invest and willing to learn, the Nikon Z 6ii is what you should get to truly step up your game.