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Home → Comparison

Nikon Zf vs Nikon Z6 III: What Should You Get?

By Jason Polak 11 Comments
Last Updated On September 20, 2024

The Nikon Z6 III is a 24MP full-frame camera with a partially-stacked sensor, whereas the Nikon Zf is a retro-style 24MP full-frame camera that is surprisingly similar to the Z6 III in many aspects. Which one should you get?

NikonZf_vs_NikonZ6III_comparison_front

Nikon Zf vs Nikon Z6 III Specifications Comparison

Camera FeatureNikon ZfNikon Z6 III
AnnouncedSeptember 2023June 2024
Camera TypeMirrorlessMirrorless
Sensor TypeBSI CMOSPartially Stacked CMOS
Image ProcessorEXPEED 7EXPEED 7
Resolution24.5 MP24.5 MP
Pixel Dimensions6048×40326048×4024
Sensor Dimensions35.9 x 23.9 mm (Full Frame)35.9 x 23.9 mm (Full Frame)
Sensor Pixel Size5.94µ5.94µ
Low Pass FilterYesYes
IBIS (In-Body Image Stabilization)YesYes
Base ISOISO 100ISO 100
Max Native ISOISO 64,000ISO 64,000
Extended ISOsISO 50-204,800ISO 50-204,800
High-Resolution Sensor ShiftYesYes
Focus Stack BracketingYesYes
Pre-Shoot Burst ModeYes (JPEG only)Yes (JPEG only)
Fastest Shutter Speed1/80001/16000
Longest Shutter Speed900 seconds900 seconds
Continuous Shooting (Mechanical Shutter)14 FPS14 FPS
Continuous Shooting (Electronic Shutter)14 FPS20 FPS
Notes for High FPS ShootingNoneNone
Buffer Size (Raw)Over 200 frames1000+ frames
Autofocus SystemHybrid PDAF with deep learning subject recognitionHybrid PDAF with deep learning subject recognition
Autofocus Points273273
Maximum Low-Light AF Sensitivity (Standardized to f/2, ISO 100)-8.5 EV-8.5 EV
Standard Flash Sync Speed1/2001/200
Curtain to Protect Sensor at ShutdownNoNo
Video Features
Maximum Video Bit Depth (Internal)10 bits12 bits
Maximum Video Bit Depth (External)10 bits12 bits
Raw VideoNoYes
6K Maximum FramerateN/A60 FPS
4K Maximum Framerate60 FPS120 FPS
1080P Maximum Framerate120 FPS240 FPS
Additional Video Crop Factor1.5x crop at 4K 60p (4K 30p has no additional crop)No
Chroma Subsampling4:2:24:2:2
Video Recording Limit125 min125 min
Physical and Other Features
Card Slots22
Slot 1 TypeSD (UHS-II)CFExpress Type B
Slot 2 TypeMicro SD (UHS-I)SD (UHS-II)
Rear LCD Size (Diagonal)3.2 in3.2 in
Rear LCD Resolution2.1 million dots2.1 million dots
Articulating LCDFully ArticulatingFully Articulating
TouchscreenYesYes
ViewfinderEVFEVF
Viewfinder Magnification0.8x0.8x
Viewfinder Resolution3.69 million dots5.76 million dots
Viewfinder Coverage100%100%
Voice MemoYesYes
Headphone JackYesYes
Microphone JackYesYes
Built-in FlashNoNo
GPSNoNo
BluetoothYesYes
WiFiYesYes
USB TypeType C 3.2 Gen 1Type C 3.2 Gen 1
Battery TypeEN-EL15cEN-EL15c
Battery Life (Viewfinder)360 frames360 frames
Battery Life (Rear LCD)380 frames390 frames
Battery Life (Eco Mode)430 frames410 frames
Weather SealedYesYes
Weight (Body Only w/ Battery + Card)710 g (1.57 lbs.)760 g (1.68 lbs.)
Dimensions (LxHxD)144 x 103 x 59 mm (5.7 x 4.1 x 2.3″)1139 x 102 x 89 mm (5.5 x 4.0 x 3.5″)2
Price Comparison
MSRP, Body Only$2000 (Check Current Price)$2500 (Check Current Price)
Used Prices (Affiliate)Nikon Zf Used PricesNikon Z6 III Used Prices
1The Nikon Zf’s official dimensions do not include the depth of the protruding viewfinder. To match the typical standards today, 10mm were added to the Zf’s depth measurement in this table.
2The Nikon Z6 III’s official dimensions do not include the depth of the protruding viewfinder. To match the typical standards today, 15mm were added to the Z6 III’s depth measurement in this table.

Summary and Recommendations

If you’re considering these two cameras, it’s helpful to think of the Z6 III as a camera that is somewhere between the Zf and the Z8. The Z6 III has the 24MP resolution of the Zf, and like the Zf, it borrows many of the autofocus features from the Z8 (and Z9). On the other hand, the Z6 III is a little closer to the Z8 in physical design and in some speed-related capabilities due to its faster, partially-stacked sensor.

NikonZf_vs_NikonZ6III_comparison_back

As you can see from the specifications above, there aren’t really any areas where the Zf beats the Z6 III (apart from the slightly smaller size – and of course the retro design if you prefer that). However, there are a ton of areas where they’re tied.

Nikon Zf_Samples_Cervenohorske sedlo_Birds__DPS5447
NIKON Z f + NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S @ 24mm, ISO 25600, 1/40, f/4.0 © Libor Vaicenbacher

The biggest benefits of the Nikon Z6 III are mostly in the realm of video. It wallops the Zf in that regard, and the Zf is already quite a capable camera for videography. But there’s just no competing with internal 6K 60p RAW video (and 4K 120p).

The other major benefit to the Nikon Z6 III is the newer viewfinder. It’s not only higher-resolution than the viewfinder on the Nikon Zf, but it’s also brighter, has a larger color gamut, and refreshes faster (120 Hz versus 60 Hz). All of this should make composing through the viewfinder a nicer experience on the Z6 III.

Other odds and ends favor the Nikon Z6 III as well – such as 20 FPS rather than 14, a buffer of 1000+ images rather than 200+, and a faster shutter speed of 1/16,000 at the maximum. These could all make a difference at the margins, but generally speaking, the video features and the viewfinder are the most noteworthy changes. (And, of course, the different body style; Nikon has beefed up the Z6 III a bit and says that it has Z8-level build quality).

Z6III_02_AD_7901_Z600_f6_3_VR_S_A4(0)
NIKON Z6_3 + NIKKOR Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S @ 600mm, ISO 1000, 1/3200, f/6.3

I think for most people, the Z6 III is a superior choice over the Zf, especially since the $2499.99 MSRP of the Z6 III is only $500 more than the Zf. This argument will make even more sense with any sales. That being said, the retro design of the Zf is pretty cool. Since the two cameras share the bulk of their features, it could make sense to put those $500 toward lenses if you don’t need the extra features of the Z6 III. At the end of the day, both are highly capable cameras.

What does the Nikon Zf offer over the Nikon Z6 III?

  • Lighter weight (50g lighter)
  • Lower price, costing $500 less

What does the Nikon Z6 III offer over the Nikon Zf?

  • More advanced video
  • Higher resolution electronic viewfinder, with about 1.6x more dots, making shooting more enjoyable
  • Potentially better in high-speed applications due to things like the larger buffer and partially stacked sensor

Questions? Go to our forum, where you can start a conversation and talk to photographers about these two cameras!


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Tagged With: Camera Comparison, Nikon Z6 III, Nikon Zf

About Jason Polak

Jason Polak is a bird and wildlife photographer from Ottawa, Canada. He has been interested in photography ever since he received a disposable film camera as a small child. His career as a mathematician led him to move to Australia in 2016, where he started seeing colorful parrots. A few casual shots with a lens completely unsuitable for birds got him hooked, and now wildlife photography is his biggest passion. Jason loves to show the beauty of animals to the world through photography, and one of his lifelong goals is to photograph five thousand species of birds. You can see more of Jason's work on his website or on his YouTube channel.

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Bill V
Bill V
July 30, 2024 9:13 am

Autofocus speed and accuracy for wildlife: Its hard from these specs and this article that the Z6iii is better in that category. Can we assume it is, or…

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Andreas Haugstad
Andreas Haugstad
July 15, 2024 6:06 am

Is the Nikon DK-17M ocular compatible with either of these cameras? I used it on my Nikon Df and absolutely loved it (I don’t understand why many say that the image becomes too big, I would even prefer it to be bigger)

photographylife.com/revie…g-eyepiece

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Bolton Peck
Bolton Peck
July 7, 2024 2:10 pm

The Zf is still pretty good at video. That said, it seems like if you aren’t big into video then the choice boils down to: retro controls and save $500? Or PASM controls and a little more speed.

I don’t care much about video, all I really wanted was an X-H1 with better autofocus. Fuji made the X-H2 a PASM video camera, so as someone desirous of the analog camera feels, the Zf is the frontrunner.

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Reply
pdpdpd
pdpdpd
June 26, 2024 1:07 pm

The zf and z6 are oddly positioned, repeatedly stepping on each others toes every cycle. The next ZF update (Zf ii?) will be an very interesting one. I wish they would position the ZF in the big gap between the 6 and 789, by giving it the 36mpx sensor (that my d810 had a decade ago, come on Nikon).

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milt
milt
Reply to  pdpdpd
July 2, 2024 8:14 am

I don’t think there would be a Zf ii – It seems like the camera is positioned as a one-off, similar to the Df. Zf seems to be a much bigger hit than the Df, so perhaps that may change things a bit.

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PRG Lagarde
PRG Lagarde
Reply to  milt
July 7, 2024 4:17 am

To my sense, there are some significant differences between DF and ZF, the main being located in the relative level of sales.
DF is still reputed for many as a kind of missed opportunity – and also a kind of dead end – from the start too, what ZF seems to be much less.
Plus, intentions from Nikon may differ quite a bit when it comes to mirrorless vs DSLR at the time DF was launched. Nikon mirrorless system is more at its beginning in comparison to DSLR system which was already 14 back in 2013 while we were only 5 years before the first Z.
So, even if we can’t be sure of anything at this right point, some clues may indicate that a ZF II is much more likely than a DF II was.

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Russ
Russ
June 20, 2024 5:15 am

Isn’t the z63 cropped when using 4k 120?

0
Reply
Stefan
Stefan
June 19, 2024 5:10 am

Actual price difference in Japan is about 800 to 850 USD (big electronics chain stores)… makes the decision between the two much harder…

0
Reply
Jason Polak
Jason Polak
Author
Reply to  Stefan
June 19, 2024 5:41 am

Hopefully the price difference will go down as time goes by :)

1
Reply
Curious
Curious
June 18, 2024 3:25 am

I thought Zf was 11 fps

0
Reply
Spencer Cox
Spencer Cox
Admin
Reply to  Curious
June 18, 2024 11:06 am

No, it can reach 14 FPS in continuous high extended.

0
Reply

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