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Home → Cameras and Lenses

Nikon D780 vs Nikon Z6: Which One Should You Get?

Here's how the Nikon D780 compares to its mirrorless cousin, the Z6.

By Spencer Cox 25 Comments
Last Updated On April 8, 2020

Upon first glance, the Nikon D780 and Z6 appear to be very different cameras. The D780 is a traditional-looking DSLR with Nikon’s standard control layout, while the Z6 is a smaller and more streamlined mirrorless camera with a number of new design cues. But beneath the surface, the Nikon D780 and Nikon Z6 share a lot of similarities. It’s not unreasonable to call the D780 a “DSLR Z6,” or the Z6 a “mirrorless D780.”

Nikon D780 vs Nikon Z6

Below, I’ll compare the Nikon D780 and Z6 and show where they differ, so you have a better idea of which one is right for you.

Specifications Comparison

Let’s start by comparing the specifications of these two cameras:

Camera FeatureNikon D780Nikon Z6
Camera TypeDSLRMirrorless
Sensor Resolution24.5 MP24.5 MP
Sensor TypeBSI CMOSBSI CMOS
Sensor Size35.9 x 23.9mm35.9 x 23.9mm
Sensor Pixel Size5.9µ5.9µ
Low Pass FilterYesYes
In-Body Image StabilizationNoYes
Dust Reduction / Sensor CleaningYesYes
Image Size6048 × 40246048 × 4024
Base ISOISO 100ISO 100
Native ISO SensitivityISO 100-51,200ISO 100-51,200
Boosted ISO SensitivityISO 50, ISO 100-204,800ISO 50, ISO 100-204,800
Image ProcessorEXPEED 6EXPEED 6
sRAW File SupportNoNo
Viewfinder TypePentaprismElectronic / EVF
Viewfinder Coverage100%, 0.7×100%, 0.8×
Built-in FlashNoNo
Storage Media2× SD, UHS-II Compatible1× XQD
Electronic Front-Curtain ShutterYesYes
Continuous Shooting Speed7 FPS mechanical shutter, 12 FPS with silent mode in Live View (12-bit RAW)12 FPS
Max Shutter Speed1/8000-900 sec, Bulb, Time1/8000 to 30 sec, Bulb, Time
Flash Sync Speed1/2001/200
Shutter Durability150,000200,000 cycles
Exposure Metering Sensor180,000-pixel RGB sensorTTL exposure metering using main image sensor
Highlight Weighted MeteringYesYes
Full aperture metering during Live View for stillsYesYes
Face and Eye AFYesYes
Pet Eye AFNoYes
Number of AF PointsViewfinder: 51 Phase Detection AF points, 15 cross-type

Live view: 273 Hybrid Detect AF points

273 Hybrid Detect AF points
Detection Range-3 to +19 EV viewfinder; -6 to +17 EV live view-4 to +19 EV
Video OutputAVCHD / MP4 Compression with 4:2:0 sampling, 10-bit via HDMI with 4:2:2 samplingAVCHD / MP4 Compression with 4:2:0 sampling, 10-bit via HDMI with 4:2:2 sampling
Video Maximum Resolution3840 x 2160 (4K) up to 30p, 1920×1080 up to 120p3840 x 2160 (4K) up to 30p, 1920×1080 up to 120p
Highlight Display (Zebra Stripes) in Live ViewYesYes
LCD Size and Type3.2″ diagonal TFT-LCD Tilting3.2″ diagonal TFT-LCD Tilting
TouchscreenYesYes
LCD Resolution2,359,000 dots2,100,000 dots
Built-in GPSNoNo
Wi-Fi FunctionalityBuilt-inBuilt-in
BatteryEN-EL15b Lithium-ion BatteryEN-EL15b Lithium-ion Battery
Battery Life2260 shots (CIPA)330 shots (CIPA)
Weather Sealed BodyYesYes
Weight, Body Only (includes batteries and card)840 g (29.6 oz)675 g (23.9 oz)
Dimensions143.5 × 115.5 × 76.0 mm (5.6 × 4.5 × 3.0 inches)134 × 100.5 × 67.5 mm (5.3 × 4.0 × 2.7 inches)
MSRP, Body Only (at time of review publication)$2300 (Check Current Price)$1800 (Check Current Price)

Which Camera Should You Get?

As you can tell, the D780 and Z6 share a lot of similarities, including important features like their live view implementation and video specifications. Even in many of the places where they differ, not all photographers will agree on which one is preferable (for example, the choice between dual SD cards vs a single XQD has generated a lot of argument).

Many of the differences just come down to the fact that the D780 is a DSLR and the Z6 is mirrorless. Do you prefer an optical or electronic viewfinder? How much do you care about your camera’s size and weight? Every photographer is different in that regard.

At least the two have the same image sensor. Nikon’s 24.5 megapixel BSI CMOS sensor is one of the best on the market at high ISOs and has excellent dynamic range. You’ll get great image quality regardless of which camera you pick.

In practice, the only real difference in image quality between these two cameras is due to your choice of lens. The D780 has native access to Nikon’s huge lineup of F-mount lenses, which cover practically any need you can think of. The Z6 doesn’t have nearly as many native lenses at the moment, but the Z-mount lenses so far have been consistently excellent, and you can still adapt F-mount lenses via the (somewhat annoying to use) FTZ adapter if you need some more specialization.

Nikon Z6 Image Sample #39
NIKON Z6 + NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S @ 24mm, ISO 100, 1/2, f/11.0

And, of course, price is a factor as well. Because the Nikon D780 is newer, it’s selling for a somewhat inflated price of $2300 at the time of this article’s publication and is harder to find used. The Z6 is a much more reasonable $1800, and also sells for better prices used because it’s been out longer. That alone argues for the Z6 if you’re on the fence or starting a new camera system from scratch.

Even ignoring price, at the end of the day, I’d get the Z6 for travel and landscape photography. I also consider it a better general “family photo/video” camera because it’s more portable and has in-body image stabilization. The Nikon D780, on the other hand, is better for sports, wildlife, and stage photography thanks to its excellent 51-point viewfinder autofocus system and native access to F-mount telephoto lenses. Professional wedding, studio, and portrait photographers will appreciate the D780’s longer battery life and bigger native lineup of specialized lenses, too.

Portrait Sample Photo Nikon D780
NIKON D780 + Tamron VR 90mm f/2.8G @ 90mm, ISO 100, 1/1600, f/3.0

I personally decided on the Z6 as my primary video camera and backup landscape/travel photography camera, but I do really like the D780 as well. I’ve used it extensively and wrote a comprehensive review of the Nikon D780 if you want to know more (and we have a Z6 review too).

Let me know below if you have any questions about these two cameras and I’ll do my best to answer!

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Filed Under: Cameras and Lenses Tagged With: Nikon Z6, Nikon D780

About Spencer Cox

I'm Spencer Cox, a landscape photographer better known for my macro photography! My photos have been displayed in galleries worldwide, including the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History and exhibitions in London, Malta, Siena, and Beijing. These days I'm active on Instagram and YouTube.

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Jurry De Vries
Jurry De Vries
August 22, 2020 8:53 am

Hi
I couldn’t decide between the 2 so made my live easier and bought them both. Still happy with that choice

1
Reply
Antony
Antony
March 31, 2020 9:52 am

I got the Z6 when it came out, although it takes great images the evf gets on my wick sometimes. So I go back to my D700 for therapy…seriously….Make me a D850 with ibis and focus points all over the optical viewfinder, or at least like the D500 and I will buy a pair.
Cheers.

1
Reply
Niko Vita
Niko Vita
March 31, 2020 7:39 am

D780 came too late for me. After waiting for a D750 upgrade for ages I went for a Z6 and I have been very happy with it ever since.

I see one major advantage of D780 and it is the battery life. Still, with my Z6 I have never been in need to use my spare battery so far. I have shot up to 800 shots per day and the battery never ran out of power. It is true that I do not shoot birds at half a mile away and do not shoot sports very much, so that I don’t need the C-AF where the reviews say that Z6 is behind the rest. In fact I have been very happy with its AF (FW 3.00), the face and eye recognition work quite fine.

I see many advantages of Z6 over my previous DSLRs. The weight and size are obvious ones. The EVF lets you frame, focus and shoot in almost complete darkness. IBIS is another big one. But the most significant for me are the new Z lenses which are incredible. I have both F and Z lenses of the same kind (24/1.8, 35/1.8, 50/1.8, 85/1.8 and zooms) and the Z lenses are something different. Z6 can shoot with all recent F lenses and the Z lenses, while D780 can shoot with the F lenses only. This alone is the decisive factor for me. The FTZ is ugly and clumsy but there will be better adapters soon, I think.

1
Reply
John
John
March 31, 2020 5:28 am

I will get d780 it has more lens and i dont shot video, i hate conventors

1
Reply
nYcKo
nYcKo
Reply to  John
May 26, 2020 2:58 pm

110% agree! Battery life 7x for d780 :))

0
Reply
Oza
Oza
May 25, 2020 1:01 pm

I would get the z6 for it’s image stabilization, and the 780 for it’s SD dual card slots and for the longer battery life.

0
Reply
Muhammad Omer
Muhammad Omer
April 4, 2020 4:49 am

how will video auto focus work with D lenses

0
Reply
Fb101
Fb101
April 3, 2020 5:27 pm

I had never looked at the specs this closely but two things surprised me.

Why is shutter of the D780 rated 50k shots less than the Z6? I would have thought they used the same… obviously not but I wonder why.
The AF rating in live view is surprising. Same sensor, so why would one go to -6 and the other -4 only?

0
Reply
Pieter Kers
Pieter Kers
Reply to  Fb101
April 4, 2020 3:17 pm

maybe it has to do with the mirror that also have to come up and own…

0
Reply
EE
EE
April 1, 2020 10:15 pm

Z6 all the way. I purchased one almost a year ago and have been loving it. It is a very versatile camera. Really my only issue is that the max speed is only 1/2000, not the 1/8000 listed in the comparisons in the article (unless I’m really missing something)This can be a problem with really fast lines in bright light. But I love how the ease in manual focusing brings old ai-s lenses back to life. Can’t wait for the z20mm 1.8

0
Reply
Spencer Cox
Spencer Cox
Author
Reply to  EE
April 1, 2020 11:23 pm

EE, glad you like the Z6 and I think I can help with your 1/2000 second problem. Just turn off electronic front curtain shutter! If you instead use either the mechanical shutter or the fully-electronic shutter (silent mode), you’ll have access to the full range, up to 1/8000 second.

Also perhaps of note is that we found (photographylife.com/mecha…utter-efcs) that there’s no real benefit to EFCS anyway if your camera has the other two options (as does the Z6); everything it does can be done better by either the mechanical or full electronic shutter.

Hope this fixes it!

0
Reply
EE
EE
Reply to  Spencer Cox
April 2, 2020 9:29 pm

Thanks so much Spencer! This really makes my day. I got around the issue by using a nd filter but even today I was caught with the filter off and a sunburst only to be overexposed cause it needed to exceed 1/2000. And thanks for clarifying that Effc is the same as mechanical or electronic

0
Reply
Tieu Ngao
Tieu Ngao
April 1, 2020 3:50 pm

I’ve been using D750 for almost 5 years, and I’ll hang on to it for a little while more. My next camera would be:
– Z6 M2 for ~$2000, or
– Z6 for ~$1500, or
– Z70 for ~$1100.
Thanks for the article.

0
Reply
Kevin H
Kevin H
April 1, 2020 11:53 am

Great article Spencer, I’d appreciate your two cents though!
My next camera is definitely going to be either the Z6 or a used D850 (currently shoot with the D750), I’m just having a hard time weighing if I should stick with a DSLR or switch to mirrorless since I shoot a lot of film and extensively use a Nikon F100. This marries me to still using F-mount lenses and makes me wonder if sticking with an OVF would be better for consistency between film and digital or if all the benefits of mirrorless make it worth while. I’ll also be using the FTZ for the majority of the time, but that 24-70 F4 Z does seems like a worth-while lens to have in my kit. I’m leaning towards mirrorless, but I keep going back and forth between the two and I’m curious, would you stick to an OVF or embrace the EVF?

0
Reply
Spencer Cox
Spencer Cox
Author
Reply to  Kevin H
April 9, 2020 2:18 pm

Hey Kevin, not sure why I just got the email for this comment, but here’s what I’d suggest.

First, have you tried the EVF on the Z6? I really like it, personally – more so than an OVF. But for some photographers, EVFs in general bother them for one reason or another. If you have the ability to test out a Z6 first, even for a few minutes, I’d definitely try it to make sure you’re fine with the EVF.

Beyond that, the Z cameras are really best with Z lenses. The FTZ adapter works all right, but if you mainly plan to shoot with F mount glass for the foreseeable future, I’d lean toward an F-mount camera. The D850 is such an excellent camera that it makes this even more true.

Still, I’d go with the Z6 if weight is a critical factor for what you shoot, or if you already prefer live view rather than the OVF when shooting with the D750. The live view implementation on the Z6 with Z lenses is second to none (even the D780), especially in terms of focus speed and accuracy.

Sorry if this just made your decision even trickier, but at least you can be confident that neither is a bad option!

0
Reply

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