Nikon Z6 vs Nikon D750 ISO Performance Comparison
The most natural DSLR competitor to the Z6 is the Nikon D750. Both cameras have 24 megapixel sensors, and both launched around the same price (although the D750 currently sells for $1300). Let’s take a look at how the Nikon Z6 compares to the Nikon D750 in ISO performance. First, we will start with base ISO 100. The Z6 is on the left in the comparison below. Click to compare larger and see identifying captions:
At ISO 100, it is no surprise that we can’t see any differences. The same is true for ISO 200 through 1600. You can see more hot pixels in the D750 image at these ISOs (especially in the brown swatch and directly to the right of the figure’s head), but that’s not what we’re examining here. Hot pixels are also corrected by default in software like Lightroom:
At ISO 3200 and 6400, there are hints that the Nikon Z6 has less noise, especially in the red color swatch, but the differences are very subtle:
At ISO 12,800, we start to see some more noticeable benefits for the Nikon Z6. Especially pay attention to the red, green, and gray color swatches:
The difference is more pronounced, though still not extreme, at ISO 25,600:
And at ISO 51,200, the highest ISO on the Nikon D750, the results are pretty clearly in favor of the Nikon Z6:
The Nikon Z6 actually goes up to ISO 204,800, but the image quality at that setting is simple unusable:
From the above tests, we can conclude that the Z6 is ahead of the D750 in ISO performance, but only very slightly, and hardly visible at all until extreme ISOs of 12,800 and beyond. If you stick to normal ISO ranges, you will be hard-pressed to see any difference at all between these two cameras.
Nikon Z6 vs Nikon Z7 ISO Performance Comparison
Next up, we’ll compare the Nikon Z6 to its older brother, the Z7, in terms of ISO performance. The Z7 has more pixels, which people often associate with worse noise performance (although the reality is that downsampling frequently evens out the results). In order to compare 24 MP and 45 MP side by side with the same-sized subject, the following images with the Z7 have been downsampled to match the 4024 × 6048 resolution of the Nikon Z6. Although the Z7’s base ISO is 64, let’s start at the first shared ISO of these two cameras, ISO 100. Again, the Nikon Z6 is on the left:
The two images are very similar overall. There is a bit more detail on the Z7 image, thanks to the higher initial resolution of 45 megapixels, but differences are slight. (Look at the top edges of the color swatches to see a good example of where the Z7 is more defined.) At ISO 200 through 1600, differences in noise are still minor, but the Z6 does have a bit less. However, at these ISOs, the Z7 retains its slight edge in image detail. Personally, I prefer the Z7 files in this range:
At ISO 3200 and 6400, the Z6 is starting to look clearly better than the Z7 in noise performance. This is especially noticeable in the red and pink swatches. Although the Z7 is still the sharper file at both ISOs, I am starting to prefer how the Z6 looks. But especially at ISO 3200, it is a bit of a toss-up:
The Z6 starts pulling away at ISO 12,800. Pay attention to the green, pink, red, and gray swatches. Although the Z7 still shows reasonable performance, and remains slightly sharper, the Z6 performs better overall at this ISO:
By ISO 25,600, it is clear that the Z6 is ahead in noise performance, and the extra noise in the Z7 has essentially eliminated the sharpness advantage. The better file here is definitely the Z6’s:
And at ISO 51,200, the Z6 not only wins in noise but also detail and sharpness, leaving the Z7 clearly behind:
Lastly, at ISO 102,400, the Z6 is far ahead of the Z7 in every way, including brightness. However, both images are pretty much unusable:
The takeaway here is that the Z6 is the better camera in noise performance, but the Z7 is sharp enough at lower ISOs to make up for the difference. From ISO 100 to ISO 1600, I prefer the Z7 files, and I can see an argument for the Z7 files being preferable even up to ISO 6400.
Nikon Z6 vs Canon EOS R ISO Performance Comparison
Lastly, let’s compare the Nikon Z6 versus the Canon EOS R at high ISOs. These cameras are fairly close competitors on the specification sheet, but how is their low light performance head to head? To start, here is ISO 100 on both cameras, with the Z6 again on the left:
As with the comparison against the Nikon Z7, the EOS R shows a small edge in sharpness, mainly visible along the edges of the color swatches. However, the difference is very slight, most likely because these cameras have fairly similar resolutions (24 and 30 megapixels) and similarly sharp lenses. In terms of ISO, performance is essentially identical from ISO 200 through ISO 1600:
At ISO 3200 and 6400, the two files still look very similar, although the Z6 is showing a few hints that it is the better high-ISO camera. The EOS R’s sharpness is still slightly ahead, but the two cameras are fairly comparable at these ISOs, and a photographer could reasonably prefer either result:
Once we get to ISO 12,800, the Z6 shows somewhat better noise performance, enough to outweigh the EOS R’s sharpness advantage:
By ISO 25,600, the Z6 is the cleaner file, as well as the sharper one, although they are still fairly similar in performance overall:
ISO 51,200 looks pretty bad on both cameras, but the Z6 is now clearly ahead of the EOS R:
And lastly, at ISO 102,400, the Z6 performance is better in every regard, although I wouldn’t want to use either camera here:
The takeaway is that the EOS R is slightly ahead from ISO 100 through ISO 1600, mainly due to its higher resolution. At ISO 3200 and 6400, the two cameras show similar performance overall, with neither really coming out ahead. At ISO 12,800 and above, the Z6 puts out cleaner files, especially at ultra-high ISOs.
Nikon Z6 vs Sony A7 III ISO Performance Comparison
Perhaps the closest competitor on the market to the Nikon Z6 is the Sony A7 III. But how does it compare in terms of ISO performance? Let’s start with ISO 100:
The Nikon Z6 holds a slight sharpness edge here, but this is likely due to nothing more than sharpness differences in their kit lenses (even though both were shot at f/8). In terms of ISO performance, the cameras are identical here, and the same is true from ISO 200 through ISO 1600:
At ISO 3200 and 6400, the two files still look very similar, and it is hard to say which one is ahead in ISO performance:
Jumping to ISO 12,800 and 25,600, the same thing stubbornly holds true – these cameras have no real difference in ISO performance:
ISO 51,200 looks pretty bad on both cameras, but, once again, neither is clearly ahead:
At ISO 102,400, the Z6 is perhaps slightly ahead in ISO performance, but not enough to make a difference in real-world shooting:
And it isn’t until ISO 204,800 that you can see the differences fairly easily. The Z6 is ahead at this ISO by a small amount. Then again, there aren’t very many photographers who will ever come near ISO 204,800, so it is hardly an important difference:
My takeaway? The Z6 and A7 III are identical in ISO performance. If you really feel the need to designate a champion, the Z6 is ahead, but only because its ISO 204,800 performance is a hair better. Kudos to both Nikon and Sony in ISO performance.
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