Should I or Shouldn't I?

[nglow]

I know the Z6iii is an excellent camera in many ways and as an amateur/enthusiast Z6ii owner I watched many YouTube videos and read many reviews here and elsewhere on the subject to help me decide, and I have to say I was very impressed. Most of the reviews said “if you own a Z6ii you should definitely upgrade” so Should I or Shouldn’t I seemed a no-brainer but then - the no-brainer became a brainer. The answer was not as simple as I thought and became more and more complicated as I thought about it. I decided to simplify matters by answering 4 simple questions to help me decide:

1. Do I stay on AF-S Single Point most of the time?
2. Do I strictly shoot stills?
3. Am I satisfied with the sharpness and quality of my photographs?
4. Do I prefer flip-out-screen?

By answering YES to the above 4 questions I decided not to upgrade. I have to admit I was hoping to to find a valid excuse to upgrade but it is what it is.

What criteria did you use to help you decide whether or not to upgrade?

 

[Tom Stites]

I'd say you made the right decision.

I think most would agree that the Z6III would NOT improve on the areas you list. For your usage, maybe a better upgrade or addition might be a new or used Z7II or even Z7...if resolution might be of benefit to you. Or if you have money burning a hole in your pocket, an additional lens that might fill a gap.

When I made the switch from DSLR (D850 and D500), I waited until the Z9 was released and what really pushed me over the edge was the video features. For my use, video capability is equally important as stills. The better Z lenses have been icing on the cake.

Cheers!

 

[Born2Code]

I know the Z6iii is an excellent camera in many ways and as an amateur/enthusiast Z6ii owner I watched many YouTube videos and read many reviews here and elsewhere on the subject to help me decide, and I have to say I was very impressed. Most of the reviews said “if you own a Z6ii you should definitely upgrade” so Should I or Shouldn’t I seemed a no-brainer but then - the no-brainer became a brainer. The answer was not as simple as I thought and became more and more complicated as I thought about it. I decided to simplify matters by answering 4 simple questions to help me decide:

1. Do I stay on AF-S Single Point most of the time?
2. Do I strictly shoot stills?
3. Am I satisfied with the sharpness and quality of my photographs?
4. Do I prefer flip-out-screen?

By answering YES to the above 4 questions I decided not to upgrade. I have to admit I was hoping to to find a valid excuse to upgrade but it is what it is.

What criteria did you use to help you decide whether or not to upgrade?

Good thinking,

Anyone who says “if you own a Z6ii you should definitely upgrade” is so wrong that it's silly. It's as silly as all of those articles that say, "the best camera is..," or even "the best cameras for landscapes is..." There are no best anythings in photography, only things that do or don't meet the needs of any specific photographer.

You evaluated your needs and decided that the Z6iii wouldn't up your game enough to be worth the price. Good. Now you can spend the money on things that can up your game, like lenses, computer gear, etc.

 

[DVF Photography]

I know the Z6iii is an excellent camera in many ways and as an amateur/enthusiast Z6ii owner I watched many YouTube videos and read many reviews here and elsewhere on the subject to help me decide, and I have to say I was very impressed. Most of the reviews said “if you own a Z6ii you should definitely upgrade” so Should I or Shouldn’t I seemed a no-brainer but then - the no-brainer became a brainer. The answer was not as simple as I thought and became more and more complicated as I thought about it. I decided to simplify matters by answering 4 simple questions to help me decide:

1. Do I stay on AF-S Single Point most of the time?
2. Do I strictly shoot stills?
3. Am I satisfied with the sharpness and quality of my photographs?
4. Do I prefer flip-out-screen?

By answering YES to the above 4 questions I decided not to upgrade. I have to admit I was hoping to to find a valid excuse to upgrade but it is what it is.

What criteria did you use to help you decide whether or not to upgrade?

I totally dig your reasoning, and I probably would have done the same if my last body had been a Z6II. I'm also a 100% stills shooter, although because I mainly do events, my default AF setting is AF-C, 3D Tracking.

But for me it actually was a no-brainer, since I came from a D7500 APS-C DSLR. Z6III is obviously a HUGE improvement over D7500.
Apart from that, my dilemma was mainly the EVF. Literally NONE of the previous mirrorless bodies would be sufficient because of the EVF - or better said, because my eyes, which are hypersensitive to light and because of that see idioticly sharp, couldn't cope with the EVF's lag, noise and shimmering. Which to my eyes were ever present - even with Z8/Z9 ( and any other brand out there ). That was the main reason I was still on D7500, and was actually looking towards D780 to upgrade.

Then along came Z6III, with an EVF with almost double the resolution, double the refresh rate and up to 4000 nits brightness. Z6III's EVF not only is the best you can buy at the moment, it's the only EVF my eyes can handle. Having tested it in-shop against Z6II, Z8, Canon R6, Panasonic S5II and Sony A7IV ( I like to be thorough :-D ), it really was a no-brainer. None of them made the grade, except Z6III.
Have it for six weeks now, me very happy! ;-)

--
Tempestas Furit Cum Omni Vi
Tempestas In Capite Meo

 

[PLShutterbug]

Yours are valid for your use case assuming you meant “still life” images, i.e. only stationary subjects, when you wrote “stills.” Since you only use single-point AF-S you don’t need the AF improvements the “iii” brings. (If you only ever shoot still life images, i.e. landscapes, AF-S makes sense. Otherwise I question your choice to use this inflexible AF method.)

 

[Laqup]

Apart from that, my dilemma was mainly the EVF. Literally NONE of the previous mirrorless bodies would be sufficient because of the EVF - or better said, because my eyes, which are hypersensitive to light and because of that see idioticly sharp, couldn't cope with the EVF's lag, noise and shimmering. Which to my eyes were ever present - even with Z8/Z9 ( and any other brand out there ). That was the main reason I was still on D7500, and was actually looking towards D780 to upgrade.

If your eyes are hypersensitive to light isn't it counterproductive to have a really bright screen? ;-)

 

[ajr images]

I bought a Z6III as a travel body, and back up for my two Z9’s.

I had a Z6 that I’ve now sold, and for me the Z6III is a far better body. I have no interest in video, but I need good AF for moving subjects. I find it to be almost as good as my Z9’s in this respect.

I don’t like the flip out screen as much as the Z9 tilt screen.

It sounds like for your use it probably won’t give you much advantage over the Z6II.

 

[HRS]

I know the Z6iii is an excellent camera in many ways and as an amateur/enthusiast Z6ii owner I watched many YouTube videos and read many reviews here and elsewhere on the subject to help me decide, and I have to say I was very impressed. Most of the reviews said “if you own a Z6ii you should definitely upgrade” so Should I or Shouldn’t I seemed a no-brainer but then - the no-brainer became a brainer. The answer was not as simple as I thought and became more and more complicated as I thought about it. I decided to simplify matters by answering 4 simple questions to help me decide:

1. Do I stay on AF-S Single Point most of the time?
2. Do I strictly shoot stills?
3. Am I satisfied with the sharpness and quality of my photographs?
4. Do I prefer flip-out-screen?

By answering YES to the above 4 questions I decided not to upgrade. I have to admit I was hoping to to find a valid excuse to upgrade but it is what it is.

What criteria did you use to help you decide whether or not to upgrade?

I had a Z6ii. A great Nikon M/L, especially in AF-S situations, or AF-C with subjects moving not especially fast. Plus--unlike the rest of the industry apparently--I prefer the tilt-down screen as it's so much quicker for viewfinder/screen switching.

 

[RBIV]

Given your shooting preferences, I'm on the side of those who suggest a new lens for the body you have. :-D

 

[astirusty]

I know the Z6iii is an excellent camera in many ways and as an amateur/enthusiast Z6ii owner I watched many YouTube videos and read many reviews here and elsewhere on the subject to help me decide, and I have to say I was very impressed. Most of the reviews said “if you own a Z6ii you should definitely upgrade” so Should I or Shouldn’t I seemed a no-brainer but then - the no-brainer became a brainer. The answer was not as simple as I thought and became more and more complicated as I thought about it. I decided to simplify matters by answering 4 simple questions to help me decide:

1. Do I stay on AF-S Single Point most of the time?
2. Do I strictly shoot stills?
3. Am I satisfied with the sharpness and quality of my photographs?
4. Do I prefer flip-out-screen?

Question comes to mind.

Do you stay on AF-S single point most of time and primarily shoot stills; because of Z6ii's (likewise Z7ii) poor AF-C (3D) focusing?

Restated, were you to have a camera with AF-C (3D) focusing capability of Z8 and Z9; would you take more live shots and go with expanded focusing area boxes?

 

[cyuill2007]

I consider an upgrade when I feel that my current gear is not sufficient to get the photos that I want to get. The important difference between the Z6 II and Z6 III for me would be speed of operation. If you are missing shots because your camera cannot operate quickly enough then an upgrade is probably justified. There might be other reasons (improved ergonomics, improved EVF) that you might have for upgrading.

I have been mulling over getting an FX DSLR or mirrorless body to complement my DX and CX gear. But I seem to be getting good photos with the gear that I already have. I’m not sure that an FX body is worth getting at the moment.

Have you considered upgrading or adding to your collection of lenses?

 

[LTheWafflePWN]

What criteria did you use to help you decide whether or not to upgrade?

My criteria was being a Z8 shooter, and not seeing the Z6iii as an 'upgrade' from that ;-)

I do think the Z6iii is a perfectly fine camera, but I'm glad you made the right choice to evaluate what your needs really are and keep your Z6ii.

 

[sirhawkeye64]

I know the Z6iii is an excellent camera in many ways and as an amateur/enthusiast Z6ii owner I watched many YouTube videos and read many reviews here and elsewhere on the subject to help me decide, and I have to say I was very impressed. Most of the reviews said “if you own a Z6ii you should definitely upgrade” so Should I or Shouldn’t I seemed a no-brainer but then - the no-brainer became a brainer. The answer was not as simple as I thought and became more and more complicated as I thought about it. I decided to simplify matters by answering 4 simple questions to help me decide:

1. Do I stay on AF-S Single Point most of the time?
2. Do I strictly shoot stills?
3. Am I satisfied with the sharpness and quality of my photographs?
4. Do I prefer flip-out-screen?

By answering YES to the above 4 questions I decided not to upgrade. I have to admit I was hoping to to find a valid excuse to upgrade but it is what it is.

What criteria did you use to help you decide whether or not to upgrade?

I ask just one question (well, maybe two):

"What does this new camera offer that my current camera doesnt, and does it matter for my uses?"

This is one reason I didn't go for the Z6 III when it came out. The Zf is perfectly capable for the stuff I do which does not generally involve sports/wildlife or video, the two areas where the Z6 III really sets itself apart from the Z6 II and Zf. So I didn't bother to upgrade, plus the Zf does fulfill my "film photography" itches I get from time to time, without the cost/hassle of film. So it was a double-win in that regard... good AF over the Z6 II and it's a digital version of a film classic.

But that same question does apply to most cameras I buy. When I bought the Z8 14 months ago, I asked myself the same thing, although that time it was a bit different because (1) the Zf wasn't released so I had a Z6 II, (2) I wanted a do-all camera like a D850 that I could take out and not worry about if it was capable or not. So for that one I stretched my preferences a bit and said " I want to buy one camera that can do it all, and not have to worry about cameras for many years" and the Z8 has fulfilled this role for me. I actually am getting tired of buying new cameras to be honest, so I wanted to just spend the money now, and keep the camera for a long time (same with the Zf too, even though it is not as expensive). I just wanted a good set of cameras that I can use for many years to come and not worry about if they're capable or not. They're not perfect in all aspects, but they do the job for me and will do so for many years to come.

So that's another way to look at things too. Think a little about the future and you could actaully save yourself some money by getting something you can grow into or use for many years, rather than upgrading every few years and taking a loss when you trade/sell your old gear. Of course if you enjoy having the latest tech and don't mind the hassles/financial loss that then that's different. But of me, I was getting tired of it so I bit the bullet on the Z8 (only regret was if I had waited 8 months I could have gotten it on sale for $3500 vs $3999).

--
PLEASE NOTE: I usually unsubscribe from forums and comments after a period of time, so if I do not respond, that is likely the reason. Feel free to PM me if you have a questions or need clarification about a comment I made.

 

[nglow]

I know the Z6iii is an excellent camera in many ways and as an amateur/enthusiast Z6ii owner I watched many YouTube videos and read many reviews here and elsewhere on the subject to help me decide, and I have to say I was very impressed. Most of the reviews said “if you own a Z6ii you should definitely upgrade” so Should I or Shouldn’t I seemed a no-brainer but then - the no-brainer became a brainer. The answer was not as simple as I thought and became more and more complicated as I thought about it. I decided to simplify matters by answering 4 simple questions to help me decide:

1. Do I stay on AF-S Single Point most of the time?
2. Do I strictly shoot stills?
3. Am I satisfied with the sharpness and quality of my photographs?
4. Do I prefer flip-out-screen?

Question comes to mind.

Do you stay on AF-S single point most of time and primarily shoot stills; because of Z6ii's (likewise Z7ii) poor AF-C (3D) focusing?

Restated, were you to have a camera with AF-C (3D) focusing capability of Z8 and Z9; would you take more live shots and go with expanded focusing area boxes?

When I did pro work many years ago with film I used the Nikon F2a, FM and a 4x5 view camera. I took any work I can get. That included behind the scenes stills for a move (roller skating- fast action), stills for a local TV show, portraits, modeling, architecture, etc… you get the point. All with manual focus. My equipment never held me back. I found if something didn’t work out It was usually my fault not the cameras. Why would using the Z6ii hold my back from tackling any situation?

 

[ajr images]

I agree. Some now hope that the camera is capable of making all (or most of) the decisions, and all you have to do is select your chosen exposure and focus modes, point the camera, compose the shot, and fire the shutter to get a perfect image.

I welcome any help that I’m being given, but you can always go back to basics and use the camera in manual mode with manual focus, if it’s not performing in the way that you expect it to. I worked this way in my film and early digital days so developed various skills that are still useful, but ‘newcomers’ have possibly never worked this way, so might encounter problems.

So yes, a Z6II with AF turned off should work just as well as a Z6III with AF turned off, providing you have developed the necessary manual focusing skills.

Having said that, I now use Z9’s and a Z6III that are capable of making 'good' exposure and focus decisions for me in most scenarios, and I’d rather not go back to the ‘old school’ way of working.

 

[BasilG]

Yours are valid for your use case assuming you meant “still life” images, i.e. only stationary subjects, when you wrote “stills.”

Stills as in "not video", no?

 

[nglow]

Yours are valid for your use case assuming you meant “still life” images, i.e. only stationary subjects, when you wrote “stills.”

Stills as in "not video", no?

Still as in no video

 

[Jrobe]

I keep asking the same questions and can't figure out why I need to spend thousands to even replace my DSLR and lenses with mirrorless.

 

[owenleve]

Excellent. Now use that money and go buy a Plena!

 

[sirhawkeye64]

Excellent. Now use that money and go buy a Plena!

Or "invest" in your photography another way (ie. take a trip, do a photo shoot, etc).