jlafferty
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This is the kind of thinking I go for - thanks for posting Steve.
It's interesting to think back that we had the megapixel race for a while; then we had the high ISO performance race; now we seem to have tech splitting along two lines - slower, higher res, max DR, lower noise at low ISOs vs. fast, moderate res, amazing AF and great video in trade for some small steps back in low ISO noise. And appropriately, we have several choices of cameras appropriate to each shooting style.
I wouldn't be so presumptuous to claim I know what Nikon engineers have available to them, and even less so how the economics of scale + production affect what sensor they choose to hitch their cart to. But I expect they're pretty smart people, good at what they do, and made the best educated choices from available tech.
Steve Spencer wrote:
Yes, this level of performance has been available for a long time but not for this price point. The performance of the partially stacked sensor for IQ is essentially the same as the Sony A9 (all three version including the new A9 III), and the Leica M10. The Canon R6 and R6 II has similar IQ and a similar price but with built-in noise reduction. That is quite nice IQ. Not top level, but this isn't a top level camera it is a lower mid-level camera and it has video specs that are clearly better than the Sony A9 or A9II or Canon R6 or R6II and of course the Leica doesn't have video.
Nikon is very much in the game with this camera and IMO has even leap-frogged the competition as they should with a new model. The speed/IQ tradeoff has been there for at least 6 years. This camera is no different and it does not look like there will be any changes in that coming soon. The Sony A9 III went even a step further with a global shutter for ultimate speed but with an even slightly reduced IQ.
If you want ultimate IQ, the best is still a slower camera like the Sony A7r V, Leica M11, Leica SL-3 or older cameras like the Sony A7r III, or the Nikon Z7 II. All have very similar very high IQ, but slow fps and slow sensor scan speeds making use of the mechanical shutter (at least EFCS) mandatory for anything moving with any speed at all. For me personally I want this type of camera as I don't shoot things that move much and when I do I am fine with using the mechanical shutter and I don't need a fast action camera. Nikon still needs to update the Z7 to a III model to fully compete in this arena but for this type of camera the Z7 II (or even the Z7) is still a great camera.
Then you have the high speed cameras with fully stacked sensors including the Sony A1, the Nikon Z8 and Z9, and the Canon R3 (and probably an A1 before long). These have almost the IQ of the slow cameras with very fast sensor scan speeds and excellent AF system. They are the ultimate all around performers, with excellent stills and video specs. They are all also very expensive. Canon is clearly a bit behind here with a lower res sensor, but otherwise these are cameras with great capabilities.
Then you have the not quite as fast cameras with a slightly reduced IQ. This Nikon Z6 III falls into that category as does the Canon R6 (and R6 II). The Canon R5 falls into this category but has higher resolution. The Sony A9 and A9 II fall into this category with a faster scan speed, but reduced video capability. All in all, however, these are very nice cameras with a coherent set of trade offs for a nice reduction in price over the premium high speed cameras. They all have really nice AF, and quite fast both in fps and in sensor scan speed, and have only mild compromises in IQ. I think looking across all features the Nikon Z6 III is really compelling in this range of camera. It doesn't have the IQ of the slow highest IQ cameras (and that couldn't be expected) and it is both slower and a bit worse IQ than the high speed fully stack sensor cameras (as would be expected as well), but it is a well rounded camera, IMO, for a very good price.
I think Nikon has done a really good job here, even though this camera isn't for me (I like the high IQ slow cameras). And I see no point in looking back and saying other brands have had this sort of camera for awhile. That is true, but they really haven't advanced since then or brought out a low priced model that fully competes with this camera either. Perhaps they will. For right now, however, this is a compelling camera and I don't see the competition passing it by much even if they come out with a new camera in this price bracket....Show more →
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