Nikon Z6

Manufacturer: Nikon
Type: camera (full-frame mirrorless)
Sensor: Full-frame (FX) 35.9 x 23.9mm backside-illuminated CMOS with focal-plane phase-detection AF pixels
Resolution: 24.5MP
Year introduced: 2018
Mount: Nikon Z-mount (55mm diameter, 16mm flange distance)
Key feature: First Nikon full-frame mirrorless; 5-axis IBIS; no-crop 4K video; wide Z-mount compatibility with F-mount backward compatibility via FTZ Adapter

Overview

The Nikon Z6 was one of two cameras that marked Nikon’s entry into the full-frame mirrorless market, announced on August 23, 2018 alongside the higher-resolution Nikon Z7. With a 24.5-megapixel FX-format backside-illuminated CMOS sensor, 12 fps continuous shooting, and an ISO range of 100—51,200 (expandable to ISO 204,800), the Z6 was positioned as the more versatile and video-friendly sibling. It shipped in late November 2018 at $1,995.95 (^[1]).

For underwater photographers, the Z6 offered Nikon image quality in a smaller mirrorless body with the convenience of an electronic viewfinder (3,690k-dot OLED, 0.8x magnification, 100% coverage) and 5-axis in-body vibration reduction delivering up to approximately 5.0 stops of compensation. Nikon described the Z-mount system as representing “a new dimension in optical performance,” with the letter “Z” chosen to represent “the culmination of Nikon’s relentless pursuit of ultimate optical performance” (^[2]).

Z-Mount System

At the heart of the Z6 was the new Z-mount, which featured an exceptionally wide 55mm mount diameter — 17% larger than the F-mount — and a very short 16mm flange distance. This combination enabled lens designs with maximum apertures down to f/0.95, as demonstrated by the announced NIKKOR Z 58mm f/0.95 S Noct (^[3]). For existing Nikon underwater shooters, the Z6 maintained full compatibility with the Nikon F-mount lens library via the FTZ Adapter. Even non-VR F-mount lenses gained 3-axis stabilization through the camera’s IBIS system, while Z-mount and VR lenses received full 5-axis stabilization (^[4]).

At launch, Nikon released three Z-mount lenses — the 24-70mm f/4 S, 35mm f/1.8 S, and 50mm f/1.8 S — none immediately suited for underwater use. The FTZ adapter was therefore essential for underwater photographers wanting to use proven lenses like the Nikkor 8-15mm f/3.5-4.5 fisheye and 105mm f/2.8 VR macro (^[5]).

Lens Ecosystem for Underwater Use

The Z-mount lens lineup relevant to underwater photography expanded gradually:

• NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S (announced January 2019): The world’s first full-frame 14mm lens to support direct filter attachment, with a minimum focus distance of 0.28m. Wetpixel noted it “may work behind a dome port” (^[6]). At DEMA 2019, Nauticam showcased the new WACP-II (Wide Angle Corrector Port), which when combined with the Z 14-30mm offered a 140-degree field of view with “sharpness across the whole frame, even at large apertures” (^[7]). This lens became a go-to choice for underwater Z6 users, notably Jason Gulley who used it extensively for cave photography in Florida springs (^[8]).

• F-mount lenses via FTZ Adapter: The Nikkor 8-15mm fisheye and 105mm f/2.8 macro were commonly used underwater. However, Adam Hanlon reported at the 2019 Nikon Professional Roadshow that macro AF performance with the 105mm was disappointing: “While it found focus on a brightly lit subject, it hunted a lot to do so. Certainly, when compared with the amazing AF on the D500/D850/D5, the Z7’s felt both slower and less accurate” (^[9]).

• Wet lens compatibility: Community discussion revealed that the WWL-1/1B wet wide-angle lens was not officially supported on Nikon Z full-frame cameras. The only supported lens for the WACP-1 and WACP-C on Z-mount was the Sony FE 28-70mm via a Megadap adapter, which provided 130-to-59-degree zoom range. The Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S was briefly listed as compatible with the WWL-1 but was later replaced by the WACP-1 recommendation (^[10]).

Autofocus System

The Z6 employed a hybrid AF system with 273 on-sensor phase-detection AF points covering approximately 90% of the imaging area both horizontally and vertically. The system automatically switched between focal-plane phase-detection AF and contrast-detect AF to achieve focus (^[11]).

The initial AF system lacked some features familiar to Nikon DSLR users: there were no D25, D72, or D153 dynamic-area AF points, no Group Area AF, and 3D tracking was hidden under the Auto Area AF mode rather than as a separate option. Forum commenter Elias noted that Adam Hanlon’s macro AF observations at the 2019 Nikon Pro Roadshow made him decide “to continue to enjoy my D800 and D500 cameras” (^[12]).

AF performance was significantly improved through firmware updates, particularly Firmware 3.00 in February 2020 (see Firmware Updates below). Community member Architeuthis summarized the Nikon mirrorless AF situation in 2022: “Nikon: AF in mirrorless is behind competition and by far not as good as with the comparable DSLRs” (^[13]), though others like Interceptor121 argued that “underwater is [not] so challenging” and the AF was adequate for most situations (^[14]).

Video Capabilities

The Z6 was notably strong for video, recording UHD 4K at 30fps using the full sensor width with no pixel binning or field-of-view crop, plus Full-HD at up to 120fps. The camera supported 10-bit N-Log HDMI output with 12-stop, 1,300% dynamic range for color grading. At the 2019 Nikon Professional Roadshow, Nikon’s Rob MacNeice noted that “as Nikon has no high-end video camera to protect, they can incorporate all and any video features” (^[15]).

In August 2019, Nikon released a free dedicated 3D LUT for the N-Log feature, compatible with the Rec. 709 color space, enabling greater creative control in post-production color grading (^[16]).

The ProRes RAW capability was added through Firmware 2.20 in December 2019 as a paid upgrade ($199.95). This required an internal hardware modification performed at a Nikon Service Center, enabling 12-bit 4K UHD or Full-HD RAW video recording to Atomos Ninja V recorders connected via HDMI. The update also added CFexpress memory card support. The Z 6 Filmmaker’s Kit bundles included the upgrade free of charge (^[17]). Notably, the ProRes RAW option was initially described as a firmware-only addition at the camera’s launch, but Nikon later clarified it required a physical service center upgrade with a fee — a point that generated community discussion (^[18]).

Firmware Updates

The Z6 received several significant firmware updates that substantially improved its capabilities:

• Firmware 2.20 (December 2019): Added CFexpress memory card support (Type B cards, initially Sony-manufactured only). Enabled optional ProRes RAW video output via paid upgrade ($199.95) at Nikon Service Centers (^[19]).

• Firmware 3.00 (February 2020): A major AF improvement. Subject-tracking AF could now be initiated via Fn1/Fn2 buttons, and tracking behavior was “changed to more closely resemble that of the 3D-tracking option for digital SLR cameras.” Added animal face and eye detection for dogs and cats (face detection in video mode). Also added ProGrade and Lexar CFexpress card support, lens Fn2 button support, and improved manual focus responsiveness when rotating the focus/control ring during autofocus (^[20]).

Nikon Z 6II

In October 2020, Nikon announced the Z 6II as “the most versatile Z series camera yet,” incorporating many user-requested improvements over the original Z6. Key upgrades included:

• Dual EXPEED 6 processors: Doubled processing power, improving burst performance to 14 fps continuous shooting with 5x the buffer capacity of the original Z6
• Dual memory card slots: One CFexpress (Type B)/XQD slot plus one SD card (UHS-II) slot, addressing a common criticism of the single-slot original
• Improved low-light AF: Detection down to -4.5 EV (compared to -3.5 EV on the original Z6), with enhanced face/eye detection now available in Wide-Area AF (L) mode
• 4K 60p video: Available via free firmware update (planned for February 2021), with full pixel readout
• Eye-Detection AF for video: First Nikon cameras to support Eye-Detection AF and Animal-Detection AF during video recording
• Blackmagic RAW support: In addition to ProRes RAW, the Z 6II added support for Blackmagic RAW when used with the Blackmagic Design Video Assist 12G HDR recorder
• USB power delivery: Enabled while camera is in use, drawing power from USB first to preserve battery

The Z 6II shipped in November 2020 at $1,999.95 (^[21]).

In a November 2020 Wetpixel Live episode, Alex Mustard and Adam Hanlon discussed the Nikon Z series lens development roadmap, noting Nikon’s commitment to expanding the Z-mount ecosystem with 24 lenses by end of 2021, and speculating on how Nikon’s parallel announcement of two new SLRs might affect camera choices for underwater photographers (^[22]).

Housing Availability

The Z6 attracted housing support from virtually every major underwater housing manufacturer, with most housings compatible with both the Z6 and Z7 due to their identical body design. All housings supported both Z-mount and F-mount lenses (with FTZ Adapter).

Original Z6/Z7 Housings

• Ikelite: 200DL housing announced October 2018; ABS-PC construction with DL port system, depth rated to 60m (200 feet). Included vacuum valve, manual hotshoe with ICS-5 bulkhead, and Super-Eye viewfinder. Supported optional TTL via DL1 DS Link TTL Converter. Made in USA. Available for pre-order in early November 2018 (^[23]).

• Nauticam: NA-Z7 shipping from November 2018 at $3,450. Used the N120 port system, meaning existing Nauticam Nikon DSLR owners could transfer all ports, viewfinders, and lens gears. Featured two lens release buttons (one for F-mount, one for Z-mount) for lens swaps without removing the camera, manual optoelectrical flash trigger preinstalled, EVF/LCD switch lever, vacuum valve, and a vacuum system reset switch below the tray. Weight 3.02 kg, dimensions 360x200x160mm, depth rated to 100m. At BOOT 2019, Nauticam demonstrated that the housing was slightly smaller than DSLR housings, with the FTZ converter integrated and located within the housing body itself, requiring no port or extension changes (^[24], ^[25]).

• Sea&Sea: MDX-Z7 announced November 2018. Machined corrosion-resistant aluminum alloy construction with die-cast aluminum grips. Compatible with existing MDX-series ports and gears. Featured dual-gear focus/zoom dial (one gear for F-mount lenses, one for Z-mount), port lock system, diopter adjustment accessible from outside, luminescent control stickers, and optical viewfinder 0.5x as standard. Strobe triggering via electrical connector or optional Optical YS Converter for TTL. Included sacrificial zinc diodes for electrolysis protection. Weight 2,700g (100g lighter than the MDX-D850), depth rated to 100m (^[26]).

• Nimar: MPZ7 PRO housing shipped November 2018 (^[27]).

• Isotta: Announced February 2019, shipping from March 2019 at EUR 2,790 (including Italian VAT). Hand-crafted in Italy with signature red anodized aluminum body. Featured TTL Converter electronics trigger included as standard, two fiber optic connectors, dual O-ring seals on all buttons and removable parts, single-hand closing knob, integrated leak detection system (LED and acoustic), bayonet 120mm port connection, INON X-2 compatible viewfinder mount, and sufficient internal space for the FTZ adapter. Showcased for the first time at the EUDI show in Bologna, March 2019. Weight 2,100g (with handles) / 1,800g (without), depth rated to 100m (^[28]).

• Seacam: Silver housing shipped July 2019. Compatible with Seacam’s standard port system for both F and Z mount lenses (^[29]).

• Aquatica: Housing announced August 2019 (^[30]).

• Hugyfot: Housings for both Z6/7 and Z6/7 II announced March 2022. Machined from a solid block of AlMgSi1 high-strength aluminum, sanded by hand, sandblasted, and finished with Cerakote ceramic polymer thin film coating — unique among housing manufacturers. Included HugyCheck vacuum system, one M16 port, two fiber optic outlets, dual aluminum handles with 1-inch ball mounts, and soft neoprene one-hand handle. Depth rated to 100m. Available in Cerakote Elite and H Series colors: Graphite Black, Titanium, Blue Titanium, and Pink Champagne (^[31]).

Z 6II/Z 7II Housing Updates

For the Z 6II, updated housings shipped from:

• Sea&Sea: March 2021 (^[32])
• Aquatica: March 2022 (^[33])
• Seacam: March 2022 (^[34])
• Hugyfot: March 2022 (announced simultaneously with original Z6/7 housing) (^[35])

Housing Conversion

Community member Svilen Spasov documented a DIY conversion of the Nauticam NA-Z7 (original) housing to fit the newer Z6/Z7 II cameras using a 3D-printed camera holder/slider. The original Z6/Z7 was 2mm thinner than the Z6/Z7 II, with the extra thickness primarily in the back. Spasov confirmed all buttons aligned correctly with the housing mechanisms after the modification and shared the STL file with the community (^[36]).

Viewfinder Options Underwater

The transition to mirrorless EVFs presented new choices for underwater photographers. Community discussion on Wetpixel revealed varying approaches:

• Larry Hallas reported using the Nauticam Full Frame Angle Viewfinder 0.8:1 with his Z6 II, calling it excellent for both macro and wide angle, with the advantage of a diopter eliminating the need for reading glasses in his mask ($1,800) (^[37]).
• Inon released budget-friendly straight and 45-degree magnifying viewfinders specifically for Nauticam housings in October 2020 (^[38]).
• The EVF’s ability to show the picture profile in use was noted as a unique advantage — for example, displaying the scene in monochrome when shooting with a mono picture profile (^[39]).

Underwater Use in the Field

Jason Gulley — Florida Springs Cave Photography

Geology professor and cave diver Jason Gulley adopted the Nikon Z6 in a Nauticam housing with a 230mm glass dome for his documentation of Florida’s threatened spring ecosystems. He used the Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 as his primary underwater lens, favoring its rectilinear rendering over fisheye distortion. Gulley combined long exposures (up to several seconds) with rear curtain flash, using Big Blue 33k-lumen video lights for background illumination and Inon Z330 strobes. He noted that “nearly all of my dives are limited by camera battery capacity” (^[40]).

UwP Magazine Reviews

Issue 108 of UwP magazine (May/June 2019) featured a review of the Ikelite housing for the Nikon Z7 (compatible with the Z6) (^[41]).

Community Discussion

DSLR vs. Mirrorless Transition Debate

The Z6/Z7 series figured prominently in the Wetpixel community’s ongoing debate about transitioning from DSLRs to mirrorless. In a 74-reply thread titled “Mirrorless cameras: opportunity or necessary evil?” (2022), Tim G expressed a common sentiment among long-time Nikon users: “I can’t see any advantage for the moment in mirrorless over, for me, the D500” (^[42]). Adam Hanlon, testing the later Nikon Z9 in 2022, concluded: “it is a great camera, but the combination of limited lens choices, along with AF that is not as good as D850, means that it has little appeal for me underwater” (^[43]).

At the 2019 Nikon Professional Roadshow, however, Nikon’s Rob MacNeice stated that mirrorless is “the future” and while “a personal opinion, it seems to reflect Nikon’s corporate position too,” suggesting development resources would be directed at mirrorless to the detriment of SLRs (^[44]).

System Surveys

In the 2022 “What system are you using?” survey thread, the Nikon Z system appeared alongside established DSLR systems, with some users reporting switches from D850 to Z9. Craig (phxazcraig) noted the Z9 housing was physically bigger and heavier than his DSLR setup, with the main size benefit being a shorter 50mm extension for the 14-30mm lens versus a 90mm extension for the 16-35mm (^[45]).

Related Models

The Nikon Z6 sits within a broader Z-mount ecosystem covered on Wetpixel:

• Nikon Z7: Higher-resolution 45.7MP sibling, same body, same housings
• Nikon Z50: APS-C (DX) Z-mount camera announced October 2019 at $859.95, first DX-format mirrorless from Nikon with Eye-Detection AF (^[46])
• Nikon Z5: Entry-level full-frame Z-mount, announced 2020
• Nikon Z9: Professional flagship (announced 2021), which Wetpixel covered extensively including Nauticam housing availability in February 2022 (^[47])
• Nikon D780: DSLR successor to the D750, sharing the Z6’s 24.5MP sensor and EXPEED 6 processor, incorporating “popular features seen in the Z series” — described as “a new kind of DSLR” bridging the gap between the two systems (^[48])

Timeline

• 2018-08-23: Nikon announces the Z6 and Z7 as their first full-frame mirrorless cameras with the new Z-mount system. Z6 priced at $1,995.95 for late November availability. Initial Z-mount lenses: 24-70mm f/4 S, 35mm f/1.8 S, 50mm f/1.8 S, plus FTZ Adapter (^[49]).
• 2018-10: Ikelite announces 200DL housing for Z7/Z6 in ABS-PC construction (^[50]).
• 2018-11: Nauticam ships NA-Z7 housing at $3,450, using N120 port system (^[51]). Sea&Sea announces MDX-Z7 with dual-gear focus/zoom dial at 2,700g (^[52]). Nimar ships MPZ7 PRO (^[53]).
• 2019-01: Nikon announces the NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S — first full-frame 14mm lens with filter attachment, promising for underwater use (^[54]). At BOOT 2019, Nauticam demonstrates NA-Z7 housing with integrated FTZ adapter (^[55]).
• 2019-02: Adam Hanlon reports mixed AF results at Nikon Professional Roadshow — fisheye AF fine, macro AF disappointing vs. DSLR (^[56]). Isotta announces housing for Nikon Z series at EUR 2,790, shipping March 2019 (^[57]).
• 2019-07: Seacam ships Silver housing for Z6/Z7 (^[58]).
• 2019-08: Aquatica announces housing (^[59]). Nikon releases free 3D LUT for N-Log with Rec. 709 color space; clarifies ProRes RAW will require in-person service center upgrade (^[60]).
• 2019-10: Nikon announces Z50 DX mirrorless camera sharing the Z-mount (^[61]).
• 2019-11: At DEMA 2019, Nauticam showcases WACP-II designed for the Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4, offering 140-degree FOV (^[62]).
• 2019-12: Firmware 2.20 released: adds CFexpress card support and optional ProRes RAW output ($199.95 service center upgrade) (^[63]).
• 2020-02: Firmware 3.00 released: significantly improved subject-tracking AF resembling DSLR 3D-tracking, animal face/eye detection, expanded CFexpress support (^[64]).
• 2020-10: Nikon announces Z 6II with dual processors, dual card slots, 4K 60p, improved AF to -4.5 EV, priced at $1,999.95 (^[65]). Inon releases budget viewfinders for Nauticam housings (^[66]).
• 2020-11: Wetpixel Live: Alex Mustard and Adam Hanlon discuss Nikon Z series lens roadmap and its implications for underwater photographers (^[67]).
• 2021-01: Jason Gulley publishes Florida Springs portfolio shot with Nikon Z6 and Z 14-30mm in Nauticam housing (^[68]).
• 2021-03: Sea&Sea ships updated housing for Z6 II and Z7 II (^[69]).
• 2022-03: Hugyfot announces Cerakote-finished housings for both Z6/7 and Z6/7 II series (^[70]). Aquatica ships Z6 II / Z7 II housing (^[71]). Seacam ships Z6 II / Z7 II housing (^[72]).
• 2022-08: Community member Svilen Spasov shares 3D-printed NA-Z7 housing conversion for Z6/Z7 II cameras (^[73]).

References

Wetpixel Live