Nikon has announced the release of firmware version 2.0 for their full-frame Z6III mirrorless camera marking the first major update since it’s launch back in June 2024.
Firmware version 2.0 adds a host of new features and updates to existing features, offering what Nikon is calling an enhanced shooting experience for both still and video users.
View Nikon Z6III Pricing and Availability at Vistek
New Feature Highlights
One of the most anticipated features is the addition of Birds Mode to subject detection which “automatically tracks birds in flight with great precision, keeping them in focus even against complex, high-contrast backgrounds such as forests and rocky mountains.”
A new Focus Limiter Setting can now be assigned to a custom control, allowing photographers to restrict the shooting distance range for more precise focus on their intended subject.
Additionally, the JPEG Fine image quality option is now available when using Pre-Release Capture, an advanced feature that records images up to one second before the shutter-release button is fully pressed, during full-frame shooting at 60 fps.
Download Firmware Version 2.0 for the Nikon Z6III camera here
The new Auto Capture function enables automatic shooting based on pre-configured conditions, offering versatile shooting styles suited to a wide range of scenarios.
With this feature, users are able to define parameters such as subject type, movement direction, and shooting distance to capture challenging scenes, particularly those where a photographer’s presence might disrupt the subject.
Additionally, the built-in scheduling feature allows users to set the exact day and time for Auto Capture to begin, minimizing battery usage between setup and activation, and when paired with a USB-to-Ethernet adapter, the system supports high-speed data transfer to remote locations, making it ideal for demanding professional workflows.
Finally, in a first for a Nikon product, the Z6III will now support the Nikon Authenticity Service, “a solution primarily aimed at media organizations and creators who require a high level of trustworthiness in their work.”
Nikon adds that “the service is compatible with the C2PA (Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity) standard, clearly recording provenance information from shooting through to editing to ensure greater transparency and reliability of content.”
Other Expanded Functions and Improvements
- An Automatic monitor display switch function for disabling the eye sensor when the vari-angle monitor is deployed has been added, a first for the Nikon Z series.
- A function that allows users to exit the zoom view with a half-press of the shutter-release button when the focus mode is set to manual has been added.
- Pixel shift shooting can now be used in combination with focus shift shooting or AE bracketing settings for more precise photographic expression than ever before.
- A Recall shooting functions option that allows users to recall previously stored settings, including shooting mode, shutter speed, aperture value, and ISO sensitivity, with the press of a button has been added to the roles that can be assigned to a custom control.
- Adds support for USB streaming (UVC/UAC), which allows the camera to be used as a webcam by simply connecting it to a computer or smartphone.
- By default, firmware updates are now installed automatically after the camera connects to Nikon Imaging Cloud.
- Operation has been simplified by automatically displaying an update confirmation dialog on the camera monitor after registering an imaging recipe in Nikon Imaging Cloud.