Decision tools · Compare
Z6 III vs Z9
Quick take: The Z9 has the highest resolution at 46MP; the Z6 III is the most affordable.
16 specs side by side·15 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras
How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.
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Verdictwhich should you buy?
Z6 III — Hybrid Video & Action: Partial-stacked FF sensor for near-zero blackout, 6K RAW video, and 60fps burst — Nikon's most capable hybrid.
Z9 — Professional Sports & Wildlife: The Z9 redefined what professional mirrorless could be — no mechanical shutter, 45MP stacked BSI, and 8K RAW in the most rugged Z body.
Who should buy what
Z6 III (2024)
is the right camera for you if…
- Hybrid photographers who want partially-stacked sensor speed with full-frame quality
- Z6 II owners ready for a major AF and video upgrade
- Sports and action shooters who want 6K RAW video and fast burst
- Professionals who want a versatile full-frame Z body for any situation
Z9 (2021)
is the right camera for you if…
- Professional sports, wildlife and photojournalism photographers
- Nikon D6 or D850 users making the final switch to mirrorless
- Those who need the fastest, most reliable AF Nikon has ever made
- Professionals who need a flagship body with no mechanical shutter
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | Z6 IIINikon · 2024 | Z9Nikon · 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,199Best | £4,999 |
| Sensor | 24.5MP Full-frame Partial-stacked CMOS | 45.7MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.5MP | 45.7MPBest |
| Video | 6K/60p RAW, 4K/120p, 4K/60p oversampled, N-Log, 10-bit | 8K/30p RAW, 4K/120p, ProRes RAW |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 273 points, subject detection (human/animal/vehicle/aircraft) | Subject detection AF, 493-point phase-detect |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 6.0 stops | 6-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 20fps mechanical, 60fps electronic | 20fps RAW / 120fps JPEG |
| Battery Life | ~380 shots (CIPA) | 740 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 760g (body only)Best | 1340g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 138.5 × 101.5 × 74.0mm | 149.0 × 149.5 × 90.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 5.76M dots, 0.90× magnification | 0.5" Quad-VGA OLED EVF, 3.69M dots, 120fps |
| Screen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Nikon Z-mount (full-frame) | Nikon Z-mount |
| Memory Cards | Dual slots: CFexpress Type B + SD UHS-II | Dual CFexpress Type B / XQD |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.2, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, LAN |
Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.
How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
Z6 III
Z9
Portrait
8.4/10
8.2/10
Street
6.3/10
5.0/10
Travel
6.1/10
5.0/10
Wedding & Events
8.3/10
8.4/10
Vlogging & Video
6.6/10
—
Filmmaking
7.8/10
7.9/10
Documentary
7.9/10
7.6/10
Sports & Action
9.2/10
9.2/10
Landscape
7.0/10
6.7/10
Wildlife
8.9/10
8.9/10
Casual
5.2/10
4.0/10
Food
7.5/10
6.9/10
Macro
7.0/10
6.6/10
Architecture
7.2/10
6.8/10
Astrophotography
7.4/10
7.2/10
Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →
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