What should the D6 have had?

kyoshinikonkyoshinikon Posts: 411Member
edited February 2020 in D3/D4/D5
I don't see a thread here on the D6.

Was one deleted? I haven't been on here in ages.

What should the camera have had and what could it possibly fix with firmware?


I'm pretty happy with the specs I see although I wish it had 20fps in Liveview and a 24-26mpx sensor. Comparing it to the 1Dx mk3 everybody is raving about and there are only a few things the 1Dx mk3 has that the D6 doesn't (20fps liveview, 16fps shutter, 5.5k raw, and 120fps HD.)

I still plan to purchase one by the end of this year. The workflow is the weakest spot of any pro gear setup and it sounds like they addressed a lot of it.




Post edited by kyoshinikon on
“To photograph is to hold one’s breath, when all faculties converge to capture fleeting reality. It’s at that precise moment that mastering an image becomes a great physical and intellectual joy.” - Bresson
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Comments

  • mhedgesmhedges Posts: 2,881Member
    I think it should have had PDAF and mirrorless like live view performance similar to the D780. Nikon claims they surveyed the market and D5 users said they didn't really need it.
  • donaldejosedonaldejose Posts: 3,673Member
    edited February 2020
    "After testing it out, Matthias told us: “This is a huge step forward. I don’t know how they did it, and I’m impressed. Out there in the field, it’s really working. I was shooting half a dozen different sports, and whatever I shot, the autofocus showed a massive improvement. And in Group Area AF there’s a wider range of groups you can select, so you can customise them much better. Plus there’s another big step forward in 3D tracking, together with face recognition.”

    "When asked about the most noticeable improvements in the D6, for Matthias there was one clear winner: “It’s the image quality of the JPEGs straight out of the camera. There’s a new image processing engine, even though it’s the same sensor. Especially in the JPEGs there is another step forward around noise reduction, sharpness, brilliance of the frames, and quality. That is an impressive one. So just picking up the camera, shooting something with it and getting a JPEG on your laptop with exceptional image quality is impressive.”

    https://blog.nikoneurope.com/en_gb/2020/02/testing-the-nikon-d6-with-matthias-hangst/?fbclid=IwAR0TkqFGcZEEIhRRPU3gxEWBII0ef7hx-TtPKSQGY1upuTuw0KYYUhIQ6DY
    Post edited by donaldejose on
  • PistnbrokePistnbroke Posts: 2,443Member
    edited February 2020
    Strange donaldejose that you did not comment on the review. I note it comes from nikoneurope so its a promotional review. I hope its all true . I did see one sensible comment that the D series gets a full revamp every 8 years not 4 so maybe its a D5s.
    If the processor is giving improved JPEGs then that bodes well for the Z8
    Not a camera for me so I personally will never know ...ignorance is bliss as they say.
    Post edited by Pistnbroke on
  • donaldejosedonaldejose Posts: 3,673Member
    Yes, it is a promo review from Nikon Europe. The point of the review, and maybe the point of the D6 when third party reviews are out, is that improvements in AF and jpeg and transfer speed out of camera add up to a significant improvement for the working sports or photojournalist who needs to shoot jpeg and send images to the boss asap. Maybe, maybe not. Same sensor, same ISO range, etc so lots of sameness on the spec sheet making for the possibility that it is not much of an improvement over the D5 for "regular" shooting. Unless you really need what these improvements do offer you may be better off with a used D5 at about half the price. I know I don't need these improvements so I would be better off with a used D5. But I won't buy that either. I would rather spend my money buying into the future which is the Nikon mirrorless system.
  • DenverShooterDenverShooter Posts: 416Member
    I have a D6 on NPS priority order. I will see one at the Nikon booth at the NAB Show next month. Already have a buyer lined up for my D4.
  • donaldejosedonaldejose Posts: 3,673Member
    DenverShooter: Give us a review when you receive your D6. Apparently it uses the same sensor as the D5 so the question will be: Why not just get a used D5 for less money? The answer has to be in other advances the D6 provides.
  • spraynprayspraynpray Posts: 6,545Moderator
    I had a review come up on my phone the other day which I glanced and the guy was saying it should have been called a D5s because it was such a small incremental change. He focused on it being lighter and didn't say much about AFor processing.

    I stopped reading when I learned he had nothing positive to say and was a Canon user.
    Always learning.
  • mhedgesmhedges Posts: 2,881Member
    Yeah my whining about the lack of OSPDAF notwithstanding I think those complaints are off base. Look at the history of the D# line and its clear this update is well in line with the rest. Introducing a new AF module is a pretty big deal.
  • NSXTypeRNSXTypeR Posts: 2,286Member
    As much as I could armchair quarterback the D6, I'll never need one. The most expensive camera I foresee myself ever getting would be the D500 or D850, and even then that's overkill.

    If anything, maybe in body image stabilization?
    Nikon D7000/ Nikon D40/ Nikon FM2/ 18-135 AF-S/ 35mm 1.8 AF-S/ 105mm Macro AF-S/ 50mm 1.2 AI-S
  • spraynprayspraynpray Posts: 6,545Moderator
    24Mp would have suited me.
    Always learning.
  • donaldejosedonaldejose Posts: 3,673Member
    It seems to me that it should have used a newer sensor. Using the same sensor as the D5 from 4 years ago is a bummer. Perhaps there will be a D6s in two years with a different sensor like there was with the D3 and the D3s.
  • DenverShooterDenverShooter Posts: 416Member
    The NAB Show was canceled so I won't be seeing one there and Nikon is now looking at May for delivery. My dealer has more than 4 dozen on order..
  • Capt_SpauldingCapt_Spaulding Posts: 729Member
    48+ D6s? Wow. What percentage are presales?
  • DenverShooterDenverShooter Posts: 416Member
    Just received notification that my D6 will ship May 21st to the 30th.
  • PhotobugPhotobug Posts: 5,751Member

    It seems to me that it should have used a newer sensor. Using the same sensor as the D5 from 4 years ago is a bummer. Perhaps there will be a D6s in two years with a different sensor like there was with the D3 and the D3s.

    Makes you wonder if there is no improvement possible on this sensor without spending huge bucks. In my opinion, digital cameras have reached the point that improvements are going to be "small" or incremental rather than the large improvements we saw early between D100 and D200 and D300.
    D750 & D7100 | 24-70 F2.8 G AF-S ED, 70-200 F2.8 AF VR, TC-14E III, TC-1.7EII, 35 F2 AF D, 50mm F1.8G, 105mm G AF-S VR | Backup & Wife's Gear: D5500 & Sony HX50V | 18-140 AF-S ED VR DX, 55-300 AF-S G VR DX |
    |SB-800, Amaran Halo LED Ring light | MB-D16 grip| Gitzo GT3541 + RRS BH-55LR, Gitzo GM2942 + Sirui L-10 | RRS gear | Lowepro, ThinkTank, & Hoodman gear | BosStrap | Vello Freewave Plus wireless Remote, Leica Lens Cleaning Cloth |
  • mhedgesmhedges Posts: 2,881Member
    Photobug said:

    It seems to me that it should have used a newer sensor. Using the same sensor as the D5 from 4 years ago is a bummer. Perhaps there will be a D6s in two years with a different sensor like there was with the D3 and the D3s.

    Makes you wonder if there is no improvement possible on this sensor without spending huge bucks. In my opinion, digital cameras have reached the point that improvements are going to be "small" or incremental rather than the large improvements we saw early between D100 and D200 and D300.
    In terms of ultimate image quality I agree. I do think there are possible significant gains in workflow, reduced need for post, etc. And faster sensor read speeds (more of a benefit for mirrorless).
  • donaldejosedonaldejose Posts: 3,673Member
    edited May 2020
    Interesting comment in the main blog about base ISO. It seems the camera may have been "tuned" for good image quality at ISO 1600. This may be a good idea for a sports, photojournalism, wildlife action body. The ability to shoot at mid range ISO's with good image quality can be more important in such a camera than shooting landscapes or studio portrait work at base ISO. Serious photographers will be using the D800, D810, and D850 or Z7 bodies for that work anyway. I like the idea of tuning a serious action stopping camera for good image quality at ISO 1600. This is the statement in the main blog D6 review that I am referring to. "low ISO dynamic that remains low, as for the D5 and the D3s, according to a well-established concept that wants this machine to start from ISO 1600 in practice to explore sidereal sensitivities"

    Post edited by donaldejose on
  • PhotobugPhotobug Posts: 5,751Member
    mhedges said:

    Photobug said:

    It seems to me that it should have used a newer sensor. Using the same sensor as the D5 from 4 years ago is a bummer. Perhaps there will be a D6s in two years with a different sensor like there was with the D3 and the D3s.

    Makes you wonder if there is no improvement possible on this sensor without spending huge bucks. In my opinion, digital cameras have reached the point that improvements are going to be "small" or incremental rather than the large improvements we saw early between D100 and D200 and D300.
    In terms of ultimate image quality I agree. I do think there are possible significant gains in workflow, reduced need for post, etc. And faster sensor read speeds (more of a benefit for mirrorless).
    Agree, there are improvements in work flow that in the long run are a time saver for the user.
    D750 & D7100 | 24-70 F2.8 G AF-S ED, 70-200 F2.8 AF VR, TC-14E III, TC-1.7EII, 35 F2 AF D, 50mm F1.8G, 105mm G AF-S VR | Backup & Wife's Gear: D5500 & Sony HX50V | 18-140 AF-S ED VR DX, 55-300 AF-S G VR DX |
    |SB-800, Amaran Halo LED Ring light | MB-D16 grip| Gitzo GT3541 + RRS BH-55LR, Gitzo GM2942 + Sirui L-10 | RRS gear | Lowepro, ThinkTank, & Hoodman gear | BosStrap | Vello Freewave Plus wireless Remote, Leica Lens Cleaning Cloth |
  • WestEndFotoWestEndFoto Posts: 3,742Member
    edited May 2020

    Interesting comment in the main blog about base ISO. It seems the camera may have been "tuned" for good image quality at ISO 1600. This may be a good idea for a sports, photojournalism, wildlife action body. The ability to shoot at mid range ISO's with good image quality can be more important in such a camera than shooting landscapes or studio portrait work at base ISO. Serious photographers will be using the D800, D810, and D850 or Z7 bodies for that work anyway. I like the idea of tuning a serious action stopping camera for good image quality at ISO 1600. This is the statement in the main blog D6 review that I am referring to. "low ISO dynamic that remains low, as for the D5 and the D3s, according to a well-established concept that wants this machine to start from ISO 1600 in practice to explore sidereal sensitivities"

    Agreed. Landscape photographers are not going to be pleased because it is only 20mp, so why bother trying.

    And only a pixel peeper will have a complaint in any event.
    Post edited by WestEndFoto on
  • PB_PMPB_PM Posts: 4,494Member
    The D4/5/6 were never made to be general purpose, jack of all trades cameras, they are for the very people they are set up for, pro sports, pro wildlife, and news photographers. For anyone else the price tag for what you get is crazy, there are far better cameras for landscape and still life shooting in that price bracket.
    If I take a good photo it's not my camera's fault.
  • donaldejosedonaldejose Posts: 3,673Member
    Yes, Nikon's primo landscape and studio body should be the one with 60 megapixels and the great Z lenses. Hopefully, that will be the Z8 and will be released this fall. Right now it is the Z7 with the Z prime lenses. Different bodies for different uses. It is interesting to see that Taylor Jackson has chosen the D780 at his main wedding body.
  • PB_PMPB_PM Posts: 4,494Member
    If someone is looking to spend D6 money, on a landscape camera, medium format, even used, is a far better option than Z-mount stuff. Just saying.
    If I take a good photo it's not my camera's fault.
  • WestEndFotoWestEndFoto Posts: 3,742Member
    PB_PM said:

    If someone is looking to spend D6 money, on a landscape camera, medium format, even used, is a far better option than Z-mount stuff. Just saying.

    Yes, the ergonomic and other issues of the "cropped medium format options" would be tolerable if I was only shooting landscapes.

    That would be "used" however. And that would also be cropped medium format, not full frame medium format.
  • spraynprayspraynpray Posts: 6,545Moderator
    I am not surprised by the choice of the D780 @donaldejose, 24mp is plenty for the job and the D750 was an excellent body (I think the sweet spot in the range) so the D780 should be even better. My D850 sucks in low light by comparison.
    Always learning.
  • PB_PMPB_PM Posts: 4,494Member

    PB_PM said:

    If someone is looking to spend D6 money, on a landscape camera, medium format, even used, is a far better option than Z-mount stuff. Just saying.

    Yes, the ergonomic and other issues of the "cropped medium format options" would be tolerable if I was only shooting landscapes.

    That would be "used" however. And that would also be cropped medium format, not full frame medium format.
    I would rather get a used full sized medium format than a new cropped one, if it were my money, but that's just me. I don't care if something is new, I don't feel the need to keep up with the Jones.
    If I take a good photo it's not my camera's fault.
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