The Z6III today got a significant firmware update, to version 2.00. This update contains three headline features:
- Birds. Subject detection gets the apparently coveted Birds option. The primary differential between this and Animal I believe has to do with smaller birds on busy backgrounds, where false recognition can sometimes happen on the older Z6III firmware.
- Auto capture. The Z6III is the third camera to get this function, which allows you to configure the camera to respond to motion, subjects, and focus to take photos without human intervention. This is a complicated function that even Z9 users—where it first appeared—struggle with.
- C2PA image authentication. This apparently works with Nikon Imaging Cloud providing the certificate being used. Nikon notes there are some limitations when using this function (e.g. camera features not available).
Additional new features that many desired include:
- Focus limiter switch. The camera-based focus limiting that first appeared with the Z8 3.00 firmware.
- JPEG fine for Pre-Release Capture. You can now set the compression level for the JPEGs created with the pre-release system.
- Disable viewfinder with Rear LCD deployment. An extension of the Monitor Mode options that looks at the position of the Rear LCD.
- Combined Pixel shift shooting and Focus shift shooting. As with the Z8 3.00 firmware.
- Recall Shooting Functions was added. This was a noticeable missing customization on the original Z6III firmware, now addressed.
- UVC/UAC support. Nikon continues to move away from requiring their Webcam Utility software, allowing direct USB-C streaming.
- Magnification cancelled with shutter release press. The ability to cancel zoom during composing with a half press of the shutter release has been added.
A couple other minor odds and ends were addressed, as well. Basically, Nikon seems to have attempted to bring the Z6III firmware pretty much up to the Z8 level with this release.
But that once again bodes the question: where's the Z9 firmware update? All the more recent cameras are collecting functions and capabilities that the so-called flagship camera is now missing. Let's hope Nikon is saving the best for last. The notion that the Z9 doesn't need another firmware update because a Z9II is probably just around the corner doesn't fly with me. Deliberately withholding function from a flagship is not something a camera company should ever do, as it effectively debases the notion of flagship and eventually punishes what should be the best customers.
