Pet Photography With The Nikon Z6 III

The Nikon Z6III is a fantastic camera, and while many people say it is better suited for wildlife photographers, I wanted to test it out by using it for pet photography.

My first initial impression was that it was a lot lighter than I expected it to be! I also have small hands and was afraid I would have issues holding the Nikon Z6III for an extended period. Thankfully, I didn't have that issue; it was much lighter than expected. Having to run around the park with pups or in the garden after a lovely little feline, knowing I wouldn't have any issues carrying the camera around, was a massive perk!

Ergonomic & Straightforward To Handle

However, even though the Nikon Z6III is supposed to be bigger and wider than its predecessor (Z6II), it is still effortless to handle! I had no issue with the camera's weight, even when I had the 70-200mm lens mounted on it. The Nikon Z6III has such an ergonomic design due to the grip on the camera itself. It holds and feels comfortable in your hands and doesn't give the impression that you will ever drop it, giving you the confidence to get into those uncomfortable positions to get the perfect images.

Effortless User Interface & Easy To Use Settings

Another thing that felt effortless when I first got my hands on the Z6III was the camera settings, which were so easy to navigate. I didn't have to look extensively to find what I was looking for, which can be an issue with other camera brands. In total, it took me less than five minutes to set up and get ready for shoots.

Putting Continuous H+ & Animal AF Through Its Paces

My favourite thing to do when photographing dogs is to get candid shots of them running around and showing their characters. It is something pet parents love, so I love having continuous shooting on. I enlisted the help of the lovely Henri, the cocker spaniel and Jasper, the half-dachshund half-terrier. For my shoots, I had Continuous H+ and Animal AutoFocus to allow the subjects to move and allow me to get a solid image. I found the 3D Tracking and Subject Recognition on the Z6III incredibly quick and effortless, recognising the animals 20% faster than it would have been using the Z6II. It also recognises multiple subjects, which can come in handy when photographing two pets simultaneously, when one is more likely to be extra excited to play and not sit still.

In total, I left the session with over 1000 images of Henry and Jasper, many of whom were running around, catching their favourite tennis ball, and just being their happy selves. The owner's favourite image is Henri jumping to catch the tennis ball, which he had never done before.

Easy To Get Into Those Awkward Positions With The Sharp LCD Screen

What I've always loved about photographing animals is that you have to cater to them. Taking images of cats is much more complicated because cats are much more independent and don't sit and stay like dogs. I enjoyed running around after Betty, the beautiful tuxedo cat. She was happy to have me follow her into hedges and branches with the Nikon Z6III to capture her free-spirited nature. Due to being her shadow for a while, I needed to use the LCD screen rather than the EVF to see what I was capturing and show that the shot looked good. There was also a moment where I had to get down onto my stomach and move the camera closer to her, as I was using the 35mm, and pull out the LCD screen to be able to see what I was capturing.

I also learned that you could trigger the shutter on the LCD screen using AF mode, which was a great surprise when I was using it to focus on Betty's eyes when the camera wanted to focus on the leaves. However, it also came in handy when the pups were a little further away, running after their tennis ball.

Take Perfectly Steady Images

While still using Continous H* Mode, I could see how incredible pre-release capture worked, capturing the images I hoped to photograph just seconds before they moved!

I was also very impressed with the image stabilisation. With the 8.0 stops, I could capture sharp images while walking and not being in the steadiest of poses, especially when a pup is fighting to get the tennis ball from your hands and does not want to wait for you to throw it! I have had my share of knockdowns with pups!

Returning to the EVF, I was impressed with its clarity and brightness, even when working with more fluorescent lights. I never felt like I would lose the shot of my own Dachshund Rufus, who is fully aware that when I have a camera in my hands, he will have thousands of images taken of him.

Impeccable Image quality

Speaking of images, the quality is impeccable. Going back and looking through all the images that I took during both shoots, I felt proud to be able to share them with the owners. Being able to zoom into the images and still have that quality if they had been taken at that zoom was so impressive.

In Conclusion

Overall, I was pleased with my use of the Nikon Z6III. It is a powerhouse of a camera, even if it is considered entry-level! Using it for pet photography was so much fun! I recommend it!

Convinced yet?

You can find the Nikon Z6III camera here, and as a kit with my favourite lens, the 24-70mm here!

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By Cynthia Medel
14 Apr 2025