Nikon D6 User Manual

L E A V E N O T H I N G T O C H A N C E

• Lens: AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/4E FL ED VR • Exposure: [M] mode, 1/8000 s, f/4.5 • White balance: Auto 0 • Sensitivity: ISO 100 • Picture Control: Standard © Clive Mason

• Lens: AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED • Exposure: [M] mode, 1/1250 s, f/2.8 • White balance: Auto 0 • Sensitivity: ISO 12800 • Picture Control: Auto © Matthias Hangst

D E C I S I V E A B S O L U T E

P O W E R . F A S T E R W O R K F L O W . R E L I A B I L I T Y .

What do professional sports photographers need to succeed? A fast frame rate and uncompromising autofocus are only part of the equation. They need a camera that can capture high-quality images of decisive moments reliably, in almost any situation. And they need to be able to select and deliver those images to the market faster than anyone else. Nikon’s new D6 flagship FX-format D-SLR camera gives them exactly that, combining a new, higher-density AF system and EXPEED 6 image-processing engine with improved post-shooting workflow and the proven ruggedness of the D5. Wherever the game takes you, the D6 will keep you in the lead.

•Nikon’s most powerful, higher-density AF system with 105 all-cross-type focus points

•Faster 1000BASE-T, and wireless communication via built-in Wi-Fi and WT-6/A/B/C Wireless Transmitter

•Simultaneous JPEG + JPEG recording for JPEG shooters

•Flick operation to prioritize important images to transfer, for faster delivery

•Clear optical viewfinder and newly developed mirror drive structure offer a stable view for sports scenes with 14-fps* shooting

•EXPEED 6 delivers standard ISO up to 102400 with high image quality even in extremely low light

•Compatibility with Kensington® anti-theft locks

•Diverse selection of NIKKOR telephoto lenses up to 800 mm helps achieve superb images

* Depending on lens, aperture, etc.

pp. 6-12	pp. 13-14
POWERFUL, BRAND NEW AF SYSTEM	HIGHER-SPEED CONTINUOUS SHOOTING
	PERFORMANCE

pp. 15-18	pp. 19-21
ENHANCED POST-SHOOTING WORKFLOW	SUPERB, READY-TO-PUBLISH IMAGE QUALITY
FOR FASTER DELIVERY

pp. 22-26	pp. 27-29
NIKON’S PROFESSIONAL RELIABILITY AND OPERABILITY	PROFESSIONAL SYSTEM AND SUPPORT

p. 30 SYSTEM CHART

p. 31 NOMENCLATURE

p. 32 SPECIFICATIONS

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POWERFUL, BRAND NEW AF SYSTEM

Approx. 1.6× higher-density AF coverage with 105 selectable cross-type focus points for more reliable performance even with complicated subject movements and in difficult lighting

Surpassing the phenomenal dependability of the D5, the D6 sets a new benchmark for AF performance. Its newly designed Multi-CAM 37K autofocus sensor module features 105 focus points*1 — all cross-type, all

selectable — which allows users to focus where they want without adjusting their composition. The use of a triple-sensor arrangement for each focus point and the new focus point layout reduce non-AF- sensitive areas, and achieve approx. 1.6× higher-density AF coverage compared to the D5, enabling even more accurate subject acquisition. Moreover, the center focus point works down to -4.5 EV*2 and the others to -4 EV*2, making autofocus possible even in dark situations or with low-contrast subjects.

*1 All 105 focus points are compatible with AF NIKKOR F lenses with apertures of f/5.6 or faster, the AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G ED VR and the AF-P DX NIKKOR 70300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED VR. The 15 central points work with an effective aperture of f/8.

*2 At ISO 100, 20 °C/68 °F.

© Matthias Hangst

D6

D5

Triple-sensor

Double-sensor

arrangement (D6)

arrangement (D5)

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POWERFUL, BRAND NEW AF SYSTEM

AF-area mode: Group-area AF 15 × 1 © Matthias Hangst

17 custom group-area AF mode variations help achieve intended focus results in various shooting situations

Professional sports photographers often have a specific composition in mind when capturing the decisive moments in each game or race. The D5’s grouparea AF HL*1 and VL*2 modes are known to excel in such scenes. In addition to the conventional cross arrangement, the D6 further expands the group-area AF layout variations with 17 custom arrangements, which you can select according to your intended composition and obstacles in the frame. For instance, if you

want to shoot a table tennis player across the net, you can use custom group-							AF-area mode: Group-area AF 15 × 3 © Clive Mason
area AF 11 × 3 or 15 × 3 to keep focusing on the player moving laterally. In
critical situations, this becomes a powerful tool for sports shooters.
*1 Horizontal Line. *2 Vertical Line.

Note: Each pattern of focus points can be moved up, down, to the left or right. All focus points enclosed by the rectangle are also effective.

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POWERFUL, BRAND NEW AF SYSTEM

Dedicated new AF engine processes approx. 1.6× more defocus information simultaneously for enhanced AF tracking of moving subjects

The D6’s autofocus improvements don’t stop at the new AF module. Its dedicated AF engine has also been newly developed. By simultaneously calculating approx. 1.6× more defocus information compared to the D5, the D6 is able to

distinguish the intended area of focus from its surroundings and reliably maintain focus on it, even as it moves, during approx. 14-fps high-speed continuous shooting*. The benefit is especially clear when AF lock-on strength is increased. For example, even in scenes where a runner’s hand or a table tennis racket obscures the focused face, you can keep your focus on the intended subject.

* Depending on lens, aperture, etc.

AF-area mode: Single-point AF © Clive Mason

Dedicated AF engine

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Autofocus

• Auto-area AF	• Group-area AF
• 3D-tracking

Subject tracking

	Picture Control	Motion detection
	• Auto

Upper body detection

White balance

•Auto

•Natural light auto

POWERFUL, BRAND NEW AF SYSTEM

Advanced Scene Recognition System improved to further enhance AF performance

AF performance is enhanced even further by improvements in the Advanced Scene Recognition System, which works together with the D6’s dedicated AF and EXPEED 6 imageprocessing engines. Face and upper body information, defocus information and motion detection information improve the camera’s ability to maintain focus on laterally moving subjects in 3D-tracking and auto-area AF modes. In a first for optical viewfinder shooting*, the D6 also prioritizes focus point selection based on the positions of

the subject’s eyes. This makes it easier to keep the subject’s eye in focus for portrait opportunities.

* When autofocusing using AF sensor module.

				AF-area mode: Auto-area AF
				© Matthias Hangst
		Exposure control
		• Matrix metering			• i-TTL balanced fill-flash
		• Highlight-weighted metering
Face/Eye detection				Highlight analysis
				Light source		Active
				identification		D-Lighting
Image sensor	180K-pixel
	RGB sensor
				Distance/Defocus
Flicker detection
				information
Flicker reduction					Playback
					• Playback zoom of face

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POWERFUL, BRAND NEW AF SYSTEM

AF-area mode: Single-point AF © Clive Mason

“Wide” focus point option enables focusing as intended in sudden, unexpected situations

Photographers sometimes encounter situations where an opportunity arises so suddenly that it’s hard to capture the intended subject within the chosen focus points. The D6’s “wide” option expands the detection area for singlepoint AF and dynamic-area AF, making it easier to achieve focus on a subject even if it is slightly outside the focus point. This feature is particularly useful when assigned to one of the function buttons, allowing it to be accessed quickly as required.

Single-point AF (Normal)			Single-point AF (Wide)

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