From hard news to international sports, the D6 answers the demands of professionals who need the ultimate combination of speed and accuracy. With Nikon’s most powerful AF system yet and fast, real-time image transfer, this full-frame DSLR will deliver incredible shots of defining moments. Without fail.
All that experience and planning—it all comes together when the camera you’re using can respond to any eventuality. Withstand any extreme. With its new AF engine, EXPEED 6 processing, tough body, and fast in-camera connections, this DSLR lets you deliver flawless images from anywhere. You can’t control the action, the lighting, or the environment. But you can control the D6.
Tenacious focusing performance
How do you cover it all? A dedicated AF engine that’s faster than ever before. An arrangement of 105 all-selectable cross-type sensors with 1.6x higher density coverage than the D5. Group-Area AF with more custom settings for unparalleled tracking. An improved scene recognition system for next-level subject acquisition. The D6 gives you more ways to anticipate and catch the action than ever before.
Nail the winning shot
An increased range of selectable Group-Area AF patterns let you optimize your AF setup for any job. Avoid fixed obstacles, such as tennis nets, in your line of sight and nail more clean shots of the action.
Prioritise the eyes
The D6 is the first DSLR to let you prioritise focusing on your subject’s eyes when using Auto-Area AF or 3D tracking. Combined with the broader, high-density coverage, you’ll catch that look of determination.
Anticipate the action
With the D6, you can define the focus starting point when shooting in Auto-Area AF. Information from all 105 focus points is used to acquire and track your subject: you’re free to concentrate on the framing.
Excel in any light
Tracking is phenomenally precise, even under the toughest lighting conditions imaginable. AF sensitivity down to -4.5 EV at the central focus point, and -4 EV at all other points, lets you follow the action into the night.
Type | Single-lens reflex digital camera |
|---|---|
Lens mount | Nikon F mount (with AF coupling and AF contacts) |
Image sensor | FX, CMOS, 35.9 mm x 23.9 mm |
Total pixels | 21.33 million |
Dust-reduction system | Image sensor cleaning, Image Dust Off reference data (Capture NX-D software required) |
Effective pixels | 20.8 million |
Image size (pixels) | [FX (36 x 24)] selected for image area: (L)5568 x 3712 (20.7 million), (M)4176 x 2784 (11.6 million), (S)2784 x 1856 (5.2 million), [1.2 x (30 x 20)] selected for image area: (L)4640 x 3088 (14.3 million), (M)3472 x 2312 (8.0 million), (S)2320 x 1544 (3.6 million), [DX (24 x 16)] selected for image area: (L)3648 x 2432 (8.9 million), (M)2736 x 1824 (5.0 million), (S)1824 x 1216 (2.2 million), [5:4 (30 x 24)] selected for image area: (L)4640 x 3712 (17.2 million), (M)3472 x 2784 (9.7 million), (S)2320 x 1856 (4.3 million), [1:1 (24 x 24)] selected for image area: (L)3712 x 3712 (13.8 million), (M)2784 x 2784 (7.8 million), (S)1856 x 1856 (3.4 million), [16:9 (36 x 20)] selected for image area: (L)5568 x 3128 (17.4 million), (M)4176 x 2344 (9.8 million), (S)2784 x 1560 (4.3 million), Photographs taken while filming movies at a frame size of 3840 x 2160: 3840 x 2160, Photographs taken while filming movies at a frame size of 1920 x 1080: 1920 x 1080, Photographs taken while filming movies at a frame size of 1280 x 720: 1280 x 720 |
Storage file formats | NEF (RAW): 12 or 14 bit (lossless compressed, compressed, or uncompressed); large, medium, and small available (medium and small images are recorded at a bit depth of 12 bits using lossless compression), JPEG: JPEG-Baseline compliant with fine (approx. 1:4), normal (approx. 1:8), or basic (approx. 1:16) compression; size-priority and optimal-quality compression available, NEF (RAW)+JPEG: Single photograph recorded in both NEF (RAW) and JPEG formats |
Picture Control System | Auto, Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait, Landscape, Flat, Creative Picture Controls (Dream, Morning, Pop, Sunday, Somber, Dramatic, Silence, Bleached, Melancholic, Pure, Denim, Toy, Sepia, Blue, Red, Pink, Charcoal, Graphite, Binary, Carbon); selected Picture Control can be modified; storage for custom Picture Controls |
Storage media | CFexpress (Type B) and XQD memory cards |
Dual card slot | 2 CFexpress (Type B) cards or 2 XQD cards, The card in Slot 2 can be used for overflow or backup storage, for separate storage of NEF (RAW) and JPEG copies of photos taken at image quality settings of NEF (RAW) + JPEG, or to store separate copies of JPEG photos at different sizes and compression ratios; pictures can be copied between cards |
File system | DCF 2.0, Exif 2.31 |
Viewfinder | Eye-level pentaprism single-lens reflex viewfinder |
Frame coverage | FX: Approx. 100% horizontal and 100% vertical, 1.2x: Approx. 97% horizontal and 97% vertical, DX: Approx. 97% horizontal and 97% vertical, 5:4: Approx. 97% horizontal and 100% vertical, 1:1: Approx. 95% horizontal and 100% vertical, 16:9: Approx. 100% horizontal and 96% vertical |
Magnification | Approx. 0.72x (50 mm f/1.4 lens at infinity, -1.0 m-¹) |
Eyepoint | 17 mm (-1.0 m-¹; from center surface of viewfinder eyepiece lens) |
Diopter adjustment | -3 to +1 m-¹ |
Focusing screen | Type B BriteView Clear Matte Mark X screen (with AF-area brackets; framing grid can be displayed) |
Reflex mirror | Quick return |
Depth-of-field preview | Yes, Pressing Pv button stops lens aperture down to value selected by user (A and M modes) or by camera (P and S modes) |
Lens aperture | Instant return, electronically controlled |
Compatible lenses | Types G, E, and D (some restrictions apply to PC lenses), Other AF NIKKOR lenses (excluding IX NIKKOR lenses and lenses for the F3AF), AI-P NIKKOR lenses DX lenses (using [DX (24 x 16)] image area), Non-CPU AI lenses (modes A and M only). During viewfinder photography, the electronic rangefinder can be used with lenses that have a maximum aperture of f/5.6 or faster. With lenses that have a maximum aperture of f/8 or faster, the electronic rangefinder supports 15 focus points. |
Shutter type | Electronically-controlled vertical-travel focal-plane mechanical shutter; electronic front-curtain shutter; electronic shutter |
Shutter speed | 1/8000 to 30 s (choose from step sizes of 1/3, 1/2, and 1 EV, extendable to 900 s in mode M); Bulb; Time; X250 |
Flash sync speed | X = 1/250 s; synchronizes with shutter at 1/250 s or slower Auto FP high-speed sync supported |
Release mode | S (single frame), CL (continuous low speed), CH (continuous high speed), Q (quiet shutter-release), Self-timer, MUP (mirror up) |
Frame advance rate | Up to 14 fps, CL: 1 to 10 fps, CH: 10 to 14 fps, Q: 1 to 5 fps |
Self-timer | 2 s, 5 s, 10 s, 20 s; 1 to 9 exposures at intervals of 0.5, 1, 2, or 3 s |
Exposure metering | Viewfinder photography: TTL exposure metering using RGB sensor with approximately 180K (180,000) pixels, Live view: TTL exposure metering performed by image sensor |
Metering method | Matrix: 3D color matrix metering III (type G, E, and D lenses); color matrix metering III (other CPU lenses); color matrix metering available with non-CPU lenses if user provides lens data Center-weighted: Weight of 75% given to 12 mm circle in center of frame; diameter of circle can be changed to 8, 15, or 20 mm, or weighting can be based on average of entire frame (non-CPU and AF-S Fisheye NIKKOR 8–15mm f/3.5– 4.5E ED lenses use 12-mm circle) Spot: Meters circle approximately 4 mm in diameter (about 1.5% of frame) centered on selected focus point (on center focus point when non-CPU or AF-S Fisheye NIKKOR 8–15mm f/3.5–4.5E ED lens is used) Highlight-weighted: Available with type G, E, and D lenses |
Metering range (ISO 100, f/1.4 lens, 20 °C/68 °F) | Matrix or center-weighted metering: -3 to +20 EV, Spot metering: 2 to 20 EV, Highlight-weighted metering: 0 to 20 EV |
Exposure meter coupling | CPU, AI |
Mode | P (programmed auto with flexible program); S (shutter-priority auto); A (aperture-priority auto); M (manual) |
Exposure compensation | –5 to +5EV; -3 to +3 EV when filming movies (choose from step sizes of 1/3, 1/2, and 1 EV) |
Exposure lock | Luminosity locked at detected value |
ISO sensitivity | ISO 100 to 102400 (choose from step sizes of 1/3, 1/2, and 1 EV); can also be set to approx. 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, or 1 EV (ISO 50 equivalent) below ISO 100 or to approx. 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 EV (ISO 3280000 equivalent) above ISO 102400; auto ISO sensitivity control available |
Active D-Lighting | Can be selected from Auto, Extra high +2, Extra high +1, High, Normal, Low, and Off |
Autofocus | Viewfinder photography: TTL phase-detection; 105 focus points, all of which are cross-type sensors and 15 of which support f/8; detection performed by Multi-CAM 37K autofocus sensor module; autofocus fine-tuning supported Live view: Contrast-detect AF available at all points in frame; focus point selected by camera when face detection or subject-tracking is used |
Detection range | -4.5 to +20 EV (ISO 100, 20 °C/68 °F) |
Lens servo | Single-servo AF (AF-S), continuous-servo AF (AF-C; predictive focus tracking activated automatically according to subject status), full-time AF (AF-F; available only during live view and movie recording), Manual focus (M): Electronic rangefinder can be used |
Focus points | 105 focus points (number available for selection in viewfinder photography can be chosen from 105, 27, and 15) |
AF-area mode | Viewfinder photography: Single-point AF; 9-, 25-, 49-, or 105- point dynamic-area AF; 3D-tracking; group-area AF; group-area AF (C1); group-area AF (C2); auto-area AF, Live view: Face-detection AF, wide-area AF, normal-area AF, subject-tracking AF |
Focus lock | Focus can be locked by pressing shutter-release button halfway (single-servo AF/AF-S) or by pressing the center of the sub-selector |
Flash control | TTL flash control using RGB sensor with approximately 180K (180,000) pixels: i-TTL flash control; i-TTL balanced fill-flash for digital SLR is used with matrix, center-weighted, and highlight-weighted metering, standard i-TTL fill-flash for digital SLR with spot metering |
Flash modes | Front-curtain sync, red-eye reduction, slow sync, red-eye reduction with slow sync, rear-curtain sync, off |
Flash compensation | –3 to +1 EV (choose from step sizes of 1/3, 1/2 and 1 EV) |
Flash-ready indicator | Lights when optional flash unit is fully charged; flashes after flash is fired at full output |
Accessory shoe | ISO 518 hot-shoe with sync and data contacts and safety lock |
Nikon Creative Lighting System | i-TTL flash control, radio-controlled Advanced Wireless Lighting, optical Advanced Wireless Lighting, modeling illumination, FV lock, Color Information Communication, auto FP high-speed sync, AF-assist for multi-area AF (viewfinder photography), unified flash control |
Sync terminal | ISO 519 sync terminal with locking thread |
White balance | Auto (3 types), natural light auto, direct sunlight, cloudy, shade, incandescent, fluorescent (7 types), flash, choose color temperature (2500 K to 10,000 K), preset manual (up to 6 values can be stored, spot white balance measurement available during live view), all with fine-tuning |
White balance bracketing | Exposure and/or flash, white balance, and ADL |
Live View - Modes | Photo live view, Movie live view |
Movie - metering | TTL metering using camera image sensor |
Movie - metering method | Matrix, center-weighted, or highlight-weighted |
Movie - frame size (pixels) and frame rate | 3840 x 2160 (4K UHD); 30p (progressive), 25p, 24p, 1920 x 1080; 60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p, 1280 x 720: 60p, 50p, 1920 x 1080 crop: 60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p¹; Actual frame rates for 60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, and 24p are 59.94, 50, 29.97, 25, and 23.976 fps respectively |
Movie - file format | MOV, MP4 |
Movie - video compression | H.264/MPEG-4 Advanced Video Coding |
Movie - audio recording format | Linear PCM (for movies recorded in MOV format), AAC (for movies recorded in MP4 format) |
Movie - audio recording device | Built-in stereo or external microphone with attenuator option; sensitivity adjustable |
Movie - ISO sensitivity | Mode M: Manual selection (ISO 100 to 102400; choose from step sizes of 1/3, 1/2, and 1 EV) with additional options available equivalent to approximately 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 EV (ISO 3280000 equivalent) above ISO 102400; auto ISO sensitivity control (ISO 100 to Hi 5) available with selectable upper limit, Modes P, S, and A: Auto ISO sensitivity control (ISO 100 to Hi 5) with selectable upper limit |
Movie - Active D-Lighting | Can be selected from Extra high, High, Normal, Low, and Off |
Movie - Other options | Time-lapse movie recording, electronic vibration reduction, time codes |
Monitor | 8-cm (3.2–in.), Approx. 2359k-dot (XGA), TFT touch-sensitive LCD with 170 ° viewing angle, approximately 100% frame coverage, 11-level manual brightness adjustment, and color balance control |
Playback | Full-frame and thumbnail (4, 9, or 72 images) playback with playback zoom, playback zoom cropping, movie playback, photo and/or movie slide shows, histogram display, highlights, photo information, location data display, picture rating, auto image rotation, index marking, voice memo input and playback, and IPTC information embedding and display |
USB | Type C USB connector (SuperSpeed USB); connection to built-in USB port is recommended |
HDMI output | Type C HDMI connector |
Audio input | Stereo mini-pin jack (3.5 mm diameter; plug-in power supported) |
Audio output | Stereo mini-pin jack (3.5 mm diameter) |
Ethernet | RJ-45 connector Standards: IEEE 802.3ab (1000BASE-T)/IEEE 802.3u (100BASE-TX)/IEEE 802.3 (10BASE-T), Data rates²: 10/100/1000 Mbps with auto detect, Port: 1000BASE-T/100BASE-TX/10BASE-T (AUTOMDIX) |
Peripheral connector | For WT-6 |
Wi-Fi (Wireless LAN) standards | IEEE 802.11b/g/n/a/ac, 2412 to 2462 MHz (channel 11) and 5180 to 5320 MHz, 2.4 GHz band: 6.8 dBm 5 GHz band: 9.3 dBm, Open system, WPA2-PSK |
Bluetooth standards | Bluetooth Specification Version 4.2, Bluetooth: 2402 to 2480 MHz, Bluetooth Low Energy: 2402 to 2480 MHz, Bluetooth: 1.3 dBm, Bluetooth Low Energy: -0.2 dB, Range (line of sight): Approximately 10 m (32 ft)³ |
Battery | One EN-EL18c rechargeable Li-ion battery⁴ |
AC adapter | EH-6c AC adapter; requires EP-6 power connector (available separately) |
Tripod socket | 1/4–in. (ISO 1222) |
Dimensions (W x H x D) | Approx. 160 x 163 x 92 mm (6.3 x 6.5 x 3.7 in.) |
Weight | Approx. 1450g (3 lb. 3.2 oz.), with battery and two CFexpress memory cards but without body cap and accessory shoe cover; approx. 1270 g/2 lb. 12.8 oz. (camera body only) |
Operating environment - temperature | 0 °C to 40 °C (+32 °F to 104 °F) |
Operating environment - humidity | 85% or less (no condensation) |
Supplied accessories | BF-1B Body Cap, BS-3 Accessory Shoe Cover, EN-EL18c Rechargeable Li-ion Battery with Terminal Cover, MH-26a Battery Charger with Power Cable and Two Contact Protectors (shape of power cable depends on country or region of sale), HDMI/USB Cable Clip, UC-E24 USB Cable, AN-DC22 Strap |
