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Nikon

D810

36MP full-frame DSLR workhorse prized for landscape, studio, and commercial stills.

$3,299

Launch price

Released Jun 2014

vs

Nikon

Z6 III

First partially stacked full-frame sensor with 6K N-RAW internal video.

$2,499

Launch price

Released Jun 2024

Z6 III is 10 years newer.

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Wins

3categories

D810

WildlifePortrait

Wins

10categories

Z6 III

Sports & ActionVideo & Hybrid

3 categories tied

Which would you choose?

TL;DR — Key differences

D810 wins 1 categories·Z6 III wins 4 categories
  • BZ6 III has higher RAW buffer depth (1000 frames vs 120 frames)
  • BZ6 III has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 20 fps)
  • BZ6 III has higher ISO max (native) (64,000 vs 25,600)
  • BZ6 III has higher 4K max frame rate (120 fps vs 60 fps)
  • AD810 has higher AF points / zones (493 vs 273)

Key specs at a glance

D810Z6 III
Resolution36.3 MP24.5 MP
SensorFull FrameFull Frame
ISO max25,60064,000
Burst20 fps120 fps
4K60 fps120 fps
IBIS7-stop8-stop
Weight980 g760 g
Battery640 shots380 shots

Size and weight, to scale

D810

146 × 123 × 82 mm

980 g (2.16 lb / 34.57 oz)

Credit card shown to scale as a size reference (ISO 7810, 85.6 × 54 mm)

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

for scale

Z6 III

139 × 102 × 74 mm

760 g (1.68 lb / 26.81 oz)

D810 is 8mm wider, 22mm taller, and 8mm thicker than Z6 III.

D810 is 220 g heavier than Z6 III.

Depth (front-to-back): 82mm D810 · 74mm Z6 III

Sensor size, to scale

D810

35.9 × 24 mm · Full Frame

862 mm² area

Z6 III

35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame

858 mm² area

Lens ecosystem

Native lens selection

D810

✓ more lenses

Nikon F

270+

native lenses available

90 first-party180 third-party

Z6 III

Nikon Z

90+

native lenses available

40 first-party50 third-party

Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.

Use-case scoring

Which one for what?

Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class

Use caseD810Z6 III
Portrait
8.0Excellent✓ wins
7.5Good
Sports & Action
8.0Excellent
10.0Excellent✓ wins
Video & Hybrid
6.0Good
9.0Excellent✓ wins
Landscape
7.5Good✓ wins
7.0Good
Travel
6.5Good✓ wins
5.5Fair
Wildlife
9.0Excellent✓ wins
6.5Good
Vlogging
5.5Fair
5.5Fair

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose

D810

  • Subject recognition

    Adds Human, Animal, Bird…

  • Codecs

    Adds H.265, H.264

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 146, 123, 82

  • AF points / zones

    493 vs 273 — higher is better

  • Battery life (CIPA)

    640 shots vs 380 shots — higher is better

  • Resolution

    36.3 MP vs 24.5 MP — higher is better

Reasons to choose

Z6 III

  • AF low-light limit

    -10 EV vs -8.5 EV — lower is better

  • Subject recognition

    Adds People, Birds, Dogs…

  • Codecs

    Adds N-RAW, ProRes RAW HQ, H.265/HEVC…

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 138.5, 101.5, 74

  • RAW buffer depth

    1000 frames vs 120 frames — higher is better

  • Burst (electronic)

    120 fps vs 20 fps — higher is better

  • ISO max (native)

    64,000 vs 25,600 — higher is better

  • AA filter

    Only Z6 III supports it

Both cameras share

  • ISO min (native)Both 100
  • Eye AFBoth support eye af
  • Animal / bird AFBoth support animal / bird af
  • Pre-Capture / Pre-ReleaseBoth support pre-capture / pre-release
  • In-body stabilization (IBIS)Both support in-body stabilization (ibis)
  • Weather sealingBoth support weather sealing

Pros & cons at a glance

Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.

D810

Pros

  • 36MP no OPLF
  • Excellent dynamic range
  • Pro F-mount ecosystem

Cons

  • Superseded by D850
  • Slow live view AF
  • Heavy

Z6 III

Pros

  • Partially stacked CMOS reduces rolling shutter
  • 6K N-RAW 60p internal — true filmmaking capability
  • 5.76M dot EVF — best-in-class resolution
  • 14fps mechanical burst

Cons

  • EN-EL15c battery life only 380 CIPA shots
  • Smaller lens ecosystem vs. Canon RF

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the D810 and Z6 III at major authorized retailers.

Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Cameraegg earns from qualifying purchases. Cameraegg may also earn commission from B&H links, at no extra cost to you.

Full specifications

= category winner

D810
Z6 III
Resolution
36.3 MP+48%
24.5 MP
Sensor type
Full Frame CMOS
Full Frame Partially Stacked CMOS
Sensor size
35.9 × 24.0 mm
35.9 × 23.9 mm
AA filter
No
Yes
D810
Z6 III
Processor
EXPEED 7
EXPEED 7
D810
Z6 III
ISO min (native)
100
100
ISO max (native)
25,600
64,000+1.3 stops
ISO max (expanded)
102,400
204,800
D810
Z6 III
Shutter type
Mechanical + Electronic
Mechanical + Electronic
Max mechanical speed
1/8000 sec
1/8000 sec
Max electronic speed
1/16000 sec
1/16000 sec

Frequently asked

Quick answers generated from verified specs.

Which is better for video, D810 or Z6 III?

Z6 III scores 9.0/10 versus 6.0/10 for D810 — 6K video for oversampled 4K.

What's the resolution difference between the D810 and Z6 III?

D810 is 36.3 MP and Z6 III is 24.5 MP, so the D810 captures more detail for cropping and large prints.

Do the D810 and Z6 III have in-body image stabilization?

D810 has 7-stop in-body image stabilization, while Z6 III has 8-stop in-body image stabilization.

Which shoots faster bursts — the D810 or the Z6 III?

D810 reaches 20 fps electronic. Z6 III reaches 120 fps electronic.

What's the weight difference between the D810 and Z6 III?

D810 weighs 980 g and Z6 III weighs 760 g, so the Z6 III is 220 g lighter.

Do the D810 and Z6 III record 4K video?

D810: 4K up to 60p. Z6 III: 6K RAW (max), 4K up to 120p.

Are the D810 and Z6 III weather sealed?

D810: Yes. Z6 III: Yes.

Which has better battery life?

Rated battery life is 640 shots (CIPA) for the D810 and 380 shots for the Z6 III, giving the D810 the edge.

How much does each cost?

D810 launched at $3,299 and Z6 III at $2,499. The Z6 III is $800 less.

Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.

Add any camera to get a three-way D810 vs Z6 III vs X comparison.

Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed June 2026.