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Nikon

Df

Retro-styled full-frame DSLR with 16MP sensor, classic dials, and F-mount compatibility.

$2,749

Launch price

Released Nov 2013

vs
Z6 III

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 10.6 years newer.

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Wins

3categories

Df

Sports & ActionWildlife

Wins

11categories

Z6 III

Sports & ActionPortrait

3 categories tied

Which would you choose?

TL;DR — Key differences

Df wins 0 categories·Z6 III wins 5 categories
  • BZ6 III has higher IBIS effectiveness (8 stops vs 0 stops)
  • BZ6 III has higher RAW buffer depth (1000 frames vs 60 frames)
  • BZ6 III has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 15 fps)
  • BZ6 III has higher Burst (mechanical) (20 fps vs 6 fps)
  • BZ6 III has higher ISO max (native) (64,000 vs 25,600)

Key specs at a glance

DfZ6 III
Resolution16.2 MP24.5 MP
SensorFull FrameFull Frame
ISO max25,60064,000
Burst15 fps120 fps
4K60 fps120 fps
IBISNo8-stop
Weight710 g760 g
Battery640 shots360 shots

Size and weight, to scale

Df

144 × 110 × 67 mm

710 g (1.57 lb / 25.04 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 front view

Z6 III

139 × 102 × 74 mm

760 g (1.68 lb / 26.81 oz)

Df is 7mm thinner than Z6 III but it is also 6mm wider and 9mm taller.

Df is 50 g lighter than Z6 III.

Depth (front-to-back): 67mm Df · 74mm Z6 III

Back view, to scale

Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.

Df

144 × 110 mm

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

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

Z6 III back view

Z6 III

139 × 102 mm

Top view, to scale

Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.

Df

144 × 67 mm

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

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

Z6 III top view

Z6 III

139 × 74 mm

Sensor size, to scale

Df

36 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame

860 mm² area

Z6 III

35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame

858 mm² area

Lens ecosystem

Native lens selection

Df

✓ 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 caseDfZ6 III
Portrait
5.5Fair
7.5Good✓ wins
Sports & Action
8.0Excellent
10.0Excellent✓ wins
Video & Hybrid
5.0Fair
6.5Good✓ wins
Landscape
4.5Fair
7.0Good✓ wins
Travel
5.5Fair
5.5Fair
Wildlife
8.0Excellent✓ wins
6.5Good
Vlogging
4.0Fair
5.5Fair✓ wins

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose

Df

  • Subject recognition

    Adds Human, Animal, Bird…

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 144, 110, 67

  • Card types

    Adds SD UHS-II

  • Battery life (CIPA)

    640 shots vs 360 shots — higher is better

  • AF points / zones

    493 vs 299 — higher is better

  • Weight

    710 g vs 760 g — lower 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…

  • IBIS effectiveness

    8 stops vs 0 stops — higher is better

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 138.5, 101.5, 74

  • Card types

    Adds CFexpress Type B, XQD, SD…

  • RAW buffer depth

    1000 frames vs 60 frames — higher is better

  • Burst (electronic)

    120 fps vs 15 fps — higher is better

  • Burst (mechanical)

    20 fps vs 6 fps — higher is better

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
  • Weather sealingBoth support weather sealing
  • Card slotsBoth 2

Pros & cons at a glance

Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.

Df

Pros

  • Beautiful retro design
  • Classic F-mount lenses
  • 16MP low-light files
  • Compact for FF DSLR

Cons

  • Discontinued
  • 16MP resolution
  • Slow AF by modern standards

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 Df and Z6 III at major authorized retailers.

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Full specifications

= category winner

Df
Z6 III
Resolution
16.2 MP
24.5 MP+51%
Sensor type
Full Frame CMOS
Partially Stacked CMOS
Sensor size
36.0 × 23.9 mm
35.9 x 23.9 mm
AA filter
No
Yes
Df
Z6 III
Processor
EXPEED 7
EXPEED 7
Df
Z6 III
ISO min (native)
100
100
ISO max (native)
25,600
64,000+1.3 stops
ISO max (expanded)
102,400
204,800
Df
Z6 III
Shutter type
Mechanical + Electronic
Mechanical Focal Plane Shutter and Electronic Rolling Shutter
Max mechanical speed
1/8000 sec
1/8000
Max electronic speed
1/16000 sec
1/16000

Frequently asked

Quick answers generated from verified specs.

Which is better for landscape, Df or Z6 III?

Z6 III scores 7.0/10 versus 4.5/10 for Df — Full-frame sensor — wider dynamic range.

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

Df is 16.2 MP and Z6 III is 24.5 MP, so the Z6 III captures more detail for cropping and large prints.

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

Df does not have IBIS, while Z6 III has 8-stop in-body image stabilization.

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

Df reaches 15 fps electronic. Z6 III reaches 120 fps electronic.

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

Df weighs 710 g and Z6 III weighs 760 g, so the Df is 50 g lighter.

Do the Df and Z6 III record 4K video?

Df: 4K up to 60p. Z6 III: 4K up to 120p.

Are the Df and Z6 III weather sealed?

Df: Yes. Z6 III: Yes.

Which has better battery life?

Rated battery life is 640 shots (CIPA) for the Df and 360 shots for the Z6 III, giving the Df the edge.

How much does each cost?

Df launched at $2,749 and Z6 III at $2,499. The Z6 III is $250 less.

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

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

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

Product images courtesy of Nikon press materials.