Why you can trust TechRadar
Nikon Z6: verdict
Nikon certainly hasn't held back with the Z6, and any worries that it would miss the mark soon are dispelled as soon as you pick the camera up.
Offering polished handling, a robust build, excellent image quality from the 24.5MP sensor, a brilliant electronic viewfinder, and loads of nice little touches, the Nikon Z6 is an extremely nice camera to take pictures with.
The adoption of a new lens mount is a big move for Nikon, but if the two lenses we shot with are anything to go buy it's one that will pay dividends in terms of improved optical performance as the lens range grows, while the optional FTZ mount adapter ensures that you're not necessarily starting from scratch if you've already invested in a lot of Nikon glass.
The single XQD card slot is going to cause some division, while the buffer could be a little bit more capacious when you're shooting raw files, but these are only minor marks against a very impressive camera.
While the Z7 may have stolen the headlines when the two cameras launched, in many ways the Nikon Z6 is our pick of the pair. In fact, we'd go so far as to say it's the best all-round full-frame camera Nikon has made, and that's including DSLRs like the much-loved D750.
Until now we'd have had little hesitation in recommending Sony's Alpha A7 III if you were in the market for a well-specced full-frame camera at around the $2,000 / £2,000 price point – but the Nikon Z6 is in many ways the more compelling option.
Nikon Z6: competition
Sony Alpha A7 III
The camera the Nikon Z6 will be compared to the most is the Alpha A7 III. Sony's brilliant full-frame all-rounder features a excellent 24.2MP sensor, an advanced 693-point AF system and 10fps burst shooting. It's certainly set the benchmark, but for us the Z6 just edges it.
Read our in-depth Sony Alpha A7 III
Canon EOS R
Canon's first full-frame mirrorless camera gets a lot of things right, including a great 30.4MP sensor, excellent touchscreen and advanced AF system, but it's not much smaller than its DSLR siblings, while the price premium over its rivals is hard to justify.
Read our in-depth Canon EOS R review
Nikon Z7
Like the sound of the Z6 but want more pixels? Then the 45MP Z7 fits the brief. Virtually identical to the Z6 in terms of design and features, this is a great camera if you want to produce even larger prints.
Read our in-depth Nikon Z7 review
Phil Hall is an experienced writer and editor having worked on some of the largest photography magazines in the UK, and now edit the photography channel of TechRadar, the UK's biggest tech website and one of the largest in the world. He has also worked on numerous commercial projects, including working with manufacturers like Nikon and Fujifilm on bespoke printed and online camera guides, as well as writing technique blogs and copy for the John Lewis Technology guide.