Building on the earlier suggestion, I see where you're coming from with the price concerns but I actually think it makes the current lineup even more attractive for us practical folks. I've been using the older gear and honestly it works well enough that I'm perfectly happy skipping the day one hype. If you want reliability right now instead of waiting for a body that might be overpriced:

• Nikon Z6 II 24.5MP Mirrorless Camera is still a total workhorse and the price is great lately.
• Nikon Z5 Mirrorless Digital Camera is honestly enough for most beginners and stays super cool during long shoots.
• Nikon Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR Lens gives you a solid all-in-one setup that wont quit on you. No complaints from me on the older tech... it just works and stays within budget.

> So when is the release date ? @Reply #2 - basically what everyone is wondering right now! In my experience with Nikon launches over the years, they usually follow a pretty set pattern once the rumors hit this level of intensity. If June 11th is the official announcement, you are usually looking at a 3 to 4 week gap before shipping starts, so probably early July. I have tried many systems and Nikon's color science usually keeps me coming back, but if you are looking for something available right now, the Sony Alpha 7 IV 33MP Mirrorless is the obvious rival. Its autofocus is legendary, tho some people find the menus a bit clunky compared to Nikon. Another solid shout is the Canon EOS R6 Mark II, which handles high ISO stuff beautifully and has great ergonomics. Nikon really needs this Z6 III to be a home run to compete with those two, especially if they include the sensor tech from the higher-end models. Honestly, if you can wait another month, it might be worth seeing the final specs. If you have any specific questions about how the Z series glass compares to E-mount or RF, let me know, happy to chat more about it.

Any updates on this?

Building on the earlier suggestion that we are probably looking at July for shipping, i am honestly just feeling a bit let down by the whole thing. the constant delays and those rumored price tags are making me think nikon is losing the plot a bit for us enthusiasts who dont have pro budgets. we have basically spent this whole thread debating if its worth the wait or if we should just grab a z6 ii and call it a day. having owned the original z6 since launch, i really wanted this to be a slam dunk but it feels like it might be overpriced for what it is. here are two quick tips if you are still planning to buy:

• grab a SanDisk Professional 128GB PRO-CINEMATIC CFexpress Type B early because those card prices fluctuate like crazy
• invest in a Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S Lens instead of the kit lens if you want to actually see the sensor improvements ngl i just want them to announce it already so i can stop refreshing these rumor sites every hour...

Hope this is the correct announcement date, I have waiting for over several months.

Re: "So when is the release date ?" - honestly nobody knows for sure until Nikon officially confirms it, but shipping usually starts a few weeks after the announcement. tbh i was really hyped for this but the rumors about the price tag are kind of disappointing me already. as someone trying to be smart with my money, i dont have thousands to drop on just a body, especially if the specs are way more than i actually need for everyday shots. i actually gave up waiting last month and found a solid deal on a Nikon Z6 II Body instead. it might not be the newest shiny thing but it still takes amazing photos and saved me a ton of cash. i ended up using those savings to get a Nikon Z 40mm f/2 and its been such a great combo for travel. if you really need a camera now, maybe look at the current models? the wait for the new one is just gonna keep dragging on and even when it drops, itll probably be on backorder for months.

So when is the release date ?