Nikon Just Gave Its Six Year Old DSLRs Another Firmware Update

Nikon’s D6 and D780 may be older DSLRs in a mirrorless dominated market, but the cameras are not completely forgotten. Nikon has released new firmware updates for both models, addressing exposure related problems that could affect photographs in specific shooting situations.

The updates were first reported by Nikon Rumors, which noted the new firmware for the two DSLRs. 

Nikon introduced the D780 in January 2020, with the camera going on sale on January 24, while the D6 followed later that year, launching in June.

That makes these cameras roughly six and a half years old, a notable amount of time in a camera market that has since shifted heavily toward mirrorless systems. Yet Nikon is still addressing issues that can affect how these older DSLRs capture images

Nikon D6 Gets Two Exposure Fixes

The D6 update addresses two issues involving exposure and shooting settings.

One fix concerns photographs taken with a D type lens attached. Under certain circumstances, images could be underexposed.

The second issue involves recalling shooting functions. Nikon says recalling those settings could sometimes limit the shutter speed to 1/250 second when Auto FP high speed sync was being used.

Neither change adds a new shooting feature. Instead, the update focuses on correcting behavior that could affect exposure during specific combinations of settings and equipment.

That is fairly typical for firmware released later in a camera’s life. Rather than introducing major new functions, manufacturers can use these updates to address problems discovered through continued use.

D780 Fix Targets Burst Shooting

The D780 receives a separate exposure related correction.

According to the report, photographs could sometimes be underexposed when the zoom was adjusted during burst photography while the camera was operating in high speed continuous release mode.

For photographers using the D780 for fast moving subjects, the issue could be particularly inconvenient because burst shooting is intended to capture a sequence of moments quickly. An exposure problem appearing during that sequence could leave some frames less useful than expected.

The update addresses that specific behavior rather than changing the D780’s overall shooting capabilities.

The D6 and D780 Have Not Seen Frequent Firmware Updates

The long gap between firmware releases is perhaps the more interesting part of this announcement.

The D6 received firmware version 1.60 in April 2024, before version 1.70 arrived in August 2025. The D780’s firmware history is similarly sparse.

That makes the reported updates notable for owners who continue to use these DSLRs, even though neither camera is part of Nikon’s current push toward its Z series.

The D6 was Nikon’s flagship professional DSLR, while the D780 combined DSLR handling with features borrowed from the company’s mirrorless technology. Both arrived as Nikon was increasingly shifting its attention toward Z mount cameras.

Still Worth Checking Your Camera

Firmware updates can be easy to ignore, particularly when a camera has been working normally for years. But fixes involving exposure can matter, especially for photographers who rely on their cameras for professional assignments.

Owners should check the firmware version installed on their camera and compare it with Nikon’s official support information before updating. Nikon’s Download Center remains the appropriate source for the firmware files and installation instructions.

For D6 and D780 owners, this latest round of fixes is a reminder that even cameras that have been sitting quietly in Nikon’s DSLR lineup can still receive attention when problems surface.

If you are still shooting with one of these DSLRs, it may be worth checking the firmware menu before your next assignment.

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