photo: © Jered & Ashley Gruber - Nikon Z9
The Nikon Z9 is built for photographers who do not want to miss a moment. With a 45.7-megapixel stacked sensor, fast 3D tracking, 8K video, and a rugged body, Nikon designed it for professional work ranging from sports, wildlife, and photojournalism to fashion and filmmaking.
Professional Speed and Image Quality
The mirrorless camera features a new 45.7 MP stacked full-frame CMOS sensor and EXPEED 7 processor, an advanced autofocus system with 3D tracking, extensive video capabilities, an electronic viewfinder, shooting speeds of up to 120 fps with full autofocus and metering, and more.
The camera is also well suited to professional wildlife and sports photographers and photojournalists who need not only an exceptional EVF, autofocus, and easy operation, but also durability that surpasses even that of the D6.
The Nikon Z9 is also an excellent choice for professional fashion and commercial photographers who need to create high-resolution photos and videos that fully express their creativity.
Autofocus with 3D Tracking
The 493-point AF system includes 405 points for auto-area AF, five times as many as the Z 7II. Ten AF-area modes let users optimize the autofocus settings for each assignment.
Deep-learning AI enables simultaneous detection of up to nine different types of subjects. It works together with 3D tracking—a first for Nikon mirrorless cameras—so the camera recognizes what is being photographed and responds immediately to changes in the subject’s position, direction, or speed.
8K Video, Too
Filmmakers can record full-frame 8K video from 24p to 60p, 4K video from 24p to 120p, and time-lapse footage. At 30p, the Z9 can record approximately 125 minutes of 8K video in a single session, which was the longest recording time for a mirrorless camera.
It also supports the ProRes 422 HQ recording format, while a forthcoming firmware update was set to enable highly fluid 8K RAW recording at 60p. Full AF/AE and eye-detection AF are supported during video recording. Nikon’s new N-RAW format also helps keep file sizes manageable.
No More Mechanical Shutter
More than 1,000 full-resolution RAW images can be captured in a single burst at 20 fps. In the new C+ mode, the camera can also shoot at up to 120 fps at approximately 11 MP in normal-quality JPEG, with full AF/AE.
The high scan rate makes rolling-shutter distortion practically invisible, allowing the Z9 to dispense with a mechanical shutter. Shutter speeds as fast as 1/32,000 second are possible, while ISO 64 enables an unusually shallow depth of field in extremely bright conditions without overexposure.
Dual Stream technology keeps the viewfinder image continuously live, without lag or blackout, so photographers do not miss a moment. The Z9’s display provides an uninterrupted real-time view, allowing users to see subject movement or the smallest change in the frame immediately.
Controls in the Dark and Flexible Framing
Another Z9 first is its four-axis tilting monitor, which tilts vertically and horizontally so photographers can frame quickly and flexibly in any situation.
A new AF-mode button lets users switch between AF mode and AF-area mode while looking through the viewfinder. Sliding the power switch also illuminates the top and rear LCD control panels and the main buttons, making settings easy to change in the dark.
The Z9 in Practice
A notable later use of the Z9 was NASA’s image Artemis II in Eclipse. The photograph was taken from the capsule during a rare eclipse in which the sun passed behind the moon, showing that the Z9 is not limited to studio or sports photography.
At launch, the Nikon Z9 had a suggested retail price of €5,999. Current pricing and availability may differ.
