Z 9

As a full time working pro coming off of a D6, I had been very hesitant to finally make the switch to mirrorless largely due to the pared down size, ergonomics, smaller battery, etc. I received my Z9 a couple of weeks ago and I absolutely couldn't be happier - truly blown away by this camera. It's a huge upgrade in every regard and the Z lenses are stellar as well. I love the additional programmable rings - they help my work flow in intense situations where timing is critical, allowing me to make quick exposure adjustments without taking my eye off the subject. All in all I'm stoked that I finally took the dive on mirrorless, where Nikon is now clearly leading the industry.-Ian Collins

Today I want to talk about the Z9. So as most of you know I am one of those who are lucky enough to get two Z9's on December 23rd. Since then I have been putting this body to the test, from tracking a very fast bird like the kingfisher to the slowest animal like the Nutria. One of the things I noticed during the first week while using the Z9 is that while tracking small subjects in a dark shadow area, your exposure has to be on point, otherwise the Z9 will drop focus. Second, if you are tracking a small and fast object, it is best to use AF- Wide- Small and Enable 3d Animal tracking (please do not use auto-tracking mode, this will confuse the camera therefore acquiring focus will be slower). Just like any other camera system, the Z9 is not yet complete nor perfected. Especially if you're only using 3D tracking, thinking you will nail the shot by just pointing your lens in the direction of the subject and the Z9 will do the rest. Well, I'm sorry to tell you, that is not going to happen. The Z9 has improved amazingly compared to its previous models, but that doesn't mean you can rely solely on it to do all the work for you. Besides, where is the fun in that? If an "amazing picture" is all you care about, then maybe the Z9 is not meant for you. I have used Nikon for over 10 years and have tried many other systems including A1 and R5. Every system has had its pros and cons, nothing is really perfect. That being said, you need to pick the system that is your best fit. For me, the Z9 is my perfect fit. It is like the D6 and D850 combined-on steroids. I was shooting fine without the 3D tracking feature before and I was able to get great shots, so don't let that steer you away from experiencing this amazing machine. But please understand your gear; learning and owning it instead of depending on it. Recently, I have taken this Z9 up North to chase after the famous Great Gray Owl, just to see how the camera handles -20 degrees with 30 mph wind environments. Needless to say, the camera held up well, but I was the one unable to handle extreme temperatures. Even with the new battery EN - EL 18D, the constant tracking and brutal weather made it difficult to last through the day. With that in mind, I was still able to get 1,300 shots out of it. Some helpful tips: try not to review your photos too much and make sure to turn on airplane mode.Z9 with FTZ ii Nikon 600f4 FL with 1.4 T.C ver3

Lived up to all the hype. Sill learning how to use, but off the top, af is better than expected, color is right on. I'm using prograde 128, burst 131 before slowing. Low light was incredible.Had it for 2 days, still learning. The feel of the this camera is flawless and comfortable.

Absolutely a magical camera! I can't wait to take my photography to the next level! Thank you Nikon.

Good, solid build. Feels natural in the hands. Image quality is very good, seems to work flawlessly with previous F Mount lenses and the FTZ adapter. Image quality with Z Mount lens is very pleasing as well. Many features and ability to customize to my needs.

I absolutely love this camera. After having used the Z7 primarily for the last three years, the weight was very obvious. But I quickly got used to it and now my D4S and Z7 are taking a back seat while I exclusively use the Z9.The AF performance is stellar and the viewfinder is amazing. The extra buttons and particularly the programmable buttons allow me to personalize the experience even further.I will add a 2nd Z9 to my arsenal after non-NPS members also get a chance to experience the camera.

Amazing. So much more in this camera. I had been shooting with a Z7, but this is a huge step upwards. Fantastic autofocus and speed. No blackout at all when you take a picture. 20+ fps. And so much more. Very configurable. A smaller file size RAW option that it says is the same quality as the larger size. This takes the file size from 50+MB to just over 30MB which should make things in Photoshop and Lightroom move a little faster. I loved the 47MP sensor on the Z7 but the large file size slowed the workflow, I hope this helps. I have only had it in my hands for a couple of weeks and haven't found anything I don't like. I haven't yet shot in 8K video so I can't comment on that. The only thing I haven't figured out is how to get spot metering onto a button. You can put metering on a button and then change to spot, but I like to just point and push to get a reading in different parts of a dynamic light scene. I'll keep looking. Lots of configurable buttons, and I was happy they gave autofocus selection a dedicated button as I use that all the time also. So much to say, but I will go back to the first word - amazing.

Phenomenal pro mirrorless flagship camera. The blackout-free EVF is ground-breaking for fast-moving subjects, and it is extremely sharp and configurable, such as 50%, 100% or 200% zoom at the touch of a function button. As a wildlife photographer, the silent operation means the behavior of my subjects is not changed by the intrusion of the sound of a mechanical shutter. Low-light, high ISO noise levels are incredibly low for a 45Mpixel camera.

As a seasoned professional, It is refreshing to see that Nikon has heard our cries and worked to make a dynamic mirrorless camera. I have been a Nikon shooter for over 40+ years and I look forward to utilizing this tool to its fullest...Bravo Nikon!!