Nikon Finalizes Z9 Action Photography Mirrorless

2021.10.28

Nikon just finalized the Action Photography Mirrorless Digital Camera that they have been teasing for a long time and it seems to truly reach a new level of performance for both photography and videography. The new Z9 takes the flagship position for Z-mount cameras but also overtakes the performance of the Nikon D6 flagship DSLR.

The new Nikon Z9 is built around an ultra-fast 45 Megapixels Stacked-CMOS sensor with a Global Electronic-Shutter, making it possible for Nikon to completely remove the traditional mechanical-shutter and replace it with a more sturdy Dust-Shield. This allows the Z9 to reach an unprecedented speed and provide a truly real-time blackout-free experience. The sensor is never blocked during capture, so it does not need to delay the image on the screen to avoid interrupting the feed to its EVF.

Its ultra-high resolution sensor can capture extremely detailed images and has enough pixels to capture native 8K video. With an extremely quick read time, frames can be read off the sensor at 120 FPS. The throughput is limited by a highly capable processor in the Z9 that makes it possible to capture Full-Resolution Images at 30 FPS in JPEG-Only mode or at 20 FPS in RAW mode. This is combined with a huge buffer and twin CFExpress Type-B memory-card slots for bursts of up to 1000 frames! There is enough processing power to downscale 4K video from the full sensor-width at 120 FPS and 8K video at a whopping 60 FPS, although the firmware to do so is not ready yet. Until it is released some-time in 2022, the Nikon Z9 can still capture over 2 hours of 8K video at 30 FPS. Video output can be recorded in 10-bit or 8-bit formats but 12-bit RAW support is expected via a future firmware update.

As with other Full-Frame Z-Mount Mirrorless, but unlike APS-C offerings, the Nikon Z9 has a 5-axis builtin image-stabilization system. This one supports Dual IS to combine both mechanical and optical stabilization for a total of 6-stops of efficiency with select lenses. Nikon does not specify the limit with unstabilized lenses but the Z7 offers 5-stops, so expect 5 or 5½-stops of improvement with unstabilized lenses. Normally, digital cameras with IBIS use the mechanism to shake dust off yet the Nion Z9 does not appear to do so, instead relying on a Dust-Shield plus sensor-coating to minimize dust intrusion.

The most crucial aspect of action photography is actually autofocus which Nikon has tremendously improved on the Z9. This is their first mirrorless digital camera with continuous 3D-Tracking. This new autofocus system uses a 493-Point On-Sensor Phase-Detection array to automatically recognize a wide variety of subjects. This sensor is more sensitive to light than any other, with sensitivity down to -6½ under all normal conditions and -8½ EV for Starlight, presumably since it only has to detect infinity focus.

The Nikon Z9 gets a professional-grade body with dual-grips and twice dual control-dials, plus one 8-way focus joystick per grip. The camera is covered with buttons that are highly customizable. Most are also backlit for use in complete darkness. A top monochrome OLED display shows status information. The back of the cameras sports a 2 Megapixels 3" LCD mounted on a dual-hinge to tilt both vertically and horizontally which avoid hainv to place a fragile rotating hinge on such a high-end camera. As one demands from such professional gear, the Nikon Z9 is thoroughly weatherproof. It is also one of the few Nikon cameras to be freezeproof down to -10C. A standard 0.5" EVF with 3.7 megapixels offers a large 0.8X magnification and 100% coverage. It refreshes at 120 FPS, partly thanks to a somewhat lower resolution than other modern professional mirrorless cameras. An essential Eye-Start Sensor automtically toggles between the EVF and rear LCD.

This Full-Frame Mirrorless is quite packed with features. It offers extensive bracketing capabilities for Exposure, Adaptive D-Lighting and White-Balance. It has the standard complement of metering modes, including Highlight-Weighed that Nikon introduced years ago on their high-end DSLRs. There is a complete set of White-Balance settings, including custom and 2-axis fine-tuning. The Nikon Z9 includes Interval-Timer and Multiple-Exposure functions but HDR is only available for video. Missing from the specifications provided by Nikon are Time-Lapse and Focus-Stacking modes. Given the incredible processing power available in the Z9, these are most likely to be there rather and simply omitted from the official release information. Still, some such features require such a high throughput that it happens for higher-resolution models not to provide them, even though lower-end gear from the same manufacturer does. The Nikon Z9 specification page will be kept up to date as new data becomes available. Other high-end features such as Gigabit Ethernet are known already. The Z7 also supports WiFi plus Bluetook 5.0 LE. It includes a combined GPS and GLONASS unit that records position and elevation.

The final shipping date was not immediately known but the Nikon Z9 is expected this year for $6000 USD or $7000 CAD. Amazon is ready to take on pre-orders for those who eagerly anticipate this incredible mirrorless for action photography. Adorama also takes pre-orders for the Z9 and is making it available to Canadians.

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