The new Nikon flagship. A fast, powerful AF system with subject detection developed using deep learning technology. 45.7-megapixel stills. High-speed still frame rates up to 120 fps. 8K and 4K videos. The world's first truly blackout free viewfinder, and Nikon's first 4-axis tilting touchscreen.
The new Nikon flagship. A fast, powerful AF system with subject detection developed using deep learning technology. 45.7-megapixel stills. High-speed still frame rates up to 120 fps. 8K and 4K videos. The world's first truly blackout free viewfinder, and Nikon's first 4-axis tilting touchscreen.
in 4 offers
Nikon Z9 Body (with Battery Charger)
The new Nikon flagship. A fast, powerful AF system with subject detection developed using deep learning technology. 45.7-megapixel stills. High-speed still frame rates up to 120 fps. 8K and 4K videos. The world's first truly blackout free viewfinder, and Nikon's first 4-axis tilting touchscreen.
The new Nikon flagship. A fast, powerful AF system with subject detection developed using deep learning technology. 45.7-megapixel stills. High-speed still frame rates up to 120 fps. 8K and 4K videos. The world's first truly blackout free viewfinder, and Nikon's first 4-axis tilting touchscreen.
The lowest price for Nikon Z9 Body (with Battery Charger) right now is $5,371.00 at Kogan.com, compared across 4 retailers.
The all-time low was $5,338.00 on 16 Oct 2026 — today's price is 1% above the lowest ever. This is at or near its all-time low — a good time to buy.
Prices last updated 20 Oct 2026.
Last updated at 20/10/2026 11:08:24
Nikon Z9 Mirrorless Camera - BRAND NEW
Free delivery
Nikon Z9 Mirrorless Camera - BRAND NEW
Free delivery
Nikon Z9 Mirrorless Camera - BRAND NEW
Free delivery
Nikon Z9 45.7MP Professional Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera Body (VOA080AE) - Optics
Delivery $2.86
originally posted on bhphotovideo.com
I have been shooting professionally with the Sony A1, AR4, and AR3 bodies for several years now but was bothered from day one with the drop in resolution in Sony EVFs when continuous AF begins. Really tried to live with it because they are good cameras but found myself going back to my old Nikon Z7 just for the user experience through the EVF. So much more realistic even though the on-paper pixel count isn't as high. For me, photography is about a connection to your subject while shooting. Sony works exceptionally well in delivering images but lacks in the visual experience, at least when shooting sports and wildlife, which is my primary focus. I'm still used to seeing an image go sharp when I'm doing the right thing with focus, exposure, color, and composition. ... MoreI have been shooting professionally with the Sony A1, AR4, and AR3 bodies for several years now but was bothered from day one with the drop in resolution in Sony EVFs when continuous AF begins. Really tried to live with it because they are good cameras but found myself going back to my old Nikon Z7 just for the user experience through the EVF. So much more realistic even though the on-paper pixel count isn't as high. For me, photography is about a connection to your subject while shooting. Sony works exceptionally well in delivering images but lacks in the visual experience, at least when shooting sports and wildlife, which is my primary focus. I'm still used to seeing an image go sharp when I'm doing the right thing with focus, exposure, color, and composition. Nikon delivers in that area, beautifully, with their robust, pro-level, mirrorless marvel...the Nikon Z9.ps-the rubber grips still feel great but will likely fall off (after hard, professional use in harsh environments) as they've done on my previous F5, D1H, D2H, D3, D3S, D4, D4S bodies. I can live with this pitfall though.Note to Nikon: Please change the rubber to something that will last and stay put under hard use. Maybe just me but mine have all needed replacement after a couple years.ps to ps- Note to Nikon: You're doing things right recently. I'm picking up my Nikon Z9 over the Sony A1, daily, due to the all-round shooting experience and connection. My photos just feel better...with the Nikon Z9.
originally posted on bestbuy.com
This is finally a proper all round best Mirrorless camera which feels amazing to hold - perfect ergonomics and amazing build quality - for DSLR upgraders. All buttons are high quality to touch and placed at perfect reach. (Its like having that perfect keyboard under your hands)Image quality is at its best. Balance of ISO performance and Megapixel count is perfect. Its unthinkable how far image processing engines have come in last decade. Expeed processor performs outstanding and is quite efficient. Battery lasts all day with mix of pictures and video usage. Color rendition of JPEGs and videos out of box is fine for majority of work.10-12 bit internal videos adds so much dynamic range and are super crisp that 33MP photo from a video is totally possible many times ... MoreThis is finally a proper all round best Mirrorless camera which feels amazing to hold - perfect ergonomics and amazing build quality - for DSLR upgraders. All buttons are high quality to touch and placed at perfect reach. (Its like having that perfect keyboard under your hands)Image quality is at its best. Balance of ISO performance and Megapixel count is perfect. Its unthinkable how far image processing engines have come in last decade. Expeed processor performs outstanding and is quite efficient. Battery lasts all day with mix of pictures and video usage. Color rendition of JPEGs and videos out of box is fine for majority of work.10-12 bit internal videos adds so much dynamic range and are super crisp that 33MP photo from a video is totally possible many times :) Ability to shoot ProRes is quite handy. HLG transfer function in 10bit is also very useful for quick HDR videos not needing much grading. Not having a requirement of external monitors to record in high bits allow to have more unique capture angles due to smaller form factor in comparison.Z mount feels much bigger than F. Benefits of that must be contributing to sharp videos and images as well!Recent service advisory for lens release button is affecting a specific batch of cameras which Nikon is fixing free of cost. Sending camera back and waiting for it to come back is a pain especially if you received from Best Buy just two weeks ago.Otherwise definitely a recommended camera as of today.
originally posted on bhphotovideo.com
I ripped apart the Z6 II I bought while waiting on my Z9. Then - thinking it would be forever before it came in - I bought a Z7 II which I like a lot more than the A7R4 I have used. Then less than two weeks after buying that camera - my Z9 arrived. That was 4,900 images ago and now it is time for a review.First - the bad.Okay - now that the bad is over with (which was easy since there is none), let's get to the good.I have been fortunate to own many of the Nikon game changers over time - F3, F5, D750 and D850. This camera is not a game changer for anyone except Nikon. But that is okay. I have used the Sony A1 and debated about purchasing that camera prior to deciding to go back to Nikon for wildlife photography. I rented one for a week and took around 9,000 ... MoreI ripped apart the Z6 II I bought while waiting on my Z9. Then - thinking it would be forever before it came in - I bought a Z7 II which I like a lot more than the A7R4 I have used. Then less than two weeks after buying that camera - my Z9 arrived. That was 4,900 images ago and now it is time for a review.First - the bad.Okay - now that the bad is over with (which was easy since there is none), let's get to the good.I have been fortunate to own many of the Nikon game changers over time - F3, F5, D750 and D850. This camera is not a game changer for anyone except Nikon. But that is okay. I have used the Sony A1 and debated about purchasing that camera prior to deciding to go back to Nikon for wildlife photography. I rented one for a week and took around 9,000 shots and - that is a great camera. The Nikon is a better video camera, the Sony in the real world probably has a tiny edge in FPS with photography. The remaining differences are just 6 of one, half a dozen of the other. Again - not game changing. Why this camera matters and why I chose it boils down to a few things:- Nikon is in the camera business and is incented to continue serving pros and developing new products as its very survival depends on it. Some of the conglomerate based competition has a history of bailing when a market gets tough and the camera market will get very tough now that Nikon and Canon have gotten mirrorless right and long-term shooters such as myself are able to make the move.- This camera does everything extremely well. I tracked a Tricolored Heron that was around 200 feet away through my old, adapted 600 f/4 and the reticle stayed pinned to the eye the entire way. So - autofocus - check. I have shot bursts at full resolution that play back like a movie. So - speed - check. I have brought back 900 photos from a day long wildlife shoot and every one of them has been in focus with beautiful color and reflected completely what I saw in the viewfinder. So - consistency - check.- I am able to set custom sets of configuration parameters with this camera that allow me to shift back and forth based on the types of shooting I am doing. This isn't completely seamless as somethings I have to go to more than one menu to bring back banks of settings - but this still makes it incredibly easy to change a huge number of parameters on the fly. I got so used to this with my Fuji gear and hope this trickles down to the Z7 II (my Z6 II is now gone thankfully).Ultimately I have nothing bad to say about this camera. It could be better in low light I suppose - but with a dense, 45MP sensor and an ability to clean up nicely in post it hasn't mattered so far. I don't know how you can go wrong here. Nikon has to get some of this tech trickled down to its lower end cameras quick - but once it does any concerns about their relative competitiveness expressed over the last few years should just disappear.This camera shows every sign that it will be worth every penny. Looking forward to the next 5 years or so with this at my side.
| Brand | Nikon |
| Flash Type | Detachable Flash |
| Sensor Size | Full Frame Sensor |
| Sensor Type | CMOS |
| With Image Stabilisation | Yes |
Nikon Z9 Mirrorless Camera - BRAND NEW
Free delivery
Nikon Z9 Mirrorless Camera - BRAND NEW
Free delivery
Nikon Z9 Mirrorless Camera - BRAND NEW
Free delivery
Nikon Z9 45.7MP Professional Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera Body (VOA080AE) - Optics
Delivery $2.86
I have been shooting professionally with the Sony A1, AR4, and AR3 bodies for several years now but was bothered from day one with the drop in resolution in Sony EVFs when continuous AF begins. Really tried to live with it because they are good cameras but found myself going back to my old Nikon Z7 just for the user experience through the EVF. So much more realistic even though the on-paper pixel count isn't as high. For me, photography is about a connection to your subject while shooting. Sony works exceptionally well in delivering images but lacks in the visual experience, at least when shooting sports and wildlife, which is my primary focus. I'm still used to seeing an image go sharp when I'm doing the right thing with focus, exposure, color, and composition. ... MoreI have been shooting professionally with the Sony A1, AR4, and AR3 bodies for several years now but was bothered from day one with the drop in resolution in Sony EVFs when continuous AF begins. Really tried to live with it because they are good cameras but found myself going back to my old Nikon Z7 just for the user experience through the EVF. So much more realistic even though the on-paper pixel count isn't as high. For me, photography is about a connection to your subject while shooting. Sony works exceptionally well in delivering images but lacks in the visual experience, at least when shooting sports and wildlife, which is my primary focus. I'm still used to seeing an image go sharp when I'm doing the right thing with focus, exposure, color, and composition. Nikon delivers in that area, beautifully, with their robust, pro-level, mirrorless marvel...the Nikon Z9.ps-the rubber grips still feel great but will likely fall off (after hard, professional use in harsh environments) as they've done on my previous F5, D1H, D2H, D3, D3S, D4, D4S bodies. I can live with this pitfall though.Note to Nikon: Please change the rubber to something that will last and stay put under hard use. Maybe just me but mine have all needed replacement after a couple years.ps to ps- Note to Nikon: You're doing things right recently. I'm picking up my Nikon Z9 over the Sony A1, daily, due to the all-round shooting experience and connection. My photos just feel better...with the Nikon Z9.
This is finally a proper all round best Mirrorless camera which feels amazing to hold - perfect ergonomics and amazing build quality - for DSLR upgraders. All buttons are high quality to touch and placed at perfect reach. (Its like having that perfect keyboard under your hands)Image quality is at its best. Balance of ISO performance and Megapixel count is perfect. Its unthinkable how far image processing engines have come in last decade. Expeed processor performs outstanding and is quite efficient. Battery lasts all day with mix of pictures and video usage. Color rendition of JPEGs and videos out of box is fine for majority of work.10-12 bit internal videos adds so much dynamic range and are super crisp that 33MP photo from a video is totally possible many times ... MoreThis is finally a proper all round best Mirrorless camera which feels amazing to hold - perfect ergonomics and amazing build quality - for DSLR upgraders. All buttons are high quality to touch and placed at perfect reach. (Its like having that perfect keyboard under your hands)Image quality is at its best. Balance of ISO performance and Megapixel count is perfect. Its unthinkable how far image processing engines have come in last decade. Expeed processor performs outstanding and is quite efficient. Battery lasts all day with mix of pictures and video usage. Color rendition of JPEGs and videos out of box is fine for majority of work.10-12 bit internal videos adds so much dynamic range and are super crisp that 33MP photo from a video is totally possible many times :) Ability to shoot ProRes is quite handy. HLG transfer function in 10bit is also very useful for quick HDR videos not needing much grading. Not having a requirement of external monitors to record in high bits allow to have more unique capture angles due to smaller form factor in comparison.Z mount feels much bigger than F. Benefits of that must be contributing to sharp videos and images as well!Recent service advisory for lens release button is affecting a specific batch of cameras which Nikon is fixing free of cost. Sending camera back and waiting for it to come back is a pain especially if you received from Best Buy just two weeks ago.Otherwise definitely a recommended camera as of today.
I ripped apart the Z6 II I bought while waiting on my Z9. Then - thinking it would be forever before it came in - I bought a Z7 II which I like a lot more than the A7R4 I have used. Then less than two weeks after buying that camera - my Z9 arrived. That was 4,900 images ago and now it is time for a review.First - the bad.Okay - now that the bad is over with (which was easy since there is none), let's get to the good.I have been fortunate to own many of the Nikon game changers over time - F3, F5, D750 and D850. This camera is not a game changer for anyone except Nikon. But that is okay. I have used the Sony A1 and debated about purchasing that camera prior to deciding to go back to Nikon for wildlife photography. I rented one for a week and took around 9,000 ... MoreI ripped apart the Z6 II I bought while waiting on my Z9. Then - thinking it would be forever before it came in - I bought a Z7 II which I like a lot more than the A7R4 I have used. Then less than two weeks after buying that camera - my Z9 arrived. That was 4,900 images ago and now it is time for a review.First - the bad.Okay - now that the bad is over with (which was easy since there is none), let's get to the good.I have been fortunate to own many of the Nikon game changers over time - F3, F5, D750 and D850. This camera is not a game changer for anyone except Nikon. But that is okay. I have used the Sony A1 and debated about purchasing that camera prior to deciding to go back to Nikon for wildlife photography. I rented one for a week and took around 9,000 shots and - that is a great camera. The Nikon is a better video camera, the Sony in the real world probably has a tiny edge in FPS with photography. The remaining differences are just 6 of one, half a dozen of the other. Again - not game changing. Why this camera matters and why I chose it boils down to a few things:- Nikon is in the camera business and is incented to continue serving pros and developing new products as its very survival depends on it. Some of the conglomerate based competition has a history of bailing when a market gets tough and the camera market will get very tough now that Nikon and Canon have gotten mirrorless right and long-term shooters such as myself are able to make the move.- This camera does everything extremely well. I tracked a Tricolored Heron that was around 200 feet away through my old, adapted 600 f/4 and the reticle stayed pinned to the eye the entire way. So - autofocus - check. I have shot bursts at full resolution that play back like a movie. So - speed - check. I have brought back 900 photos from a day long wildlife shoot and every one of them has been in focus with beautiful color and reflected completely what I saw in the viewfinder. So - consistency - check.- I am able to set custom sets of configuration parameters with this camera that allow me to shift back and forth based on the types of shooting I am doing. This isn't completely seamless as somethings I have to go to more than one menu to bring back banks of settings - but this still makes it incredibly easy to change a huge number of parameters on the fly. I got so used to this with my Fuji gear and hope this trickles down to the Z7 II (my Z6 II is now gone thankfully).Ultimately I have nothing bad to say about this camera. It could be better in low light I suppose - but with a dense, 45MP sensor and an ability to clean up nicely in post it hasn't mattered so far. I don't know how you can go wrong here. Nikon has to get some of this tech trickled down to its lower end cameras quick - but once it does any concerns about their relative competitiveness expressed over the last few years should just disappear.This camera shows every sign that it will be worth every penny. Looking forward to the next 5 years or so with this at my side.
This has quickly become my go-to camera for fast action wildlife photography. The auto-focus tracking and frame rate have definitely improved my keeper rate compared to my previous Nikon D5 and D850 cameras. Battery life is impressive. Handling and ergonomics are also excellent. The only challenge I have had is obtaining focus on small foreground objects when pulling in from a busy background at infinity. This is not really just a Z9 issue, though, as I have had the same issues with other mirrorless brands.I seriously considered Sony when switching to mirrorless. Performance-wise, the Sony A1 is very similar but with maybe a slight advantage in overall AF tracking. The differences, however, were hard to really quantify. The main differences for me ultimately came ... MoreThis has quickly become my go-to camera for fast action wildlife photography. The auto-focus tracking and frame rate have definitely improved my keeper rate compared to my previous Nikon D5 and D850 cameras. Battery life is impressive. Handling and ergonomics are also excellent. The only challenge I have had is obtaining focus on small foreground objects when pulling in from a busy background at infinity. This is not really just a Z9 issue, though, as I have had the same issues with other mirrorless brands.I seriously considered Sony when switching to mirrorless. Performance-wise, the Sony A1 is very similar but with maybe a slight advantage in overall AF tracking. The differences, however, were hard to really quantify. The main differences for me ultimately came down lenses and build. Nikon's new super telephotos with built in TCs and the lightweight PF lens options have no equivalent in the Sony lineup. Since lenses are by far my biggest investment, it is a big factor for me. I also feel that the Z9 is a more robust design. In most situations, the differences are not significant but for more rigorous field use, my experience is that Nikons have held up exceedingly well. Incidentally, Canon was not really a consideration as they do not really have anything that is fully competitive with the Z9 yet.The bottom line is that for fast action wildlife photography in tough environments, the Z9 is definitely my personal choice.
This is truly a remarkable camera. My standard go-to camera is a D850, which I still believe to be an excellent camera, but the Z9, coupled with Z lens, far outperforms even the D850 and f2.8 Nikkor lens. I received the Z9 two weeks ago, just before leaving for a trip to the Grand Canyon and Antelope Canyon, and used both the Z9 and D850. Not having yet an L-frame for the Z9 to sit on my tripod, I used it solely as a handheld camera. The shots were superb in clarity and color. Having the histogram visible in the viewfinder, compared to the need to use Live View on my D850, was by itself a game changer. The photographs taken in the poorly lit Upper Antelope extremely surprisingly sharp, as were the colors captured in that cavern, despite the need for high ISO ... MoreThis is truly a remarkable camera. My standard go-to camera is a D850, which I still believe to be an excellent camera, but the Z9, coupled with Z lens, far outperforms even the D850 and f2.8 Nikkor lens. I received the Z9 two weeks ago, just before leaving for a trip to the Grand Canyon and Antelope Canyon, and used both the Z9 and D850. Not having yet an L-frame for the Z9 to sit on my tripod, I used it solely as a handheld camera. The shots were superb in clarity and color. Having the histogram visible in the viewfinder, compared to the need to use Live View on my D850, was by itself a game changer. The photographs taken in the poorly lit Upper Antelope extremely surprisingly sharp, as were the colors captured in that cavern, despite the need for high ISO settings. Based on my experience this past week, I plan on using the Z9 as my primary camera from now on. Ergodynamically it feels great and the weight is insignificant, given the weight of the Z lens.Of note, I bought a Z7ii last year and never really liked it as much as my D850, so I plan on selling it as soon as I can find a buyer. It can't compare functionally with the Z9.I don't believe that you can go wrong on buying this camera. Admittedly it's expensive, but the quality of its output, as well as its design and all of its built-in features, is extraordinary. The battery, by the way, is light years better than the ones for the other Nikon cameras. I used the same battery the entire week and had to charge it only once (and even then, it was when the battery still had half of its charge remaining).
Beast is all I can say for this thing. I had in someway wished I waited for the Z8 to get which has a smaller foot print, but for the majority of the shooting I do, this is a great camera.I maybe one of the few crazy people, but I sold my Sony a1 and all my gear to move back to Nikon. I wanted when I purchased my Sony gear 3 years ago to move into the Z7 lineup, but the AF never impressed me. Is the Nikon Z9 as good as the Sony AF, maybe not, by a small amount, but the ability to have all the custom buttons on the face and hand off focus points, is amazing. Added to the fact the CF Express B is so much cheaper than the Sony CF A cards, it is worth it just in that alone.Only been shooting with this since April, but I am happy and wished I there was stock on the ... MoreBeast is all I can say for this thing. I had in someway wished I waited for the Z8 to get which has a smaller foot print, but for the majority of the shooting I do, this is a great camera.I maybe one of the few crazy people, but I sold my Sony a1 and all my gear to move back to Nikon. I wanted when I purchased my Sony gear 3 years ago to move into the Z7 lineup, but the AF never impressed me. Is the Nikon Z9 as good as the Sony AF, maybe not, by a small amount, but the ability to have all the custom buttons on the face and hand off focus points, is amazing. Added to the fact the CF Express B is so much cheaper than the Sony CF A cards, it is worth it just in that alone.Only been shooting with this since April, but I am happy and wished I there was stock on the shelves (and firmware 2.0+) when I moved to the A1. Yes 30FPS is cool, but I always stayed at 20 on the Sony just to reduce the amount of review time. Do I miss my 200-600 with 1.4 TC, yes the 100-400 with 1.4 is not the same, but close.Hard part and why I moved to Nikon Z9 was the amount of lower cost F glass out there in 500mm range and up. There is crap for selection in the Sony ecosystem unless you want to pony up a small fortune for the 600 F4 for 13K. I wanted to in the worst way but could never bring myself to that. Maybe 6.5K for the 800 PF, but even that is a more specialized lens, though with my 200-600 + 1.4 on the Sony, I spent alot of time at 840mm at F9....Of the 3 brands, Nikon does a much better job of firmware upgrades. The Sony model to buy a new camera every 2 years and I would rather have something like the Z9 getting incremental upgrades versus needing to buy another body to get functionally and loose thousands of dollars in the process.For a hobby shooter like me, the 20FPS and the CF Express B cards is all I will probably ever need.
I'm a 30 year full time working pro. I started during film age, used Nikon FM-2, F4, F5, D70, D200, D300, D700, D750, Z6 and many more from Nikon and occasionally some Canon cameras.I shoot weddings, portraits, products, food and the performance of this camera in all of these task is excellent. I've never had a such high keeper rate, specially on weddings and events where I shoot action in very dark/night environments with only dj lights. Don't listen to reviewers saying that the AF of this camera is flawed or not live up to expectations. I shot a wedding last Sunday from 8 Pm to 4 PM, outside during the night, with only a few DJ lights. I used some adapted lenses (Nikon 50 f1.8, Sigma 85 f1.4 art, Sigma 24-35 f2) and the Z 24-120 f4. To my surprise all except a ... MoreI'm a 30 year full time working pro. I started during film age, used Nikon FM-2, F4, F5, D70, D200, D300, D700, D750, Z6 and many more from Nikon and occasionally some Canon cameras.I shoot weddings, portraits, products, food and the performance of this camera in all of these task is excellent. I've never had a such high keeper rate, specially on weddings and events where I shoot action in very dark/night environments with only dj lights. Don't listen to reviewers saying that the AF of this camera is flawed or not live up to expectations. I shot a wedding last Sunday from 8 Pm to 4 PM, outside during the night, with only a few DJ lights. I used some adapted lenses (Nikon 50 f1.8, Sigma 85 f1.4 art, Sigma 24-35 f2) and the Z 24-120 f4. To my surprise all except a couple of images were in focus, and probably was my mistake or lack of practice with the camera, it was really amazing. The image quality, the viewfinder, the shutterless design, the battery capacity it's all beyond my expectations. I was afraid to have the flicker bands I had with the Z6's electronic shutter and DJ/led lights, so I was prepared to use the anti-flicker reduction function, but there was no need, it performed like a mechanical shutter or better.If you are someone who make a living out of photography go for it, you won't regret it.
For brevity, I won't restate all that has been said in other 5 star reviews.In my case, I finally upgraded from my beloved D700, which I still use as a second body. I almost went with the D6 due to all the negativity I was reading and seeing on YouTube, but after extensive research, I took the chance on the Z9. Buying from B&H, I figured I had nothing to lose as I could send it back if I didn't like it.Well, I've been using my Z9 for 5 months now and it's the most amazing camera I've ever used. Mine was delivered with firmware version 2.0.The first thing I have to say is that the learning curve was huge! I look back now and can say with certainty that much, but certainly not all, of the criticism of the Z9 was due to users not reading the manual, and ... MoreFor brevity, I won't restate all that has been said in other 5 star reviews.In my case, I finally upgraded from my beloved D700, which I still use as a second body. I almost went with the D6 due to all the negativity I was reading and seeing on YouTube, but after extensive research, I took the chance on the Z9. Buying from B&H, I figured I had nothing to lose as I could send it back if I didn't like it.Well, I've been using my Z9 for 5 months now and it's the most amazing camera I've ever used. Mine was delivered with firmware version 2.0.The first thing I have to say is that the learning curve was huge! I look back now and can say with certainty that much, but certainly not all, of the criticism of the Z9 was due to users not reading the manual, and definitely not understanding the auto focus system, settings and limitations. But the Pros saw a winner. That being said, version 1.0 was definitely lacking, but Nikon has been listening and has been quick with Firmware upgrades. Most if not all of the actual quirks and shortcomings, particularly in the AF system were corrected with Firmware 2.0, and especially 3.0 and 3.01. These updates were extensive and not only cleaned up the quirks, but practically created a Z9II for free.The AF is now nothing short of amazing, and I am still using mostly F mount lenses with the FTZII adapter. The Z lenses are pricey, but function at a whole new level. Definitely moving to more Z lenses as $'s permit.The AF choices are overwhelming at first but once you learn them, your keeper rate soars to new levels.I have found Subject Recognition and 3D to be particularly effective for field sports, motor sports, air shows and equestrian.Large, (at least 512gb), very fast CF type B cards are a must. Shooting Raw files at 20-30 frames/sec or high def video eats up a lot of space quickly. I'm using AngelBird and Delkin Black cards and not having any issues with buffering or overheating. I did have a READ problem with my first Angelbird card but they replaced it and all has been well since.The Z9 is a true flagship camera, arguably the current best sports camera platform ever. It proves to me that Nikon is far from dead and back with a vengeance. What could Nikon possibly deliver in a Z10?
I'm not a pro, just a serious amateur. I like to shoot nature - all the way from macro focus stacks to birds in flight - and the Z9 has proven itself to be smarter and faster than I've ever been with anything I've ever used from the Nikon F series through the D8xx series. No, some of those are not close in technology and such comparisons are irrelevant. I say it that way because I'm amazed at the level to which Nikon has elevated the Z9. Subject recognition is like magic, button customization is extensive, focus modes and subject tracking are stunning, and the availability of four shooting banks and four custom settings banks to go with them provides more versatility that I've seen in any other camera. I'm sure that true professionals who shoot hundreds or thousands ... MoreI'm not a pro, just a serious amateur. I like to shoot nature - all the way from macro focus stacks to birds in flight - and the Z9 has proven itself to be smarter and faster than I've ever been with anything I've ever used from the Nikon F series through the D8xx series. No, some of those are not close in technology and such comparisons are irrelevant. I say it that way because I'm amazed at the level to which Nikon has elevated the Z9. Subject recognition is like magic, button customization is extensive, focus modes and subject tracking are stunning, and the availability of four shooting banks and four custom settings banks to go with them provides more versatility that I've seen in any other camera. I'm sure that true professionals who shoot hundreds or thousands of photos in a day will likely have considerations that I can't address; but, successfully shooting a range of birds in flight (from warblers to hawks) and getting excellent results within the first week of receiving my Z9s is key to my evaluation. All of my F-mount auto-focus glass plays very nicely - even the 200-500 with a 1.4x teleconverter. The fact that I can continue to use all that glass is also a critical element in my rating; I'm retired and too old to start over with all new glass (to say nothing of not being rich enough :) ).VERY happy with my Z9s.
Like most everyone, I suppose, I had to wait a while to receive this camera. Finally it came - and in time for a fall trip I had planned in Colorado. Great timing.After about 12,000 images in 12 days I can say there is a lot to like (and yes, some things to really love) about this camera and that, invariably, it was worth the wait.I am a nature and wildlife photographer - mostly. In my short experience this camera has done a brilliant job by bridging the gap between providing speed for the wildlife side of my photography and some grace for the landscape side. I have been able to set up menus which help me to transition to each discipline in a reasonable way without much additional fussing about. I cannot say the NIKON menu systems are without flaw because that ... MoreLike most everyone, I suppose, I had to wait a while to receive this camera. Finally it came - and in time for a fall trip I had planned in Colorado. Great timing.After about 12,000 images in 12 days I can say there is a lot to like (and yes, some things to really love) about this camera and that, invariably, it was worth the wait.I am a nature and wildlife photographer - mostly. In my short experience this camera has done a brilliant job by bridging the gap between providing speed for the wildlife side of my photography and some grace for the landscape side. I have been able to set up menus which help me to transition to each discipline in a reasonable way without much additional fussing about. I cannot say the NIKON menu systems are without flaw because that would be untrue - in my opinion. Both the z7ii and the z9 have some work to do to catch up with the Sony a1 and a7iiii menu systems. The NIKON menus don't seem to have as intuitive a structure as the SONY menus and it would be helpful if the menu bank feature would capture ALL settings for each bank and transition between banks without additional corrective steps. With that said I have still been able to land on a workable system using function button assignments and i-menu assignments that compliment all my shooting needs.I can say I love the color science NIKON has been incorporating into their recent digital platforms starting with the D850. To my eye the colors produced by the recent Z series cameras have been nearly spectacular. The z9 is not an exception to this statement because I love the color it is able to capture and render to the digital files. I also appreciate the deep dynamic rage the z9 is able to preserve for high contrast scenes.My initial experience has been great with this camera and it seems a great deal more rugged than the z7ii's which I have been using since their introduction. The z9 is heavier but the weight has been worth the effort given the results I have gotten from the camera. The protective shutter installed on the z9 which closes during lens changes has been a real joy. I have noticed a significant reduction in the amount of dust and moisture spots collecting on my sensor. Big bonus!Many thanks to B&H for being a continuous partner in my photographic journeys for the past 30 or so years!
| Brand | Nikon |
| Flash Type | Detachable Flash |
| Sensor Size | Full Frame Sensor |
| Sensor Type | CMOS |
| With Image Stabilisation | Yes |
