Z9 Release Thread

[aerobat]

Thanks Øivind for the link to this wonderful video about nature photography in its purest form.

[chambeshi]

Morten H is excellent. Honest and deeply committed. No childish theatrics etc of almost all the many utubers I ignore

[chambeshi]

Video of yesterday's discussion is now publicly available - thanks to free from Paul's Photo CA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5CO7S2XiTU

Here are some sections I flagged.

13:00 starts after preamble etc with Specs

16:00 Nikon's claims. all RAW = 14bit, Video banks are New

19:00 Haptics, layout of controls etc [also 1,22:30]

26:00 fps vs RAW, jpg etc. No more 12bit RAW

32:00 Autofocus. TH underscored an aspect of the Z9 autofocus, which no one else had mentioned IME (judged from screening a lot of material over the past few days). The benefits etc of these improved AF Modes of the Nikon Z Autofocus system stand out already across first reports on the camera; and we are likely to learn much more about its importance in the wild.

The AI subject recognition of objects is encoded in the 3D Tracking in the hierarchical structure to culminate in drilling down to the smallest Object - namely the Eye. It appears from the preliminary evidence of images and EVF footage that if 3D tracking cannot find Eyes it reverts to Heads; then Bodies/Torsos.... It is Always tracking shapes when this mode is activated by the photographer. As TH concluded, the deeper details as to how Nikon has actually implemented this hierarchical shape recognition is not at all clear.

It is very clear this AI empowered 3D OR works across a diverse range of active subjects, humans, animals (including fishes), birds and vehicles!

Vehicle Tracking works similarly as human, anmal modes with recognizing the Hierarchy of Vehicles > Cockpits > Front-of-a-Vehicle, down to smallest high contrast objects, headlights.

37:19-40:00 reiterated how the Z9 with reliable New auto/3D AF 'frees up photographer to concentrate on optimal image faming, composition etc... Overall take is not a lot of Limits to the Z9 > many New "camera opportunities"...

40:24 Electronic shutter 'most exciting' feature

42:00 Flicker free EVF key to framing action. Nikon finally has solved this. NO Blackout is BIG changer

42:30 "What you didn't see is what you get" wrt to major long held advantage of Leica rangefinders for journalism

49:00 Video specs

51:00 CF Cards wrt buffer. Note the table is TH compilation from initial tests etc. Subject to detailed testing

57:30 [also 1,36:40] the Z9 is most robust/weatherproof Flagship Nikon has ever made. Unlike Sony, reliable to shoot in rain. All chassis holes are sealed. As are new Z lenses - O-rings + fluoride coatings >> Very reliable rain-weatherproofing

1,03:00 new MH33 charger 1/2" bigger than new d battery, which = much longer life. USB charges b,c,d versions in Z9 (but not ENEL18a)

1,08:00-1,22:00 New Z lenses

1,23:00 New Nikon Software

1,29:40 Timely to correct Disinformation against Nikon and Z9. refuted under 3 misinformed 'slogans' TH discusses -

1. 'comparing product lines in general vs specific cameras', errors of condemning a brand on this basis

2. 'cameras are a response to competition' > Z9 development likely started ~4 years ago.

3. 'Sony is only Sensor maker'

1,31:00...moves on to

[chambeshi]

[continues....]

1,34:40 Nikon buffers keeps chugging writing to card if it fills; very quick to empty etc

1,37:00 CIPA Ratings for for extreme use ie maxing out camera

1,40:00 For US, delivery is discussed. "Nikon is very eager to get cameras out..."

>>>

TH reiterated why the Z9 is a D1 Moment at several points in the Discussion, as he's opined here : https://bythom.com/newsviews/yes-the-camera-world-change.html

One point of interest flagged in this Discussion mentioned first feedback of the Z9 from Michelle Valberg; she says the 100-400 f4.5/5.6S gives excellent quality with the ZTC2 at f11, using 3D Tracking + Eye-Detect on the Z9. Some of these examples also include 500 f5.6E PF+T2 III, which is no less encouraging (reiterated in her recent video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StM5lcT52jI). She also raves about the scope, speed and reliability of the 3D Tracking Mode+Eye Detect on a range of mammals and birds, also amphibians.

She will probably have much more to say about this aspects this weekend. Part of the Discussion day is Online (and free to registrants):
https://creativephotoacademy.com/event/revealing-the-soul-within-with-michelle-valberg-1/2021-11-07/

fyi a section of this can watched free, and she may present information additional to her videopart 2...

[Erik Lund]

As much as i liked the D1 i also recall the monumental task it was to edit the raw files for color cast and ISO noise, not to mention about 100 images per battery and you lost the captures in the buffer if you turned off the D1 

The D3 Moment was the ability to make full use of all of the FX lenses, a huge step!
It was truly a revelation especially of course for the use of wide and ultra wide lenses but also many specialist lenses that Nikon is so famous for where the utilization of the focal length again as designed.

Is it correct Z9 can take 700 images per battery charge? If so there is room for improvement 

[Ilkka Nissilä]

Is it correct Z9 can take 700 images per battery charge? If so there is room for improvement 

I've seen reports of getting 5000 images per charge so it varies on how you shoot. If there is like several minutes of autofocusing and scanning with the viewfinder per a shot, and if you turn the camera off and back on, possibly you get something like the CIPA rating. But in practice a fast camera is usually not used in this way. The EVF consumes a lot of power but taking shots does not, so if you actually use the high fps capabilities then you should get a lot of shots before the battery is empty.

On the Z6 II even though its CIPA rating is 410 shots, I've gotten something like 1500 shots per charge on typical shooting that I do, and this doesn't include high fps photography.

[Jan Anne]

Is it correct Z9 can take 700 images per battery charge? If so there is room for improvement 

That would be single exposures, in burst mode the number is much higher with testers doing single bursts of more than 3000 shots before the tester gave up, not the camera or battery

[Erik Lund]

Thank you for the clarification

[chambeshi]

EVF the best yet; most DSLR-like mirrorless camera to date; waiting for the photographer to catch up.

High compliments given this is Dpr 'the Z9 is Nikon's best camera yet (of any type)...'
https://www.dpreview.com/articles/4210565040/shooting-experience-the-nikon-z9-is-the-most-dslr-like-mirrorless-we-ve-ever-seen

[Erik Lund]

Yes very impressive all reviews are so positive, and they give reference to the D3 moment and asking if it's the best sports camera as well 
Quote:
Of course, we have plenty of testing still to do with a full-production Z9 before we can score it, and as its still early days, time will tell if this is truly another 'D3 Moment' for Nikon. But the Nikon Z9 has addressed nearly all of the quibbles we had with the company's already-good Z-series cameras, and it finally feels like there's some (well, a lot) of that D5 and D6 DSLR magic within it.
Is the Z9 the best sports camera on the market today? Again, time and testing will tell. But I think it's safe to say that the Z9 is Nikon's best camera yet (of any type), and we're hopeful that it's also a preview of what's still to come.

[chambeshi]

A mere rumour, nevertheless, reports are increasing of unprecedented orders for the Z9 (eg Grays of Westminter >100 and climbing...)

https://nikonrumors.com/2021/11/05/report-nikon-producing-35000-z9-camera-per-month-rumor-400000-existing-z9-pre-orders-plus-more-z9-coverage.aspx/

 

[Birna Rørslett]

Back in 2007, Nikon could manage a monthly production of 20,000 D3. The Z9 probably would be simpler to make due to less moving parts. On the flip side, more electronics can clash with today's global shortage of chips. Covid and JIT philosophy hardly make things better. So we'll have to wait and see.

[Hugh_3170]

The Z9 and its underlying technologies may yet prove to be the camera that saves Nikon as a camera maker. 

Let us hope so.

Nikon's financial fortunes have to say the least been worse than middling in recent years - and of course not at all helped helped by COVID and its many impacts on industry and on buyers.

A mere rumour, nevertheless, reports are increasing of unprecedented orders for the Z9 (eg Grays of Westminter >100 and climbing...)

https://nikonrumors.com/2021/11/05/report-nikon-producing-35000-z9-camera-per-month-rumor-400000-existing-z9-pre-orders-plus-more-z9-coverage.aspx/

[chambeshi]

The rumours around Nikon's impending demise are just that. No substance whatsoever... zone of gutter press (including fstoppers), talking-head clickbaiters on youtube, trolls etc

They would have this recent announcement of a new HQ carefully, as they have planned the growth of the entire Z system and Z9 etc under the auspices of the Nikon Imaging Division. All the new cameras and Z Nikkors in just over 3 years is a major achievement, especially considering the recent obstacles to production, shipping and sales et al.

Mirrorless production and sales will gather even more momentum now Nikon have strategically wound down Budget DSLR production. So we can expect even greater focus by Nikon on higher profit products for Professionals, "Prosumers" and Hobbyists

https://www.nikon.com/news/2021/1104_01.htm

Nikon's Financial status is stronger than ever https://www.nikon.com/about/ir/ir_library/result/index.htm#y2022

[Hugh_3170]

I for one wish Nikon every possible success with its massive restructuring and cost reduction programs.  And its welcome investments into the Z system and its underlying technologies and its general shift towards higher value cameras aimed towards the serious hobbyists and professional users.

Never the less, Nikon has had some very tough years recently as it has has restructured and overcome floods in Thailand, issues with its Sendai plant, and like everyone the effects of COVID.  So it will be looking to products such as the Z9 to be really successfull.

Maybe this article is more balanced than some that I have seen:  https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/au/news/nikon-has-released-its-2021-q1-financial-results-and-theyre-shockingly-good 

And this one that references Canon's results as well as Nikons: https://www.cined.com/three-million-cameras-sold-canon-and-nikon-shine-with-financial-results/