Author Topic: Z9 Release Thread  (Read 68881 times)

Ilkka Nissilä

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Re: Z9 Release Thread
« Reply #225 on: December 13, 2021, 09:21:52 »
With regards to noise, there is also the factor of the color of the light source. D8x0 family high ISO noise tends to be strong in the blue channel when shooting in low K artificial light and correcting for skin color and when reducing vignetting (the D800 displayed quite awful lines in the corrected areas, D810 less so and the D850 is still better but shadows at very high ISO don't contain much subject information even if they are not as badly managed as in the D800). Whereas the D6 is still quite usable under these circumstances. I will try to test shortly how the Z6 II does in indoor concert lighting though my brain objects to the EVF in these lighting conditions.

I think we can expect the Z9 to be an improvement over D8x0 and Z7 II but still it's an ISO 64 native camera and it seems unlikely they'd be able to make it top of the line at ISO 12800 or higher.

Jan Anne

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Re: Z9 Release Thread
« Reply #226 on: December 20, 2021, 22:07:35 »
Nice Z9 review with stunning images with the 500PF and 400/2.8:
https://photographylife.com/nikon-z9-wildlife-impressions
Cheers,
Jan Anne

Jan Anne

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Re: Z9 Release Thread
« Reply #227 on: December 20, 2021, 23:22:08 »
I think we can expect the Z9 to be an improvement over D8x0 and Z7 II but still it's an ISO 64 native camera and it seems unlikely they'd be able to make it top of the line at ISO 12800 or higher.
Also interested to see if the Expeed 7 processor can provide a bump for the 2nd native ISO which is at 400 at the moment for the 45MP sensors and at 800 for the Z6.

As a reference, Sony just launched the a7IV with the A1 XR processor which bumped the 2nd native ISO from ISO640 for the a7III to ISO1600 in the a7IV even though the pixels went up from 24MP to 33MP. We might see the same non stacked sensor end up in the Z6III btw so the Expeed 7 should provide similar figures with probably the better Nikon RAW files.



Cheers,
Jan Anne

Wally

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Re: Z9 Release Thread
« Reply #228 on: December 21, 2021, 02:51:32 »
The Z9 used for environmental landscape photography
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlnP2W_9Trc
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Ilkka Nissilä

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Re: Z9 Release Thread
« Reply #229 on: December 21, 2021, 11:45:05 »
Also interested to see if the Expeed 7 processor can provide a bump for the 2nd native ISO which is at 400 at the moment for the 45MP sensors and at 800 for the Z6.

As a reference, Sony just launched the a7IV with the A1 XR processor which bumped the 2nd native ISO from ISO640 for the a7III to ISO1600 in the a7IV even though the pixels went up from 24MP to 33MP. We might see the same non stacked sensor end up in the Z6III btw so the Expeed 7 should provide similar figures with probably the better Nikon RAW files.

Raw files should be raw, so the processor should not have any effect on them. If the manufacturer applies algorithmic noise reduction to raw files, it reduces the information content in the file and thus is restricting the options for post-processing by the user.

Jan Anne

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Re: Z9 Release Thread
« Reply #230 on: December 21, 2021, 13:31:26 »
Most Sony sensor based cameras use dual gain noise processing, for the Z7II / D850 the low gain circuitry starts at a native ISO64 and boosts the signal for higher ISO values until it switches to the high gain circuitry at ISO400 which is the 2nd native base ISO.

I you want the cleanest noise performance above ISO100 its best to switch to ISO400 and ignore the values in between unless one needs the extra DR at ISO200. ISO318 should be ignored completely as the boosted noise is much higher than ISO400 with a small bump in DR as well for the latter value.

https://www.photonstophotos.net/Charts/RN_ADU.htm
https://www.photonstophotos.net/Charts/PDR.htm

More details about how dual gain noise processing works for low light photography:
https://youtu.be/d8QV00mkJW4

The Z9 is rumored to use a non Sony sensor so might have a more linear ISO and DR graphs.
Cheers,
Jan Anne

Ilkka Nissilä

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Re: Z9 Release Thread
« Reply #231 on: December 21, 2021, 14:34:54 »
Only the dynamic range shows those jumps; in-between values go more linearly when considering other image quality parameters that do not focus on the shadow noise exclusively.


Akira

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Re: Z9 Release Thread
« Reply #232 on: December 21, 2021, 22:34:44 »
Here is an interesting test of Z9, although it deals with the video performance:

https://www.cined.com/nikon-z-9-lab-test-rolling-shutter-dynamic-range-and-latitude-test/

Scroll the page way down to read Johnny Behiri's reply to Stefan's comment (the fourth one) in the "Comments" section.  Johnny says that the Z9 doesn't use the dual ISO function.

I'm not sure if the dual ISO function is omitted from Z9 "hardware" or the function is just not activated yet.
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chambeshi

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Re: Z9 Release Thread
« Reply #233 on: December 22, 2021, 15:10:43 »
Thanks you :-) An interesting report

Here is an interesting test of Z9, although it deals with the video performance:

https://www.cined.com/nikon-z-9-lab-test-rolling-shutter-dynamic-range-and-latitude-test/

Scroll the page way down to read Johnny Behiri's reply to Stefan's comment (the fourth one) in the "Comments" section.  Johnny says that the Z9 doesn't use the dual ISO function.

I'm not sure if the dual ISO function is omitted from Z9 "hardware" or the function is just not activated yet.

chambeshi

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Re: Z9 Release Thread
« Reply #234 on: December 22, 2021, 15:12:14 »

Erik Lund

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Re: Z9 Release Thread
« Reply #235 on: December 22, 2021, 17:06:46 »
Nice Z9 review with stunning images with the 500PF and 400/2.8:
https://photographylife.com/nikon-z9-wildlife-impressions
Those images are really clear and crisp - Wow
Erik Lund

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Re: Z9 Release Thread
« Reply #236 on: December 24, 2021, 09:56:00 »
Wow! Those pictures really make me admit, that my ol and trusty D200 is well old...
Just need a EuroJackpot...  ;)
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chambeshi

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Re: Z9 Release Thread
« Reply #237 on: December 24, 2021, 12:40:30 »
Thom Hogan is now updating his Z9 Blog with daily experiences in Okavango Delta, Botswana

https://www.zsystemuser.com/z-mount-cameras/the-z9-blog/

MFloyd

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Re: Z9 Release Thread
« Reply #238 on: December 24, 2021, 16:25:21 »
Thom Hogan is now updating his Z9 Blog with daily experiences in Okavango Delta, Botswana

https://www.zsystemuser.com/z-mount-cameras/the-z9-blog/

I like the technical articles of Thom Hogan, but his last pictures (with the Z9) are really sub par. And the excuse about a non calibrated screen is a little bit light.

Extract Day Six: Also, all these photos were processing from NEF files on my 13" M1 laptop, and there may be some inconsistency of brightness as I wasn't using a calibrated monitor and processing in different light all the time.
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David H. Hartman

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Re: Z9 Release Thread
« Reply #239 on: December 24, 2021, 21:07:02 »
Processing images on an uncalibrated screen in varying levels of luminosity and color temperature will result in inconsistencies. This is a given. If the processing is done outdoors on a glossy screen problems get worse. When ever possible one should process images in low light with the ambient light color controlled and with no bright colored objects in ones peripheral vision. No sunlight should be admitted into the work area as it varies all day long. Even an off white wall behind the monitor should be avoided. When in the field you do the best you can and hope the results are acceptable. I'm sure one can find better advice than mine for setting up a proper work area for image processing on the net. I hope this is a good start.

I ware a baseball cap so the light above my monitor is not in my peripheral vision. A hood over ones monitor can be helpful to keep light from spilling onto the monitor. Again check the net to find good and complete instructions on setting up a work area environment for image processing.

For insight into color perception I suggest reading a small book, Itten The Elements of Color with a forward by Faber Birren.

Dave

I agree that a number of the images in the blog less than optimal. I'm typing outdoors on a small glossy screen so I'm sure my writing is inconsistent. :)
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