Z9 Release Thread

[Jack Dahlgren]

I don't have my Z9 yet, but it should not be too long now.

What brands of cards do you recommend as SAFE and durable? What size as your folks getting? Are any less expensive? Two slots, so any help on what you are doing appreciated. Any special prices anywhere in U.S.?

I plan to do video as well, so I am looking for a larger card, one supported by the Nikon Z9, and as inexpensive as possible,  but solid.

When I got mine the list of “compatible” cards was short, so I chose a fast medium size card, Prograde Cobalt 325gb. I’m happy with it for everything I’ve tried. For just stills I think previous generation cards are fine. I used my old XQD card for the first week with no problems. If you want to minimize expenditure you can likely get by with what you have for your Z7 unless you are doing 8k video.

[Michael Erlewine]

I was buying some Sony TOUGH 512 MB cards (expensive) and then switched to Angelbirds AV PRO SX 128 MB with 1600MB/s writing speed (warning the 512 MB version is slower).

When you say that the "warning the 512 MB version is slower," were you talking about the TOUGH 512 or the Andgelbird 512. I take it the Angelbird.

Does anyone know if we want 512 cards (or higher) which is the best brand?  I want to buy two of them, one for each slot, but I don't want to regret that purchase later for one reason or another.

[chambeshi]

When you say that the "warning the 512 MB version is slower," were you talking about the TOUGH 512 or the Andgelbird 512. I take it the Angelbird.

Does anyone know if we want 512 cards (or higher) which is the best brand?  I want to buy two of them, one for each slot, but I don't want to regret that purchase later for one reason or another.

I am using a Lexar CFExpr, which from testing to date is fine for everything I photograph. I recall Ricci Chera (Nikon UK, RicciTalks  youtube) says XQD work fine for landscapes and macro etc but in other cases are slow and overheat

But I am planning henceforth to buy these or similar
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1672462-REG/delkin_devices_dcfx1_2x128_128gb_cfexpress_type_b.html 

[Birna Rørslett]

For my way of shooting, XQD cards are just fine on the Z9. They are more than snappy enough. I see absolutely no reason to invest in a new card type and readers for these, but of course this is my view on the matter only.

Now, I can use the same cards for D500, Z6, Z7, and Z9.

[Michael Erlewine]

For my way of shooting, XQD cards are just fine on the Z9. They are more than snappy enough. I see absolutely no reason to invest in a new card type and readers for these, but of course this is my view on the matter only.

Now, I can use the same cards for D500, Z6, Z7, and Z9.

Appreciate the info, yet if we want to try 8K video, I am told the XQD cards are not fast enough. What brands of cards have you found the most trustworthy?

Also, any thoughts about 1 TB cards for video? Are they slower than, say, 512 cards?

[chambeshi]

Appreciate the info, yet if we want to try 8K video, I am told the XQD cards are not fast enough. What brands of cards have you found the most trustworthy?

Also, any thoughts about 1 TB cards for video? Are they slower than, say, 512 cards?

I've only tried the slower Lexar, but these links may answer your questions. They are fairly clear about what qualifies and doesn't. As I understand recent changes and future trends, 8K is the main rationale behind Nikon embracing the CFExpress standard!
https://www.thessdreview.com/our-reviews/cfexpress/

https://www.thessdreview.com/our-reviews/cfexpress/delkin-devices-64gb-128gb-ands-256gb-power-and-prime-cfexpress-type-b-cards-reviewed-great-sustained-speeds-at-low-temps/6/

Angelbird is the other brand - according to Ricci's testing - that qualifies for high speed data transfer demands in the Z9 and they make a 4Tb card

https://www.angelbird.com/prod/av-pro-cfexpress-type-b-2546/

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1678304-REG/angelbird_avp160cfxbsx_av_pro_cfexpress_sx.html

https://www.newsshooter.com/2021/04/28/super-fast-angelbird-cfexpress-2-0-type-b-media-card-review/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YND5oacJBl4&t=8s

[Michael Erlewine]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YND5oacJBl4&t=8s

Thanks, that's more info than I expected, but enough as well, especially Ricci's video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YND5oacJBl4&t=8s

Much appreciated. I believe I will go with the Delkin 1 TB, one for each slot.

[Michael Erlewine]

What about L-Plates for the Z9? Are there some out there that are any good? I see that RRS has one in the works, but not available, and they are always very expensive.

What are you using?

[Birna Rørslett]

Some of the L-plates for the 'pro' DSLRs fit quite well. My D3 'L' from RRS only required a minimal adjustment to be useful. Not a perfect fit, but good enough.

Alternative, you can be patient and wait for the usual suppliers to come up with a dedicated (and expensive) product for the Z9.

[Michael Erlewine]

Some of the L-plates for the 'pro' DSLRs fit quite well. My D3 'L' from RRS only required a minimal adjustment to be useful. Not a perfect fit, but good enough.

Alternative, you can be patient and wait for the usual suppliers to come up with a dedicated (and expensive) product for the Z9.

I have a whole box of L-Plates around here. I did just order the SmallRig L-Plate for the Z9, because it was like $69, and I have tons of flat plates. B&H tells me that my Z9 is in the next batch they receive, so I am getting ready. I have an extra battery, 2 1TB fast cards, and the L-Plate. What else do I need other than patience?

I also am told that my Z 100-400 S Nikon lens is also soon to be delivered.

[MILLIREHM]

When you say that the "warning the 512 MB version is slower," were you talking about the TOUGH 512 or the Andgelbird 512. I take it the Angelbird.

Does anyone know if we want 512 cards (or higher) which is the best brand?  I want to buy two of them, one for each slot, but I don't want to regret that purchase later for one reason or another.

I was talking about the 512 GB Angelbird AV PRO CFexpress SE Type B (for less less demanding production jobs, relatively cheap
https://www.angelbird.com/prod/av-pro-cfexpress-se-type-b-2919/?category=238
same read speed as the SX /1780 MB/s) but Angelbird announcees a writing speed of  850 MB/s  and steady writing  speed of 800 MB/s

for the 160 GB AV PRO CFexpress SX Type B, (For High-Speed Continuous Shot Photography) see here
https://www.angelbird.com/prod/av-pro-cfexpress-sx-type-b-2925/?category=238
writing speed of 1600 sustained: 1480

for an overview watch here
https://www.angelbird.com/category/cfexpresstm-20-type-b-238/
Just for the sake of completeness
For larger cards the AV PRO CFexpress MK2 gives (expensive) options  between 1 and 4 TB up to a writing speed of 1550 (sustained 1300)
and with the AV PRO CFexpress XT MK2 (from 330 to 1320 GB): 1600/ sustained: 1480

The Sony Tough 512 is announced 1480 (no information whether steady or not)

in the meantime a lot more information has been posted here- It appears as Angelbird is rather new and not on everyones radar (just detected it recently)

[Michael Erlewine]

I was talking about the 512 GB Angelbird AV PRO CFexpress SE Type B (for less less demanding production jobs, relatively cheap
https://www.angelbird.com/prod/av-pro-cfexpress-se-type-b-2919/?category=238
same read speed as the SX /1780 MB/s) but Angelbird announcees a writing speed of  850 MB/s  and steady writing  speed of 800 MB/s

for the 160 GB AV PRO CFexpress SX Type B, (For High-Speed Continuous Shot Photography) see here
https://www.angelbird.com/prod/av-pro-cfexpress-sx-type-b-2925/?category=238
writing speed of 1600 sustained: 1480

for an overview watch here
https://www.angelbird.com/category/cfexpresstm-20-type-b-238/
Just for the sake of completeness
For larger cards the AV PRO CFexpress MK2 gives (expensive) options  between 1 and 4 TB up to a writing speed of 1550 (sustained 1300)
and with the AV PRO CFexpress XT MK2 (from 330 to 1320 GB): 1600/ sustained: 1480

The Sony Tough 512 is announced 1480 (no information whether steady or not)

in the meantime a lot more information has been posted here- It appears as Angelbird is rather new and not on everyones radar (just detected it recently)

I know Angelbird's SSD from my Atomos recorders, and it was OK. But from what I can read, perhaps their CFExpress cards are not pleasing everyone just now. I might wait for the 2nd generation of Angelbird cards.  I went with Delkin 1TB because they seem to be a good middle-of-the-road brand that can handle 8K video, but are (like most) expensive enough.

[MILLIREHM]

I know Angelbird's SSD from my Atomos recorders, and it was OK. But from what I can read, perhaps their CFExpress cards are not pleasing everyone just now. I might wait for the 2nd generation of Angelbird cards.  I went with Delkin 1TB because they seem to be a good middle-of-the-road brand that can handle 8K video, but are (like most) expensive enough.

Probably a right choice. In my decisionmaking I was focussed on fast burst shooting, so far I have got no clue what 8k Videomaking really needs

[Michael Erlewine]

Probably a right choice. In my decisionmaking I was focussed on fast burst shooting, so far I have got no clue what 8k Videomaking really needs

The Z9 can capture ProRes 422 HQ internally, and with a future firmware update, this will be extended to 12-bit raw 8k/60p… in camera.

The value of shooting in 8K is that we can crop that in post and then export in 4K. Still photographers, which mostly is what I do, can pull frames from 8K and do a lot more with them than we can with smaller images. I would love to take an 8K burst of a moving subject and then pick the still images I would like to use, for example.

[MILLIREHM]

What about L-Plates for the Z9? Are there some out there that are any good? I see that RRS has one in the works, but not available, and they are always very expensive.

What are you using?

Here there is a ProMediaGear PLNZ9-QD L-Winkel for the Nikon Z9 including a QD-connector - not in stock but one can order it (no experience aboud ProMediaGear and its reliability
https://www.augenblicke-eingefangen.de/kamerazubehoer/kamera-l-winkel/nikon/?p=1&o=1&n=12&f=2513
recently RRS was added with unknown date of availability (and more expensive)
Not sure what I am going to do