FW 2.0 for Z6 and Z7

[tommiejeep]

https://downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com/en/download/fw/327.html

Interested to see what folk here think.  I held off buying until the release.
Doesn't seem too many of the gang in Scotland have taken a Z6/7 , and may not be the place to download , but would be interesting to hear from a group.
Cheers,

[chambeshi]

Yes, the eye AF function is now present [in a4]. But I've yet to try it on a human. There is Technical Service Advisory guide just out:

https://www.nikonusa.com/en/service-and-support/service-advisories/technical-service-advisory-for-users-of-the-nikon-z-6-and-z-7-cameras.html

And this video on setup and tweaking the new Eye-AF mode:

https://youtu.be/RPJHDSOFD5c

Shutter blackout is much less shooting High-Continuous. In d5 you can now set Shutter Type to 1 among a choice of 3. Not only Mechanical or Electronic but also to 'Auto', in which the camera selects Shutter Type based on shooting conditions. I haven't yet found out what the thresholds are, but previously set in Electronic mode it was not possible to select faster than 1/2000. In Auto this upper bound is removed, obviously.

Scrolling through the Custom settings, this new Firmware hasn't updated customization options - these are limited wrt critical functions. This cripples my Z7 in key respects. For one, unlike a D850 (or D500) I cannot toggle between the AF setting on to an alternative AF mode [eg Dynamic-Area and Single-Point]. Playback menu settings remain limited; they are still not segregated from Photo Menu. So setting the Fn button to Image-protect in Playback makes it useless, as it cannot be set to a complementary custom command for Shooting.

While it's great to see Nikon coders have focused efforts on updating a feature in AF, they have not acted on the intense effort first Z owners expended in feedback on forums etc to prioritize straightforward fixes. So the message many customers will take from this is, "You do not matter." Sad

[Michael Erlewine]

I can't seem to get the firmware update to install.

I downloaded the "W" Windows version and unzipped it. I then copied the .bin file to a XQD card that I formatted in-camera. It says it is "33,019 KB"

I put the card in the camera and in SETUP, chose Firmware. But only the version 1.00 is shown. There is no second version. I have tried this many times. Any idea what the problem might be. I have a full battery.

[chambeshi]

Hi Michael
With XQD card in slot, turn on Z. Select Firmware under Setup Menu; choose Update and it should query to Select Yes to Update from 1.0 to 2.0

regards

[Birna Rørslett]

You need to put the new .bin file into the root folder on the card. Put the card into the camera, switch on and go to setup. The old firmware is shown and a line below, there should be an Update option to select.

Just did the update on my Z6 and so far all is OK.

[Birna Rørslett]

https://downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com/en/download/fw/327.html

Interested to see what folk here think.  I held off buying until the release.
Doesn't seem too many of the gang in Scotland have taken a Z6/7 , and may not be the place to download , but would be interesting to hear from a group.
Cheers,

At the moment we have updated firmware of three or four Z6/7 and found no issues. Practical field testing continues.

[Michael Erlewine]

I found out WHY the firmware update will not work.

You have to use the "b" battery that comes with the Z7, not the earlier "a" battery. PLEASE NOTE. Nikon EN-EL15b

[Hugh_3170]

My new Z7 arrived last week, and the EN-EL15A battery I had in it did work for my firmware upgrade this evening. 

It was charged at the 95% level, so maybe that could be the issue.  I recall on an earlier Nikon DSLR I had that one needed to use fresh batteries to do the firmware upgrade - can't remember which model it was, but I do remember the need to have the battery fully charged.  Hope this helps.


 

I found out WHY the firmware update will not work.

You have to use the "b" battery that comes with the Z7, not the earlier "a" battery. PLEASE NOTE. Nikon EN-EL15b

[Michael Erlewine]

My new Z7 arrived last week, and the EN-EL15A battery I had in it did work for my firmware upgrade this evening. 

It was charged at the 95% level, so maybe that could be the issue.  I recall on an earlier Nikon DSLR I had that one needed to use fresh batteries to do the firmware upgrade - can't remember which model it was, but I do remember the need to have the battery fully charged.  Hope this helps.

The "a" battery was charged, but perhaps it was slightly off and since it is less powerful to begin with, the Z7 did not accept it.

[longzoom]

In my case doesn't matter which battery - it must be 100% charged. Everything went OK, sensitivity in low light raised dramatically, as well as focusing speed. After updating most of my previous settings sat to default, watch it. Need to check Eye AF in real condition out, in working nice. Gonna take time for me.  LZ

[tommiejeep]

At the moment we have updated firmware of three or four Z6/7 and found no issues. Practical field testing continues.

Good to hear that the group is on the case  .
Keep having fun in Scotland,
Tom

[atpaula]

I was expecting another focusing aid for manual focus lenses. I simply don’t like peaking highlights.

[Eddie Draaisma]

In FW2.0 there is now an option (d5) to automatically switch between full mechanical and electronic first curtain shutter (EFCS); convenient in case one is using EFCS (to limit shutter shock) and a shutter speed faster than 1/2000s is needed.

Observing the Z7 shutter sound it looks like that for shutter speeds up to 1/250s EFCS is used; faster than that and it is full mechanical shutter.

[gryphon1911]

In FW2.0 there is now an option (d5) to automatically switch between full mechanical and electronic first curtain shutter (EFCS); convenient in case one is using EFCS (to limit shutter shock) and a shutter speed faster than 1/2000s is needed.

Observing the Z7 shutter sound it looks like that for shutter speeds up to 1/250s EFCS is used; faster than that and it is full mechanical shutter.

That is what I was hoping for and will reconfirm with my Nikon Z6 tonight or tomorrow.

[Fons Baerken]

Came across this, some issues with ibis

https://www.nikonusa.com/en/service-and-support/service-advisories/technical-service-advisory-for-users-of-the-nikon-z-6-and-z-7-cameras.html