Nikon Z9 + Sigma 150-600mm C
Nikon Z9 + Nikkor 20mm f1.8G
Nikon Z9 + Nikkor 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 VR S
Nikon Z9 + Nikkor 24-70mm f2.8S
Nikon Z9 + Sigma 150-600mm C
Note: All photos on this page taken by me using the Z9
Since getting the camera in late 2020 I've had a lot of people asking me questions like:
- What is it like?
- Is it as good as it seems?
- Is the 3D Tracking as good as the DSLR days?
- What is the EVF like?
- What is a camera without a mechanical shutter like?
- What is the speed like, does it actually track at those shutter speed?
- Is it as good as it seems?
- Is the 3D Tracking as good as the DSLR days?
- What is the EVF like?
- What is a camera without a mechanical shutter like?
- What is the speed like, does it actually track at those shutter speed?
Just to name a few.
And now I think is a good time to answer these questions because owning and shooting with it since December I feel that now I can answer them properly. Now be mindful, these answers are all my take on using the camera in my own unique style. Everyone is different and uses a camera in a different way.
And now I think is a good time to answer these questions because owning and shooting with it since December I feel that now I can answer them properly. Now be mindful, these answers are all my take on using the camera in my own unique style. Everyone is different and uses a camera in a different way.
So what is it like?
It. Is. Vast. It is not a small camera by any measurement, but and a Nikon Z9 sized but...
Once you pick the Z9 up you will be actually surprised by the fact it doesn't feel as heavy as it looks, Nikon must be doing some kind of Jedi mind tricks with their ergonomics. The grips on the Z9 fit so well in the hand for landscape & portrait orientations that you quickly forget about the weight of the camera.
To put things into perspective.
The Nikon D4 I have been using since 2013 is a back-breaking monster coming in at 1.3kg body only.
How about the Z9? It also comes in at 1.3kg body only and yet when holding the Z9 it sits in the hands so well that it actually feels lighter. An all day shoot with the D4 hurts the hands while an all day shoot with the Z9 gives some discomfort but nothing worth taking pain relief for, unlike the D4.
The Nikon D4 I have been using since 2013 is a back-breaking monster coming in at 1.3kg body only.
How about the Z9? It also comes in at 1.3kg body only and yet when holding the Z9 it sits in the hands so well that it actually feels lighter. An all day shoot with the D4 hurts the hands while an all day shoot with the Z9 gives some discomfort but nothing worth taking pain relief for, unlike the D4.
Great product design & ergonomics go a long way.
Nikon Z9 + Nikkor 50mmf1.8S
Nikon Z9 + Nikkor 50mmf1.8S
Nikon Z9 + Nikkor 24-70mm f2.8S
Nikon Z9 + Nikkor 24-70mm f2.8S
Nikon Z9 + Nikkor 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 VR S
Is it as good as it seems?
In short, yes.
Yet so, so much more than just yes. This camera is scary good, no matter what you aim the camera at it grabs focus and doesn't let go, like a baby Koala on mums back (how Aussie is that!).
Rolling photos of a car doing 100kph, car autofocus grabs hold, stabilising kicks in and away you go nailing hand held 1/15sec like its nothing.
Yet so, so much more than just yes. This camera is scary good, no matter what you aim the camera at it grabs focus and doesn't let go, like a baby Koala on mums back (how Aussie is that!).
Rolling photos of a car doing 100kph, car autofocus grabs hold, stabilising kicks in and away you go nailing hand held 1/15sec like its nothing.
In the middle of an extreme low light setting and someone walks into the shadows. Z9 not only picks up that someone is there, eye autofocus finds and locks onto their eye... I couldn't even see their face let alone an eye!
Is the 3D Tracking as good as the DSLR days?
I have come to love having 3D tracking, I had it on the D700, D800 & D4.
So when I got my Z6 the lack of 3D tracking was very much missed, I just like others adjusted my workflow when shooting and made do, when I really needed to guarantee not missing a shot or was shooting fast targets I still had and used the D4, for 2012 tech that camera can still punch it with the new kids on the block.
I have come to love having 3D tracking, I had it on the D700, D800 & D4.
So when I got my Z6 the lack of 3D tracking was very much missed, I just like others adjusted my workflow when shooting and made do, when I really needed to guarantee not missing a shot or was shooting fast targets I still had and used the D4, for 2012 tech that camera can still punch it with the new kids on the block.
When Nikon announced in a teaser video the Z9 would be bringing back 3D tracking I called and put my name down straight away. Already owning the Z6 I knew that all the other feature packed into the Z9 would be great for me, but the 3D tracking "sold" me the Z9.
Now I've had a good chance at testing the system across multiple subjects, lighting & weather.
I can confidently say, yes, yes it is as good as the DSLR days but it is so much more. Locking on your subjects eye when they're in almost completed darkness, locking on and tracking a bird mid flight the mirrorless age 3D tracking is just that good.
I can confidently say, yes, yes it is as good as the DSLR days but it is so much more. Locking on your subjects eye when they're in almost completed darkness, locking on and tracking a bird mid flight the mirrorless age 3D tracking is just that good.
It makes shooting easier. Knowing that when you bring the camera up to your eye the camera has already found your subject and only needs you to hit that focus button and frame the shot.
My workflow has changed from using the D4 & Z6:
D4: Where is my focus box, get that on my subjects face, lock on, frame it, click.
Z9: Pick which eye to focus on, frame it, click.
Nikon Z9 + Nikkor 50mmf1.8S
Nikon Z9 + Nikkor 24-70mmf2.8S
Nikon Z9 + Nikkor 24-70mmf2.8S
Nikon Z9 + Nikkor 70-200mmf2.8S
Nikon Z9 + 135mm f1.8 Plena
I don't know the technical terms but it feels like Nikon have relocated Harry Potter from the stairs to inside the Z9. (the scar makes sense now) It sounds stupid but honestly this camera does think that fast. By the time the camera hits your eye or even you look at the rear screen the Z9 and already found the subject or multiple subjects and is giving suggestions on focus points.
Big family group photo?
That little eye-AF box bounces around the screen, all you do is pick which person to focus on.
With this new age of AF and having a system that learns the more you use it at first feels really odd, when you first get on scene and start shooting the camera is on point and fast. But after a while shooting one type of subject the camera learns patterns and gets better.
That little eye-AF box bounces around the screen, all you do is pick which person to focus on.
With this new age of AF and having a system that learns the more you use it at first feels really odd, when you first get on scene and start shooting the camera is on point and fast. But after a while shooting one type of subject the camera learns patterns and gets better.
At the start my Z9 was great at finding cars for instance. Now though it feels like the camera already knows my style / techniques on a shoot I can almost change my workflow to purely: Frame, Click, Done.
I used to always say mirrorless cameras allow you to shoot less because you get the shot sooner. The Nikon Z9 amplifies that.
What is the EVF like?
Just like the original Z6 & Z7 cameras. Comfortable.
Doesn't feel like you're looking at a screen nor does it feel electronic, of course yes it is but being you're looking at a screen millimetres from your eye its not uncomfortable.
Compare this, walk up to an 8k tv in a store and put your nose on it and tell me that its not uncomfortable. That is the same thing you're doing with the Z9 and yet it feels perfectly normal.
Just like the original Z6 & Z7 cameras. Comfortable.
Doesn't feel like you're looking at a screen nor does it feel electronic, of course yes it is but being you're looking at a screen millimetres from your eye its not uncomfortable.
Compare this, walk up to an 8k tv in a store and put your nose on it and tell me that its not uncomfortable. That is the same thing you're doing with the Z9 and yet it feels perfectly normal.
Having no blackout between shots does help the EVF feel even more "normal" than anything else, I challenge any of those mirrorless haters try this camera and still hate mirrorless.
With the new firmware 2.0 you can boost the EVF to 120fps. During fast moving photography this amazing EVF has gotten buttery smooth! Yes it will more than likely chew the battery more, but on a camera like this tell me you don't have spares... I have four.
With the new firmware 2.0 you can boost the EVF to 120fps. During fast moving photography this amazing EVF has gotten buttery smooth! Yes it will more than likely chew the battery more, but on a camera like this tell me you don't have spares... I have four.
What is a camera without a mechanical shutter like
Different. It does take a while to get used to having zero feel when clicking the shutter button.
In normal situations having the volume of the electronic shutter noise is perfectly fine substitute, high noise situations though is where not having any feel to taking a photo becomes most notable. At times I find myself looking towards the edge of the screen and making sure those little white lines are flashing indicating a photo has been taken, times like that maybe a tiny vibration or a slightly larger flashing object on screen would help allowing the user to focus on the scene and not making sure they're taking photos.
Different. It does take a while to get used to having zero feel when clicking the shutter button.
In normal situations having the volume of the electronic shutter noise is perfectly fine substitute, high noise situations though is where not having any feel to taking a photo becomes most notable. At times I find myself looking towards the edge of the screen and making sure those little white lines are flashing indicating a photo has been taken, times like that maybe a tiny vibration or a slightly larger flashing object on screen would help allowing the user to focus on the scene and not making sure they're taking photos.
On the same subject, no shutter equals no movement caused by the camera. Pair that with no blackout in the EVF and the speed of the camera and hand held bracketing is super easy. Three shot bracketing? Please, I've been doing seven shot bracketing hand held.
What is the speed like? 120 FPS seems a bit much.
For most photographers I absolutely agree. Simple, not everyone needs 120fps when out and about. But for the pros & extreme hobbyists having this speed paired with the new 3D tracking, no mechanical shutter, real live EVF and learning AF. This is a very useful tool to have in their camera.
For most photographers I absolutely agree. Simple, not everyone needs 120fps when out and about. But for the pros & extreme hobbyists having this speed paired with the new 3D tracking, no mechanical shutter, real live EVF and learning AF. This is a very useful tool to have in their camera.
The Olympics recently was the best example of this with some photographers able to capture a bullet leaving the barrel of a gun.
Firmware 2.0 also added a whole new feature to the camera called Pre-Capture.
Enabling the camera to record one second before the shutter button is pressed, started once you activate the autofocus, meaning the camera has already taken that shot before you were able to react. = you can't miss that moment.
Enabling the camera to record one second before the shutter button is pressed, started once you activate the autofocus, meaning the camera has already taken that shot before you were able to react. = you can't miss that moment.
Nikon Z9 + Nikkor 14-24mm f2.8S
Nikon Z9 + Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8S
Nikon Z9 + Nikkor 24-70mm f2.8S
Nikon Z9 + Nikkor 20mm f1.8G
Nikon Z9 + Nikkor 24-70mm f2.8S
My thoughts
This camera has already paid for itself, yes in funds but that isn't what I'm talking about.
I am talking about all those shots I have been able to get with this camera that wouldn't have been able to or at least very hard with other cameras. Shots for my clients that have become incredibly easy to capture because of the tech in this crazy camera.
I am talking about all those shots I have been able to get with this camera that wouldn't have been able to or at least very hard with other cameras. Shots for my clients that have become incredibly easy to capture because of the tech in this crazy camera.
The Nikon Z9
For me, has changed the game.
For me, has changed the game.
Watch this space.
Nikon Z9 + Nikkor 24-70mmf2.8S stitched panorama
Nikon Z9 + Sigma 150-600mm C
Nikon Z9 + 24-70mm f2.8S
Nikon Z9 + 20mm f1.8G
Nikon Z9 + Sigma 150-600mm C
Nikon Z9 + 135mm f1.8 Plena
Nikon Z9 + 20mm f1.8G
Nikon Z9 + 135mm f1.8 Plena
Nikon Z9 + 24-70mm f2.8S
