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Nikon unveils its most advanced camera ever
The Z 9, Nikon’s mirrorless flagship, is something special. It has a features set that will make other brands green with envy – and at £5299, it’s also cheaper than its main competitors
AS RIVALS CANON and Sony introduced great mirrorless cameras this year, Nikon had to react. It’s done just that with the Z 9, which – it claims – delivers exceptional operability and robustness. The Z 9 is packed with features, including a stacked 45.7-megapixel
full-frame CMOS sensor, an ultra- fast Expeed 7 processor, and Nikon’s most sophisticated, deep learning autofocus that uses a phase/contrast detect system – plus 3D tracking. The sensor is conductive coated, producing a magnetic field to repel dust and debris – and a f luorine coating makes sensor cleaning easier. There is also a physical sensor shield to stop nasties getting in when changing the lens. The AF system has an impressive 493-point AF, with 405 auto-area AF points and ten AF-area modes, allowing for custom settings.
For the first time ever in a Nikon mirrorless camera, 3D tracking helps users keep pace with fast- moving subjects, such as animals and vehicles – the Z 9 is capable of detecting up to nine different subject types at the same time. The camera uses intelligent detection software, recognising the subject – and with continuous AF calculations, it reacts instantly to rapid, even erratic movements. The Z 9 boasts a bright, 3000-nit EVF display and dual- stream technology, guaranteeing always-live, blackout-free shooting. Furthermore, the display provides a continuous, real-time view, so photographers can see even the slightest movement in the scene they are capturing. Full-frame Raw capture is possible at 20fps, with a 1000-shot buffer. If you need even more speed, shoot JPEGs only, to blast away at 30fps. Better still, 120fps is possible with 11-megapixel JPEGs. The Z 9 does all this with an electronic shutter that features a 1/32,000sec top speed, and a f lash sync of 1/200sec or 1/250sec. An auto FP high-speed sync up to 1/8000sec is supported, too. There is no mechanical shutter option.
FLEXIBLE VIEWING A large, responsive touch monitor can tilt 90° from a horizontal or vertical position, making low or high viewpoint shooting easy and comfortable
FEATURES ATAGLANCE › P rice Body only £5299 › Resolution 45.7 megapixels › S ensor Stacked BSI CMOS FX format sensor › ISO ISO 64-25,600 expansion to ISO 102,400 › Viewfinder 3.69m dot EVF › C ontinuous shooting 20fps full-size Raw shooting › V ideo 8K UHD video 7680x4320 at 30p/25p/24p, 4K UHD video 3840x2160 up to 120p › Shutter Electronic shutter only › Storage Dual CFexpress B/XQD › D imensions (wxhxd) 149x149.5x90.5mm › B ody weight 1340g
“THE Z 9 IS CAPABLE OF DETECTING UPTONINE DIFFERENT SUBJECTTYPES”
A five-axis (pitch, roll, yaw, X and Y) in-body image stabilisation gives up to 6EV benefit when using with Z lenses with built-in VR. The camera offers great f lexibility operating the Z 9, thanks to its four-axis vertical and horizontal tilting touch monitor. Shooting upright format images from low or high viewpoints is simple. Nikon has taken on feedback from photographers to aid the ergonomic design of the Z 9 – the camera has a refined body layout. The new AF
mode button lets users switch easily between AF and AF-area modes, when shooting with the eye up to the viewfinder. The LCD control panels and key buttons can also be illuminated for easy operation in the dark. The Nikon Z 9 retails at £5299, body only, and will be available from this winter. Nikon also announced additions to its Z lens system – turn to page 7 for more details. nikon.co.uk
GREAT ERGONOMICS Nikon sought the opinions of pro users to produce a considered control layout on the Z 9. Having the on/off switch, ISO button and exposure compensation on the right side is very Nikon
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