Fast. Powerful.
Autofocus.
The Z 9’s ability to track in fast action sports is amazing.
Rod Mar, Award Winning Sports Photographer and Nikon Ambassador
A breakthrough algorithm developed using deep learning enables the Z 9 to automatically detect and track the world’s largest range of subjects3—people, dogs, cats, birds, cars, motorcycles, bicycles, trains and planes—in stills and video with no menu changes.
AF and AE calculations are made at 120 cycles per second with rapid, constant communication between the lens and the camera through the Z mount. Even small, erratic subjects like birds in flight are tracked with ease.
Enhanced Eye AF for people, pets and birds.
Eye Detection AF automatically tracks the eyes of people, dogs, cats and birds (and similar creatures) even when they’re small in the frame, covered by hair, glasses or goggles, right-side up or upside down.
There’s a confidence that I have that just allows me to think about the photograph.
Cliff Mautner, Professional Wedding Photographer and Nikon Ambassador
3D Tracking + Subject Detection. A new dimension of AF.
The power of Nikon’s acclaimed 3D Tracking is now available with deep learning subject detection. Effortlessly lock onto fast-moving subjects and track them moving toward you, away from you and everywhere in between.
Create your own
focus areas.
Sometimes, you need precise control of where your Z 9 should focus. With 20* custom Wide-Area AF (C1/C2) options, you can define the shape of your focus area. Your custom focus area will even work simultaneously with Subject Detection and Eye-Detect AF.
*12 new Wide-Area AF C1/C2 options in video mode.
Focus in the dark.
Go down to -8.5 EV.
Subject detection and AF works all the way down to -6.5 EV. Activate Starlight Mode, and focus all the way down to -8.5 EV. And since you’ll be spending more time in the dark, the Z 9’s buttons are illuminated.
A groundbreaking new processing engine.
EXPEED 7. The most powerful Nikon processing engine ever. 10x faster than previous generations. Handles complex AF and AE calculations at 120 cycles per second. Separately processes dual-streamed data from the stacked image sensor. Enables next-generation features like 120 fps still shooting, 8K video recording, a blackout-free viewing experience and more.
Blazing fast 120 fps stills.
For a sports photographer to have this many things to choose from is unheard of.
Andrew Hancock, Award Winning Sports Photographer, and Nikon Ambassador
To capture moments you may never have seen before, the Z 9 captures 45.7-megapixel stills at an action-freezing 30 fps and press-ready 11-megapixel stills at an insanely fast 120 fps—all with full AF and AE performance and no blackout.
Keep your finger down. 1,000-image buffer capacity.
With a seemingly bottomless buffer, the Z 9 shoots continuously for more than 1,000 frames at 20 fps* as full resolution High-Efficiency RAW or JPEG (L) fine files.
*When using the recommended memory card: ProGrade Digital CFexpress™ Type B 2.0 Cobalt 1700R.
20 fps
45.7-megapixel stills RAW + JPEG
30 fps
45.7-megapixel stills JPEG
120 fps
11-megapixel stills JPEG
Nail the shot you missed.
When shooting fast action, Pre-Release Capture* records the instant right before you take your shot, capturing a moment that might otherwise have been missed. Give your reaction time a boost.
*Available in C30 and C120 modes.
The fastest write speeds. Dual CFexpress Type B.
Under a newly designed latching door are two matched slots optimized for high-performance CFexpress Type B cards. The slots are independent from each other, so you can load cards with different write speeds—including XQD cards.
The electronic shutter in the Z 9 achieves the world’s most minimal rolling-shutter distortion2, eliminating the need for a mechanical shutter. Shoot at shutter speeds up to 1/32,000 second in complete silence, with no shutter vibration and no concerns about shutter wear.
Silent mode.
Become invisible.
When you need to be invisible, Silent Mode turns off menu sounds and VR Lock and minimizes lens drive noises. And since the Z 9 does not have a mechanical shutter, you can shoot without a shutter click—or plug in headphones so only you can hear the simulated shutter sound.*
*A simulated shutter sound and release timing indicator can be set as desired.
Groundbreaking
8K video.
The combination of the Z 9 and Z range of lenses, I wasn’t even aware that this kind of clarity and sharpness was achievable.
Shannon Wild, Award Winning Photographer and Filmmaker
With an innovative body design that efficiently dissipates heat, the Z 9 records lush 10-bit 8K UHD video at 24, 25 or 30 fps internally for over 2 hours straight*—with no risk of overheating. Need stills from your shoot? Save 33-megapixel frame grabs right from your footage.
*At a temperature of 23°C/73.4°F
4K/30p from
oversampled 8K.
Record dense 10-bit 4K UHD footage in-camera with full pixel readout from the Z 9’s outstanding sensor at 24, 25, 30p as ProRes 422 HQ or H.265 video. Or create dramatic 4K UHD slow motion sequences up to 120p. A 2.3x crop format with full pixel readout is available for getting closer to your subject without changing lenses.
Lenses that shine in any light.
Take advantage of fast aperture NIKKOR Z lenses and the Z 9’s dynamic range to capture beautiful, sharp low light footage. Add drama and depth to any production.
In-camera.
Record pristine 12-bit ProRes RAW HQ or new N-RAW video straight to the Z 9’s memory cards—no external device required. To speed up in-camera playback and edits, a smaller Full HD companion file is created, too.
SDR, HLG
and N-Log
Selectable tone mode for your preferred grading process.
24-Bit Linear
PCM Audio
Use the internal stereo mic or an external stereo mic.
ProRes
422 HQ
Capture 10-bit 4:2:2 video up to 4K UHD/30p in-camera.
