Obviously this is not the first thread on this subject -- but let us go with it.
I own and use on almost a daily basis a pair of Z9 (first one Jan 2022) and a pair of Z8 (first one May 2023). So I am very well used to these cameras by now.
99% of the items listed so far to the physical layout/construction of the Z9 are of no remote interest to me, the pros I shoot with and in some cases would back this Pro-level/flagship Nikon camera much worse. Examples - The Z9 card door is perfect - It is a shame the same solution was not used on the Z8; I do not want a flippy screen on either the Z9 or Z8 (reserve this crud for the much smaller consumer models); I do not need more buttons, joysticks or pads or locks, etc.;
The EVF and LCD resolutions and refresh rates are perfect in the Z8/Z9 and so on.
The real question is WHAT would you change Physically with the Z9 that a Z9ii would deliver -- please do not ask for a flippy screen. It is unclear how much more headroom is in the Z9/Expeed 7 hardware and weather or not RAW pre-capture is possible; or 30 FPS Lossless RAW or any of the other changes many folk seem to desperately want. It is also unclear if the current sensor could be used to deliver 2-4 times the number of Af-points and smaller subject detection.
Yes there are changes in firmware to the current Z9 that are:
A) expected ie currently found on the Z8 (aviation SD, human/face AF and image processing options, HLG/HEIF, and .....; OR
B) hoped for by me and many others I communicate with [Thom hogan is doing a great job compiling and filtering a wish list across the whole z-system bodies
SEE HERE - I concur with most on this list where they apply to the Z9 (and Z8). For me smaller items:
- add more Wide-Area C3, C4, C5, etc.... options;
- add multiple Shooting Recall Hold options per menu bank;
- add/enable lower resolution Lossless RAW (and other formats) to be selected while retaining the full frame image area (AND enable similar options for each cropped image area) - BUT use BiCubic or Linear Interpolation not just pixel binning -- sizes should be 30-35mp; 24-26mp; current 19.5 mp; current 11.5mp. DETERMINE if there is a Buffer and/or FPS improvement that can be used with these smaller file sizes
- consider if many more smaller selectable AF points can be chosen - all competing flagship cameras have many many more and smaller -- but this may be baked into the physical sensor design
- the inclusion of focus distance scale was welcome but, please add a role we can assign for the camera to set the lens focus to the theoretical hyperfocal distance for the lens/aperture combination. On button press to set the focus distance to this “distance” - it is very difficult to do this consistently by hand with fly by wire lenses
- add enable/disable Subject Detection allocatable as a role to programmable buttons
- even more programmable buttons and roles that can be assigned -- including multiple RSFH to individual buttons; starting stacking runs with the shutter button;
- add over-exposure blinkies/zebras for still shooters viewable in the EVF/Live view
- higher flash sync speed before switching to HSS/ Auto-FP — please push the boundaries for faster/higher flash sync speeds when using strobes — I would like to control when the camera pushes my strobes into HSS. Currently black banding occurs at 1/250 (starting at) and higher shutter speeds — can the Z9 not deliver 1/400th or 1/800th?
- add support for frame averaging — this is when one takes a series of shots with — similar to an exposure bracket — but with NO change to the exposure setting and then uses tools like photoshop to combine the shots using the MEAN blending option for smart objects. This is similar to the process used the IQ4 backs for long “exposure” shots — basically one exposes for the scene and takes “say” 100 images then blends the results to achieve the equivalent of a 10-stop ND filter. The 2nd benefit is that noise can be reduced by the equivalent of Square root (number of shots averaged) (see Jim Kasson’s blog for the maths).
- Video - enable Open Gate recording (so full sensor not just 80%) for all formats to support use of squeeze lenses; add false colour monitoring; display shutter angle; allow Zebra blinkies to be set down to 40% to assist in setting the correct exposure; offer N-log down to ~ISO 64 (equivalent and lower if possible); and a host of other other missing pro video features that would need an accessory attached via USB-C -- such an accessory MUST be able to act as a hub to accept PB, connect to the MC-N10; and other physical functions (CINE connectors, SSD etc..)
- provide a bolt on active cooling accessory and FW update to support it -- more of an issue with the Z8, but Nikon need to develop solution that works WITH the way the LCD is supported (there is space behind the LCD if it is extended fully to the rear in Landscape orientation - this may need to be just a blower/fan but would be better if it could be somewhat similar to the Fujifilm, solution. Obviously it has to be bolted to something and draw power presumably from a CINE accessory and it must be tied into the camera's thermal management.
- ANd lots of other smaller items
What would make a Mk II Z9 for me without priority:
- The next big anticipated sensor design change is total shutter (Canon is struggling with this for the R1) and ANY potential migration to use the much larger and even faster CF Express Type C cards (again see R1 rumours). If this is this possible for a Z9II and what would the benefits be.
- How about 16-bit tone/colour depth -- we have had 14-bit for a while -- I would like to see 16-bit before higher resolution.
- I have 100% no issues with the resolution of the current Z8/Z9 sensor, EVF or LCD and would be worried about what shooting/AF performance would be lost if higher res sensor or screens were used - so please leave well alone.
- Sure I would like to see much much higher flash sync speeds before shifting into HSS. Perhaps this has to wait for total shutter. My own testing confirms 1/250th is the current limit - but is this an engineering choice or built in physically
- AND - perhaps it is time for Nikon to upgrade its UI and Menu system -- but I am so used to it I really do not want any changes to it.
- Now on the video side - a buss level connector to allow the Z9ii to be connected directly to accessories, like an SSD and/or full CINE interface to be used and additional connectivity would be great as would a mount based ND solution (since this would have an optical impact Nikon would have to deliver it.
- add a 2nd full data USB-C port, that allows PD as well. For the Z8 allow the USB-C port to accept PD, and enable full data and PD to be used with the PD port).
- 30 fps full resolution Lossless RAW stills and upto 240 fps in ultra high speed stills and N-RAW N-LOG 8.3k vid. Much expanded Buffer
- Consideration of a 1-2TB internal SSD like the X2D-100C -- as an option selectable on purchase. [so one SSd and one CFE-B card slot OR two CFE-B slots)
- I thought long and hard about this one -- Hot shoe with Data and power link to enable solutions like the Tascam digital adapter CA-XLR2d - DIGITAL (not just the analogue version which we can use today) AND audio solution that allows multi-channel full 32-floating bit to be recorded in camera either vie audio/mic in or via the hot shoe data connector.
Hard NO for any future Z9/Z8 --
- Flippy LCD
- Higher/lower resolution sensor
- Change to Card door locking - this is a key part of the weather sealing and easy to use once one works out how (YES even when using gloves)
- I do not want any brand specific flash transceiver built into the camera -- this automatically reduces the market and flexibility - far easier to use an external trigger.
--
areallygrumpyoldsod
Nikon and Hasselblad shooter -- wildlife and and --
Retired Wildlife photographer
www.andymillerphoto.co.uk
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