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Is that it? No more feature firmware releases for the Z9?

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kbrkr

kbrkr

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I know the Z92 is pending release sometime soon, but do you all think Nikon has closed the door on any future feature firmware releases for the Z9? I'd have to go back in history to see just when the last feature was released in relation to the next hardware release for the TOTL cameras.
 
I suspect we will see at least one more major release, and possibly small bug fixes if needed.
 
The Z6 continued to get firmware update support even when the Z6II was here.

If there is a feature they can port to the Z9 or Z8, and it makes sense for them to do so, they will probably do it even if the Z9II has been released.

At least that's how they treated their cameras in the past, I don't see why this would be different here.
 
Of course there will be firmware releases.

The Z9 is still a current model and a lot of people won't buy a Z9II (myself included) until a year or two after release, assuming supply will meet demand (which it often does not.)

In its current state, the Z9 is one of the best hybrid models on the market (I own two) and remains competitive. 10 years from now it will still be a fantastic camera, though we can all see the improvements that are possible, if not exactly desperately needed...better EVF, higher resolution, global shutter, Pixel shift and several other cool things that might be added.

Firmware is coming, but this is such a well rounded pro camera, I'll be in no major rush to upgrade. Ditto for the Z8 and other current bodies. It's all great gear.

Robert
 
I imagine there will be at least another firmware release with Content Credentials which is an important feature for the many pros that use the Z9. That said, Nikon's software team really needs to harmonize and integrate their firmwares across all of their same-generation platform (ie. Expeed 7) instead of doing this piecemeal release thing: how they're doing it is a symptom of an arguably broken software development process.
 
kbrkr said:
I know the Z92 is pending release sometime soon, but do you all think Nikon has closed the door on any future feature firmware releases for the Z9? I'd have to go back in history to see just when the last feature was released in relation to the next hardware release for the TOTL cameras.
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Absolutely zero evidence to suggest a Z9 II is pending, it’s nothing more than speculation.
 
Patience :)
 
kbrkr said:
I know the Z92 is pending release sometime soon, but do you all think Nikon has closed the door on any future feature firmware releases for the Z9? I'd have to go back in history to see just when the last feature was released in relation to the next hardware release for the TOTL cameras.
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What features are you looking for?
 
Possibly if they want to get you to buy a Z9II to get the features that Z8 got already.
 
pkartikk said:
Possibly if they want to get you to buy a Z9II to get the features that Z8 got already.
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I'd think they'll stick to their guns and leave Z8 centric features on the Z8 and Z9 centric features on the Z9. If you want a Z8 or a Z8ii, you get a Z8 or a Z8ii. If you want a Z9 or a Z9ii, you get the Z9 or the Z9ii.

Or maybe they're just taking their time to figure out how to deal with the resolution niche and they are just using the Z8 to fill that gap for now. Waiting for a sensor, waiting for a body, who knows.
 
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kbrkr said:
I know the Z92 is pending release sometime soon, but do you all think Nikon has closed the door on any future feature firmware releases for the Z9? I'd have to go back in history to see just when the last feature was released in relation to the next hardware release for the TOTL cameras.
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No, "we all" don't think so :D

There is no clue at this right time and Nikon has already been releasing firmware updates for previous version of Z bodies long time after their second version was launched (I think of Z6/Z7 that saw more firmware updates than their second versions thru years).

So no evidence of a Z9II arriving soon, and still, if ever it's launched, that would not mean there won't be updates for the previous version.
 
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I would guess Nikons "Z9" Software experts are working on Z9II at the moment.

I would also guess there will be one major update to the Z9, but it may be after the Z9II release.

One other factor is there have been 5 updates already, the Z9 firmware is a lot larger/more complicated than when it was first released. They may be nearing the limits available
 
There will certainly be further FW updates for the Z9, to what extent they will bring significant new features is another question.

You certainly don't need a crystal ball to say that the Z9 is nearing the end of its life cycle.

That doesn't mean that there will be no more FW updates, but I wouldn't expect any more spectacular features either.

So things like pre-capture-release in RAW/NEF, as requested by many as a FW update for the Z9, will probably be saved by Nikon for the successor model, even if it were technically feasible for the Z9.

But I would at least expect features like the in-body focus limiter, HSFC image quality /jpg fine, maximum aperture live view, flexible color picture controls to be added to the Z9, as long as there are no technical limitations like with the pixel shift.
 
Haven't we seen this cycle before? One gets updated, then the next?

I can't imagine them not bringing the 9 to same spec as the 8-unless the internals simply don't allow it.

I suspect we'll see the 9 get the same treatment and potentially something else in addition. Just a total guess. It would for sure be a bummer if the 8 leaps ahead.

A Z9II would still be what, 6-18 months from being released at this point most likely? Olympic cycle?
 
owenleve said:
Haven't we seen this cycle before? One gets updated, then the next?
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Some may have overlooked the Z5 II had bird AF before Z8 Firmware 3 :-)
 
I've been a loyal Nikon user since 1993. When I decided to make the move to mirrorless, I looked at other other manufacturers, particularly Sony, but based on my long experience with Nikon I really wanted to continue with them. Then I attended a Nikon presentation and decided to buy a Z9 for almost $5,500. From a competitive standpoint, the Z9 was a make or break camera for Nikon and I bought one. It was by far the most that I had ever spent for a camera but then I liked the Nikon products that I had purchased over the years and I was a loyal customer.

At the time Nikon pitched the Z9 as the most advanced camera in their line-up by far. Now, only a few years later, it seems that lesser cameras in their lineup are getting better features even though those cameras do not have more advanced components, e.g., Z8.

With all that said, I hope that Nikon will at least provide us Z9 users with features that are currently available in their other cameras. After all, we stepped up to the plate when they needed us.
 
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Oh well, Z6 III owners are still waiting for Bird Detection mode, although Nikon has promised this officially for later in 2025. However this camera launched in June 2024.

The Zf launched mid-2023 but it only received Bird mode in its FW2.0 in April 2025

The Z5 II launched in April 2025 with Bird mode :-)

Previously, Z8 owners had to wait months (until February 2024) after the FW 4.0 added Bird mode in the Z9 (4th October 2023).
 
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