The ONE big Z9II feature you want?

Leonard Shepherd · Oct 17, 2025

michaeladawson said:
Leonard Shepherd said:

One potential benefit of Expeed 8 is an increase in the number of AF points to further improve an already very good AF system.

Click to expand...

That is similar to something Thom brought up. Not so much number of AF points. But Thom discussed adding what I think he called dual-axis AF, something which Canon has. I took it that he was talking about what we used to call cross-point AF sensors.

However, that would be a hardware update. I would put it high up on my list though.

Dual-axis (similar to DSLR cross type AF points) can be particularly advantageous with scenes not recognised by subject detection modes.

For subject detection, AF needs to identify several points of detail in a subject, often starting with a body, then a face, and then if there is still enough detectable detail an eye.

While Nikon has recently made progress in this direction with the Nikon Z AF existing number of AF points, in theory at least the more AF points there are the better this can be achieved.

I understand the Nikon system now has fewer AF points than the top models from competitors.

--
Leonard Shepherd
In lots of ways good photography is similar to learning to play a piano - it takes practice to develop skill in either activity.

DarkShift · Oct 17, 2025

Some people want to keep AI out of real photography.

Personally, I have to use AI enough at work so for me photography is something that complete opposite of all the computer generated crap.

Alberto Tanikawa · Oct 17, 2025

Here are my requests:

Same 45mp, but 16-bit color and Prophoto RGB color space
Thin bezel 4" fully articulated main monitor, 1500 nits, 4 million dots
Digital hot shoe and dual XLR accessory that provides phantom power for mics
8K60, 4K120, 2K240, 720P480; H.266/H.265/H.264
N-RAW and R3D
AI assisted AF that locks on to a specific person, and can discern that person's face out of a crowd in real time

Vermillion · Oct 17, 2025

I'm currently using a Z8, shooting mostly wildlife, and I wanna say that I'm very happy with it overall, but since we're asking for what we want to see improved:

Autofocus improvements, specifically I want it to be stickier with action for wildlife and getting less easily distracted by things in the foreground, like grass or twigs.

When shooting quickly moving shorebirds close up with the 600 f/4, you really notice how the system just is too slow to follow them most of the time. I'm sure they can improve on that with the next generation.

That's the one big thing I'm hoping for, other than that:

-Integrated Strap lugs, similar to those on the ZR

-Zebras while shooting photos

-RAW Pre-Capture

-Open Gate Video

-1080 240p

-A screen mechanism similar to that on the A1 II, I don't want a flippy screen

Leonard Shepherd · Oct 17, 2025

DarkShift said:
Some people want to keep AI out of real photography.

For better or worse it seems impossible to take a photo on a recent smart phone, or to use most current PP software without some element of AI being involved.

Wezre · Oct 17, 2025

Thom Hogan said:
monte12345 said:

AI upsizing is approaching the point where it's becoming difficult to detect. With the Expeed 8 CPU computational upsizing may replace Pixel Shift. Think about it, why spend all that time dancing the sensor when AI can produce the same effect and you can't see any difference.

Click to expand...

[...]

Thom Hogan said:

Something that I do hope we will see is onboard memory in the 1 to 2 TB range.

Click to expand...

What you're asking for there is more external memory (to the EXPEED chip). This raises hardware issues all over the place. I'm not sure that the current EXPEED design would benefit all that much from more memory, but I could be wrong on that.

[...]

Thom Hogan said:

If so Nikon may have to provide 10-20 TB internal memory.

Click to expand...

Have you checked the price of memory that can be accessed by two things simultaneously at really high speeds? Cost prohibitive for a Z9II.

It seems like they are conflating "memory" with "storage." Internal storage could possibly help with video, but I don't see how it helps stills shooting. Plus, you still have to offload the data and then you're dealing with a USB-C connection to clear the storage, which takes time, instead of swapping out a card. Then there are the issues of space within the camera body and heat that internal storage would create.

10-20TB of internal storage seems very far fetched.

dacrema · Oct 17, 2025

Alberto Tanikawa said:
Here are my requests:

Same 45mp, but 16-bit color and Prophoto RGB color space

Thin bezel 4" fully articulated main monitor, 1500 nits, 4 million dots

Digital hot shoe and dual XLR accessory that provides phantom power for mics

8K60, 4K120, 2K240, 720P480; H.266/H.265/H.264

N-RAW and R3D

AI assisted AF that locks on to a specific person, and can discern that person's face out of a crowd in real time

I will not likely be moving to a Z9ii. I am aging out of cameras at this level and size. I want the features for what they will do for the rest of the next generation of cameras.

That said:

RAW pre-capture would be nice for the birding and animal photography I like to do. In that this has not been accomplished in any of the current generation of cameras I am guessing it cannot be accomplished with a firmware update.
As Alberto said above, 16-bit color.
AF that locks onto a specific person. I think Canon or one other competitor has such a feature. It would be nice if Nikon could somehow work a similar feature.

Alberto Tanikawa · Oct 17, 2025

I believe it was Sony that had face registration first. I used to borrow an A7 III while working for Tamron, and could see the camera find my son during a basketball game, and not focus on other kids faces.

M Lammerse · Oct 17, 2025

The only minor complain I have about the Z9 are the 'rubber' parts on the camera. The feel of it is fine, but they wear out easily, especially under hot humid conditions. Faster than on for example the Z8 or the D850.

Michel

MrHollywood said:
Okay....so for some folks it's the pre-capture thing. And for others it's pixel shift.

But what's that ONE big feature that will have you drooling to grab a Z9II???

Believe it, or leave it, I'd like to see some sort of resolution bump along with more advanced AF. Of course I have zero issues with the AF now, but I might fight 60mp useful in some situations, though that would be a very small bump overall.

And just for giggles....make it around 10% lighter and of course hand over a better LCD and EVF, two things we're certain to see.

I do expect to see a USD price well over 6K, perhaps around $6399.00 or so.

I won't be jumping first as I'll grab new firmware for my Z9's and wait a year before biting. Exciting times....we'll know soon!

Robert

Matsu · Oct 17, 2025

MrHollywood said:
Okay....so for some folks it's the pre-capture thing. And for others it's pixel shift.

But what's that ONE big feature that will have you drooling to grab a Z9II???

Believe it, or leave it, I'd like to see some sort of resolution bump along with more advanced AF. Of course I have zero issues with the AF now, but I might fight 60mp useful in some situations, though that would be a very small bump overall.

And just for giggles....make it around 10% lighter and of course hand over a better LCD and EVF, two things we're certain to see.

I do expect to see a USD price well over 6K, perhaps around $6399.00 or so.

I won't be jumping first as I'll grab new firmware for my Z9's and wait a year before biting. Exciting times....we'll know soon!

Robert

A faster X-sync speed than 1/200s. Two to three stops more ought to be just enough for controlling sunlight with speedlights at normal apertures, so 1/800 to 1/1600. I realize this would likely require a new and/or updated sensor... Or maybe a global shutter sensor using some version of REDs sensor tech...

michaeladawson · Oct 17, 2025

Thom Hogan said:
FWIW, I've been playing with AI pixels lately. The image currently on my site is a 6mp image upscaled to 24mp, then for Web purposes downsampled to 2mp. One thing I've learned is that when AI makes the pixel, your post processing has to change. Our digital cameras alias data (a topic I need to write much more about, because there are a ton of nuances to that). When you start applying modern post processing techniques against an aliased image you get one edge type, for instance, but when you do it against AI generated pixels, you get a different edge type. This may be naivete in the AI models, it may be a real issue, I don't know yet. You also have to watch out for when you apply a function (Adobe has an order they say you should make processing changes now, and it's different then the original Lightroom order).

From what I read on the Adobe forum (answer supplied by Adobe employee with reference to Adobe Help documentation) to this specific question about order of edits...

The order of edits matters ONLY for performance. Internally, Lightroom has its own pre-programmed order in which it applies the editing changes that one has made.

So, if I'm to believe Adobe if you want the snappiest performance there is apparently a recommended order. But for the actual IQ, one has no control over the order of the edits as they are applied by Lightroom.

Do you have information that refutes this? I'd like to know what it is if you do as I do want the best IQ output.

Mnemon · Oct 17, 2025

Thom Hogan said:
Vince P said:

Twin USB C

Click to expand...

Easy enough to do, but is it really necessary?

Necessary, no, but something useful for many. One as a power input, one as an output to an external SSD. All that is niche, but then this is the uppermost professional tool Nikon would offer.

* keeps two heat sources - battery power and storage away from the camera

* super useful for anything with long record/operation times (filmmaking, time-lapse, camera traps in remote situation) etc.

* hotswapping batteries - if the internal battery takes over.

*Potentially similar with storage, if combined with long internal buffer, so there's enough time to switch seamlessly between internal recording, external recording, and swapping. (Hypothetical. Requires a lot of tricky and complex back-and forth between software and internal / external hardware).

vinturius · Oct 17, 2025

Each pixel full color, no Bayer interpolation, via the dichroic mirror system.

Vince P · Oct 18, 2025

Thom Hogan said:
Vince P said:

One big feature would be adding C2PA that doesn't cause a performance hit

Click to expand...

Not sure that can be done if you're referring to high frame rate stability.

It would take a big jump in horsepower - but as it stands currently it's pretty much unusable for high burst rates.

Thom Hogan said:
Thom Hogan said:

CF Express 4.0

Click to expand...

While possible and even likely, I'm doubtful that camera tech can even max out 2.0 yet, so there are other things that have to happen in order for there to be an "in camera" improvement.

I agree it doesn't max out what 2.0 can do but the slowest 4.0 cards used in 4.0 are plenty fast enough so it's easier to use that headroom especially when clearing buffer.

Thom Hogan said:
Thom Hogan said:

Non line skipped 4K 120

Click to expand...

Dependent upon image sensor.

Thom Hogan said:

Z6iii Viewfinder

Click to expand...

EZ-PZ

Thom Hogan said:

DCiP3 brighter monitor

Click to expand...

Also now EZ, though would it be the 4" ZR one?

I am not sure there is space I definitely don't want the ZR flip around on a Z9 but would take the combo setup from Sony if that made everyone happy.

Thom Hogan said:
Thom Hogan said:

WI-Fi7/8

Click to expand...

Expeed licensing and IP has to change.

Thom Hogan said:
Thom Hogan said:

R3D (NE)

Click to expand...

No brainer

Thom Hogan said:

ZR Style Memory banks and on screen controls.

Click to expand...

Maybe. The ZR uses User Settings, and note that they're not camera wide. I'm of the belief that "settings changes" have to be rethought and rebuilt on the pro camera in order to reflect the 21st century (I've held that opinion for almost two decades ;~). The on-screen controls have been evolving on every model, so what is Nikon learning and from whom?

So far it's a big improvement over, what they have had until now, but still feels Nikon for those who fear change. It would improve the SNR and tribalism over the banks vs U1 etc.

Thom Hogan said:
Thom Hogan said:

Multiple recall shooting function.

Click to expand...

This gets back to the "settings changes" bit. Needs complete rebuild.

I agree but per button choices would still be an improvement.

Thom Hogan said:
Thom Hogan said:

Twin USB C

Click to expand...

Easy enough to do, but is it really necessary?

I would and do use it on the Z8 power for one MC-N10 on the other. If they add SSD external recording it would be a plus. Of course not letting the MC-N10 have a power passthrough was a big miss.

Thom Hogan said:
Thom Hogan said:

Function search within menus

Click to expand...

Menu hierarchy, discovery, and inter-dependencies are currently broken. I have many ideas about how to fix this, but search is not one of them ;~)

After many many years still forget timelapse video is under shooting.

DarkShift · Oct 18, 2025

MrHollywood said:
Okay....so for some folks it's the pre-capture thing. And for others it's pixel shift.

But what's that ONE big feature that will have you drooling to grab a Z9II???

Believe it, or leave it, I'd like to see some sort of resolution bump along with more advanced AF. Of course I have zero issues with the AF now, but I might fight 60mp useful in some situations, though that would be a very small bump overall.

And just for giggles....make it around 10% lighter and of course hand over a better LCD and EVF, two things we're certain to see.

I do expect to see a USD price well over 6K, perhaps around $6399.00 or so.

I won't be jumping first as I'll grab new firmware for my Z9's and wait a year before biting. Exciting times....we'll know soon!

Robert

I believe Z9II will be evolutionary upgrade with several smaller improvements.

I would like to see these:

- Atleast 30 fps RAW stills with full auto focus

- Pixel shift (should really be offered to Z9 already

- CF Express 4.0 (dual Type B slots)

- EVF with atleast 5.6 Mdots and high refresh rate

- Faster USB ports with atleast 10Gb speed

- Faster sensor readout if it can be done without sacrificing DR

- Grip design could be refined so that vertical shutter release is more recessed.

Thom Hogan · Oct 18, 2025

michaeladawson said:
The order of edits matters ONLY for performance.

No. Now that AI is being applied in various functions, there is absolutely an order Adobe says to do things in, because X will be based upon Y will be based upon Z. While going out of order doesn't always clearly show issues, many of these things will invoke edge changes, and I've seen a couple of very visible differences.

michaeladawson said:
Internally, Lightroom has its own pre-programmed order in which it applies the editing changes that one has made.

This applies primarily to "global adjustments" (the original Develop panel).

michaeladawson said:
So, if I'm to believe Adobe if you want the snappiest performance there is apparently a recommended order. But for the actual IQ, one has no control over the order of the edits as they are applied by Lightroom.

Nope. It's not speed that's affected, it's final pixel results.

michaeladawson said:
Do you have information that refutes this?

Yes, from Adobe. And you're going to find that if you do things out of order a yellow icon is going to appear in the panels, warning you that you're out of order.

Thom Hogan · Oct 18, 2025

Mnemon said:
* keeps two heat sources - battery power and storage away from the camera

Not necessarily. Heat is generated through the port use itself.

Mnemon said:
* hotswapping batteries - if the internal battery takes over.

The current architecture doesn't allow this: there must be a battery in camera (or grip) when USB PD is powering the system. That can be worked around, but it's a redesign thing. How many redesign things are we going to have in the next generation?

Mnemon said:
*Potentially similar with storage, if combined with long internal buffer, so there's enough time to switch seamlessly between internal recording, external recording, and swapping. (Hypothetical. Requires a lot of tricky and complex back-and forth between software and internal / external hardware).

While possible, seems improbable to me. Lots of potential for corruption involved with this.

Bill Ferris · Oct 18, 2025

monte12345 said:
AI upsizing is approaching the point where it's becoming difficult to detect. With the Expeed 8 CPU computational upsizing may replace Pixel Shift. Think about it, why spend all that time dancing the sensor when AI can produce the same effect and you can't see any difference.

No, thank you. We're photographers, not graphic designers.

monte12345 said:
While we are at adding AI features to the Z9 how about in camera Focus Shift blending and in camera Panorama stitching. IIRC Olympus already does this and don't see any reason why Nikon doesn't do the same.

In-camera compositing isn't a priority for the vast majority of Z9 users. That's a task best left to a dedicated photo processing app. Nikon should stay focused on improving the quality and integrity of the data their professional products capture.

Tailslol · Oct 18, 2025

4K 240 fps and 2K 480 fps and I'm buying. : )

michaeladawson · Oct 18, 2025

Thom Hogan said:
michaeladawson said:

The order of edits matters ONLY for performance.

Click to expand...

No. Now that AI is being applied in various functions, there is absolutely an order Adobe says to do things in, because X will be based upon Y will be based upon Z. While going out of order doesn't always clearly show issues, many of these things will invoke edge changes, and I've seen a couple of very visible differences.

Thom Hogan said:

Internally, Lightroom has its own pre-programmed order in which it applies the editing changes that one has made.

Click to expand...

This applies primarily to "global adjustments" (the original Develop panel).

Thom Hogan said:

So, if I'm to believe Adobe if you want the snappiest performance there is apparently a recommended order. But for the actual IQ, one has no control over the order of the edits as they are applied by Lightroom.

Click to expand...

Nope. It's not speed that's affected, it's final pixel results.

Thom Hogan said:

Do you have information that refutes this?

Click to expand...

Yes, from Adobe. And you're going to find that if you do things out of order a yellow icon is going to appear in the panels, warning you that you're out of order.

Not that I don't believe you, I generally trust you. But what was posted was called the updated new guidelines for 2025. So I will do some more searching to confirm what you say. I suspect you're probably right, though.

I don't use LR, I use ACR. But I assume the same recommended order of processing steps would apply to ACR as well since my understanding is that the underlying engine is basically the same.

Does ACR put up the same yellow warning icons if you go out of order? I think what you're referring to is the new icon in the side panel. For me, it's always there. ACR occasionally lights up that button on the side panel. You click on that and it tells you that some actions need to be updated. Usually it seems to light up when you use the Remove tool before making global adjustments. But not always. Maybe sometimes if you create a mask (I can't remember). It seems to depend on what global adjustments you made. And once you've clicked on the icon to update the image it doesn't seem light up again even if you make further global adjustments.

The ONE big Z9II feature you want?

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