Issues with Z9

[Boschje]

Hello,

After some years of less intensive photography I decided to get rid off all my Nikon D-SLR's and lenses and got myself a Z9 with some new glass (Standard F/2.8 zooms and a 105 F/1.2).

However I am having a few issues with the camera so far:

1. One of my test shots is usually one with closed aperture to check for any sensor problems or dust. It does show some dust I cannot remove by using the built-in sensor cleaning option. Now, it is not to the extend I would normally manually clean my sensor but I am a bit afraid it is "stucked" and can't be cleaned. Now I can go ahead an try to clean it with Eclipse but has anyone ever experienced that dust could not be removed from their Z9 (or even other Z camera)?
2. It seems that the monitor does not sit fully flush when "recessed" fully onto the body so to say. On the right upper side there is a bit of play and when I touch the screen (it is a touch screen after all) it "ticks" a bit because I push the monitor against the body. Is that considered normal?
3. Even with the menu option for high-frequency flicker reduction set to on I have severe banding issues at home with my Philips Hue lightning. I know electronic shutters are more sensitive but Is this normal, anyway to solve this?

I am on firmware 4.0.

Thanks a lot in advance.

 

[Thom Hogan]

1. has anyone ever experienced that dust could not be removed from their Z9 (or even other Z camera)?

No.

1. On the right upper side there is a bit of play and when I touch the screen (it is a touch screen after all) it "ticks" a bit because I push the monitor against the body. Is that considered normal?

No. But you also may not have set the two adjustments all the way back to zero.

1. Even with the menu option for high-frequency flicker reduction set to on I have severe banding issues at home with my Philips Hue lightning. I know electronic shutters are more sensitive but Is this normal, anyway to solve this?

Just turning the option on doesn't fix the problem. You have to adjust shutter speed until it matches the light source.
---
Thom Hogan
author, Complete Guides to Nikon bodies
bythom.com dslrbodies.com sansmirror.com zsystemuser.com

 

[vinturius]

1. On the right upper side there is a bit of play and when I touch the screen (it is a touch screen after all) it "ticks" a bit because I push the monitor against the body. Is that considered normal?

No. But you also may not have set the two adjustments all the way back to zero.

.

Oh that click is a small thingy that I just cannot un-feel. How/what/where to go for these adjustments?

 

[areallygrumpyoldsod]

1. Even with the menu option for high-frequency flicker reduction set to on I have severe banding issues at home with my Philips Hue lightning. I know electronic shutters are more sensitive but Is this normal, anyway to solve this?

The point of High-Frequency Flickr is to "fine-tune" the shutter speed until you find a setting when the banding disappears -- BUT you have to be using S or M mode -- did you do this?







--
areallygrumpyoldsod
Nikon and Hasselblad shooter -- wildlife and and --

Andy Miller Photo UK

Retired Wildlife photographer

www.andymillerphoto.co.uk

Andy Miller

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I do not respond to PMs or messages via my website

 

[Leonard Shepherd]

1. One of my test shots is usually one with closed aperture to check for any sensor problems or dust. It does show some dust

Sometimes, especially at small apertures, dust on the back of the lens. can be recorded on the sensor.

 

[Adam-T]

Just turning the option on doesn't fix the problem. You have to adjust shutter speed until it matches the light source.

does it do it automatically in A and P modes ? or is there an option to set it to detect and micro tune flicker automatically out at all ?

--
** Please ignore the Typos, I'm the world's worst Typist **

 

[raveleijn]

I have the dust problem and it's not on the lens or on a converter as noticed at this forum earlier. Dust looks to stick 'static' on my Z9 sensor and I only got it removed with wet cleaning. Using the blower does nothing at all. I never had this problem with my D7100, D500 or with my sony gear (a9 and a6400) I always do a test with aperture on f22-32 against a white cloud or wall. I 'm mostly using the 400mm f4.5 and don't change lenses very much.

 

[ProDude]

Somehow I must be blessed. I've not been able to produce any artifacts due to lighting on my Z9. A R5 and A7RV and OM-1 ALL had artifacts as my home is all LED lighting. I've been amazed how my Z9 has been so immune to this. So far have never had to use any repair features

 

[archerscreek]

1. Even with the menu option for high-frequency flicker reduction set to on I have severe banding issues at home with my Philips Hue lightning. I know electronic shutters are more sensitive but Is this normal, anyway to solve this?

The point of High-Frequency Flickr is to "fine-tune" the shutter speed until you find a setting when the banding disappears -- BUT you have to be using S or M mode -- did you do this?

I know you are against an improved EVF with greater resolution, but in my use I have seen where a better EVF would have allowed me to catch some faint banding; though it’s been much lighter, never to the extent seen in OP’s example. In my experience, banding is visible in images viewed on a full sized monitor, but I couldn’t make it out in the EVF.

And that’s been my overall experience with my Z9 when shooting indoors. I have seen banding pop up, but it’s generally been faint enough that it’s only noticeable when purposefully looking for it.

So to the OP, I’ve never had any sensor dust or monitor fitting issues. And the banding hasn’t been problematic, though, I have seen it on occasion when looking for it.

 

[jthomas39]

The Z6 sensor cleaning vibrations never seemed to do any good for me.

Rocket blowers dislodge very large dust particles, but the smaller ones seem to be "stuck" -- static charges, I assume.

Wet cleaning works, but it's a bit of trouble.

Now I mostly use a sensor brush. It doesn't get everything, but is quite effective on dust that shows in skies or other plain surfaces. The remainder usually need f/16 and cranking up the contrast to see them.

Sensor Dust Brush

I got a Dust Patrol brush from the local camera shop.

Take it out of it's storage tube.

Blast the bristles with the rocket blower to give them a slight static charge. I have the nice Promaster blower, with a paper filter on the intake to the bulb.

Blow off the sensor to remove any large particles.

Brush once across the sensor with each side of the brush, then blast the bristles again and do a second pass from the other direction. This gets all the edges of the sensor.

 

[Boschje]

1. has anyone ever experienced that dust could not be removed from their Z9 (or even other Z camera)?

No.

1. On the right upper side there is a bit of play and when I touch the screen (it is a touch screen after all) it "ticks" a bit because I push the monitor against the body. Is that considered normal?

No. But you also may not have set the two adjustments all the way back to zero.

What adjustments do you mean?

1. Even with the menu option for high-frequency flicker reduction set to on I have severe banding issues at home with my Philips Hue lightning. I know electronic shutters are more sensitive but Is this normal, anyway to solve this?

Just turning the option on doesn't fix the problem. You have to adjust shutter speed until it matches the light source.

Yes, I've noticed that too to get rid of it but what I see is not uncommon then?

 

[Boschje]

1. Even with the menu option for high-frequency flicker reduction set to on I have severe banding issues at home with my Philips Hue lightning. I know electronic shutters are more sensitive but Is this normal, anyway to solve this?

The point of High-Frequency Flickr is to "fine-tune" the shutter speed until you find a setting when the banding disappears -- BUT you have to be using S or M mode -- did you do this?

I think I was in A quite honestly. Good find! Nevertheless I was kinda shocked by the amount of banding. Never seen anything like this on my D-series quite honestly.

I know you are against an improved EVF with greater resolution, but in my use I have seen where a better EVF would have allowed me to catch some faint banding; though it’s been much lighter, never to the extent seen in OP’s example. In my experience, banding is visible in images viewed on a full sized monitor, but I couldn’t make it out in the EVF.

And that’s been my overall experience with my Z9 when shooting indoors. I have seen banding pop up, but it’s generally been faint enough that it’s only noticeable when purposefully looking for it.

So to the OP, I’ve never had any sensor dust or monitor fitting issues. And the banding hasn’t been problematic, though, I have seen it on occasion when looking for it.

I can see the banding when I press the AF-ON button to focus (use AF-C all the time). Before that the banding does not appear om the monitor/EVF. Not sure why but that is what I obtained. As soon as the AF Is activated it is visible.

The banding is quite severe, I did not expect it to this extend really. But it can be assumed "normal" ?

 

[Boschje]

1. One of my test shots is usually one with closed aperture to check for any sensor problems or dust. It does show some dust

Sometimes, especially at small apertures, dust on the back of the lens. can be recorded on the sensor.

Thanks for the answer, will check it with another lens to be sure.

 

[FrankG]

Hello,

After some years of less intensive photography I decided to get rid off all my Nikon D-SLR's and lenses and got myself a Z9 with some new glass (Standard F/2.8 zooms and a 105 F/1.2).

However I am having a few issues with the camera so far:

1. One of my test shots is usually one with closed aperture to check for any sensor problems or dust. It does show some dust I cannot remove by using the built-in sensor cleaning option. Now, it is not to the extend I would normally manually clean my sensor but I am a bit afraid it is "stucked" and can't be cleaned. Now I can go ahead an try to clean it with Eclipse but has anyone ever experienced that dust could not be removed from their Z9 (or even other Z camera)?

What lens did you use for the test?

The reason I ask is that if it's a type of lens with a rear element that is very close then check very carefully that there isn't any dust on that rear element. It could be that what you are seeing that you think is dust pn the sensor is actually dust on the rear element of the lens. I had this happen to me once when I did a "dust bunny" test using a long lens fitted with the Z 1.4 TC and thought the camera had dust bunnies .. but it turned out they were on the rear element of the TC!

Frank

 

[Fullframer]

The Z6 sensor cleaning vibrations never seemed to do any good for me.

Rocket blowers dislodge very large dust particles, but the smaller ones seem to be "stuck" -- static charges, I assume.

Watch out with rocket blowers, sometimes they put more dust/debris on your sensor than you are removing. Had that happen years ago with my D3S, never again. I won't use those.

Wet cleaning works, but it's a bit of trouble.

The best way. Not that much trouble.

Now I mostly use a sensor brush. It doesn't get everything, but is quite effective on dust that shows in skies or other plain surfaces. The remainder usually need f/16 and cranking up the contrast to see them.

Sensor Dust Brush

I got a Dust Patrol brush from the local camera shop.

Take it out of it's storage tube.

Blast the bristles with the rocket blower to give them a slight static charge. I have the nice Promaster blower, with a paper filter on the intake to the bulb.

Blow off the sensor to remove any large particles.

Brush once across the sensor with each side of the brush, then blast the bristles again and do a second pass from the other direction. This gets all the edges of the sensor.

 

[nightowlnz]

The banding is quite severe, I did not expect it to this extend really. But it can be assumed "normal" ?

Banding is normal under artificial light, particularly LED lighting - as this lighting is "pulsing" at a certain frequency. We don't generally detect this with our eyes, but the camera sensor picks it up as it reads line-by-line.

You have to adjust shutter speed to compensate for it - and features like flicker reduction allow more fine-tuned shutter speed adjustments to work around this.

 

[Boschje]

Hello,

After some years of less intensive photography I decided to get rid off all my Nikon D-SLR's and lenses and got myself a Z9 with some new glass (Standard F/2.8 zooms and a 105 F/1.2).

However I am having a few issues with the camera so far:

1. One of my test shots is usually one with closed aperture to check for any sensor problems or dust. It does show some dust I cannot remove by using the built-in sensor cleaning option. Now, it is not to the extend I would normally manually clean my sensor but I am a bit afraid it is "stucked" and can't be cleaned. Now I can go ahead an try to clean it with Eclipse but has anyone ever experienced that dust could not be removed from their Z9 (or even other Z camera)?

What lens did you use for the test?

The reason I ask is that if it's a type of lens with a rear element that is very close then check very carefully that there isn't any dust on that rear element. It could be that what you are seeing that you think is dust pn the sensor is actually dust on the rear element of the lens. I had this happen to me once when I did a "dust bunny" test using a long lens fitted with the Z 1.4 TC and thought the camera had dust bunnies .. but it turned out they were on the rear element of the TC!

Frank

Will check that tomorrow. Thanks.

 

[Thom Hogan]

No. But you also may not have set the two adjustments all the way back to zero.

What adjustments do you mean?

The Rear LCD has two pivot points. You have to get both back to no pivot.

1. Even with the menu option for high-frequency flicker reduction set to on I have severe banding issues at home with my Philips Hue lightning. I know electronic shutters are more sensitive but Is this normal, anyway to solve this?

Just turning the option on doesn't fix the problem. You have to adjust shutter speed until it matches the light source.

Yes, I've noticed that too to get rid of it but what I see is not uncommon then?

It's very common, and getting more common. Most lighting has gone to frequency based, and all displays are frequency based. But there's no standard as to what the frequency is.

As a sports photographer, whenever a venue I commonly work at changes its lighting, I ask for access so I can assess and figure out what is actually the best solution for me to use. Even with that, suddenly a new spotlight shows up, or they decide to kill the house lights temporarily and let another light dominate. It's very frustrating. And then they add a new scoreboard or display, and it has a different frequency...

 

[vinturius]

No. But you also may not have set the two adjustments all the way back to zero.

What adjustments do you mean?

The Rear LCD has two pivot points. You have to get both back to no pivot.

We were wishfully thinking you referred to some fine-tuning of the read LCD positioning.

The thing is that even when you press the LCD to the flat position (with this click on the right top) that after a while it appears to have veered up again and one can click-push it back, again. That play in the position gives a feeling of iffiness.

Its a Frankenconstruction. I said 'what??' when I saw it at first. I'm still thinking 'what??' now.

 

[vtpeters]

I think I was in A quite honestly. Good find! Nevertheless I was kinda shocked by the amount of banding. Never seen anything like this on my D-series quite honestly.
I can see the banding when I press the AF-ON button to focus (use AF-C all the time). Before that the banding does not appear om the monitor/EVF. Not sure why but that is what I obtained. As soon as the AF Is activated it is visible.

The banding is quite severe, I did not expect it to this extend really. But it can be assumed "normal" ?

If the Nikon Z9 and Z8 would have had a physical shutter you could switch to using the physical shutter and get rid of banding like that very easily.

But since both models don't have a physical shutter you shoot 'silent' or with electronic shutter al the time, increasing the risk of banding and rolling shutter (diagonal liners when panning) in your photos en videos shot with the camera.

Because the Z9 and Z8 have a fast sensor readout speed rolling shutter is not an issue. Banding however is. With constant light you may be able to dial in the correct shutter speed using High-Frequency Flicker Reduction. But with (fast) changing lighting situations during concerts and/or indoor events dialling in the correct shutter speed becomes more difficult.