Z9: Unintentionally pressing shutter button on vertical grip when holding the camera

[vtpeters]

I've shot with a Nikon D3 and D3S in the past and have used various 'non pro' Nikon DSLR's with an attached Nikon battery grip before I switched to the Z system. But this has never happened to me with a Nikon DSLR.

When holding the Z9 by the 'normal' / 'horizontal' grip in my right hand I sometimes unintentionally hit the shutter button of the vertical grip with the lower part of the palm of my right hand. Because I shoot in Continuous High (set to max. 10 fps) I usually end up with a burst of 5-10 unusable frames.

I can understand that this could happen if you have (exceptionally) large hands. But my hands are of normal size. For clarification I've included a photo of me holding the camera by its 'normal' / 'horizontal' grip. Notice the close proximity of the shutter button to the lower side of my right hand.

I know I can disable the button by turning the dial that surrounds the shutter button to the "L" (=Lock") position. But I like to keep using that shutter button for shots in portrait orientation.

Is this happening to other Z9 shooters as well?

Is there something I could do to prevent these accidental photos being taken when just holding the camera?



--
Victor Peters

 

[pxlwz]

Happens to me too. I started lock the vertical shutter, when I don't use it.

Markus

 

[JBrack22]

I do not think you can avoid it unless you keep it locked. The camera has no way to shut that button off in horizontal mode otherwise. That is how it was designed to be used.

 

[Ninpou_Bunshinnojutsu]

My hands are tiny and I hit that button and the AF mode button accidentally a lot.

Re-training my holding technique.

 

[mgreene33]

Happens to me too. I started lock the vertical shutter, when I don't use it.

Markus

Same here.

 

[westsdad]

Easiest prevention is to lock the vertical shutter release, but than you need to unlock when shooting vertically. Other than that, possibly holding differently and training muscle memory.

 

[dacrema]

Me too. There have been a at least one thread on this already. Like others I am trying to keep the button locked.

 

[WhateverNickname]

It happens to me as well, so I lock the vertical trigger as other have said also,

 

[briantilley]

This hasn't happened to me yet.

 

[michaeladawson]

Never happens to me when I'm holding the camera in landscape orientation and composing and shooting.

Only happens to me infrequently when I reach for the camera at my side or am otherwise manipulating the camera when not up to my eye.

Use the lock switch when needed. That's what it's there for. Super easy. Lock on / Lock off.

 

[FKS]

Same here, I use small gloves, but I've accidentally hit the vertical release several times on the Z9 in less than a month. I can't remember it happening that often with any other bodies that I've owned with a vertical release.

I chalk it up to unfamiliarity with the location of the button on the Z9. Comparing it to the other pro bodies, the button is higher up, which means it's easier to hit it.

But as you said, just need new muscle memory.

My hands are tiny and I hit that button and the AF mode button accidentally a lot.

Re-training my holding technique.

 

[IainD]

I don't know why, but it has only happened to me when the camera has swung against my hip when I have it on my Magpul strap. My hands are not big and I have stubby fingers. Maybe that is a blessing for the Z9?

 

[Kuvasauna]

I believe my hands are a bit larger than average, but have not had this issue. Therefore I don't lock the vertical shutter button. When shooting, most of the weight is on my left lens-holding-hand, so the right hand doesn't have to grip that hard.

I can see this might happen if I'd hold the camera only with right hand.

 

[JBrack22]

I believe my hands are a bit larger than average, but have not had this issue. Therefore I don't lock the vertical shutter button. When shooting, most of the weight is on my left lens-holding-hand, so the right hand doesn't have to grip that hard.

I can see this might happen if I'd hold the camera only with right hand.

 

[Tailslol]

I lock it as well, otherwise I press it accidentally just like the OP.

 

[Stan Disbrow]

Hi,

This has happened to folks since the F4. All of the bodies with the vertical shutter button. So, this is why the designers added the locking switch. Just use it or not as you will. If you don't use it then cull out the worthless shots you get. It's just that simple.

Here's a thought: keep it locked and use the old school flip your hand over and use the main shutter button the way we all had to before anyone had a second button. This is what I have always done. Even on bodies with the vertical shutter button. Mainly because I also always use a AH-4 hand strap which binds the camera to you. And then you can't make use of the vertical shutter anyway.

Stan

 

[michaeladawson]

Here's a thought: keep it locked and use the old school flip your hand over and use the main shutter button the way we all had to before anyone had a second button. This is what I have always done. Even on bodies with the vertical shutter button. Mainly because I also always use a AH-4 hand strap which binds the camera to you. And then you can't make use of the vertical shutter anyway.

Stan

I'd go with this.

I only bother using the portrait orientation grip when I'm going to be shooting for quite some time in that orientation. It's much simpler for me to simply flip my hand over with the camera. I don't have to do any hand replacements and I don't lose contact with any of the buttons. Therefore, I have no need to be flipping the lock on and off.

In those cases where I am going to be working in portrait mode a lot I will then use the vertical grip as it's less tiring for extended portrait shooting.

 

[mgreene33]

I only bother using the portrait orientation grip when I'm going to be shooting for quite some time in that orientation. It's much simpler for me to simply flip my hand over with the camera. I don't have to do any hand replacements and I don't lose contact with any of the buttons. Therefore, I have no need to be flipping the lock on and off.

In those cases where I am going to be working in portrait mode a lot I will then use the vertical grip as it's less tiring for extended portrait shooting.

I was just about to say the exact same thing. This is the route I take with it as well.

 

[thomas2279f]

Same here - a bit annoying to say the least and my 4 pet hates are the Play button different to my Z50 / Z7, no pixel shift option on Z's. and love all the Z's to have larger OK button and fly wheel control like Canon - apart from that great cameras

 

[prubino728]

I’ve had to just retrain my right hand on how to hold the camera. Very conscious of it now so keep the lower part of my right hand more relaxed when shooting. Same goes for during image review and inadvertently pressing the shutter causing the display to switch out of image review. Still gets me from time to time but not as much as in the beginning.

I’d rather retrain that muscle memory than annoyingly have to switch the lock on and off all the time while shooting.