Nikon has posted the second of four teasers for the upcoming Nikon Z 9, their flagship mirrorless camera body. Some describe it as a D850 and D6 in one camera body with some added features.
The first teaser came out last week.
Nikon Z 9 Rumored Specifications from Nikon Rumors
- 8256 x 5504px resolution that confirms a 45MP stacked sensor (it is interesting to note that Canon decided to go with a 24MP sensor for their R3 camera).
- The Z9 will be capable of up to 120 fps in a lower res file size (6Mb I think). Some reports even indicated 160 fps!
- Built-in GPS – probably GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System).
- The Z9 will use the same battery as D6. There will be also a new 18-type battery (EN-EL18x) that can be charged by the camera’s USB-C.
- The sensor has a multi-leaf blade protective shutter that auto covers the sensor when switched off/changing lens to stop dust and dirt on naked sensor.
- The Z9 will have car autofocus in addition to animal and people AF as well as low light -7 EV.
- Improved 3D tracking.
- An improved articulated screen that even works in portrait mode – is a completely new design.
- New style locking flap for the two CFExpress memory cards.
- Third joystick/selector added to use whilst camera close face and shooting.
- Many new menu features to tweak and match your shooting style.
- The shutter release sound level can be adjusted from silent to loud… so you can still get that D6 machine gun sound…
It was not very obvious that it was 8K in the video
Wouldn’t mind an update to the R5
And it’s not just about cost, many will also find it a daunting prospect to learn a new control system and overcome “muscle memory”. That probably applies particularly to pros, who can’t afford to miss vital shots during the adaptation period when switching brands.
Every new camera from Sony, Nikon and Canon will for a while offer something unique, or have some performance gain over the competition, but within a year or so that advantage is usually lost, as the various brands play catch up.
So I believe that most people will stay with their existing brand, and transition gradually from their DSLR glass to native mirrorless glass. In some cases Canon users probably retain their EF glass indefinitely - e.g. there’s little point in getting the RF 400mm F2.8L or the RF 600mm F4L if they already own the EF version, because the lenses are identical apart from the mount.
The extra resolution of the A1 and Z9 are certainly tempting, but I think Canon users who are spending that amount of money will just be patient and wait for the R1.
Nikon as sRAW and mRAW if you need smaller files out of it and crop mode. Now I would prefer if it was 24 MP, but I am not going to turn my nose up at the Z9 (nor R3 if the Z9 doesn't have good animal tracking) based on how many pixels it outputs. All the pictures on my wall as A2 or larder from 18-24 MP bodies and no one could tell you which came from a 5D Mark II vs the 1Dx or the Z6 (though I know the Z6 images right away as they seem more '3D').
Hopefully in 3-4 years time we'll get back to picking camera's based on which lenses you own/want to own instead of on daft spec wars on bodies. I don't recall Canon 5d3/4 users having to jump to the Nikon D850 (arguably the best DSLR made) just because Nikon were a wee bit ahead. And I don't think Nikon shooters are jumping to Canon just because the R5 is spectacular... trading in lenses is expensive.
Canon users would not have jumped to Sony for 5 years if not for Metabones/etc adapters allowing EF lens usage.
True, but Canon was quite late to the mirrorless party as Sony's A7/A7R had a 5 year time advantage for users to switch. Even now, the RP/R bodies were and still are a hybrid DLSR/mirrorless offering by reusing 4-5 year old sensors. Although the RP/R were released 2-3 years old there are multiple replacement rumours and are clearly priced lower than respective 6Dii/5Div bodies even though they are arguably better in many aspects. The "year or so" advantage may be truer now but certainly wasn't for 5 years.
I believe that there will be at least 10 years of RF and EF lenses used on R bodies. RF lenses are generally priced higher but have some unique advantages over their EF counterparts. I wouldn't replace my EF16-35mm/4 lens with the RF14-35mm/4 simply due to the increased cost.
Not quite identical. Yes, the welded adapter provides additional rigidity but there are other advantages:
- compatibility with RF 1.4/2x teleconverters
- increased CIPA image stabilisation
- R mount connectivity allowing faster AF by delivering more power to the AF motors
but I agree that optically there is no benefit to upgrade if you currently have the EF version
We are assuming that the R1 will be high res/8k. I think that it would be a mis-step for Canon not to have this resolution but traditionally the 1D series never had high res sensors.
Many current 1D users will jump to the R3 for its obvious benefits over the 1Dxiii but will they then buy the R1?
I'm surprised that the A1's price has not deterred popularity especially as the A9ii's price is so much cheaper if the target audience is only sports/photojournalists.
It isn't clear to me what the R1's market niche will be. It may be a R5 on steroids ie combining high res/sports AF/global shutter/16 bit monster that we can only drool over due to the high price :)
You are correct about one thing: trading lenses (and bodies) is expensive. Ironically if I were to go mirrorless today I would probably go back to Canon because their R lens lineup is far better than Nikon's Z lens lineup. I find it interesting this second teaser promotes wildlife safaris when they don't have any telephoto lenses other than a 70-200.
1DX series replaced both 1D/1Ds in 2012 with ~20mp
M6 with 24mp from 2017
6Dii with 26mp from 2017
5Div with 30mp from 2016
M6ii with 32mp from 2019
R5 with 45mp from 2020
5DS/R with 50mp from 2015
R1 = ?
If you look closely, you might see the new 100-400mm hidden in plain sight.
I switched to Nikon because the R lineup was dreadful (R/RP). The Z9 looks like it is coming with the 100-400 and likely the 400 S as well. These are expected by the end of the financial year along with the 600 S. And you can adapt F super tele lenses... or even EF lenses.
Were you watching on a 8k display? Then it won’t be “very obvious”.
Canon will need something else to compete with the A1 and Z9 as the MP sells cameras and for me is an important thing.