Nikon Rumors is reporting that Nikon will be announcing their flagship mirrorless camera body in November or December of this year.
This looks to be above Canon's upcoming EOS R3 in the marketplace, so the EOS R1 will be the likely competitor once Canon brings it to market late next year.
Nikon Rumors also has a bunch of rumored specifications for the upcoming camera.
Nikon Z9 Specifications (Rumored)
- Newly developed high-resolution stacked FX sensor.
- Integrated vertical grip handle
- The Z9 is described as a D6 body combined with EOS R5 imaging, α9II AF, and blackout-free EVF
- Nikon confirmed that the Z9 will be better than the D6
- 20 fps
- Multishot-mode
- 16-bit RAW option
- 8k30p, 4k120/60/30p
- New EXPEED processor designed for 8k (newly developed Imaging Pipeline Processor to broaden sensor readout emphasizing speed)
- Improved AF (Object detection AF)
- “Stunning” AF tracking (better than the D6)
- Two XQD/CFX type B memory card slots
- ISO 64 – 25,600, Hi1, Hi2
- Improved noise levels and specifically significantly better dynamic range
- High resolution, blackout-free EVF: probably 5.76 MP or maybe even 9k MP viewfinder, 120 Hz refresh rate (the resolution can be reduced to increase the refresh rate)
- New user interface (no second LCD screen on the back like the D6)
- New battery: Nikon EN-EL18x
- Gbit LAN, USB-C, WiFi, GPS
- Price: $6,000 – $7,000
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I have no doubts the Z9 will be a solid camera. Canon and Nikon knows what is good ergonomics when it comes to Cameras. The biggest factor will be how good the AF system is? I hope Nikon catches up with Sony and Canon in that aspect as well.
I'm a bit concerned about the size. I like the pro-integrated-grip body, but I don't want anything as big as the D6. It strikes me that Canon has hit the Goldilocks size with the R3. It's not too small and definitely not too big. If the Nikon is close, it could be a big winner.
Hmm, consider most rumor sites think that Canon is almost ready to announce, a Nov-Dec release date provides little incentive to move up the Canon announcement. I suspect Canon will announce when the camera is ready and there is a sufficient supply regardless of what Nikon does.
Sounds good, but even though not mentioned I presume animal eye AF will feature heavily. Easily a $7K camera IMO. I wonder if by the Winter Olympics R1 is ready or we'll have to wait for the Soccer World cup. A1 vs R3 vs Z9 vs R1 would be a nice head-to-head in 2022.
Nikon Z9 professional mirrorless camera development officially announced - Nikon Rumors
I am not missing shots with the AF on the Z6. And the human eye AF on the Z6 II FW 1.20 is on par with Canon. I would love animal detection, but can more than manage if it’s AF is still more like a glorified DSLR.
It depends what that 20 FPS is. 20 FPS mechanical and silent would put it above the A1 in my book and past the D6 and 1Dx3 it competes with. The A9 also is often 15 FPS or less depending on lens. It is well ahead of the R5 just by having a stacked sensor, unless they bugger up their processor big time the Z9 (And R3) will be night and day difference from the R5 when it comes to tracking stuff in the EVF and blackout free shooting. Nikon's main mountain to climb is really animal AF and car/bike AF. Apparently they have been working on a new object AF system, so perhaps they are training their AF to pick up all kinds of subjects. Maybe we'll see some of that in FW 2.0 for the mark ii cameras.
I have tried the R5 aye and the R6 with an adapted 100-400. I have also tired a A9 (not A1) and the stacked sensor had a much faster refresh that felt more like a DSLR when it came to keeping up with the subject. I can get BIF with my Z6 too, I just adjust mentally how many ms behind the EVF is. I'll note to clear up confusion, I am not taking about the AF tracking keeping up with the subject, I am talking about the EVF keeping up and I feel the next 2-3 pro bodies will focus on having less and less EVF latency as a differentiator between them and the R5 level bodies.