When you take the Nikon Z9 out of its box, it almost feels like you're holding a shot of revenge in your hands. For years, Nikon has been accused of lagging behind Sony and Canon in the battle of professional mirrorless cameras. Then comes this massive, technology-laden camera that seems to want to erase all doubts in one fell swoop.
We've seen it floating in the International Space Station, capturing the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and preparing to accompany the Artemis mission to the Moon. But beyond the prestige images and well-oiled slogans, how does it really compare to the reality on the ground? Stadium noise, concert darkness, the biting cold of the mountains, or gusts of wind on safari: we've spent hundreds of hours pushing the Z9 to its limits.
Here's our verdict.
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A behemoth that assumes its size
The Nikon Z9 doesn't pretend: at 1.3 kg on the scale, it's a hefty block. That's almost double the weight of a Sony A1, and even compared to the Canon R3 monobloc, the gap remains glaring with nearly 30% more mass. Paired with a 70-200 mm f/2.8 or a 400 mm, your biceps will soon be calling you to order during extended shots.
And yet, this build has a bright side. As soon as you grasp it, you understand that the weight isn't there by chance. The wide, hollow grip, the almost surgical balance between body and lens, the feeling of monolithic solidity... everything exudes Nikon's in-house ergonomics, refined over decades on its professional SLRs. In real-life conditions, the Nikon Z9 disappears behind the action: once the lens-body combo is in hand, the extra grams disappear in a user comfort that surprises as much as it reassures.
Ergonomics Designed for Action
With the Nikon Z9 in hand, it's easy to see that it wasn't designed for menus, but for snapshots. Yes, the ABCDEFG tree structure remains a dusty, unintuitive, and worthy of the 2000s. But in the field, we hardly care: we never go there. The body is covered in physical controls, designed so that every crucial setting is accessible without taking your eye off the viewfinder.
The left shoulder dial falls under your fingertips like a no-brainer: a quarter turn, and you can change modes mid-burst without even thinking. The three front buttons ? A blessing. Assigned to 3D tracking, RAW+JPEG toggle, and spot metering, they become reflex triggers. On an athletics track or in a game hide, these are the kind of shortcuts that make the difference between capturing the moment or missing it.
But it's in the dark that the Nikon Z9 truly shines. The buttons glow with a discreet yet perfectly legible orange halo. No need to take out your smartphone or turn on a headlamp that would disturb the subject: with a flick of the wrist, the entire body lights up like an airplane cockpit. In the middle of a concert or under a starry sky, this detail transforms the hassle into total fluidity.
It's not all perfect: the tiny directional pad is a design flaw, especially compared to the comfortable dials from Canon or Sony. Worse, it only serves to replicate the joystick's functions, with no customization possible, which is frustrating on a camera that sells for 7,000 Canadian dollars. But this flaw is quickly forgotten when you're chaining together triggers and each button seems to anticipate your needs.
The Nikon Z9's ergonomics can't be described, they must be experienced: that moment when, in the dim light, your fingers find the right control without hesitation. Where every gesture feels natural, as if the camera had been molded around your hands.
An instant wake-up call
The Nikon Z9 immediately gives the impression of a camera that never truly sleeps. As soon as you flip the switch to “On,” it’s ready to shoot, without a single moment of delay. Where the Sony A1 lingers with its shutter shutter that closes in stages, the Z9 reacts instantly. This speed isn’t limited to powering it on or off. It permeates the entire interface, whether changing a setting or navigating menus. Every interaction gives the feeling of a camera anticipating your actions, as if it were always a fraction of a second ahead. In the field, this changes everything: you completely forget about the camera and focus only on the image.
The Screen: A Deliberate Choice
As soon as you get behind the Nikon Z9, the screen reveals its philosophy. No complete ball joint that turns in all directions, here everything remains in line with the lens. On paper, this may seem restrictive: it's impossible to film yourself while seeing yourself on the screen, and the vertical orientation is a little restricted. But in the field, this choice becomes an asset. Each frame remains exactly what you see in the viewfinder, without constant adjustments or fanciful angles to compensate for. The screen rotates perfectly in portrait and landscape and is readable and precise even in full sunlight. Compared to the Sony A1, whose immense touchscreen can quickly prove capricious and less ergonomic, the Nikon Z9 immediately reassures. You no longer have to search for the ideal angle or recalibrate your gestures: everything falls naturally before your eyes and fingers. In the field, this simplicity transforms shooting into a pure, precise, and instant reflex, exactly what professional photographers expect when every millisecond counts.
The Viewfinder: When Specs Aren't Everything
On paper, the Nikon Z9's viewfinder isn't exactly a dream. 3.7 million dots versus over 9 million for the Sony A1, a 60 Hz refresh rate, sometimes 30 Hz in certain modes, compared to the A1's constant 120 Hz... you might expect the worst. And yet, the reality on the ground is quite different. This viewfinder is probably one of the best on the market. The round eyecup wraps around the eye and isolates light better than the rectangular designs of competitors, and with its 3000 candelas per square meter, it far surpasses anything Canon or Sony offer. In bright sunlight, where other cameras display a dull and difficult-to-read image, the Z9 remains sharp, bright, and comfortable.
But it's the Dual Stream technology that really impresses. It promises a zero-latency flow between the sensor and the viewfinder, almost completely eliminating the lag inherent in mirrorless cameras. In 75% of situations, it's subtle, almost imperceptible, but during our sessions with a kingfisher, a tiny and ultra-fast subject, the difference was obvious. Where other cameras would lose the bird in the race, the Nikon Z9 allowed it to be followed precisely, every movement captured as if the camera were anticipating your gestures.
The rendering of colors, shadows, and highlights is splendid, close to what Canon offers with the R3. Every detail is visible, every contrast natural, giving the impression of looking at the real scene rather than an image transmitted by a sensor. In the field, this viewfinder transforms photography into a sensory experience: fluid, responsive, and incredibly immersive.
The Mystery of the Buffer
The Nikon Z9 is a beast, but it doesn't just demand power: it demands the memory card to match. With its two CF Express Type B slots and lossless Tico RAW compression, you might expect a near-limitless buffer. In reality, the camera is extremely picky. Only a few cards on the market fully exploit its potential. Nikon recommends the ProGrade 325GB Cobalt, and it's easy to see why.
In the field, this requirement translates into bursts that drag on when using slower cards: series that stop mid-sprint or mid-bird takeoff, frustrating for any action photographer. With the right cards, however, the difference is dramatic. The burst becomes a torrent of images, capable of keeping up with the fastest subjects without ever wavering, and Tico RAW compression allows it to store all of this without losing an ounce of quality. Even in extreme conditions, where every millisecond counts, the Z9 keeps up the pace and leaves nothing to chance.
Firmware 1.1 brought a real relief, increasing the buffer by a factor of 1.5, but the lesson remains the same: to fully exploit the Nikon Z9, you have to give it the fuel it demands. Choosing the right cards then becomes a strategic advantage: you gain in fluidity, speed and serenity, and the camera transforms into a virtually unstoppable machine.
The Nikon Z9: amazing sensor, burst and autofocus
From the very first shots, the Nikon Z9 surprises. Its first 45-megapixel stacked sensor, with an ISO range of 64 to 25,600, delivers jaw-dropping quality. Up to ISO 3200, it perfectly rivals the Sony A1, the undisputed market benchmark, and beyond that, the difference remains surprisingly small. A curious but telling fact: you have to slightly overexpose the Sony files to achieve the same exposure as the Nikon. The measured dynamic range is close to 11.4 stops, offering files of astonishing purity in low light, perfect for wildlife, landscapes, or nighttime photography. In the field, you find yourself chasing the light just to see this sensor at work.
The Nikon Z9 also takes a bold step: the complete elimination of the mechanical shutter. A world first for a professional camera, this choice could have been daunting. And yet, the 1/270th of a second rolling shutter works wonderfully, outperforming Sony and Canon in almost every situation. In our tests, there were no visible artifacts, no regrets. Only certain scenes with complex lighting, concerts, Christmas markets, can reveal slight banding, but the high-frequency anti-flicker mode saves the day. We then say to ourselves: “Really? Nikon dared, and it works.”
The burst mode holds its share of surprises. In RAW, 20 frames per second is not a record. But the Z9 offers 30 frames per second in full-resolution JPEG and, where you'd expect a gimmicky option, 120 frames per second in 13 MP JPEG. Whether it's a gymnastic jump or a bird taking flight, the camera captures fragments of time that seem invisible to the human eye. You find yourself reviewing the images and wondering how every detail could have been frozen with such precision.
The autofocus is also astounding. Powered by deep learning, it recognizes humans, animals, and vehicles without exception and places focus with formidable precision. Even on a tiny, fast-moving kingfisher, the Nikon Z9 tracks the subject like magic. It's funny how Sony, despite its reputation, sometimes loses the bird, while Nikon doesn't flinch. In low light, a few occasional pumps appear, but nothing that detracts from the overall impression of a nearly infallible autofocus.
And then there's the video. We're honestly saying, "Okay, they've set the bar really high." 8K 60p in RAW, 4K up to 120p, no time limit, exceptional stabilization, autofocus as good as in stills, and a dynamic range of 11.6 stops in H.265. Everything seems calibrated for excellence, each sequence is clear, fluid, incredible. The HDMI lag of the Z6/Z7 is a thing of the past, and each shot makes you want to watch the scene again and again.
In short, the Nikon Z9 amazes with every shot. Sensor, electronic shutter, burst, autofocus, and video: everything is designed to surprise the photographer and leave them speechless. In the field, every movement becomes instinctive, every image a wonder. And we find ourselves thinking that yes, Nikon has just struck a major blow.
Firmware 5.0: The Evolution Continues
Nikon has chosen to regularly update the Z9 , with free major firmware updates every six months, and version 5.0 doesn't disappoint. Each improvement translates into a tangible gain in efficiency and comfort. Autocapture is now smarter, allowing you to precisely plan photo or video shots, as if the camera were anticipating your needs. The new C15 mode, which reduces the frame rate to 15 frames per second, is invaluable for limiting the flow of pre-captures while maintaining responsiveness. Serial viewing transforms reviewing bursts into a true animated GIF: quickly moving through an action sequence becomes a fluid and instinctive game.
Flicker reduction has been optimized, with a four-frequency LED preselection to prevent banding, which is a game-changer for complex artificial lighting. ISO Type B noise reduction amazingly maintains volume and color even at ISO 4000-6400 and above, delivering usable files where other cameras would have already given up the ghost. FTP transmission in 8-bit HEIF, with files compressed to just 1MB, allows images to be sent from low-speed areas without sacrificing quality. Finally, FTP error handling has been improved, ensuring that connection settings are never lost.
And the most surprising thing is that all these developments transform the Z9 into an incredibly effective tool in any situation. Whether covering the Olympic Games or managing extreme shooting, each function becomes a real comfort and a gain in productivity, almost giving the impression that the camera knows what you need before you even turn it on.
Nikon Z9: Back to the top
With the Z9 , Nikon hasn't just caught up; it's reclaimed its place as a technology leader . This camera impresses with its completeness, reliability, formidable autofocus, bright and near-instantaneous viewfinder, and video capabilities that crush the competition. Sure, it's heavy. Sure, it's expensive, at around 5699 euros . But for those who really need it, every gram and every dollar are worth it.
Compared to the three current professional cameras, the Z9, the Sony A1 and the Canon R3, the performances are all impressive, each with its strengths. And yet, the Z9 surprises with its subject recognition, its almost magical precision, and its viewfinder which remains readable even in the most extreme conditions. In video, it dominates without a doubt , offering a flow and image quality that leave you speechless.
After hundreds of hours tracking kingfishers, galloping horses, nocturnal foxes, and twilight owls, the Nikon Z9 never failed. Every scene, every moment, every detail was captured with incredible precision and fluidity. You find yourself looking up and thinking, with a little shudder, “Nikon is truly back on top.” And, frankly, it feels good.
Deep learning-based autofocus: stunningly precise and reliable.
Superior subject recognition: to Canon and Sony (humans, animals, vehicles).
120 fps burst in JPEG (13 MP): unique, ideal for capturing the decisive moment.
45 MP stacked sensor: delivering high dynamics and ISO climbing.
Bright electronic viewfinder: no blackout or noticeable latency.
8K 60p RAW video: 4K up to 120p, no time limit and no overheating.
Effective stabilization: even in video.
Robust construction: tropicalized for intensive professional use.
Exceptional firmware support (v5.0): with major free updates.
FTP management and professional tools: designed for the Olympic Games and real-time transmission.
Impressive weight and size: the most massive of the professional hybrids.
High price: (around €6,000) which reserves it for an elite.
Decent battery life: but inferior to older generation professional SLRs.
Rolling shutter: very well contained but not non-existent in certain artificial lights.
Some subject loss: in low light with f/1.8 lenses.
Buffer dependent: very high-end cards (ProGrade 325 GB Cobalt recommended).
No variable shutter yet: (Sony/Canon already offer it, promised in update).