Nikon Z9 II Review
We've aggregated 6 high-signal reviews and 2 live retailer prices below.
Our editorial take on the Nikon Z9 II
The Nikon Z9 represents a watershed moment for the company, a camera that did not just level the playing field but redrew the whole map. It is an unapologetic professional tool, a hybrid powerhouse that silenced critics and delivered on a massive set of promises. By completely eliminating the mechanical shutter, Nikon made a bold engineering choice that paid off spectacularly, providing incredible speed without the traditional drawbacks. This camera is a declaration of intent, proving Nikon's ability to innovate and create a flagship that feels genuinely futuristic, excelling in both the high-speed stills and high-end video arenas.
For photographers, the Z9's performance in capturing high-speed action is simply phenomenal. Its ability to shoot 20fps in RAW with a buffer that seems nearly bottomless makes it a dream for sports, wildlife, and photojournalism. On the video side, it's equally impressive, offering internal 8K and ProRes recording that positions it as a legitimate tool for serious cinematic productions. This is all housed in a large, rugged, DSLR-style body that feels indestructible. While the robust build and integrated grip contribute to its significant weight and size, this is a feature, not a bug, for the target audience that demands durability and familiar handling.
The Z9 is an unqualified triumph of camera engineering. While its complexity can be daunting and its large form factor isn't for everyone, its capabilities are undeniable. It's a camera that removes limitations for demanding creators, allowing them to focus on the shot rather than the gear. For the professional who needs a single body to handle any still or video assignment thrown at it, the Z9 is not just a viable option, it is a benchmark against which other flagship cameras are measured.
- Groundbreaking electronic-only shutter performs flawlessly
- Incredible 20fps RAW shooting with a very deep buffer
- Exceptional 8K video capabilities with internal ProRes options
- Top-tier hybrid performance for both stills and video
- Robust, professional-grade build with excellent handling
- Game-changing autofocus and subject tracking
- Large and heavy body is not ideal for all users
- Requires expensive CFexpress Type B cards to unlock full potential
- Complex menu system and controls present a steep learning curve
Synthesized by Geared editors from early expert reviews.
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About this product
Nikon's next flagship , officially announced with full specs.
Specs
- Battery
- EN-EL18d Rechargeable Li-ion Battery
- Weight Grams
- 1340 g (with battery and two memory cards), 1160 g (camera body only)
- Dimensions Mm
- 149 x 149.5 x 90.5 mm
- Build Material
- Magnesium alloy chassis
- Weather Sealing
- Drip and dust-resistance equivalent to D6
- Bit Depth
- 12-bit raw, 10-bit Apple ProRes 422 HQ, 10-bit H.265
- Raw Video
- Internal (N-RAW, Apple ProRes RAW HQ)
- Log Profiles
- N-Log, HLG (HDR)
- Internal Codecs
- N-RAW (12 bit), Apple ProRes RAW HQ (12 bit), Apple ProRes 422 HQ (10 bit), H.265/HEVC (8/10 bit), H.264/AVC (8 bit)
- Max Frame Rate 4k
- 4K 120p
- Max Frame Rate Hd
- 1920 x 1080 120p
- Max Recording Time
- approx. 2 hours 5 minutes (UHD 8K 30p)
- Max Video Resolution
- 8K UHD (7680x4320)
- Gps
- GPS (USA), GLONASS (Russia), QZSS (Japan)
- Ethernet
- RJ-45 connector (1000BASE-T/100BASE-TX/10BASE-T)
- Shutter Type
- Electronic shutter with shutter sound and sensor shield
- File Formats Stills
- NEF (RAW), JPEG, NEF (RAW)+JPEG
- Firmware 2 0 Updates
- internal 12-bit N-RAW 8.3K 60p, ProRes RAW, Red REC frame indicator, waveform monitor, dedicated video info display, fine ISO control, Fast AF-ON, slow shutter speed video, enhanced Long Exposure display, 120 fps EVF refresh rate, 20 custom Wide-Area AF patterns
- Firmware 5 1 Updates
- shutter angle option for video, zebra pattern color options, adjustable transparency/size/position for brightness displays
- Monitor Tilting Type
- 4-axis tilting
- Operating Temperature
- -10 to 40 degrees C / 14 to 104 degrees F
- Shutter Sound Options
- DSLR Style, Film Camera Style, Rangefinder Style, Electronic Sound
- Sensor Size
- Full-frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm)
- Sensor Type
- Stacked CMOS Sensor
- Image Processor
- EXPEED 7
- Effective Megapixels
- 45.7 million
- Launch Price Usd
- 4996.95
- Iso Range Video
- ISO 64-25600 (expandable to ISO 102400 equivalent)
- Iso Range Stills
- ISO 64-25600 (expandable to ISO 32-102400)
- Continuous Shooting
- 120 fps (approx. 11-megapixel JPEG), 60 fps (DX-format), 30 fps (C30), 20 fps (Continuous H), 1 to 10 fps (Continuous L)
- Shutter Speed Electronic
- 1/32000 to 30 s, extendable to 900 s in mode M
- Viewfinder
- 1.27-cm/0.5-in. approx. 3690k-dot OLED EVF, approx. 0.8x magnification
- Rear Screen
- 8-cm/3.2-in. approx. 2100k-dot 4-axis tilting TFT LCD
- Touchscreen
- Yes
- Lens Mount
- Nikon Z mount
- Usb
- Type C USB connector (SuperSpeed USB, USB 3.2 Gen 2)
- Hdmi
- Type A HDMI connector
- Audio Io
- 3.5 mm stereo mini-pin jack (input), 3.5 mm stereo mini-pin jack (output)
- Wireless
- Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
- Card Slots
- 2x CFexpress Type B or XQD memory cards
- Ibis
- 5-axis image sensor shift (up to 6 stops with selected Z lenses)
- Af Points
- 493 points
- Af System
- Hybrid phase-detection/contrast AF with AF assist
- Af Low Light
- -7 to +19 EV (-9 to +19 EV with starlight view)
- Subject Detection
- 9 subject types (humans, animals, airplanes, bicycles)
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