- NIKON Z 9 Ver.01.10
I have been shooting with the Z9 for about two weeks. Nothing exotic as far as subjects, just learning the camera and how to take advantage of it.
PROS:
1) Autofocus. Significant upgrade over my D850 and worlds better than my first Z, the original Z6 (even with all the firmware updates). Primarily using Animal detect eye autofocus, in Wide area large. AF is very sticky. Not unusual to capture 30 plus frames in a row of BIF, all in focus on the eye.
2) No black out viewfinder . Makes tracking BIF much easier, fewer clipped wings, feet or other poor framing issues. Operator error is still a factor on tracking erratically flying birds, but significantly easier than previous cameras that I have used.
3) Frame rates - I have generally been shooting at 15 fps, but some at 20 fps. The faster frame rates do give more options re: wing position, etc.
4) WYSIWG - the viewfinder makes controlling the exposure much easier. I shoot full manual with Auto ISO, and at this site, the exposure can easily change by three stops as the birds drop from the clear sky, to a dark tree background, in and out of deep shadows, flying over the snow covered ice, and then landing in the open water. I had memorized a set of different exposure compensation settings that I would click in on my D850, but sometimes when switching back and forth from different colored birds and changing lighting conditions, I would miss the exposure. Much less of a problem with the Z9
Negatives:
Not much: a bit heavier than I expected based on previous Z cameras I have used, some buttons have been moved around. Need to use the FTZ adapter for F mount lenses until the Z super teles are available.
The noise reduction in LR is not very refined yet. Nikons software does a better job, but is remarkably slow. Topaz AI is somewhere between the two. Should improve over time.
This mallard is full frame, f.5.6, 1/3200s, handheld.
500 PF.
Cheers
Randy
Hope you get to really push it with loons and low morning light!
