• 45.7 MP stacked (full frame)
• 20 FPS (RAW), 120 FPS (JPEG)
• 8K UHD videos
• Dual CFexpress Type B card slots
• 4-axis tilting LCD

Best.

• World’s best AF scene detection system¹.
• Best-in-class 8K video resolution and internal recording¹.

Fast.

• World’s fastest still image frame rate of 120 fps¹.
• World’s fastest scanning speed².

First.

• World’s first truly blackout free electronic viewfinder¹.
• First Nikon camera with 4-axis vertical and horizontal tilting monitor.

Subject detection from deep learning. Automatic. Simultaneous.

A breakthrough algorithm developed using deep learning enables the Z 9 to automatically detect and track the world’s largest range of subjects3—people, dogs, cats, birds, cars, motorcycles, bicycles, trains and planes—in stills and video with no menu changes.

Keeps up with the smallest, fastest subjects.

AF and AE calculations are made at 120 cycles per second with rapid, constant communication between the lens and the camera through the Z mount. Even small, erratic subjects like birds in flight are tracked with ease.

Enhanced Eye AF for people, pets and birds.

Eye Detection AF automatically tracks the eyes of people, dogs, cats and birds (and similar creatures) even when they’re small in the frame, covered by hair, glasses or goggles, right-side up or upside down.

3D Tracking + Subject Detection. A new dimension of AF.

The power of Nikon’s acclaimed 3D Tracking is now available with deep learning subject detection. Effortlessly lock onto fast-moving subjects and track them moving toward you, away from you and everywhere in between.

Create your own focus areas.

Sometimes, you need precise control of where your Z 9 should focus. With 20* custom Wide-Area AF (C1/C2) options, you can define the shape of your focus area. Your custom focus area will even work simultaneously with Subject Detection and Eye-Detect AF.

*12 new Wide-Area AF C1/C2 options in video mode.

Focus in the dark. Go down to -8.5 EV.

Subject detection and AF works all the way down to -6.5 EV. Activate Starlight Mode, and focus all the way down to -8.5 EV. And since you’ll be spending more time in the dark, the Z 9’s buttons are illuminated.

A groundbreaking new processing engine.

EXPEED 7. The most powerful Nikon processing engine ever. 10x faster than previous generations. Handles complex AF and AE calculations at 120 cycles per second. Separately processes dual-streamed data from the stacked image sensor. Enables next-generation features like 120 fps still shooting, 8K video recording, a blackout-free viewing experience and more.

Go from zero to 120 fps in the press of a shutter.

To capture moments you may never have seen before, the Z 9 captures 45.7-megapixel stills at an action-freezing 30 fps and press-ready 11-megapixel stills at an insanely fast 120 fps—all with full AF and AE performance and no blackout.

Keep your finger down. 1,000-image buffer capacity.

With a seemingly bottomless buffer, the Z 9 shoots continuously for more than 1,000 frames at 20 fps* as full resolution High-Efficiency RAW or JPEG (L) fine files.

*When using the recommended memory card: ProGrade Digital CFexpress™ Type B 2.0 Cobalt 1700R.

Nail the shot you missed.

When shooting fast action, Pre-Release Capture* records the instant right before you take your shot, capturing a moment that might otherwise have been missed. Give your reaction time a boost.

*Available in C30 and C120 modes.

The fastest write speeds. Dual CFexpress Type B.

Under a newly designed latching door are two matched slots optimized for high-performance CFexpress Type B cards. The slots are independent from each other, so you can load cards with different write speeds—including XQD cards.

Finally, an electronic shutter you can trust.

The electronic shutter in the Z 9 achieves the world’s most minimal rolling-shutter distortion², eliminating the need for a mechanical shutter. Shoot at shutter speeds up to 1/32,000 second in complete silence, with no shutter vibration and no concerns about shutter wear.

Silent mode. Become invisible.

When you need to be invisible, Silent Mode turns off menu sounds and VR Lock and minimizes lens drive noises. And since the Z 9 does not have a mechanical shutter, you can shoot without a shutter click—or plug in headphones so only you can hear the simulated shutter sound.*

*A simulated shutter sound and release timing indicator can be set as desired.

8K/30p. In-camera. No overheating.

With an innovative body design that efficiently dissipates heat, the Z 9 records lush 10-bit 8K UHD video at 24, 25 or 30 fps internally for over 2 hours straight*—with no risk of overheating. Need stills from your shoot? Save 33-megapixel frame grabs right from your footage.

*At a temperature of 23°C/73.4°F

4K/30p from oversampled 8K.

Record dense 10-bit 4K UHD footage in-camera with full pixel readout from the Z 9’s outstanding sensor at 24, 25, 30p as ProRes 422 HQ or H.265 video. Or create dramatic 4K UHD slow motion sequences up to 120p. A 2.3x crop format with full pixel readout is available for getting closer to your subject without changing lenses.

Lenses that shine in any light.

Take advantage of fast aperture NIKKOR Z lenses and the Z 9’s dynamic range to capture beautiful, sharp low light footage. Add drama and depth to any production.

12-bit RAW video. In-camera.

Record pristine 12-bit ProRes RAW HQ or new N-RAW video straight to the Z 9’s memory cards—no external device required. To speed up in-camera playback and edits, a smaller Full HD companion file is created, too.

Steady handheld shooting. Enhanced electronic VR.

The intelligence and processing power within EXPEED 7 improves electronic VR for video recording, correcting trapezoid distortion from wide angle lenses and allowing you to create smooth handheld walking shots.

Stacked CMOS sensor. 45.7-megapixels. Full frame.

Designed by Nikon specifically to bring ultra-high-resolution image quality to high-speed shooting applications. Achieves the world’s fastest scanning speed², 12x faster data readout than the acclaimed Z 7II and absolutely spectacular image quality in stills and 8K videos.

World’s most minimal rolling-shutter distortion².

The extreme scanning speed of the Z 9 suppresses rolling-shutter distortion. Capture natural-looking images of extremely fast moving subjects like golf and baseball swings, and vehicles.

Sharper handheld shooting. Up to 6.0-stops of compensation.

The Z 9 delivers advanced Vibration Reduction (VR) with Synchro VR where 5-axis in-body VR and 2-axis lens VR work together, achieving an effect equivalent to a shutter speed up to approx. 6.0 stops faster with compatible lenses.

Wide open in any light. 1/32,000 second shutter speed.

Turn your shutter speed all the way up to 1/32,000 second and shoot wide open in harsh light. Enjoy the beautiful bokeh of NIKKOR Z lenses in more situations than ever.

High-Efficiency RAW. 1/3 smaller.

New RAW format retains the same high image quality, dynamic range and flexibility as conventional RAW files with approximately 1/3 smaller file size. Speed up your workflow.

World’s first truly blackout-free viewfinder.

Until now, achieving a blackout-free view meant repeating certain frames within the viewfinder. The Z 9 is the first camera with a viewfinder that reveals every single moment1—including those previously blocked by conventional EVF or DSLR systems. Smoothly follow every movement of your subject, even when capturing at 120 fps.

• Quad-VGA Panel - World’s brightest; adjustable to 3000cd/m2.
• Customizable - Choose what settings and information appear in the EVF.
• Glasses Mode - Reduces display size so the whole frame is visible.

Dual-Stream Technology. Dedicated feed.

The Z 9 outputs two data streams from the stacked CMOS sensor: one for writing to the memory card and one for viewing. The viewing stream is unaffected by any capture processing, leaving a pristine, lag-free, uninterrupted view with absolutely no blackout.

4-axis horizontal and vertical tilting touchscreen.

It goes up. It goes down. It goes left. It goes right. Shoot from nearly any angle—high, low or sideways—and maintain a clear, bright view of the frame. When you rotate the Z 9 for vertical shooting, the user interfaces within the monitor and the Real-Live Viewfinder also rotate to a vertical orientation*.

*When using the camera in photo mode.

• 2,100K-dot Resolution - 3.2 inches (diagonal), bright and beautiful.
• Touchscreen - Tap, swipe and flick and pinch.

Ready to shoot in an instant.

Go from “off” to “shooting” in less than half a second.

Four function buttons.

Customizable and placed to prevent misoperation.

Integrated vertical grip.

Because the world doesn’t fit in just one orientation.

Dual card slots.

High-speed CFexpress Type B for maximum capacity and write speed.

Kensington security slot.

Theft prevention when you need to leave your camera unattended.

Extended battery life.

Works with EN-EL18 series batteries and a new EN-EL18d battery that can handle up to 170 minutes of video recording.*

*Based on CIPA Standards. In “monitor only” mode.

USB power delivery.

Power and charge Z 9 from a laptop, mobile battery or wall adapter.*

*Requires optional UC-E25 Cable sold separately.

20% Smaller.

The Z 9 maintains a button layout and integrated vertical grip similar to the D6, but it’s 20% smaller.

Magnesium alloy armor.

The Z 9 is built around a lightweight, super strong, corrosion resistant magnesium alloy shell with phenomenal heat dissipation and cold tolerance down to -10°C/14°F.

Any weather. Any conditions. Any assignment.

Flagship weather-sealing keeps out dust, dirt and moisture. The Z 9 is built to go wherever your assignment takes you.

Sensor shield.

Automatically closes when you remove a lens. Blocks out dust and accidental touches.

Dust-repelling sensor coatings.

An electro-conductive coating repels dust while a fluorine coating makes it easy to wipe the sensor clean of dust.

VR lock.

Locks the sensor securely in place to prevent jostling when traveling over rough terrain.

Faster image uploads. 2.4 and 5GHz Wi-Fi®. 1000BASE-T wired LAN.

Deliver your images to your editor faster than ever with built-in 2.4 and 5 GHz Wi-Fi for over-the-air transfers and 1000BASE-T, the fastest wired LAN protocol, for faster wired transfers.

Mobile uploads. NX MobileAir smartphone app.

In venues where Wi-Fi access is spotty or in high-demand, get an edge over the competition by transferring images at high speed with a 4G or 5G smartphone. Automatically transfer shots in real-time, or add IPTC information, voice memos, crop and rotate with the smartphone before sending.

Flick shortcuts for annotations, transfers and more.

By simply flicking upward or downward in fullscreen playback, images can be sent, protected or rated, voice memos can be added and images can be prioritized to skip the queue during large transfers.

Ultimate optics: S-Line lenses.

The most impressive optics ever created by Nikon. Overwhelming sharpness, excellent point-light reproduction, beautiful bokeh and minimum aberration. Optimized for video recording with quiet operation, suppressed focus breathing and a control ring for smooth aperture, exposure or ISO adjustments. The perfect match for the Z 9.

Footnotes

• 1 Among mirrorless cameras as of October 28, 2021, based on Nikon research.
• 2 Among mirrorless cameras incorporating an image sensor with 30 megapixels or larger as of October 28, 2021, based on Nikon research.
• 3 Based on Nikon research of leading mirrorless cameras with at least 30 megapixel sensors as of October 13, 2021.