Got my Z9 back. Oh, not so fast! ...

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ssheipel

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Just an update.

My Z9 returned yesterday. A nice birthday present. Pulled the LCD away from the camera and it came on, but not if I then actually moved it much at all (e.g used it), and it then sometimes would on and back off when moving the screen; then a couple times not on at all when pulled from the camera (the original issue). Nikon asked me to send a video. Response was essentially yah that's the problem which prompted us to put a new LCD on the camera; we'll send a courier for the camera.... I WILL when in conversation be asking if the technician pulled the LCD away from the camera in any real way at all to test the solution.... I'm no engineer (at all) but I'd say either there's a general problem with a percentage of the LCD units themselves if I wound up with two of the faulty ones on my Z9, or it's a firmware/software digital thingy issue with the 'sensor' that supposed to triggers the LCD coming on when pulled from the camera....

Anyway, the camera is back in its box and the shipping box and will be making its way back to Nikon next week. Now excuse me I have to go hug my D6 😁
 
I won't speculate on the underlying issue, but what a mess. I hope you get it back in perfect working order this time around.

And have a happy birthday regardless ;)
 
Oh man, sorry to hear that. I am sure Nikon will fix it, but what a pain to have to go through.
Sound like either they diagnosed the problem wrong and replaced your LCD for the wrong reason, or they didn't test it properly, or as you say they have issues with these units.

I seriously hope you get it back fast and in good working condition.

I got a second Z9 recently after I sold my D6 (with a bit of pain in my heart) and have been using the new body exclusively to make sure I test it as much as I can. There sure are quite a few problems reported.
 
I have been considering selling my D5, D850 and D500 to fund a second Z9. Mine is an early one which I received on the first day, and no problems at all with it. Maybe I should stick with the D5 and D850 after all.
It is a real nuisance when this sort of thing happens. I hope they fix it immediately or just replace it.
I
 
Interesting. I had a Z9 die on my the 2nd day of a trip to Costa Rica. LCD would not display at all!!!! I sent it in and they returned it to me. I used the camera for 2 days straight recently....and it is still working. Fingers crossed..................
 
I won't speculate on the underlying issue, but what a mess. I hope you get it back in perfect working order this time around.

And have a happy birthday regardless ;)
Yah, it is what it is; my speculation is worthless given my technical/engineering ability. I'll have to wait and see if this becomes more than the minor annoyance it is at the moment.
 
Oh man, sorry to hear that. I am sure Nikon will fix it, but what a pain to have to go through.
Sound like either they diagnosed the problem wrong and replaced your LCD for the wrong reason, or they didn't test it properly, or as you say they have issues with these units.

I seriously hope you get it back fast and in good working condition.

I got a second Z9 recently after I sold my D6 (with a bit of pain in my heart) and have been using the new body exclusively to make sure I test it as much as I can. There sure are quite a few problems reported.
First Nikon camera in the last very man that did not follow the long held timeline from one top camera to the next; hope it's not a matter of the engineers were rushed by the market! I'm sure the issue will be fixed; thinking it's a case of Nikon figuring out what's actually going on? Cheers!
 
I have been considering selling my D5, D850 and D500 to fund a second Z9. Mine is an early one which I received on the first day, and no problems at all with it. Maybe I should stick with the D5 and D850 after all.
It is a real nuisance when this sort of thing happens. I hope they fix it immediately or just replace it.
I
You said it, it's really a nuisance at the moment (at least 'cause I've got another flagship camera to turn to). I'd certainly buy another Z9 tomorrow. And, I was wondering if replacement might be what is decided?
 
Interesting. I had a Z9 die on my the 2nd day of a trip to Costa Rica. LCD would not display at all!!!! I sent it in and they returned it to me. I used the camera for 2 days straight recently....and it is still working. Fingers crossed..................
I was thinking of your situation when my 'hey it's fixed' lasted about 15 seconds. I think if your Z9 is working after two days of shooting it's back in good working order! (Also, fingers crossed!).
 
like others, hard to speculate. From what you've said, and my untrained on camera LCD issues mind suggests the fault may not be the screen itself but the connection between the screen and the camera. Not sure how they replace those if it plugs in at both ends or if the connecting ribbon cable is hard wired to the lcd screen and has connector plug on the mother board of the camera. If it works in one position and not in another well, I'm sure the techs will figure it out. Stinks your camera has to go back though.

Jeff
 
I have been considering selling my D5, D850 and D500 to fund a second Z9. Mine is an early one which I received on the first day, and no problems at all with it. Maybe I should stick with the D5 and D850 after all.
It is a real nuisance when this sort of thing happens. I hope they fix it immediately or just replace it.
I
I too have been considering selling my D6 and D500 to purchase a Z9. I've never had an issue with either one. Hearing about all these Z9 problems make me think I should just wait... just a little bit longer maybe for the next gen Z9. :unsure:
 
My Z9 has worked flawless since I got it last june. I‘ve used it in all kinds of conditions, sun, rain, snow, in heat an severe cold without any issues. So I have a hard time believing these rumours about «all these Z9 problems».
If I could afford it I would buy another one in a heartbeat, and that is my plan further down the road.

That said, i’m sorry to hear of your trouble, @ssheipel! Hope Nikon get it right this time, spring is not a good time to be without a camera 😉
 
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Really sucks that the camera returned as sent. I sent a 24-120 f4 to calif for repair, sent it back saying there was nothing wrong with it. I sent it back again explaining again that it would not lock focus, just quivered in and out. Again, returned telling me there was nothing wrong with it. So, off to Melville NY- they repaired it. I still use it.
 
I got a Z9 for testing yesterday. There was one instance when neither of the displays worked. The camera was on and I could hear the focus motors work, but no display at all.
I switched off and on and still no display. It came back to life when I pushed several buttons. (I did not flip the rear display)

@ssheipel Are you sure they replaced your display at all? Sounds like one of those "oh, it works fine, I didn't even have to touch it - let's send it back" repairs...
 
Just an update.

My Z9 returned yesterday. A nice birthday present. Pulled the LCD away from the camera and it came on, but not if I then actually moved it much at all (e.g used it), and it then sometimes would on and back off when moving the screen; then a couple times not on at all when pulled from the camera (the original issue). Nikon asked me to send a video. Response was essentially yah that's the problem which prompted us to put a new LCD on the camera; we'll send a courier for the camera.... I WILL when in conversation be asking if the technician pulled the LCD away from the camera in any real way at all to test the solution.... I'm no engineer (at all) but I'd say either there's a general problem with a percentage of the LCD units themselves if I wound up with two of the faulty ones on my Z9, or it's a firmware/software digital thingy issue with the 'sensor' that supposed to triggers the LCD coming on when pulled from the camera....

Anyway, the camera is back in its box and the shipping box and will be making its way back to Nikon next week. Now excuse me I have to go hug my D6 😁
Steven, I am really sorry to hear that. You should ask for a replacement, by all sounds it's a defective unit.

Oliver
 
I too have been considering selling my D6 and D500 to purchase a Z9. I've never had an issue with either one. Hearing about all these Z9 problems make me think I should just wait... just a little bit longer maybe for the next gen Z9. :unsure:
I don't think there's a problem with the Z9 universally. I'd buy a second today without worry. Though with my luck if I did there'd be a total recall LOL
 
My Z9 has worked flawless since I got it last june. I‘ve used it in all kinds of conditions, sun, rain, snow, in heat an severe cold without any issues. So I have a hard time believing these rumours about «all these Z9 problems».
If I could afford it I would buy another one ina heartbet, and that is my plan further down the road.

That said, i’m sorry to hear of your trouble, @ssheipel! Hope Nikon get it right this time, spring is not a good time to be without a camera 😉
Agree totally. There's nothing wrong with the Z9 universally; no evidence for that, at all. Luckily I've got my D6 for spring shooting; just have to climb back on my learning curve for tracking AF manually :)
 
Really sucks that the camera returned as sent. I sent a 24-120 f4 to calif for repair, sent it back saying there was nothing wrong with it. I sent it back again explaining again that it would not lock focus, just quivered in and out. Again, returned telling me there was nothing wrong with it. So, off to Melville NY- they repaired it. I still use it.
Yah, Nikon will figure it out. Engineering is like medicine -- sometimes the diagnosis takes awhile :)
 
I got a Z9 for testing yesterday. There was one instance when neither of the displays worked. The camera was on and I could hear the focus motors work, but no display at all.
I switched off and on and still no display. It came back to life when I pushed several buttons. (I did not flip the rear display)

@ssheipel Are you sure they replaced your display at all? Sounds like one of those "oh, it works fine, I didn't even have to touch it - let's send it back" repairs...
No idea of course re the replacement; paperwork says so is all I can go by.
 
Steven, I am really sorry to hear that. You should ask for a replacement, by all sounds it's a defective unit.

Oliver
If we get to the point the problem can't be remedied that would be the only option. I'll be talking to Nikon today and plan to ask outright if they know what the problem is; rather what they thought the problem was (given the solution chosen didn't work). My only real concern now is that they in fact do know what the problem is; the hunt for the issue just sounds like a whole lot of time to me, and to your point of a nature would indicate the best for the customer is to provide a new camera, leaving the old one for Nikon's engineers to play with to figure out the situation :)
 
It's a shame, I too have had very similar experiences with Nikon service dept. In the end I sold all of my Nikon gear nearly 38k worth and switched to Fujifilm (GFX). Professionally it was the best decision for me and the growth of my business. Best of luck with Nikon service dept.
I've had nothing but great experience with Nikon Service, including in this situation. It's engineering. It does suck sure that the engineers have my camera to play with to figure out the problem, but as above at some point if the issue isn't identifiable readily then replace needs to sub in for fix :)
 
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