My Z9 is setup and ready to go :)

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Steve

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My Z9 arrived and I have it all set and ready to go. Feels good in the hand and the build quality seems excellent. Love the flip-both-ways LCD screen , the feel of the buttons, and just the overall handling of the camera. Most of it is pretty familiar, but there are a few new things that I'll be adding to my Mirrorless AF book in the next update. I think this one is going to be really fun to shoot. I was playing with the AF with my cats and eye detection latches on really well - can't wait to try it on a more challenging subject.
 
@Steve awesome! Would love to hear more about the AF stickiness 🙂. I'm sure you'd have already seen the other comments Steve but just in case, the af tracking with lock-on works very differently on the Z9. On 3d tracking it's set to default 3 and in auto area af it can be set between 1 and 3 ( not 4 or 5). So for stickier AF i think we've got to try the other AF modes like wide area L or S etc.
 
@Steve awesome! Would love to hear more about the AF stickiness 🙂. I'm sure you'd have already seen the other comments Steve but just in case, the af tracking with lock-on works very differently on the Z9. On 3d tracking it's set to default 3 and in auto area af it can be set between 1 and 3 ( not 4 or 5). So for stickier AF i think we've got to try the other AF modes like wide area L or S etc.
I was messing with it in and it does seem to take longer to release an AF lock, like when moving from one subject to another, than the DSLRs do. A setting a 3 seems a lot like a setting of 5 on a DSLR. So, the limitation of 3 in Auto AF may not be a big deal. Very preliminary of course.
 
The setting 'focus point persistence' is interesting and is not something I have used before. This setting may help to instantly switch from one AF area mode to another without losing the AF box or AF box reverting to centre. I think this is what Thom explained in his blog today but the document from your below link is very clear with an illustration.

This Shooting Guide for Sports may provide some good ideas before the wildlife version comes out.

 
The setting 'focus point persistence' is interesting and is not something I have used before. This setting may help to instantly switch from one AF area mode to another without losing the AF box or AF box reverting to centre. I think this is what Thom explained in his blog today but the document from your below link is very clear with an illustration.
It can be handy for sure - The D6 actually had it and I explain how to use it in my DSLR book. Looks like I'll have to adapt it to mirrorless now :)
 
My Z9 arrived and I have it all set and ready to go. Feels good in the hand and the build quality seems excellent. Love the flip-both-ways LCD screen , the feel of the buttons, and just the overall handling of the camera. Most of it is pretty familiar, but there are a few new things that I'll be adding to my Mirrorless AF book in the next update. I think this one is going to be really fun to shoot. I was playing with the AF with my cats and eye detection latches on really well - can't wait to try it on a more challenging subject.
It can be handy for sure - The D6 actually had it and I explain how to use it in my DSLR book. Looks like I'll have to adapt it to mirrorless now :)

I'm certain the Z9 is going to have a pronounced learning curve, especially for those of us who have not entered the mirrorless camera realm previously. I look forward to your help, Steve.
 
I'm certain the Z9 is going to have a pronounced learning curve, especially for those of us who have not entered the mirrorless camera realm previously. I look forward to your help, Steve.
I'm not only going to update my AF book, but I'm planning a separate wildlife setup guide for the Z9 as well. Thankfully, most of what the Z9 does has either already been done by other Z (or other mirrorless) cameras or, like the focus point persistence setting, been borrowed from pro DSLRs. The good news is I have the menu figured out already, the bad news is it takes awhile to do a guide like that and I'm still not done with the a1 guide. Still, it's all coming :)
 
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My Z9 arrived and I have it all set and ready to go. Feels good in the hand and the build quality seems excellent. Love the flip-both-ways LCD screen , the feel of the buttons, and just the overall handling of the camera. Most of it is pretty familiar, but there are a few new things that I'll be adding to my Mirrorless AF book in the next update. I think this one is going to be really fun to shoot. I was playing with the AF with my cats and eye detection latches on really well - can't wait to try it on a more challenging subject.
Ergonomically, does it handle like the D6?
 
Ergonomically, does it handle like the D6?

Yes and no. The D6 is bulkier overall and the grip is noticeably bulkier on the D6. The Z9 is more trim with a slightly thinner grip. In fact, the grip feels a little thinner than the one on my a1. Only by a tiny bit. Overall though, I think I like the "feel" of this camera better than the D5/6 (I honestly really like the handling of my a1, so I'm calling that a tie from a handling standpoint). Although I've only played with it a bit, I think it's more fun to shoot than the D5 or D6. So, overall handling is a win in my book. This camera makes you want to go out and shoot!
 
Oh boy oh boy. Steve has a Z9. Now we wait with bated breath. :)
I wonder if his review will be out before I get my Z9 I ordered 1 week ago.:unsure:
Waiting with baited breath, like you I took the “very” big plunge a week ago, have been told it will likely be months not weeks, so plenty of time to read the reviews, manuals, books and get the inevitable firmware update 😜😂😂.
 
Yes and no. The D6 is bulkier overall and the grip is noticeably bulkier on the D6. The Z9 is more trim with a slightly thinner grip. In fact, the grip feels a little thinner than the one on my a1. Only by a tiny bit. Overall though, I think I like the "feel" of this camera better than the D5/6 (I honestly really like the handling of my a1, so I'm calling that a tie from a handling standpoint). Although I've only played with it a bit, I think it's more fun to shoot than the D5 or D6. So, overall handling is a win in my book. This camera makes you want to go out and shoot!
Thanks! Looking forward to getting mine.
 
Steve - I like the D850 because of the size and how it fits in my large-size hands (my shooting gloves are a 2XL and barely fit).
How does the Z9 compare in feel to the D850? I love my Z6 but it feels toy sized and I mishit buttons too much. I am willing to buy a Z9 just for the fit, if it is a good one.
 
My Z9 arrived and I have it all set and ready to go. Feels good in the hand and the build quality seems excellent. Love the flip-both-ways LCD screen , the feel of the buttons, and just the overall handling of the camera. Most of it is pretty familiar, but there are a few new things that I'll be adding to my Mirrorless AF book in the next update. I think this one is going to be really fun to shoot. I was playing with the AF with my cats and eye detection latches on really well - can't wait to try it on a more challenging subject.
Can't wait to see the review (y)(y)(y)(y)(y)(y)
 
Steve - I like the D850 because of the size and how it fits in my large-size hands (my shooting gloves are a 2XL and barely fit).
How does the Z9 compare in feel to the D850? I love my Z6 but it feels toy sized and I mishit buttons too much. I am willing to buy a Z9 just for the fit, if it is a good one.
It's physically smaller than a gripped D850. Side by side the D850 is bigger for sure. Still, going back and forth between the grips, it's neck and neck IMO and button size seems about the same. I'd be surprised if it were too small for you.
 
Setup is half the fun :)

I'm sure you'll talk about it in your video so I won't ask you about gripes here. I've found a couple of minor gripes in my initial setup (coming from DSLR). Like the D6 FN1 doesn't have the quick press metering option. I had to work around it with recall. Also, formatting the cards by depressing ISO and delete added extra confirmation steps.
 
It can be handy for sure - The D6 actually had it and I explain how to use it in my DSLR book. Looks like I'll have to adapt it to mirrorless now :)
I think it was Jaison Boland who commented that he had tended to ignore that function in his D6, but quickly found it useful in the Z9.
 
I think it was Jaison Boland who commented that he had tended to ignore that function in his D6, but quickly found it useful in the Z9.
It makes sense, depending on what you shoot. For wildlife, I never used 3D and seldom used Auto, so the camera was never picking the AF point to begin with. With the Z9, I have a feeling 3D is going to be my new best friend.
 
I'm not only going to update my AF book, but I'm planning a separate wildlife setup guide for the Z9 as well. Thankfully, most of what the Z9 does has either already been done by other Z (or other mirrorless) cameras or, like the focus point persistence setting, been borrowed from pro DSLRs. The good news is I have the menu figured out already, the bad news is it takes awhile to do a guide like that and I'm still not done with the a1 guide. Still, it's all coming :)
This will be fantastic!
 
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