Z9 1st Impressions & Firmware Wishlist: Brad Hill

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Thom Hogan dives straight into features about which many of us await enlightenment

The Z9 in Africa Blog | Thom Hogan

The Z9 Pre-Production test has begun
www.zsystemuser.com

"......Nikon had told me earlier that you couldn't turn subjection recognition on or off via a button. They're wrong. As Brad Hill has also noted, there's a way to do that, though it involves dedicating Recall Shooting Functions to this. I'll give you an example of where that might be something you want to do: a team wins the championship trophy and a player suddenly thrusts this forward towards your camera. You probably want the trophy in focus, but if the player is in the frame and human subject detection is on, the trophy will likely be right up front and out of focus. Press the button you assigned Recall Shooting Functions to (with Subject Recognition Off) and if you're in one of the two Wide-area AF modes focus should move to the closest thing (the trophy).

Which brings me to a "kudos". Kudos to Nikon for finally realizing they shouldn't be so paternalistic on button assignments. On at least one recent Nikon camera, Fn3 could only be assigned to something like six things. Why, I have no idea. Three of those were things I'd never use, so basically this meant that one function button really had to be relegated to a couple of things I "might" use (as opposed to "do" use)....."
 
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Brad, I have to tell you that I completely enjoy your blog and style. While I am not a Z9 customer (waiting for Z8???); I can't help but appreciate your common sense and no nonsense approach to evaluating the Z9. The key, probably for me, is that you evaluate how the features actually work for you and your shooting style. I'm hopeful that the Z9 technology will filter down to a new and less expensive release by Nikon.
 
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I would like to know where I can find more information on settings, like Wide -S and Wide-L. These terms are new to me as I am still shooting with DSLRs. I just checked Nikonusa and there are no manuals yet posted for Z 9.
 
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Both these AF modes are in the AF systems of existing Z cameras. Download a Z6 or Z7 manual off Nikon website, and also read Thom Hogan
Steve Perry has done some useful videos of Z6 and Z6 II for wildlife etc. Also his Mirrorless Autofocus ebook drills into these AF modes... he will be updating it with Z9 coverage when feasible....

joe43 said:
I would like to know where I can find more information on settings, like Wide -S and Wide-L. These terms are new to me as I am still shooting with DSLRs. I just checked Nikonusa and there are no manuals yet posted for Z 9.
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With a Z9 also in Brad Hill's capable hands, just updated 3rd Dec, as mentioned above, Thom Hogan is also in this second wave: reviewing a Z9 later than Nikon's first choices. See his latest blog post. So it's great that we can look forward deeper and nuanced critiques.

Thom has already informed Nikon where their engineers missed the obvious in sticking obtuse and illogical names on features and menu options etc. For the reviewer, this complex stuff is challenging to summarize in video, and too time consuming for high profile talking heads. It is better spelled out in legible prose: maybe old fashioned but it works.

Very few reviewers are successful at explaining this trickier stuff simply, with qualifying reasons for Custom settings etc. This is precisely the department where Thom Hogan shares his findings of how to drill into camera setups in order to jump in and change what the camera is doing based upon the situation that pops up in front of you.

It does help if the reviewer happens to be a professional photographer, and/or a successful educator of photography ;) :);) The evidence of who's best is plain to see in their successful records in experiential teaching...

Equally, quality stands out in those who write the technical books and manuals that sell; again this is because these publications work. Spec sheets and exemplar images have their roles in a quick review, but these modern ILCs are extremely complex, and challenging to optimize in order to work efficiently.

Thus, as Thom explains, "....I will repeat my philosophy about autofocus in general: it's fine to have the camera do the heavy lifting, but you want to be able to quickly jump in and focus (pardon the pun) or redirect what the system is doing....."
.....I’m all about “muscle memory.” I want things to become second nature as to my holding and controlling the camera. But there’s also such a thing as “cognitive dissonance.” When you get to that Custom Setting and see Type A, you either remember what it means—and note that there are other Mode/Type As in the camera’s menus you have to memorize, as well—or if you don’t remember you have to take the time to read the help. The Z9 is a performance camera. It should be minimizing our having to pay any attention to additional detail....."
 
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Brad's Dec 3rd post is once again excellent in discussing the little nuances that I often try to discuss on forums but usually falls on deaf ears. Things like different textures, shapes or in this case height of buttons in close proximity are things that make all the difference in the world to me. Brad's note of the Rec v ISO button is one of these things. Brad's note of having "B" and "D" which are used for action being one scroll click away from his main working "A" mode and the two click "C" mode being used for landscapes where you aren't needing to react/change fast is also a valuable lesson.

What Nikon needs to do to improve operation going forward is to allow Toggle option for all changes and not push/scroll. Reliance on any type of push/scroll is a big detriment to my use.
 
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Well, my ears are wide open to these discussions: and a primary reason to set up this thread.
I suspect this reflects not only how one shoots what wildlife subjects but how frequently. In this regard, I found it interesting to read Brad Hill comment some months back, that '... vast majority of wildlife photographers that I know that use Nikon cameras that have Shooting banks and Custom banks (e.g., D500, D850, D5, D6,) only rarely set up their Shooting banks and almost never utilize anything but the default Custom bank.....'.

Anyway, not only do I suffer acute Nikonitis, but i'm also a shooting bank fanatic like Brad, so have resolved to never pay out again on a ILC lacking the Pro Nikon settings and controls. Besides as a a few of us keep emphasizing these modern Pro cameras have become far too complicated to ignore this stuff (with all the options): as geeky as this may appear, or rather is :LOL:

arbitrage said:
Brad's Dec 3rd post is once again excellent in discussing the little nuances that I often try to discuss on forums but usually falls on deaf ears. Things like different textures, shapes or in this case height of buttons in close proximity are things that make all the difference in the world to me. Brad's note of the Rec v ISO button is one of these things. Brad's note of having "B" and "D" which are used for action being one scroll click away from his main working "A" mode and the two click "C" mode being used for landscapes where you aren't needing to react/change fast is also a valuable lesson.

What Nikon needs to do to improve operation going forward is to allow Toggle option for all changes and not push/scroll. Reliance on any type of push/scroll is a big detriment to my use.
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I'm more interested in knowing more about the Z9 EVF for tracking fast action. I doubt Brad has tried a Sony A1 or R3 but i could be wrong. I m looking forward to some write-up by Thom as he uses the A1.

arbitrage said:
Another Dec 6th post on EVF...

Natural Art Images: Voice: Brad Hill Blog

The Blog of Brad Hill, wildlife photographer. Cameras, lenses, camera gear, field tests, conservation, photo tours, and other bits of questionable wisdom from a young-at-heart nature photographer!
www.naturalart.ca www.naturalart.ca
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thelordofthelight said:
I'm more interested in knowing more about the Z9 EVF for tracking fast action. I doubt Brad has tried a Sony A1 or R3 but i could be wrong. I m looking forward to some write-up by Thom as he uses the A1.
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I’m here to tell you the Z9 is not as good as the A1 or R3 for tracking fast action…please cancel your pre-order so I have a better chance at owning the best camera on the planet!
 
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eft said:
I've ordered a Z9 but I "only" have a Nikon 200-500mm f5.6 zoom for distant shots. I will be interested to see how the lens performs when paired with the Z9 and if I can use it with a TC (partly because I am moving from a DX D500 to the Z9).
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I'm pretty sure it will work as I've had no trouble with my 200-500 paired with a Z5 (as in your case mine is usually attached to the D500) - I haven't tried with the TC14eii but that works beautifully attached to the 105 2.8 micro via the FTZ adapter so there shouldn't be an issue. Enjoy your new camera :)
 
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Brad Hill has set up this Z9 Firmware Wishlist - good move. Its recommendations will reach the correct audience in Nikon Canada. Let's trust the realistic requests are implemented.
This will benefit all stakeholders, not least Nikon by selling improved cameras; so hopefully Tokyo HQ prioritizes this new Firmware

Natural Art Images: Brad Hill: My Nikon Z 9 Firmware Update Wishlist

Field Tests by Brad Hill - Wildlife Photographer. Field test of the Nikon V1. Nikon Cameras, Nikon Lenses, Nikon Accessories.
www.naturalart.ca www.naturalart.ca
 
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Brad Hill has posted his preliminary ISO findings when it comes to visible noise. Short version is that he finds it equivalent to a Z7 II or D850. He finds the downsampled photos to be fractionally better than the Z6 II and fractionally worse than the D6. He sees an ISO 12800 D6 as equal to an ISO 10000 Z9 file.

http://www.naturalart.ca/voice/blog.html

For myself this is great news. I get the base ISO of 64 for many applications and I can feel like I'm giving up very little when it comes to high ISO. Brad found the Z9 downsampled equal to the D6 to ISO 5000. This removes one of the few potential areas of concern for me ahead of the actual release.
 
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This is very good. To me the key takeaways are:
1. ISO performance is the same as D850/Z7/Z7II, which is great considering the Z9 has a stacked sensor that are known for not so great ISO performance, relative to standard BSI sensors.
2. Z6II and D6 seems to still have an edge at mid to high ISOs at pixel level but once the Z9 file is down sampled to match the Z6ii/D6 files , the difference is very minimal ( Z9 better than Z6ii and slightly falls short of D6)

Now, does this imply in anyway that the DR of the Z9 will also be almost the same as the Z7/D850?

I love my D850 files for its tonality particularly in low ISOs and also the way it handles the highlights.
 
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I know that Ricci has talked about the High ISO and the DR being as good as Z7 II on videos. I'm always a bit skeptical just because he's on the Nikon payroll. This info from Brad Hill essentially confirms one of the two bits of info as true. I expect that we'll find the DR one is also true once the proper tests have been done. I'm not really sure why they'd make it an ISO 64 base camera that isn't purely a high-ISO monster if they weren't also going for at least the same DR as D850/Z7.
 
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Brad Hill has posted an action photo of an airborne canid, Labra-Something.... he gives a lengthy summary. Z9 with 100-400 S. He's highly complementary about this combination and the Z9

Natural Art Images: Voice: Brad Hill Blog

The Blog of Brad Hill, wildlife photographer. Cameras, lenses, camera gear, field tests, conservation, photo tours, and other bits of questionable wisdom from a young-at-heart nature photographer!
www.naturalart.ca www.naturalart.ca
 
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pwaring said:
I know that Ricci has talked about the High ISO and the DR being as good as Z7 II on videos. I'm always a bit skeptical just because he's on the Nikon payroll. This info from Brad Hill essentially confirms one of the two bits of info as true. I expect that we'll find the DR one is also true once the proper tests have been done. I'm not really sure why they'd make it an ISO 64 base camera that isn't purely a high-ISO monster if they weren't also going for at least the same DR as D850/Z7.
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FWIW, i’ve never caught Ricci saying anything even marginally suspect. There are limits to his expertise, what he covers and says, but i consider him extremely credible and honest.

that said, sometimes you have to guess where someone is coming from, and high iso performance is one of those things that means different things to different people and Brad is the first person that has made claims i don’t second guess on that topic
 
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I agree that Ricci has to tread a fine line between public statements and NDA's etc. This applies to most employees in the tech industry obviously. Neverthless, falsities will backfire especially in UK where nitpicking 'anoraks' are prolific.

he did recently answer a question about Z9 high ISO etc in a Nikon Owners Club online Q&A seminar. He confirmed what he's already said, and also what Brad Hill is saying about comparing resampled images ie Z9 vs D6.

This Q&A was held with Nikon UK. he and a colleague answered questions about some details of the Z9 but more about the new Z lenses.
 
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John Navitsky said:
FWIW, i’ve never caught Ricci saying anything even marginally suspect. There are limits to his expertise, what he covers and says, but i consider him extremely credible and honest.

that said, sometimes you have to guess where someone is coming from, and high iso performance is one of those things that means different things to different people and Brad is the first person that has made claims i don’t second guess on that topic
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I've watched a lot of Ricci videos and I find them very informative. It's not that I expect him to lie to me at all. It's just that if there's something Nikon ever don't want attention brought to regarding a camera or lens then I will expect him to gloss over it. So far the Z glass has been really good and much of the functionality of the Z cameras has been great so there haven't been many areas he needed to skip over. Whilst I'm very happy how much the continuous AF has improved on my Z7 I did find it underwhelming on release (and I had low expectations). I don't really remember him talking very negatively about it back then. Now that he's been handling the Z9 I feel like he's much more critical of the AF of the earlier Nikon mirrorless bodies. That's 100% what I expect him to do as a Nikon employee in this regard and I have no issue with it. It's what I'd expect an ambassador to do too. All I mean to say is that I'm wary of that kind of behaviour compared to when we see someone like Steve do a review.
 
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