Jumping Forward... Bye to my Nikon D850 and hello to a Z9

[ecycled]

Decided to finally part with what I still consider a very solid DSLR, the Nikon D850. Had an opportunity to trade on a nearly new Z9 (ever-so-slightly used). Have a fair amount of good F-mount glass to start with so will be getting the FTZ-II adapter to take full advantage of that. This new body will complement a Nikon D6 which will stay in operation (may never give that one up).

So was curious if I could get any helpful, good to know tips from others that have moved from the D850 to the Z9. Realize that I'll be tasked with familiarizing myself with a new system and slightly different array of controls (always part of the adventure) but would welcome any insights. Hoping my familiarity with the D6 may help make me feel at home with the Z9 but that may be wishful thinking.

 

[tbone1004]

best thing is to watch Steve's setup videos for the Z9 and use that as the base line to start from. I think it is important to not consider the Z9 a mirrorless version of your D6, instead treat it as something completely new and different. Yes a lot of things are the same or similar, but because you are shooting with a completely new technology I think it's important to effectively start from scratch when learning the new body and this will allow you to maximize all of the features

 

[ecycled]

best thing is to watch Steve's setup videos for the Z9 and use that as the base line to start from. I think it is important to not consider the Z9 a mirrorless version of your D6, instead treat it as something completely new and different. Yes a lot of things are the same or similar, but because you are shooting with a completely new technology I think it's important to effectively start from scratch when learning the new body and this will allow you to maximize all of the features

Thanks for the reply. Yes I was thinking of going back into Steve's videos. Thanks for the reminder. His set ups are always great. And yes, definitely will be a new skill-set to develop (no pun intended). Looking forward to it.

 

[JulieE]

Steve's E Books The Ultimate Nikon Z8 and Z9 Setup and Shooting Guide for Wildlife Photography and Secrets to the Nikon Autofocus System: Mirrorless Editions should be high on your purchase list. Sometimes I think I should sleep with them under my pillow for maximum absorption.

I also second the idea that you will need to learn the mirrorless autofocus system to take full advantage of you Z 9.

Have a blast with your new toy!

 

[Fishboy1952]

I made the same jump…D850 to Z9. The first thing I did was read Steve’s Autofocus book for mirrorless, and then his setup guide for the Z8/9. That was before I touched the camera. I then tried to set it up close to how I operated the D850. This was so I could just get used to the button locations and other controls. I think I had the default AF set to either Wide large or small, with the Fn1 button set to single point. I shot it for a couple of weeks to get used to the feel, and then graduated to some of the other features, such as 3D, and later Auto AF. There are many different ways to transition but this process worked pretty well for me. YMMV.

 

[fulltimewanderer]

ecycled, As said above definitely Steve’s books and his videos well worth the cost and your time to read them. I also recommend Thom Hogan’s book on the Z9. My wife I made the jump to the Z9 last year. I traded my D500 in on a Z9, my wife sold her 810 and purchased the Z9. Couple of months ago I sold my D4 and D850 and purchased my second Z9. So I’m all in on the Z9 my wife has decided to keep her D4. Between the two of us we had 11 F mount lenses. Traded my 80-400F mount for the 100-400Z and later purchased the 180-600. My wife is still shooting strictly F mount. Myself primarily one Z9 will have a 600 F4 mounted and the other either the 100-400 or the 180-600 mounted. Replacement of all of our F mount lenses is just not feasible. Neither of us have had any issues shooting with our F mount lenses. Actually I’ll agree with the ones that say that the F mount lenses perform better on the mirrorless/ Z9 than on the DSLR’s. Be patient it’s definitely a big learning curve. Don’t rush it the pieces will slowly come together. Read the books they will answer your questions before you know the question. I think you will be completely satisfied and happy with your choice. One last thing BE PATIENT.

 

[JoelKlein]

Congratulations!
-
My personal opinion; You will sell the D6… Or at least it will become a collectible piece of history. With a Z9 you won’t look back.

Give your self permission to shoot the Z9 in what I call D850 mode, turn off all fancy subject detection, use a group AF (Dynamic) and have fun with it.

 

[ecycled]

ecycled, As said above definitely Steve’s books and his videos well worth the cost and your time to read them. I also recommend Thom Hogan’s book on the Z9. My wife I made the jump to the Z9 last year. I traded my D500 in on a Z9, my wife sold her 810 and purchased the Z9. Couple of months ago I sold my D4 and D850 and purchased my second Z9. So I’m all in on the Z9 my wife has decided to keep her D4. Between the two of us we had 11 F mount lenses. Traded my 80-400F mount for the 100-400Z and later purchased the 180-600. My wife is still shooting strictly F mount. Myself primarily one Z9 will have a 600 F4 mounted and the other either the 100-400 or the 180-600 mounted. Replacement of all of our F mount lenses is just not feasible. Neither of us have had any issues shooting with our F mount lenses. Actually I’ll agree with the ones that say that the F mount lenses perform better on the mirrorless/ Z9 than on the DSLR’s. Be patient it’s definitely a big learning curve. Don’t rush it the pieces will slowly come together. Read the books they will answer your questions before you know the question. I think you will be completely satisfied and happy with your choice. One last thing BE PATIENT.

Thank you. I’ve got a fair amount of really solid F-mount glass so for the time being that will suffice.

 

[ecycled]

My personal opinion; You will sell the D6… Or at least it will become a collectible piece of history.

Hah! Maybe. Time will tell. My needs will probably determine what is best. Right now I have a need for what the D6 can bring. Thanks for the reply.

 

[ecycled]

Steve's E Books The Ultimate Nikon Z8 and Z9 Setup and Shooting Guide for Wildlife Photography and Secrets to the Nikon Autofocus System: Mirrorless Editions should be high on your purchase list. Sometimes I think I should sleep with them under my pillow for maximum absorption.

I also second the idea that you will need to learn the mirrorless autofocus system to take full advantage of you Z 9.

Have a blast with your new toy!

Thanks Julie. Steve’s books will definitely be on my to get list. I’ve certainly enjoyed his previous work immensely.

 

[CoyoteCreationsNW]

I moved to mirrorless from a D5 and D850. The programming options are much more complex. Spend some time thinking about what functions you change the most and then configure accordingly. After nearly two years, I am still making minor adjustments to my button set-up. Essentially all adjustments during a shoot are done without taking my eye away from the viewfinder. A good analogy is learning to play a musical instrument. Have fun,

 

[fcotterill]

I also added a Z9 to a D5 at the time (early 2022) with a D850. Then mid 2022, I upgraded the D5 to a D6, which I continue to use happily. The stickiness of the D6 Face and Eye detection is pleasantly surprising in 3D mode, as it is with the custom area AF and AutoAF modes.

As said above, "driving" the Z9 is different with its on sensor AF, which does need guidance on wildlife subjects: i.e. AF HandOff custom setup(s). This is beyond and besides the AF Override techniques that have become widely used, ever since the release of the D5 and D500, then D850.

Again, as they are in the D6, C1 and C2 are powerful assistants in AF handoffs, as well as toggling between AF Modes. Many of us use a 1*1 Custom Area mode with Subject Detection, a feature that makes single point mode obsolescent.

The Z9 subject detection is extremely powerful, and you now have the high fps, as well as silent shutter. The first time owner buying 2 years into this camera's lifespan also benefits from the current v5.0 firmware (building on several updates), plus the wealth of shared field knowledge of experienced photographer; many of whom have been working their Z9's hard since January 2022.

Enjoy your Z9

 

[fcotterill]

Master Nikon AF Handoffs on Z8, Z9, and Z6iii

In this video, we’re diving deep into AF Handoffs with the Nikon Z8, Z9, and Z6iii—and this concept will likely apply to future Nikon mirrorless models too. There's a ton of confusion out there between normal AF overrides and AF overrides that include a handoff and this video will clear the...

bcgforums.com

 

[tbone1004]

I moved to mirrorless from a D5 and D850. The programming options are much more complex. Spend some time thinking about what functions you change the most and then configure accordingly. After nearly two years, I am still making minor adjustments to my button set-up. Essentially all adjustments during a shoot are done without taking my eye away from the viewfinder. A good analogy is learning to play a musical instrument. Have fun,

this is what I was thinking when I wrote my post! When people are learning to double on new instruments they tend to want to think of them as "flute is like saxophone but these are the differences in fingerings" and that leads you into a bad path compared treating it like a brand new instrument and not making those mental parallels. We want to do that as humans as it's the easy and fast way to learn something new, but it's not the best way to gain true mastery in the long run as you have to break those parallels eventually

 

[jeffnles1]

When I switched from DSLR to mirrorless (not Nikon so my specific settings won't matter much in this topic) I started by setting the mirrorless to mimic what I had set up on the DSLR. After a couple outings, 1) I felt comfortable enough with dials and controls to start experimenting, and 2) I quickly realized I was not taking advantage of what the mirrorless systems offered. Features like electronic viewfinder (yes, at first, I set the electronic viewfinder to represent OVF and not exposure simulation) and the various tracking and subject modes. Even something as simple as having the histogram in the viewfinder enabled me to get better results on the fly by visualizing close to what my exposure will be vs looking at histogram after the fact.

My advice would be to take it to a target rich environment where you are very familiar with the subjects and location. Heck, it could be something as simple as ducks on a city park pond or squirrels in trees at your neighborhood park, and try different viewfinder modes, tracking and subject detect modes, and button configurations. Rest assured, in the first month or so of owning the camera, you may make tweaks and changes until you settle on what works best for you but starting with the familiar would be a good place to start.

I bought my first mirrorless 2 years ago in February. I picked that time of year intentionally since there is not a lot going on in nature here (SW Ohio / Northern Kentucky) in mid winter which gave me plenty of time to practice before spring wildflowers, bird migrations and the like. Also, I had about 8 months before the fall Whitetail Deer rut (my favorite photography season) would start in October.

Best wishes on much success with the new camera.
Jeff

 

[ecycled]

I moved to mirrorless from a D5 and D850. The programming options are much more complex. Spend some time thinking about what functions you change the most and then configure accordingly. After nearly two years, I am still making minor adjustments to my button set-up. Essentially all adjustments during a shoot are done without taking my eye away from the viewfinder. A good analogy is learning to play a musical instrument. Have fun,

Agree on time spent tweaking adjustments. I went from D500 to the D850 and shortly after the D6 was added to the D850 and I’ve certainly spent many months (and more) tweaking and experimenting with settings. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[ecycled]

I also added a Z9 to a D5 at the time (early 2022) with a D850. Then mid 2022, I upgraded the D5 to a D6, which I continue to use happily. The stickiness of the D6 Face and Eye detection is pleasantly surprising in 3D mode, as it is with the custom area AF and AutoAF modes.

As said above, "driving" the Z9 is different with its on sensor AF, which does need guidance on wildlife subjects: i.e. AF HandOff custom setup(s). This is beyond and besides the AF Override techniques that have become widely used, ever since the release of the D5 and D500, then D850.

Again, as they are in the D6, C1 and C2 are powerful assistants in AF handoffs, as well as toggling between AF Modes. Many of us use a 1*1 Custom Area mode with Subject Detection, a feature that makes single point mode obsolescent.

The Z9 subject detection is extremely powerful, and you now have the high fps, as well as silent shutter. The first time owner buying 2 years into this camera's lifespan also benefits from the current v5.0 firmware (building on several updates), plus the wealth of shared field knowledge of experienced photographer; many of whom have been working their Z9's hard since January 2022.

Enjoy your Z9

Thanks for the feedback. I’m looking forward to having the D6 beside me in my Z9 adventure. Seems you’ve enjoyed that as well.

 

[ecycled]

Master Nikon AF Handoffs on Z8, Z9, and Z6iii

In this video, we’re diving deep into AF Handoffs with the Nikon Z8, Z9, and Z6iii—and this concept will likely apply to future Nikon mirrorless models too. There's a ton of confusion out there between normal AF overrides and AF overrides that include a handoff and this video will clear the...

bcgforums.com

Thanks for the link.

 

[FastGlassGuy]

Congratulations on the Z9. I moved from a D500 and D850 to a Z8 about a year and half ago. There is definitely a difference and an "adjustment curve." I second everyone that suggested Steve and Thom's books. I have them, and they are helpful, but just like driving a car, you can read so many books and watch videos, but the only real way to do so is to get behind the viewfinder and start shooting.

I don't know what or how you like to shoot, and I am probably not telling you anything you don't already know, but I can tell you that at 20fps shooting 14bit lossless compressed in FX mode, you can fill a large memory card really fast. I use Delkin Black, 325gb cards, and that is only marginally large enough. Ken

 

[ecycled]

I don't know what or how you like to shoot, and I am probably not telling you anything you don't already know, but I can tell you that at 20fps shooting 14bit lossless compressed in FX mode, you can fill a large memory card really fast. I use Delkin Black, 325gb cards, and that is only marginally large enough. Ken

Thanks Ken. Yes I too learned to be a bit less generous on the shutter button when I moved to the D6 and ran 14 fps, 14bit lossless. Certainly not quite the same but depending on card, yes you fill quickly. Are you happy with the Delkin Black series of cards with the Z9?

 

[wotan1]

I am assuming you are into wildlife photography which is why you are on this site so my comments relate specifically to that genre.

The biggest change is that you are going to find the value of shooting in rapid fire bursts at 20 fps.

My simplified suggestion for autofocus to start is that you set up autofocus to shoot using the widest possible field. You also set subject detection for the particular subject (usually bird or animal). Then shoot in short bursts at 20 fps. I found that particular combination works the best most of the time, you can get caught up in the complexity of the Z9 autofocus system. The other suggestion is that if you have trouble tracking something and your subject is relatively stationary you can switch to pinpoint autofocus and that will give you more direct control of where you choose to place your focus point.

This approach to shooting makes special demands for your cards. You can burn through a lot of card space in a day of shooting (I once filled a 165 gb card in about three hours) but you can control that by not going overboard on your bursts. Do it in only brief bursts and avoid subjects that are small in the frame.

This means CF B cards and you are going to want two of those. You also need to buy quality cards because the Z9's speed in image processing really taxes card capacity. The most recommended brands have been Delkin Black and Prograde Cobalt. These tend to be more expensive but it pays off in the long run. Delkin Black provides free replacement within 48 hours if the card fails. I would consider getting a pair of cards in the 300 gb range.

The speed demands on cards are actually higher for still photography compared to video. You don't need quite as fast a card when shooting video but video takes a lot of space compared to stills. They make some really large capacity cards (1 TB and bigger) for relatively low cost but those cards usually don't have the speed needed for rapid fire stills. Those less expensive high capacity cards are usually meant for video work.

Typical rookie mistake that I keep making all the time is to forget to put my card back in the camera after an import session. I don't discover the missing card until I am out in the field. Having two CF B cards in the camera means I can continue to shoot a full day.

I echo others' recommendations to work through Steve Perry's excellent guides. But the suggestions above will get you started more quickly and will give you a solution that works most of the time.

 

[ecycled]

I am assuming you are into wildlife photography which is why you are on this site so my comments relate specifically to that genre.

That and many other types but yes, Steve's love for that particular type of photography brought me to the site/forum (and the excellent general knowledge that is present).

This means CF B cards and you are going to want two of those. You also need to buy quality cards because the Z9's speed in image processing really taxes card capacity. The most recommended brands have been Delkin Black and Prograde Cobalt. These tend to be more expensive but it pays off in the long run. Delkin Black provides free replacement within 48 hours if the card fails. I would consider getting a pair of cards in the 300 gb range.

Yes I've been using the Delkin Black CFexpress Type B (150GB) cards in my D6 without any issues so most likely will jump to 300+ for the Z9 in same card. Seems that card works well in most high frame rate bodies.

Thanks for your reply and helpful insight.

 

[joe43]

I was in your same position over a year ago when I got my Z9. Ditto on Steve Books.

My advice is to go slowly before you implement any of the shooting options on FN buttons and other buttons too that you think you might need. If you do change anyof your standard settings, make sure you have a way to get back to your main settings without disrupting your photo shoot.

On my Z9 I use the I button and LCD screen to access shooting commands I may want to change. On my D850 I never felt the need to do this. Regarding AF, I tried the different options to try and discover which Z9 AF setting accomplished what I used the most on my D 850. Once that was done, I experimented using new features like subject and eye detection.

 

[FastGlassGuy]

Thanks Ken. Yes I too learned to be a bit less generous on the shutter button when I moved to the D6 and ran 14 fps, 14bit lossless. Certainly not quite the same but depending on card, yes you fill quickly. Are you happy with the Delkin Black series of cards with the Z9?

I am shooting a Z8, but the Delkin Black 325gb works well. I imagine it would work even better in the Z9, since it runs cooler than the Z8. I have gotten a hot card warning twice with the Delkin Black 325 gb in the Z8, but the camera kept shooting and never shut down. Ken

 

[wotan1]

I am shooting a Z8, but the Delkin Black 325gb works well. I imagine it would work even better in the Z9, since it runs cooler than the Z8. I have gotten a hot card warning twice with the Delkin Black 325 gb in the Z8, but the camera kept shooting and never shut down. Ken

the Delkin Black cards reportedly tend to run cooler.