List of Z9 firmware update suggestions
So, I sent this list of ideas to Nikon for firmware updates easier this year and thought I'd share it with the board. So far, no joy (this was sent back in May I think), but who knows - maybe they'll take some of the suggestions to heart. The list below was for firmware, but I have a few hardware ideas at the bottom.
1. I'd love to see an option for turning off subject detection with a programmable button. While most of the time subject detection works well, it can sometimes prove problematic. There are instances it will miss-identify the target or end up on the wrong place on that subject. An option to quickly toggle subject detection on and off with the press of a button would prove extremely helpful. At the moment, I have Recall Shooting programmed for this, but it's really a waste of that function's capabilities.
2. Another incredibly useful option would be to control exactly what aspects subject detection is looking for in an image - either body/face/eye OR just face/eye. Often, when I see problems with subject detection, it's not that subject detection is failing; it's that focusing on the torso is the wrong approach. (Also, this mainly applies to the Wide AF areas.)
For instance, I have noticed with long-necked birds-in-flight that the camera frequently doesn't see the face or eye but almost always identifies the torso. However, if the bird is coming in at any kind of an angle, the result is an out-of-focus face/eye and a sharp body.
With the option to only look for the face/eye, the photographer could concentrate on keeping a wide AF area in the vicinity of the face/eye as much as possible. If the camera sees the face/eye, great - that's an extra aid (same applies if the photographer wanders off-target and the camera is sticking to the face/eye). However, if the camera doesn't see the face/eye, then it would use the AF area normally. In that scenario, if the photographer had the AF area in the vicinity of the face/eye, at least those areas would be sharp. However, as it stands now, you can have a wide AF area right where you want it on the target and the camera will still go for the body if it doesn't see the face or eye, resulting in a 100% failure rate, depending on the angle of the subject.
3. Another helpful option would be to restrict subject detection to just the inside of the Wide AF areas rather than letting it have full reign over the entire subject (this would help with the situation mentioned in point 2 above). I think this should be an on/off option as there are times the current implementation is advantageous. This would be another handy option for an on/off toggle on a programmable button.
4. Spot metering hold. An item I think should make a comeback is the spot meter (hold) option. For tricky metering situations, it's incredibly helpful. It was an option on previous cameras and it would be welcomed back by many. I've seen quite a few people asking about it and they are genuinely disappointed that it's not there. It would undoubtedly be helpful for wildlife work (it was in the past).
5. Another helpful addition would be to place Auto ISO at the "bottom" and "top" of the ISO range when using the lens control ring. Adjusting manual ISO on the control ring is incredibly handy, but if you want to jump from normal ISO to Auto, you must press the ISO button and turn the sub-command dial to toggle between them. It would be handy if you could put all the ISO options on a single, fast control. So, I could select my ISO manually with the lens function ring as I can now, but when I want to go back into Auto ISO, I'd simply turn the ring to the bottom or top of the range.
6. In addition to Nikon, I also shoot Sony and I have to tell you that zebra stripes for exposure are incredibly helpful. While the histogram is handy too, it's tough to spot small, clipped highlights with it and it covers up part of the photo. No such issue with zebra stripes - they don't cover any image area and spotting even a tiny flashing bit of clipped highlight is easy. I think that this would be a welcome addition for many shooters.
7. I'd also love to see recall shooting available with different settings for each button. Recall shooting is an incredibly powerful option and allowing every button to have its own (different) recall shooting options would offer a level of flexibility unheard of in most cameras. As a quick example, you could have one button programmed for slower subjects and another programmed for faster ones. This would make instant changes in the field incredibly fast.
8. AF areas on the lens control ring. Another handy option would be switching AF areas by turning the lens control ring. Using the proper AF area can make a huge difference in outcome and having a nearly instant way to do it would be a nice upgrade.
9. Another option that would be nice for changing AF areas is to have the camera switch from area to area with the press of a button. So, for example, you'd program Fn1 as your toggle button and one press would get you from the AF area you're currently using to the next one in the sequence. Sony allows you to do this and it makes changing AF areas incredibly fast. Although I still think having them on the control ring would be faster, it would be nice to have both options.
10. A handy upgrade would be an option that allows us to lock in the current settings for our photo shooting banks. As it stands now, any changes I make while in a given photo shooting bank changes that setting to the new default for that bank. Ideally, it would be nice if each bank had an option to "lock in current settings." That way, a user could set up a bank for a general scenario and make small tweaks as needed for the specific situation in the viewfinder. However, instead of those tweaks becoming the new default for that bank, when the user goes into another bank and then back, they would get the original settings they had when they first locked them in.
In short, it would be handy to know that when you go back to a particular photo shooting bank, it's always set a certain way. I honestly don't use the photo shooting banks myself at the moment because they don't recall my preferred settings for that bank. If I have to go in and make adjustments anyway, there's not much point in using them unless you typically have to change a LOT of settings. Also, this lock should absolutely apply to the shutter speed, F/stop and ISO settings if Extended menu banks are turned on - that's where it would be the most useful.
10a - This is a continuation of 10. It would also be nice to have the option to link photo shooting banks to a specific custom setting bank. That way maybe I could link custom setting bank a to photo shooting bank a (or b, or c) and have a far more effective customization at my fingertips without jumping around between menus.
That's it. I appreciate your consideration.
That was the end of the letter, but there are always other things to add.
In addition, I'd of course like to see AF improved to at least a1 levels. That didn't make the list (I think they know). Plus, I'd like to see a LOT more customization offered - my a1 has 164 items I can assign, the Z9, only 62. And, as noted in my letter above, there are some very valuable items that could be added.
Hardware:
In addition to the firmware ideas I sent Nikon, I think a few hardware updates would be handy as well.
Obviously, these ideas would require a new camera, a Z9ii
First, I think we need an extra button on the back that we can assign. Just the AF-On button isn't enough. It would be nice to have another AF area / function avaialbe in that prime real estate area.
A better EVF would be nice - the current one is good, but I think if it were right erred, it would be better. I often forget I'm looking at an EVF with my a1 - with the Z9, not so much.
A deeper buffer would be great - something that allowed 30 FPS with lossless RAW and RAW pre-capture.
I also think we need more dials. There's a lot of empty space on top that could be used for a customizable dial that allows exp comp, ISO etc. I'd also like to see a "ring" on the back of the camera like Sony and Canon has. The Sony one not only turns, but allows button pushes at all the cardinal points and three of those are customizable.
Also, fix the eyepiece for the viewfinder - the little rubber thing likes to come off (and it's not just my camera - I saw it a lot over the summer during workshops).
The camera could also use a much better latch for the memory card door. I loved the ones with the D5/6, this is sometimes a pain to open by comparison.
Finally, weight - the Z9 is just heavier than it needs to be IMO. Sony and Canon have pro mirrorless that don't feel like you're holding a hunk of lead, Nikon can do it too.
Whew, that's the main stuff. I have lots of other little things too for both firmware and hardware, but those are the big ones I'd like to see,.
