New Z9 firmware update - V5.10

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Vincent_VdB

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The long awaited firmware update for the Z9 is here

Download link:

Changes from “C” Firmware Version 5.00 to 5.10
Note: The changes listed below under “Video Recording” and “Controls” are detailed in the Supplementary Firmware Update Manual.
Note: Due to the addition of new menu items, some Custom Settings menu items have been renumbered.
■ Video Recording
  • • Hi-Res Zoom is now available when the image area is set to “DX”.
  • • Added a [Power/Hi-Res Zoom collab]* item to the [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU] in position of g10.
  • • Added a [Shutter mode] item to the [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU] in position of g13.
  • • Added [Zebra pattern color] to g15 [Zebra pattern] in the [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU].
  • • Added options for customizing the brightness information display to g18 [Brightness information display] in the [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU].
* This feature may be available with NIKKOR Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ lenses (as of November 2024).
■ Controls
  • • Added [Save and load power zoom position]* to f2 [Custom controls (shooting)] and g2 [Custom controls] in the [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU].
  • • Added a [Zoom ring control (PZ lens)]* item to the [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU] in position of f10.
  • • Custom Settings f12 and g9 in the [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU] is now [Assign power zoom]. In addition, [Power zoom speed] has been divided into two items: [Power zoom speed (zoom buttons)] and [Power zoom speed (zoom switch)]*.
  • • The following items can now be saved and loaded using [Save/load menu settings] in the [SETUP MENU]:
    • - [Location data (built-in)] > [Record location data] in the setup menu
    • - [Retouch] > [Customize retouch options] in the playback “i” menu (from “C” firmware version 5.00).
* This feature may be available with NIKKOR Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ lenses (as of November 2024).
■ Other Changes
  • • Added [Power zoom speed (zoom buttons)] to the roles assignable to the “i” menu via [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU] > f1 and g1 [Customize <i> menu].
  • • Fixed the following issues:
    • - The camera would sometimes stop responding if the [C30] high-speed frame capture + option was selected for [Release mode] and the shutter-release button was pressed halfway shortly after zooming in the monitor shooting display (live view).
    • - Pressing the AF-ON button did not end the zoomed-in display in manual focus when:
      • ▸ The AF-ON button was set to either [AF-ON] or [AF-area mode + AF-ON], and
      • ▸ [ON] was selected for d19 or g17 [Half-press to cancel zoom (MF)] in the [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU].
    • - The viewfinder and monitor shooting displays (live view) sometimes caused overexposures when the standby timer had expired and reactivated.
    • - In rare circumstances, photos would be overexposed when taken using [Recall shooting functions (hold)] assigned to a custom control.
    • - Buffer capacity sometimes dropped with some CFexpress memory cards.
    • - In rare circumstances, the camera would stop responding or the viewfinder and monitor shooting displays (live view) would be corrupted after burst photography when:
      • ▸ [ON] was selected for [Photo flicker reduction] in [PHOTO SHOOTING MENU].
    • - RAW videos recorded under the following conditions would appear too bright when played back with compatible computer software.
      • ▸ Either [N-RAW 12-bit (NEV)] or [ProRes RAW HQ 12-bit (MOV)] was selected for [Video file type] and [SDR] for [Tone mode].
      • ▸ ISO 100 or below was selected for [ISO sensitivity settings].
    • - In slow network speed environments, the camera would be slower to respond when zoomed in or out on photos while uploading to the FTP server if:
      • ▸ [ON] was selected for [Connect to FTP server] > [Options] > [Auto upload] in [NETWORK MENU], or
      • ▸ An option other than [Off] was selected for [Connect to FTP server] > [Options] > [Upload in HEIF format] in [NETWORK MENU].
 
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Appears to be a very minor update and more worthy of a 5.03 or something like that. I'm sure that those who shoot PZ or video might appreciate the modifications and hope that Nikon continues to refine and improve the camera's capabilities in other areas.
 
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Vincent_VdB said:
Pretty sure you can appreciate the ride we had with our Z9 so far :) From where we started all the way up to V5.10 :)
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I’m still having that ride. 😉 While there certainly are capabilities I wish Nikon would enable in firmware, I love having my Z9 and I appreciate what I’m able to capture with it.
 
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kanonka said:
Looks like the end of any meaningful stills-related updates.
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there will be another update. they’re going to push the cloud stuff to all these expeed7 cameras at the very least.

kanonka said:
Sigh. Z9ii, any rumors?
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no rumors, but i think there’s a reasonable chance we might see one end of next year as that would be four years
 
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Updated in a little over 6 minutes. No changes to menu settings as much as I've checked. Keeping my 2nd Z9 on 5.00 in case anything obvious shows up in performance, autofocus particularly.

It's reasonable to assume Nikon is continuing its primary subject detection training for the Deep-Learning algorithms of the Z9 AF system. This equates in practice to crunching Bayesian algorithms analyzing image databases on super computing clusters; Since March, nine months of feeding the Z9 algorithms with image data will have amounted to a considerable investment in subject recognition training.

For all we know, feedback from the Paris Olympics might also have been folded into the Z9 firmware to fine-tune stills performance of the Z9.
 
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Cameron T said:
Definitely underwhelming on the stills side, but good for the people who do video. I'd bet there's also some af updates that go unmentioned on the back end too (additional ml training, etc).
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Well, if there is, I wish they would state such.........
There will be some who do not install this update, just in case it introduces some negative changes in areas not specified in the release notes.
 
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I am very thankful to Nikon for all the firmware that we get for free. When I bought my Z9 three years ago, it was for what it offered at that time. I did not buy it for what Nikon will offer with firmware. Now it is like having a new camera and did not cost us a penny. Off course, I like to have precapture raw, but it was not the deal on this camera from the beginning. I won’t be disappointed if they don’t added it in a new firmware and I don’t think they will, but I know that there is a big chance to have it in the a new upgrade camera of the Z9, Z9ii? Maybe. I am hopeful that we will see a New flagship sometimes before 2026. Until them I am very satisfied and grateful for what the Z9 can do today.
i wish others compagnies ( not camera compagnies ) care about their client as Nikon does.
 
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Andy A. said:
Well, if there is, I wish they would state such.........
There will be some who do not install this update, just in case it introduces some negative changes in areas not specified in the release notes.
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The consensus from Nikon regional representatives and on forums is keep your camera software current.

One example is Fw 1.20 in April 2021, which officially added only minor updates to the D6 AF [RSF Hold was the most relevant new feature]. However, it was clear the Autofocus had received a major boost with this update, stickiness and improved subject recognition.
 
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Activert said:
I am very thankful to Nikon for all the firmware that we get for free. When I bought my Z9 three years ago, it was for what it offered at that time. I did not buy it for what Nikon will offer with firmware. Now it is like having a new camera and did not cost us a penny. Off course, I like to have precapture raw, but it was not the deal on this camera from the beginning. I won’t be disappointed if they don’t added it in a new firmware and I don’t think they will, but I know that there is a big chance to have it in the a new upgrade camera of the Z9, Z9ii? Maybe. I am hopeful that we will see a New flagship sometimes before 2026. Until them I am very satisfied and grateful for what the Z9 can do today.
i wish others compagnies ( not camera compagnies ) care about their client as Nikon does.
Click to expand...

Maybe wishful thinking on my part, but I view this update as really staking a commitment to video and raises my hopes for a video-centric hybrid (eg Z9C) or a box-style cine camera (eg NikonRed).

Two more requests for the Z9, if anyone (Nikon) is reading it: open gate and RedRaw.
 
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Andy A. said:
Well, if there is, I wish they would state such.........
There will be some who do not install this update, just in case it introduces some negative changes in areas not specified in the release notes.
Click to expand...
In my experience with Nikon, its firmware updates have not broken existing functionality that I use. I have no concerns with keeping my Nikon gear up to date.
 
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