Rumors: New Nikon Z9 Firmware Update With Enhanced AF Acquisition Coming Soon (or not 🙂)

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Wes Peterson said:
Because the main reason for the update will be the cloud service. When you want to make a real splash with a new system wide feature you wait until its really ready across the whole system.

What I find intriguing (and havent heard mentioned yet) is the idea that the images uploaded to the cloud service will have all the data Nikon needs to fine tune their AF algorithms and subject detection. The Ai will be able to train on what people are actually shooting with Nikon cameras. I would expect to major advancements in Nikon's AF tuning at some point after the cloud service is up and running.
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Engineers have admitted obliquely in interviews that Nikon's market research revealed many 300 f4E PF owners used a TC14 (ie 420 F5.6). This influenced their decision to design the 400 f4.5S as a similarly light telephoto prime.

My inference is they mine exif data off public image platforms, and other metadata in images could also inform other aspects of their R&D ;)
 
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Wes Peterson said:
What I find intriguing (and havent heard mentioned yet) is the idea that the images uploaded to the cloud service will have all the data Nikon needs to fine tune their AF algorithms and subject detection. The Ai will be able to train on what people are actually shooting with Nikon cameras. I would expect to major advancements in Nikon's AF tuning at some point after the cloud service is up and running.
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now that would be _very_ interesting
 
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ajrmd said:
Given that Sony is likely releasing the A1 II in November, I suspect that Nikon is likely working on releasing a Z9II rather than major FW updates. https://www.canonrumors.com/sony-to-have-flagship-camera-and-lens-announcement-on-november-19/
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Possibly and holding RAW recapture as a must have feature. Along with a little more framerate and continued refinement of the AF algorithms.

Honestly not enough for me to buy a replacement for the Z8 though. I'll make do with JPEG for the times I need it. I really only miss the noise reduction that the RAW files provide, the rest I generally get right in camera for highlights and shadows with the EVF and colors I'm good with the Nikon profiles. Ai noise reduction is pretty impressive though.

I'm honestly not sure what they can bring that's going to substantially upgrade these cameras, that includes the A1ii from Sony. The sensors looking the same so if your already getting the subjects your after in focus at a high return rate, what does it actually bring to the table that's worth a huge amount of money to upgrade?

Buying a A1/Z9/R5 series was a huge step up from DSLR but the step from those seems much smaller with what Canon just offered, so I'm curious what Sony can bring and I'd expect Nikon will be similar whatever that ends up being.
 
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I'm not sure if raw pre capture is even a possibility anymore with the Z9..they would've done it already if they could..I wish they at least allow us an option to use pre capture + Raw, i,e set the camera to Raw and do pre capture burst in JPEG but switch to Raw for all shots post pressing the shutter release button.
 
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thelordofthelight said:
I'm not sure if raw pre capture is even a possibility anymore with the Z9..they would've done it already if they could..I wish they at least allow us an option to use pre capture + Raw, i,e set the camera to Raw and do pre capture burst in JPEG but switch to Raw for all shots post pressing the shutter release button.
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HEIC should be possible though I would think. It has a lot more ability to edit than Jpeg. I have stopped using JPEG on my Nikons and use RAW+ HEIC since all my relatives use apple products and the iPhone/iPad/MacBook all can view it fine. Plus it enables the XDR display features on the later iPhones/MacBooks which allow a lot more highlight range.
 
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The new release of the Z50 ii tells me Nikon has been focused on getting a new camera out. I note that this Z50 ii will be the second camera that is able to operate Nikon's new integrated cloud system.

That tells me that Nikon is going to include at least the Z8 and 9 into the cloud system which tells me another firmware will happen when they are ready.

The Z9 firmware at this point is looking long in the tooth compared to what is in the Z8 and the other more recent camera releases. Historically the Z9 flagship camera has had a privileged spot for new capability releases. I do believe a Z9 update is if anything overdue to restore its privileged position as the flagship.

Of course all this calculation assumes Nikon's next step is not the release of a Z9 ii. Have we neared or reached the limit of what is possible with the existing Z9 hardware?

Nikon may choose to watit until it has the cloud service fully figured out for all of the current cameras before releasing the Z9 updates. It is getting close to the end of the year; I note Nikon did release the Bird subject ID function to the Z9 early and as I recall it was in November or December.

I do find all the secrecy annoying. Why can't they just be up front with what they are planning for us? Is it that they don't want to give competitors a leg up? I would imagine the competitors watch each other closely and they know a lot more about the other company's plans than any of us do.
 
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Yep. Clearly they've got it, but supposedly each camera has its own software team, so the z9 should be updated. But who knows. At this point, I've given up on expecting one, despite that it should be a priority
 
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wotan1 said:
The new release of the Z50 ii tells me Nikon has been focused on getting a new camera out. I note that this Z50 ii will be the second camera that is able to operate Nikon's new integrated cloud system.

That tells me that Nikon is going to include at least the Z8 and 9 into the cloud system which tells me another firmware will happen when they are ready.

The Z9 firmware at this point is looking long in the tooth compared to what is in the Z8 and the other more recent camera releases. Historically the Z9 flagship camera has had a privileged spot for new capability releases. I do believe a Z9 update is if anything overdue to restore its privileged position as the flagship.

Of course all this calculation assumes Nikon's next step is not the release of a Z9 ii. Have we neared or reached the limit of what is possible with the existing Z9 hardware?

Nikon may choose to watit until it has the cloud service fully figured out for all of the current cameras before releasing the Z9 updates. It is getting close to the end of the year; I note Nikon did release the Bird subject ID function to the Z9 early and as I recall it was in November or December.

I do find all the secrecy annoying. Why can't they just be up front with what they are planning for us? Is it that they don't want to give competitors a leg up? I would imagine the competitors watch each other closely and they know a lot more about the other company's plans than any of us do.
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The Z9 FW 4.10 introduced the bird subject detection on October 4th 2023. Also i doubt the Z9 release is any closer to about another 18 months before release, but will see
 
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