Nikon Z 9, new lenses, and more

In a visually stunning launch event, Nikon unveiled a brand new flagship camera, three new lenses (including one for their DSLRs), an updated mount adapter, and new software integration solutions for both desktop and mobile platforms. The excitement is palpable! If you want to be among the first to upgrade your gear pack with one (or more) of these, visit your local Mike’s Camera or click on the links below to pre-order online.

The list…

• The new flagship Z 9
• NIKKOR Z 100–400mm f/4.5–5.6 VR S
• NIKKOR Z 24–120 f/4 S
• NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S
• Mount Adapter FTZ II
• NX Mobile Air and NX Tether

Read on for more about these exciting new developments in Nikon land!

The Z 9

We got a teaser earlier this year, but now we have the details: the Z 9 is officially Nikon’s new flagship camera. This 45.7 MP beast is powered by an EXPEED 7 processor and is capable of recording up to 125 minutes of non-stop 8K 30p video, in-camera, all with that famous Nikon color accuracy. The integrated vertical grip ensures that you will never have to fumble for controls, regardless of the situation, and the four-axis tilting monitor will keep your view just as accessible.

Amazing AF

The flagship feature of this flagship camera appears to be its autofocus performance. Nikon put a lot of emphasis during their announcement on the level of reliability that can be expected of the Z 9‘s autofocus system. Tracking faces in low light or behind decorative metal grates, cars zooming along a track, tiny wild animals in the mountains, and more, the sample footage they provided does speak to tremendous capability. This may be the most important feature when it comes to critical reliability. Very little else takes as much weight off off the photographer (or videographer) as being able to have complete confidence in a focusing system they don’t have to control. Imagine being able to devote all the effort you normally reserve for maintaining focus into composition and experimentation! As one of the photographers chosen to experiment with a pre-release version of the Z 9 put it, “this camera is freedom.”

The Z 9‘s autofocus is based on a completely new scene-detection system built on deep-learning AI technology, identifying different situations and fine-tuning performance thereto. Experience 3D tracking for the first time on a Nikon mirrorless camera. Impressive demonstrations showed the camera keeping up with 120 fps burst capture—did I mention maximum still frame capture speed is 120 fps? Wow!—as well as maintaining tack-sharp eye focus even at apertures as wide as f/1.8, automagically.

Unstoppable power

The newly-announced EXPEED 7 is an almost-unfathomable 10 times faster than the dual-EXPEED 6 system found in the Z 7II. All that power is necessary for many of the trailblazing features that make this a true flagship camera:

• “Dual-stream technology”: the live view stream and image recording are processed completely separately, with improved results in both
• Truly blackout-free “Real-Live View” provides a visual feed with no skipping/repeated frames whatsoever
• World’s fastest scanning speed for mirrorless cameras using >30 MP sensors—minimum rolling shutter and distortion; unsurpassed electronic shutter performance for silence and reduced mechanical shutter wear
• Fast, accurate AF calculations at up to 120 fps
• Detect and track nine subject types (humans, pets, birds, airplanes, trains, cars, motorbikes, and bicycles), the widest range yet for this kind of system
• 1000+ image buffer for 20 fps RAW images
• Near-immediate loading of thumbnails for fast and smooth image review
• Up to 6 stops of in-body VR stabilization

Video vitality

As if those improvements weren’t enough, Nikon has incorporated truly outstanding motion capture capabilities into the Z 9‘s feature set. As noted above, the camera is capable of recording up to 125 minutes of 8K (7680×4320) 30p UHD footage continuously without overheating, without an external recorder. Not only can you crop out roughly 3/4 of an 8K frame and still have 4K video, a super-convenient in-camera frame grab feature allows you to extract any of those 30 images in a given second of video as a 33 MP still photo.

If you don’t need quite all that resolution, you can record extremely sharp, dense video in 4K up to 120 fps. That’s a great rate for slow motion, or for the buttery smooth joy of high frame rate video! Extremely flat color profiles (including 10-bit N-log and HLG) are, of course, available to use in preparation of professional grading. A full-size HDMI out, 24-bit linear PCM audio, and support for numerous video codecs make this a camera that can fit into any workflow.

And, in the mid-future: “A free firmware upgrade in 2022 will enable internal 8K 60p capture in the new 12-bit N-RAW high efficiency video format, 12-bit ProRes RAW and other pro level video features.”

A robust and durable tool

The Z 9 is as dust- and drip-resistant as the Nikon D6, yet is 20% smaller than that DSLR. It will operate in temperatures as low as 14°F/-10°C. An innovative new VR lock prevents the sensor from bouncing around and potentially sustaining damage.

The Z 9 will be available within this year (2021), but the first copies are guaranteed to go fast. Click here to pre-order yours today!

Product photos

Sample photos

NIKKOR Z 100–400mm f/4.5–5.6 VR S

The first new ultra-premium S-line lens announced today is a telephoto zoom lens with an extra long reach: the NIKKOR Z 100–400mm f/4.5–5.6 VR S! (For a little extra reach, this lens is also compatible with Nikon’s 1.4x and 2x teleconverters.) All S-line lenses are designed to provide outstanding clarity, color accuracy, resolution, bokeh, and general image quality in a durable, appealing form.

At 400mm, this lens has an astonishing 0.38 magnification ratio, allowing focus as near as 2.46 feet. It’s no “macro,” but it is unheard of for this class of lens.

Weighing slightly less than 3 pounds, this lens is the lightest in its class—a huge benefit for wildlife and sports photography, or, really, any type of imaging that might take advantage of such a long lens. 5.5-stop VR and extremely thoughtful design (e.g. balancing the movement of elements inside the lens to maintain the same center of gravity throughout the zoom range) add additional stability to help you nail the perfect long-range photo.

Two STMs drive fast, quiet autofocus, and the clickless control ring ensures you won’t ruin a video with rough or noisy operation. The zoom assembly is designed around opposing movements that prevent accidental retraction or extension—no torque adjustment needed! Finally, of course, dust- and drip-resistance and a fluorine coat make this another great lens for fearless photography

Click here to pre-order yours today!

Sample photos

NIKKOR Z 24–120mm f/4 S

Covering a broad range of focal lengths with a relatively fast constant max aperture, the NIKKOR Z 24–120mm f/4 S lens features the same high level of quality found in all S-line lenses: high resolution, low chromatic aberration, and incredible clarity. With a 5x zoom range, this lens is appropriate for everything from landscapes to events to portraits to wildlife and more. Nikon promises beautiful bokeh throughout the range, but especially when that 120mm reach and f/4 aperture combine.

The lens weighs only about 1 lb 6 oz, making it a fine travel companion. Like the 100–400mm, the 24–120mm‘s autofocus is driven by two STMs which combine with the clickless control ring for near silent operation.

Click here to pre-order yours today!

Sample photos

NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S

We know less about this one—no price, no release date, no pre-order just yet—but we do know that it’s coming! This S-line lens will be the first NIKKOR Z super-telephoto prime, further expanding native professional capability of the Z system. Featuring a built-in 1.4x teleconverter and what Nikon claims will be the “highest anti-reflection performance in NIKKOR history,” the lens is being developed for exceptional usability in both still and motion capture.

Mount Adapter FTZ II

The second iteration of the FTZ mount adapter provides the same functionality of the original (namely, allowing the use of F-mount lenses on Z-mount cameras) in a slimmed-down form factor. The built-in tripod mount has been removed, making handling easier for lenses that don’t need it and enabling a better fit on the Z 9, where the built-in vertical grip might be fighting for territory. As with the original, the Mount Adapter FTZ II retains the “image quality, autofocus performance, weather sealing and comfortable handling of approximately 360 NIKKOR F lenses from AI type onwards.”  

Click here to pre-order yours today!

New connectivity apps