Nikon Z9 For Wildlife Photography | First Impressions from the field 2
Hey guys,
As many of you will know from my Instagram my Z9 landed at my door a few weeks back and so in this video I want to talk all about my first impressions of using the camera as a wildlife photographer out in the field! I've had the camera out with me almost daily, testing it out on some local subjects, trialling the AF, speed and whole shooting experience and so thoughts I'd share some initial impressions. This isn't a full on review - I won't do one of those till I've used the camera fully for many months, but just my early thoughts as a professional wildlife photographer.
In this video I'll talk you though, the design and feel, AF and how its working, Buffer and more, plus show some early examples. As always with these things I know there will be loads of questions so feel free to drop them below and I'll do my best to answer them all!
As always guys I know loads of you watch these videos and aren't subbed, so if your not please hit that SUBSCRIBE button to help me out and keep up with the latest videos - I'll be sharing more on the Z9 from the field as I shoot and experiment!
I won't lie I'm loving the Z9 so far, it's blazing fast, the mix of high resolution and FPS is awesome, all packaged in arguably the best feeling Pro Nikon body I've ever used...And I've used a few! I really can't wait for the next few years this this camera, shooting stills and video out on location!
If you're thinking about getting a Z9 you'll want to be ordering ASAP as the backorders are rather long! If you want to help me out with your purchase using the links below give me a little commission (and cost you nothing extra!)
Nikon Z9 at Wex : tidd.ly/3GOPrcl
If you want to see more from me, be sure to check out my Instagram where I'll certainly be uploading Z9 images as I shoot - @TomMasonPhoto
And soon you'll also be able to check out my website for portfolios, workshops and more! www.tommasonphoto.com
As always guys thanks for watching and I'll be in the comments for any questions! Get out there and enjoy your wildlife photography!
Timestamps
00:00 Intro
02:45 Why I bought a Z9
04:40 Build Quality
08:30 Autofocus
13:26 AF Tracking
15:30 Birds in Flight
17:00 Buffer
19:22 Final thoughts
In my bag : (UK affiliate links help me fund the channel and cost you nothing)
Lowepro Whistler 450 AW II - (travelled flawlessly on all my flights with ALL the gear below inside!)tidd.ly/ee5e459a
Nikon Monarch HG 8x30's - Simply love these. tidd.ly/3df767bbNikon
Nikon Z9 : tidd.ly/3GOPrcl
D850 + Grip + D5 batteries tidd.ly/5e9ce68e
Nikon Z6 and 24-70S - (All video for the channel now shot on this - love this little camera!) tidd.ly/18f827ed
Nikon 300mm 2.8 VR II (My all time favourite lens) tidd.ly/c3774d0f
Nikon 70-200 FL tidd.ly/50423b68
Nikon 35mm 1.4 G tidd.ly/74102f76
Nikon 20mm 1.8G tidd.ly/792d72d0
Nikon 1.4 TC tidd.ly/51bb49a8
Nikon 2.0 TC tidd.ly/6d38e4fe
Nikon SB-700 tidd.ly/40a57f1a
Spare battery tidd.ly/3c45d8ba
Gitzo Mini Traveller tidd.ly/eda4b0c
Petzl Headlamp amzn.to/2LX80SW
G-tech external drives amzn.to/2Yil63y
Macbook 12" amzn.to/2ZBQ57e
Rocket Blower ( I'd get this one) tidd.ly/8d6a3ab4
I also carry a trusty Gitzo Tripod, either my 4 series systematic or a 2 series traveller!
#NikonZ9 #WildlifePhotography
Another great video Tom, thanks for sharing your findings so far. Although the Z9 is out of my reach it is always good to hear about the flagship as we know the tech will eventually trickle down to the Z6 and Z7.
Thank you. These are always the best types of information videos, real world experience with it for some time. I'm just waiting impatiently for mine!
Thanks for another great informative video. I've recently just come across your channel and really like your videos. Very laid back and easy to watch and learn from. Keep up the great work sir and I look forward to your future videos
This is exactly what I wanted in a mirrorless camera, a cross between the stunning resolution of the D850 but with the blistering speed of the D5. I had both those plus a D4S and D500 and it was a no brainier getting the Z9 which allowed me keep my fast aperture super telephotos too. Perfect timing and I’m loving mine now.
Thank you, Tom! Still waiting on my Z9, so it's great to hear from others who are actively using it.
No worries Mike, Yes its a shame some are having to wait but well... all good things ;) I'm sure you'll love it when it finally get to you. I just wish the weather would lift a little!
fantastic introductory review. certainly looks like an amazing camera. I currently shoot with a D4 which i absolutely adore, but she is a loud girl and when comes to wildlife, does have a tendency to let her presence be known. so i am looking in the near future in upgrading, the Z9 looks like it could be the camera, its just the switch to electronic viewfinder and mirrorless. I look forward to your review in later months when you have fully tested out the camera as you always give an honest review. Thank you.
As always superb content. Can't wait to see your image from safari in Africa. Enjoy the new toy.
great video Tom hope to get my z9 next year
Great video Tom. As a 300mm user myself I was hoping you could provide some feedback on TC performance with the 1.7 and 2.0. I’ve used my 1.4 happily on this lens with my D850 but never tried the 1. And 2.0 due to AF performance. I keep reading that the z9 improves the TC performance so hoping you could shed some light on if the 1.7 and 2.0 perform better with the z9 from an AF stand point ? Thanks min advance
Great video buddy, looks like a really nice bit of kit
Great review! Still waiting for mine is November 11th!
Great review and will see a lot more Nikon sales of the Z9 and longer waiting to get my own ordered Z9
Hopefully you'll get yours soon! Cheers, Tom
@@TomMasonPhoto Tom here in Ireland just has back order. Ordered my camera when it was first announced by Nikon.
@@NikCan66 ahh that’s a shame, it’s all back ordered here but luckily I have my NPS that helped out, I do miss living in Ireland however, miss those shores!
Reassigning function buttons (fn1, 2 and 3) are options but I would also suggest trying hybrid autofocus with the shutter release button set to WA-S, WA-L or 3D autofocus. That then allows BBF/AF-ON for your secondary autofocus mode.
Yes I’ve just had a comment lower about this, re assigned my front Fn button to now provide single point + AF-ON that should be ideal for swapping between the modes I use without any need to ever scroll between options as I can now initiate each independently! Certainly will be experimenting more with other modes over the next month to see what has the highest keeper rates and success in different circumstances!
Hi Tom, great video as always! Can I ask how long it took you to receive your camera from purchase date until delivery? Also was it an NPS order or regular order? Keep up the great work and look forward to more videos soon!
Hey Nick, I ordered on the day/day after if I remember but Yes it was an NPS order direct through Nikon. I got my camera on the second delivery run, so not the day before Xmas but about two and a half weeks into Jan. I'll certainly try and keep the videos coming as I spend more time with the camera out in the field!
Still waiting for my Z9 to be delivered so these videos advising on how best to use one is very helpful - just jealous because mine is still out there in the queue somewhere!!
Aww man I bet you can’t wait to have it! I’ll be doing me best to keep testing and updating things as we go, really pleased with my purchase though, can’t wait for RAW video as well, that’s going to be fun!
@@TomMasonPhoto Yes, I am chasing my reseller almost daily as had it on order since the start of November!!
@Photo Bunny I also have NPS status but still awaiting a delivery date!!
Great review Tom. If you want a extra af scenario on a separate button I'll suggest to use also the shutter button for af. You don't need anymore the back button autofocus when now you have eye tracking and you can recompose without using bbf. Instead, you can set the shutter button to another type of focus. So now you have at your fingertips another button to set for af. I have 4 af scenarios setup: shutter button - large area back button autofocus - 3d joystick - autoarea fn1 - small area Again love your videos...
Yes so others have mentioned the extra FN1 ability, I must have just missed it before when I was setting up. For me I'd never want to assign an AF mode to the shutter button for the simple fact it would mean AF is always initiated when I go to shoot, this is something I hate because if I'm set up on a perch waiting for something land or appear in a certain spot the camera would try and re focus rather than immediately taking a shot, otherwise I'd have to trap and hold a 1/2 press all the time that would get annoying! Also for when I'm shooting my panoramic style of image I'm locking focus and keeping it as I pan right/left and taking extra images, so if the AF was on the shutter button it would then re focus on the extra images, taking the AF away from the plane I'd be trying to maintain it in. I know thats a pretty specific set of reasons not to add a 4th mode but I know that would frustrate me all the time if AF was on my shutter button! haha
@Photo Bunny yes I know I can assign for AF-ON as well as the mode, it’s just I find real value in having NO af on the shutter to ensure I can take a picture without changing my focus - really handy for certain scenarios
An excellent impression review. Thanks for sharing A quick question: I thought it doesn’t have 12bit file option..
Yea I think you might be right! I more just meant dialling back to a smaller raw format to get the full buffer AKA not in lossless uncompressed
Hi Tom, How is the focus with the 300 f2.8 plus TC 1.4 on the FTZ?
Hello Tom, Just like to say well said, about it does take time to know a camera. I will look forward to your review, but I have order one. Keep well, keep safe and enjoy life.
Thanks John, I really feel cameras have to be truly lived with before you can give a real judgement and when I see reviews in the first few days it’s just a joke! I shall keep updating with findings and tips as I’m shooting!
You can set any of your other Fn buttons to any AF Mode you want.
Hank! I totally missed a setting on this, just found that after your comment abs that’s going to be amazing going forwards, single point, group and 3D now all at the touch of a button!!!
Thanks x the input. What about battery life? Thanks again. Cheers!
Hi Tom. Great to see you enjoying your new Z9. Can you use the older EN-EL18 batteries in the Z9? I know you can't USB-C charge the older batteries in-camera with the Z9. Also, charger wise, can you charge the old EN-EL18 batteries in the new MH-33 charger? I don't think the new D battery charges in the older MH-26 battery chargers, but would be good to have that confirmed
Hey, so yes although only the later models of the battery - So the EN-EL18c batteries I have work fine in the Z9 + new charger. I have some EN-EL18a and the new charger didn't like them. New battery will NOT work on the old charger. I just double checked that!
@@TomMasonPhoto Cheers Tom!
Matti Haapoja for life!
Top video Tom, but I need more experience before I even think in the range of a Z9, I have the D500 and 200-500mm, I need to get out there and get shooting ;-)
Hey Tom, thanx for the new video and your first impressions of the z9. I really like the camo clothing you are wearing…you have affiliate links for purchase? Boots, pants…etc.? These seem well designed for crawling in the mud chasing critters…I need something just like that 🥰
I’m getting a lot of questions about clothing so I might do a full on video on this stuff for people, I’ve actually invested in a few new pieces that I’ll be trialing over the next few months so maybe a video on this would be good?
I‘d definitely appreciate a video on clothing for wildlife photography 👍
@@edbritelight7683 try army surplus stores. Camo everything and excellent value!
would you say its better then the D 5 or D6
Hi....how do you like the 500mm PF?
Thanks Tom - I appreciate your candid views - not the usual clickbait hype normally found on YT.
My pleasure! TBH I hate those kind of videos and just find many on the platform reviewing cameras tend to be "reviewers" and not photographers. I need the Z9 to work and perform as my tool in the field and hopefully with my early impressions it's really going to be just what I'm after. The silent shooting has already proved useful and I'm keen to test out the higher shutter speeds above 1/8000! Also the design and feel in the hand just really is the most comfortable camera and so hopefully it will be welded in my hand for many years to come!
Program one of the fn buttons on the front of the camera for af, front button back button is the way to go imo!
Just seen the comment above and this!!! I knew I must have missed it as it seemed like every other button was fully programmable!! This is so good! Cheers
nice to see you back on KZhead. it seems Nikon didn't include the rumoured heated hand grip though a real shame that🤣
Man I want that now 😆😆😆😆
I think it’s the Canon R5 that had overheating issues during video recording. You might want to hurry up and patent the idea before Canon lists it as a feature.
Nice video as usual - what is the field you are in - is it private property or some type of park area?
Yeah it’s a private field that I’ve got access to here! Wonderful bit of farmland for Hares!
I’ve watched a few videos on the Z9 and it seems to me that photos taken with this camera have a certain look. Maybe it’s capabilities encourage photographers to experiment or something. It’s dynamic range is clearly apparent too.
Hello Tom,the D850 with the battery pack feels no different in hand to the D-5 or any other Pro body or the Z9 for that matter,virtually the same.
Personally I don’t agree, owning the D850 for a long time as well as using many other pro bodies the height of the camera is certainly different as well as the way the bottom grip feels too. Personal preference for sure but there is certainly a difference between the D850 and full unibody designs
D850 or Z7? THANKS
Hi Tom couple of questions about the Z9 if you are amateur photographer and happy what you're producing now with the gear you've got is it worth spending the five grand on this camera body or use the money for trips around the UK Second one when you doing your hair is so have you ever thought of using frypod (a ball head on a frying pan) used on the beach a lot so that might help
Hey, so first up no, if you're happy with what your producing a don't feel the lack / need to upgrade 100% spend it on trips. My investment is purely from a business standpoint and to give me some advantages I'd like in the field - the Video here is handy for me doing KZhead and client work. My D850 was a perfectly awesome stills camera! 2nd - Ive thoughts bout it but the mud is quite thick here, clay soil so pushing it across just gets loads stuck to the pan/dish and hence makes it more effort than its worth! often lug a bean bag though or sit in one location and use my tripod!
Have you been able to try out iso performance in low light? How does that 45mp sensor deliver ?
I must admit I haven’t had much chance to test the High ISO performance yet + personally I don’t tend to do that much high ISO work however hopefully this year I’ll get to catch up with some badgers and test the ISO out!
I currently have a z6ii but my plan is to get a z9. Do you think the z9 could be used as an all round camera i;e landscape, macro long exposure or do you think this is mainly for sports and wildlife ?
Easily can be used for everything - I’m an all round shooter - I do landscape / action / photojournalism and close up, the Z9 will be able to handle everything easily. I’d drop the FPS down though when doing landscapes 😂
@@TomMasonPhoto saves getting a z7ii just for landscape then and using the money for another lens or see what the z8 is like.
Ordered mine the day it was released in the USA. Still waiting for it. I'm not NPS so that's probably why I haven't received it yet.
Aww hope you get yours soon, but it’s worth the wait!!
Hey Tom, do you plan to make a comparison video Z9 vs D850?
I can do for sure if people are keen! I’ll put that on the list
Wow, Manfrotto cards!? First time I hear of that. :o
Yes they are just the badges Delkin cards as far as I’m aware but for a but of a discount! Will Of course diversify and invest in some extras from other brands too but so far these are doing great!
Allow me a question, for you and everyone. I have a conflict in my brain. Right after knowing about the Eye detection AF on cameras I wondered if it could had been developed for animals. It didn´t take too long till it came out and lots of AF improvements have occured since then about learning AFs. Now they are there I have a battle in my mind wondering how much merit would remain for the photographer if the camera understands and thinks so much for us. Yes, sure my D500 has a very advanced AF system and it makes lots of calculations I´m not able to do to get focused shots, but telling the camera to recognise when a bird is framed is a different story, I think. By the way, right this morning I got a few very nice shots that could have been superb if the lots of thin grass in between the partridge and me there weren´t there. With animal detection it could had been completely in focus, yes, but that little amount of AF correction I had to do manually in a so small amount of time gives to the image higher value for me when I watch it. (Also kind of weird question when I use Auto-ISO all the time and let the camera do the work for me... :D :D Maybe I am trying to find reasons to stay on DSLRs. :D :D Regards from Spain. (If there´s something I really wish to have is a SILENT SHUTTER on my D500). :(
Haha for sure, I do think in some ways maybe it’s doing the hard work in some cars but actually in use it’s more about ensuring the eye that we want is in focus, of course the composition or such is not changed with the AF just the lock on more secure for the area we want, certainly handy a lot of the time but I do believe in use, I’ll still often be using single point and other modes for more creative control. Sometimes the eye isn’t where we Want our focus to be! I had my own reservations about mirrorless and haven’t sold up all mum DSLRs yet! I think many some areas will still have a use for them, but it’s hard not to fall in love with the Z9… the silent modes are just amazing for wildlife!
Sir, how long did you have to wait for your Z9? A, still waiting and preordered on launch day……
Ordered at launch with my NPS account for priority fulfilment
i want more videos of z9
What was this video shot on? Looks really great
Shot on my Nikon Z6 with the gorgeous 35mm 1.8 S lens, love this for my KZhead vids
Nice video! I think all RAW modes are 14 bit on Z9. 12 bit is not avalible.
Hey yes, I fumbled my words there, they are all 14 bit but what i meant was that for sports photographers needing the limitless buffer, the smaller raw formats will be more than good enough for publications etc for that added buffer bump!
What trousers are those with the padded knees?!
I will feature this in a future video - game changer! But these are my ones from Fjallraven Vidda Pro's
The question is, what is more important, the lens or the camera? Rather the Z9 with a 200-500mm F5.6 or a Z6 with 500mm F4?
That’s a hard one, the 500/4 is awesome but right now, I’d pick the Z9 + 200/500 or look into a 300 f4 with a TC. Either are an awesome combo though!
@@TomMasonPhoto Thank you for your answer. 😃👍
Do the F mount lenses (200-500mm) work well with focus tracking, eye detection etc.? Thanks for a really nice impressions video.
From my tests with the 300mm 2.8 + 500 PF I found the eye tracking worked great, all the work I've done so far has been with F lenses so I'm rather looking forward to testing out the Z mount lenses more in the future - can't wait to test out the new 200-600 when we get it or the 800mm PF!
Thank you for sharing this. I want to use my F lenses but wasn’t so sure, as I am waiting for the Z9 body.
how is the iso performance? nobody speaks about that!
Haven't had enough time to test it on anything where I push the ISO but also in my own shooting style I rarely need/do venture above 3200 so I doubt ill be having an issues. I mostly work at Lower ISO and use movement and such for more creative images when the light isn't what I'm after!
wow happy guy
No 12 bit option on Z9. Just different apparently lossless compressed 14 bit.
What firmware version do you have???
1.11
Can u talk about that lens plz ..???? Thx 😊
I have a video on the 300mm already but I’m working on a 500mm one!
Still waiting for my Nikon Z9. Ordered it on launch day as soon as it went on sale from B&H. The wait is getting ridiculous. It looks like you have to be a youtuber and a "pro, whatever that means" to get your hands on one.
If you have NPS then orders where prioritised, but I have no idea how these things are fulfilled just so glad I have my one to shoot!
Beat you got mine on the 24th dec 😂
That’s not fair 😂😂😂
@@TomMasonPhoto it’s a great camera Tom looking forward to seeing what you think ! Cheers mark
the nikon z9 looks good but i will stick with my canon 300d
Any camera is a great camera if you’re enjoying using it, really is the most important thing!
Zeeeee 9
The z9 looks great but it's too much money for someone who isn't a pro imo. I'm hoping for a Z8 with 80% of the AF performance and a bigger sensor and then I'll jump to the Nikon Zs
It certainly is a big investment and that’s without any glass - I’ve got my eyes on a few lenses but they might have to wait to the end of the year / next! I know for many the Z9 would just be out of the price range
sedap kopinya .....
Does the Z9 focus Better, and produce Images with less Noise, and Halos than the POS D850?
I thought that was Greg the Muntjac? My mistake!
A bit of Epoxy will fix that flimsy Screen
Mr. Mason, awesome video as usual. I was wondering if you would be willing to test something with your Z9, as I do not have mine yet I am unable to test. I'm attaching a link to another KZheadr's video who states there is an inherent "close focus" issue will all mirrorless cameras, but specifically with the Z9. Out of all of the videos I have watched about the Z9 no one else has mentioned having this issue and yet he clearly shows an issue in his video. He is a bird photographer and it is a very specific circumstance he is referring to, but I'm curious if it is actually an issue or if he just has a "bad copy" of the Z9. kzhead.info/sun/YKxml5ynm3doqWg/bejne.html At any rate I think a lot of photographers would be curios to know if this really is an issue with the camera and since you could find yourself in this particular scenario I thought you would be a great person to test this out and let us know. Thank you.
I've just taken my Z9 outside for some initial testing - I have some totally different results but will double check and see if I can solve this for people as I have an un tested theory about a setting! Will report back when I've confirmed more
@@TomMasonPhoto Thank you so much Mr. Mason. I have to admit that video was a little disconcerting as one of the reasons I have purchased the Z9 was the autofocus system and that video really kind of frightened me a little bit.
But i still noticed that the D850 has "slightly" better image quality than the Z9 and basically almost all mirrorless cameras. Thats something that should be mentioned in a review.
Ma addò cazz i pigliàt tutt sti sord ... uhahuahuahuahuahua
My Matti Haapoja can shoot on any camera he wants, he’s rich, successful, gorgeous, single, best friends with Peter McKinnon, where’s sexy clothes, has a drone, owns a Bentley (but he drives mainly his BMW 655i customized). Matti Haapoja is also Eco-friendly and hangs with Leo DiCaprio and Justin Bieber and Kelly Clarkson.
04:13 Lol…. You must have different D850 to me. You getting a Z9 is cool if you can afford it but that statement is just ridiculous and smells of you trying to justify spending so much money.
I'm not knocking the D850 it's been my pro camera for the last 4/5 years, travelled all over the place with me from the Amazon to Botswana, what I mean is the grip when attached just doesn't have that unified design in the same way a D4/D5/D6 has, if you pick up any of those cameras you'll immediately know what I mean. The D850 without a grip is as solid as a half body gets, but when you add a grip it doesn't make it a D5/D6. The Z9 has that same feeling of those cameras. The justification of the money has nothing to do with the feel or design of the camera for me, the video specs alone will be what personally I was looking for in the update!
To be honest it may be the bees knees…..but £5,300, come on it’s stupid.
TBH I really don't think that £5,300 is stupid for a pro tool like this, the D4/D5/D6 have always been around this price, but with a Z9 you're also getting a cinema camera built in as well... now I know that's not what everyone wants, but for those who do, it's a darn good price! Yes of course it's far more than most people will be looking at investing, but for those who are after this tier of camera, I don't think it's unreasonable. But that is me coming at this from doing wildlife photography as a full time job.
FAR too much money for a camera. Could buy two awesome gaming PC's for that! That said you make your choices and all that.