Nikon Z9 Hands-on First Look - 45MP 20FPS 8K 60p Monster Mirrorless Camera!
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Can't say how much nostalgia I get when I see you and Lok together. 12 years ago on my birthday digirev uploaded ur first video. I started watching u and thus I fell in love with photography. I couldn't afford any camera that time though but now I own a production house and all those happened because of u man. Thank you so much
@Kai W
Yeah i felt that too man. Been a rough patch of years too
Same here :)
Love from Israel
Same. I loved watching DR back in the day when I was just getting started in the hobby. Time for Alamby to make a return also?
Great seeing the dynamic duo at work. Glad the team is back!
They are always in every video
My question is: Was Lok allowed to drive anything? Obviously a certain gent with a heavy British accent was not. And for obvious reasons. People who say megapickels should not drive.
Lok fired Kai and now wants to be back with him because Kai gets more views PERIOD
3:27 LMAO, they are still roasting Tony for the A7IV leaks.
z9 is the first camera in a while that has gotten me excited. First camera since the D850, actually... Now I'm off to buy a Pentax!
Have Nikon just gone and changed the game? For me they have. For a long time now "pro" bodies haven't felt all that special, compared to gear the rest of us buy. I was worried that my days of camera lusting were a thing of the past but then this happens! It feels like the OM-4 felt when I was a kid, or the glorious Nikon F cameras; i.e. cameras you would sell your grandma to own. I will likely never ever own this camera but that doesn't matter.....THANK YOU NIKON for making an exciting camera again!
Yep... All the Crappy Photographers out there are Totally Thrilled! Makes it So Much Easier to make it "look like" you actually have some Skill.
I feel so old reading some replies! In my day as a busy pro, we NEVER talked gear...any gear! Just talked pictures money and deadbeat clients! Lol
@@paulalexander3422 - You and I are on the Same Page. I spent 30+ years as a Pro, shooting Magazine Full Page Ads for All of the Worlds Best Monthly Editions. We Never talked Gear... We talked Technics, Lighting and Film. I dare ANY of these "So Called Pro's" to meet me for a Shoot using Kodachrome ISO 25, which I still have in my Freezer. I assure you they'd be lucky to get One Usable Shot from a 36 exposure Roll. Gear does Not make a Better Photographer, just a Better Fake for someone with No Actual Skills.
@@cruzinthru8285 so true! You have K25 in your freezer? Why? Can't be processed anymore
@@paulalexander3422 - I also have a couple Bricks of Fujichrome 50 ISO, which I do process here, in 35mm and 120 Medium Format. ... Point was, with Kodachrome your Exposures need to be Dead Nuts, as there is little to no latitude.
I'm so happy you two work together but publish separately, I love how you each have your own style but the information is always top-notch and the truly entertaining! I get twice the content!
The level of tech in cameras these days is simply astonishing. We are spoilt for choice.
not rly
dont really have much choices if our wallets are empty dont we
Depends on how much you wanna pay. Still rocking a D700, D3, and D300s cause it’s all I can afford. But I’d love to get my hands on the Z9!
Fabulous. Nikon showing what they can really do when they want to push the goal posts to a different level.
Agreed. The goal post has shifted...by a significant lenght. Agreed too that Nikon should allow third party makes to be involved with the Z system
@Man of the Rain Yep it's a shame, I recon that with that huge mount zeiss and some other companies would be able to do mind blowing stuff!
As a 40yearlong Nikon user. ...they play the wait and watch game. Letting the other makers launch all the iterations, before swooping in for the kill. It's a smart game. On a lesser note, the Z9 can't quite go against the Canon C70 for SUI design or grab n go indie video. That's something Nikon needs to address.
@@paulalexander3422 I've never seen them produce a cinema camera in the five decades that I've used Nikon. Why should they now? The C70 is purely video orientated camera and not a stills camera. When I used to have to carry a complete Canon XL2 or XLH1 plus separate Nikon DSLR system, the weight and inconvenience was a headache. Hybrid cameras were a complete boon, and I quickly fell in love with the 5D Mark II and later the Panasonic GH/S1 ranges and the D800 range. Hybrid cameras really lightened my load. Yes, the C70 is great if you never do stills work, but the Hybrid DSLR is king when you want to do stills & video. With the release of the Z9, they have a great professional hybrid camera for stills/video, but I don't see Nikon ever entering the pro cinema camera line of bodies to take on Canon/Panasonic/Sony.
@@Globetrotter-1 never say never ! Seriously. I detest the exaggerated proliferations of products (wasteful over abundance). In my crystal ball, I see grown up company execs putting their heads together and joining and converging innovations to reduce wasteful duplication. So please gimme an 8K sensored Canon C90 with global shutter, internal ProRes 444 capture in Compressed NRAW and uncompressed RAW (out of HDMI). BASICALLY, C70+Z9 converged.
Lok and Kai going at the Z9 together Whom should you watch is a tough decision
This will be the camera most KZheadrs despise, it is clearly the first complete pro mirrorless with zero compromises. Sony is still putting out camera's that overheat, a74, and feel like toys, and Canon has going a strange route with lenses, making huge expensive lenses that are unnecessary with todays sensors, and have their own overheating issues. Nikon has chosen to go the traditional route with lenses, yet built them to perfection, and now they have the best body on the market. This tech will trickle down to the z6III and Z7III and they will soon be rounding out their z lens lineup. Nikon has always made the best lenses, but their brand was the most expensive, now they are actually the cheapest, but with the best build quality. The z9 just put Canon and Sony on notice. If they didn't lose as many shooters that KZheadrs like to claim, this may put them back on top.
I also like to think most youtubers exist in a vacuum constantly hyping canon and Sony
Out of interest, in what way are Canon's lenses unnecessary with today's sensors? Genuine question from a Z6ii shooter.
@@Brownwhale7 with the ISO performance of todays sensors, the expense, size, and weight of Canon’s lenses are unnecessary, the f2 zooms as an example. Back when ISO 1600 was the most you could shoot, an F2 zoom would have been amazing, but most sensors today shoot clean images up to ISO 6400, so the only advantage of faster lenses would be the DOF, but in most cases 1.8 for a prime and 2.8 for a zoom is the right balance of performance and size.
@@johnwesleybrewer They can do anything. Money on the way.
On my Canon R6 there are few inexpensive, lightweight and small lenses: RF 35mm 1.8 IS STM, RF 24-105 IS STM, 16mm 2.8 STM. And two or them got an IS and all have STM motor for video.
Now THIS, is what I've been dying to see from Nikon. The game has just been raised.
I can't tell you how happy I am that I skipped over the D6 in anticipation of a pro-level Mirrorless. Thanks to the NPS Program, I did pre-purchase this body. I'm particularly interested in the extreme shutter speeds that are in excess of the standard 1/8000/ sec. Is anyone posting about that? I'm looking forward to this one and the silent mode as well. Thanks for continuing to be one of my all-time favorite camera channels!!! All the best as always.
Am just more shocked that Nikon out of all decided to go mechanical shutter-less. It just doesn't feel like what Nikon would do. I'm glad, I want Nikon to succeed in a place where mirrorless will just keep getting popular. Now please Nikon, FTZd adapter when? I want to drop my D800.
@@Estirvana I'm curious about why you want a mechanical shutter? They make noise and have a limited number of cycles and require maintenance. I don't think I'll miss it.
The fastest mechanical shutters (the ones in D5, D6, and in Sony a1) are still ~2x faster at scanning the frame than this el. shutter. In some cases this can be an advantage, like 1/400 flash sync in a1. So an option to use one would be welcome in some scenarios. However it seems like Nikon decided to compromise on benefits the mechanical shutter could still bring and went with robustness. A special sensor protective shutter that is thicker and doesn't have to be fast and fragile is a better idea than using a normal shutter as sensor protection during lens change.
@@FrederickDunn Ah, more on that it feels like Nikon has been basically playing catch up for the past few years (excluding image quality).
Jared did but only briefly.
Honestly, that camera is just 🔥📷 Looks like Nikon finally brought up a winner again!
"Somebody's been busy during lockdowns" Great phrase.
Lok and kai are the equivalent to the Og top gear cast
The straight up use to do Top Gear parodies. We've come full circle.
They're not Tories so they have that going for them
Angela Ripon and Noel Edmonds?
@@anomalousresult thats fair, but i think we know who the real Gs are
There's always something about Nikon that excites me like no other brand. When I think of Nikon I imagine myself roaming in forest and photographing beautiful birds and animals 😍
"We out here on the tracks today, love the fresh air, which I wasn't allowed to breathe"
Thanks for the review Kai and Lok. Great to see you both together😁
Everything I have been wanting... now to sell a kidney.
I sold a testicle. Same difference.
Pro tip: It doesn't have to be yours
Will one even be enough?
@@mujtaheedshoumik oh yeah. The cameras only 5500. And 1 kidney is good enough
@@mujtaheedshoumik for the body, yes. But pick an extra kidney or three so you can afford the upcoming 400mm 2.8 S to pair with the body
As a Nikon shooter and Lotus owner I support this content.👍
I think that just about every single one of Kai and Lok's subscribers really like having them back together so regularly doing camera, and gear, reviews. Definitely one of the best pairings on the 'net. This is yet another very enjoyable and informative video. For me the only very, very small disappointment is that the boys rarely reply direct to comments but I guess it would be really time consuming with the number of comments they get. So, another big thumbs-up from me.
Good to see Nikon back fully in the game!
Nikon to other manufacturers: "Do you feel in charge?"
Lol
LMBO🤣🤣🤣🤣
The company is basically in the bin, this one will make sure they stop losing pros, this might change the game for them.
@@alex0589 Nikon and Canon were always going to struggle through the transition because of the massive DSLR customer base. Fuji and Sony had no customers to lose gambling on mirrorless. Covid hit every brand. Only reactionary people didn't understand this. You really think Nikon didn't have a road map from years ago to have a pro mirrorless system for the TOKYO Olympics?
In Bane’s voice too
Always smile these days when I see you guys back together. Looks like a great camera, I’m not a pro but damn I want a Z9
Pretty much to shoot 8k video you need at least 40mp sensor and huge buffer, so most of the Z9 camera specs will probably be standard on 8K capable cameras in the future. It'll be down to the focusing systems to differentiate them
Can't wait for them to drop their "studio camera" the Z8. They'll probably drop it with the 85mm 1.2 with 85-100 mgpixl and most of the cool features you see on the Z9, but more geared for weddings, hybrid shooting, studio. Slower fps, higher res, same vid specs, no built in grip, flip to the side screen, Z9 auto focus, ability to dumb down file size, D850 body size.
I am all in for that, but with 45 megapixels.
A1 a pro level mirrorless camera in a cheap skate body? ….. The Z9 is certainly a very impressive and aggressively priced camera, but diminishing a competitor’s product is not very professional ….
@@NVIK5 D850 has the ability to select or dumb down the pixels so, I would imagine the Z8 if it has 100mp capability could be lowered as well. Dumb it down to 24 or 36 for weddings, but then turn it all the way up for studio
Woah! This camera is unlike any other.. video still.. you name it and a perfect video
@16:38 - Ricci Talks spotted! Awesome video review on the z9. Cant wait to rent it! The non-mechanical shutter is REALLY interesting!
I already spotted Ricci at 05:04! :D
Such a big deal about mirrorless and electronic shutter. I used such Nikons since 2004 , they simply weren't considered 'Pro' gear. I booked six figures with the Coolpix 5000 and Coolpix 8800. So finally Nikon has updated their point and shoot line with this Z9!
Good on Nikon for pushing the tech this far.
You and lok make a great combo hope you continue into the future📷📷😁
I moved from the D4 to A7r3 in 2018 after 22 years with Nikon - very tempted to move back now!
It is so nice to see you two together again.
Every time when other makers brought something very good on the market I felt ......... bad being a Nikon guy and let down by Nikon. NOW I CAN SHOUT very loud I AM PROUD TO BE A NIKON LOVER. I shall start saving now. Great video
This makes me very excited about new lower tier Z cameras to come for sure. Put that capable autofocus tech into new Z6/7 bodies and i might even consider making the jump.
Amazing!!! Thank you for showing us!!!
This preview was an eyegasm... I'm in!
Nikon has knocked it out of the park! This is the future for sure
"...it sticks to the subject like a simile you expected me to put in here." Genius. Glad to see Lok as well. Z9 looks beefed up like it's about beat the crap out of Cony. I just hope they release a FF Zfc.
Kai is having just the perfect TV voice.... very enjoyable!
You guys are great good to see you both together again
Maybe it wasn’t in the pre-production you had but the z9 can be customized to make a shutter noise.
Yeah it also gives you options for visual cues like blackout and highlighted border.
it has shutter noise not sure why they did not use it .also visual's
This is going to be a terrific camera and I'm excited to see the future of professional mirrorless cameras in general!
Finally a Nikon that im really impressed by
I learned to drive in a Lotus at the Portland International Raceway. This was lovely to see, and brought me back to the 1990’s.
I’m so glad they priced it at $5499!!
Not a bad price point.
I can't even afford .it. you can buy a Honda Moped / motorbike for less lolol
New to the Camera community. And I already love it.
I may be a Sony user but this is pretty amazing. I would love to try the Z9.
Top Gear is back!
Love you both 🥺
I still just NEED that mirror-sound. Probably never going to sell my D800. I Love it to much.
Love your all videos & reviews Kai. By the way, love that vest.
I wasn't at this event but I got the chance to check this out. Great stuff!
Tha King Is BACK
The mechanical shutter is the last remnant of the film era and in a few years it will be obsolete like the mirror and pentaprism. Sigma fp of 2019 was the first full frame mirrorless camera without mechanical shutter but it suffers from rolling shutter and has very slow flash sync speed 1/30 Sec. The Nikon Z9 its the beginning of a new era of high performance full frame mirrorless cameras without vital moving mechanical parts. It doesn't have serious rolling shutter and it has decent flash sync speed at 1/200th sec. The mechanical shutter is the classic frequent reason for cameras malfunctions. Without mechanical shutter and moving mirrors the full full frame and APS-C cameras will be by far more reliable without doubt. I won't say cheaper because high performance is always very expensive.
It's kinda both exciting but also scary how fast tech improves. In 5-10 years time, mirrorless cameras with shutters will be the new vintage and DSLRs and beyond, historical. Wouldn't be surprised if even entry level cameras get stacked sensors in 10 years time.
“It’s not the individual specs but the complete package..” that’s the impression I get from the Z9 too. Seems insanely well rounded.
Excellent video/review Kai, Thanks..
Beast of a camera 💯
Best Z9 video review yet! I get mine in less than a week!
Hey Kai, Shibuya jacket looks so cool with you! btw great camera!
Wow ! Astounding specs, gorgeous look, unique style... I'm definitely a Kai fanboy !
Good video Kai 😊👍
Love the Top Gear style intro! :D
Very good Kay video!!! You already had the camera for a long time kkk Nice video!!!
FUCK YEAH NIKON IS BACK! Thanks for this review Kai I've been waiting for the first decently worth upgrading to Nikon mirrorless and this is the one!
Kai you are the best man!
Nice, this is the camera I'll buy second hand 8 years for now.
Glad Nikon brings a competitive body to market. I just hope people will buy into it and that it's not too late.
what a milestone for mirrorless cameras!
This is what competition does, leads to innovation! I will continue to shoot my D4s as I have no use for this technology however I’m glad it’s there
Finally I will be back to Nikon. After the D850 I switched to the L mount for stunning glasses from Leica with unique signature. I was pissed of chromatic aberrations from prime Nikon lenses. But since, the Z lenses have improved but I really didn’t like the S6 and Z7 that’s why I switched … But hey with this incredible Z9 this is like you say at the end what Nikon users have been waiting since the D3S…
Kai, Lok and Lotus! OMG! And the LOTUS ESPRIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kai and Lok are two characters that I would love to watch in any situation, not only in photo equipment related videos. And it would be great to have the girl "producer" back also.
The best duo reviewers!
Drooling over these cars...and camera. wow
link to your jacket @0:20 would be greatly appreciated. thanks. *EDIT* : never mind. saw the wrist/sleeve tag later in the video. looks like one of their older jackets? much better then the new one. super jealous.
Mine's pre-ordered, v excited. Just wish someone would do some landscape testing, I want to know if the AA filter is heavy, is it's ISO invariant, and if there's any banding from the phase detect sensors when raising shadows (like my Z6 does)
@@davidgfisher thank you for the info
Best regards from Berlin/germany. Nice channel - you and your videos are wonderull!
Didn't replace my D5 with a D6, I sold the lot and went all in with Olympus. Very keen to book a session with the Z9. It's been a long time coming.
Well done Nikon indeed!
The Z9 is probably the first Nikon camera to convince me there now added value in making the generational leap to mirrorless systems and saying goodbye to my beloved optical viewfinder. It's an excellent all-rounder that (if the build quality is comparable to the single digits D's) can get rough. I will be very seriously looking into this camera.
I probably got my first slr with digirev review years ago, always been a great advice. Definitely it was nikon back then!
Any more information on the Drone carrying the Z9 ? What was he using? Thanks. Another great informative video with great banter! Thank you😎🎥
Wwwoooow. Classic steadicam rig there ✌🏻
Those old Lotus Esprit cars are still SO elegant and pretty even after almost 40 years!
Silver lotus number plate would be very sought after in parts of Northern Ireland
I always love seeing you test these bodies out but for the Z9 what I really want to know is how it handles low light action. Can I rock concerts festivals etc with it without worrying about lag etc. That's the review I need.
It’s about time Nikon! Now, please put the Z9’sAF speed and sensor in a Z6/7 III and call me sold.
I would tell you to say hello to Amy, but this isn't live :))) Great first impressions, especially the FPV! Nice touch.
This opening is literally top gear
Damn Nikon is like that quiet guy who sits there and lets people insult him all day but than when his line is crossed and it's go time, he leaves 10 guys on the floor as he walks away. The Z9 is the single best all around stills/video hybrid camera ever produced by any brand or in any sensor format. Sure for stuff where you want the ultimate IQ there are better options Like a GFX system but than you sacrifice on video, AF, and over all handling. And if you need something more portable there are also better options. But than again you make sacrifices to get the smaller size. But overall when you consider all the tradeoffs the Z9 is the best set of compromises for a one camera to do it all set up and the best pro sports body ever made period.
As a camera it's great. Now the rest of the Z system needs to be put together. Adapting lenses is a compromise. But at least we now know they can make competitive cameras.
What does the Z9 do that the a1 doesn't?
@@youknowwho9247 nothing. in fact, it is going to be a tad worse at everything than the A1 while being a brick for no reason.
@@youknowwho9247 8k60 for example
@@eslofftschubar206 Wow... some Sony fanboy is pretty insulted that Nikon just made a camera that totally stomps on their precious A1 😂
Well done!
Thats a sick jacket. I want one
Love it. Shibuya themed. Complete with Hachiko.
But will the autofocus system track the Tony balloon?
Great video, i noticed you had xqd cards in there, how many shots can you take in lossless raw before buffer fills up ? Obviously it would be able to take a lot more with cf express cards however curious to know how many seconds at 20 FPS ?
Ricci found out about 40 for xqd
@@dominiquebantasan6200 and it seems 81 with some CF express cards - great
Kai, the coolest thing in the video is your Shibuya jacket!
Nice review as always. Can you comment on the lack of RAW output file format from early Z models, and how it is implemented in Z9?
All Zs do raw images?
Top Photo Gear
You’d make a great Top Gear host
What did you use to mount the Nikon to drone?
Kai's "damn this really is that good!" face
Some please explain me that, what camera lens he used in FPV mount.