Nikon Z9 4.10 Firmware: Supercharged For Birds!
Nikon just released firmware 4.1 for the Z9 and it includes a brand new subject detection option for birds!
I was fortunate enough to have my Nikon rep bring me a camera with a pre-release sample for some test shooting in Florida and I can't wait to share what I found.
In this video, I'll cover everything I learned, talk about the improvements, give you tips for using it, and more. I'll also talk about when to use the Bird option vs. the Animal option when photographing our feathered friends (there's a trick to it).
Oh, and Z8 shooters will see this update sometime during the first half of 2024.
Check it out!
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Did the update today and it’s an absolute game changer with the bird eye detection…..fast, sticky, accurate….
👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
I upgraded my Z9 with th enew firmware this morning and have spent the morning on a nature reserve with my Z9 and the Z 800 PF.. The new firmware is definitely a significant upgrade on 4.01. Quicker to grab focus and much more sticky. I use Wide Area L as my default focus mode (via back-button) and really noticed the difference.
@@SwanSycorax Great to hear all the great results.
Nikon is hitting some awesome home runs!
They are really targeting bird and wildlife photographers.
@@codebunnies When I talked to the Nikon rep, he said they are definitely targeting the growing bird and wildlife market :)
As a hobbyist photographer, I can’t justify the cost of a Z8 or Z9. Nikon needs to introduce a D500 replacement, so us hobbyist can advantage of the affordable lenses that Nikon has introduced. Nikon continues to target the professional market; happy for you guys.
@@cesarm8811 I agree. A proper D500 replacement would be great and I think would interest a LOT of people. Nikon has been cranking things out like crazy lately, so who knows?
@@codebunnies A lens like would be fantastic :)
I have a Z8, this is very exciting for the Z9 owners; and hopefully for the Z8 very soon.
Don't hold your breathe.
@@raysanders332 They have literally already announced it for the z8 lol
@@robbie154 i can't wait .... smiling.
Dude you beat Nikon Rumors and DPReview to this!
It just needs to be "PD" compatible (Power Delivery). It's pretty common.
As the network admin for a software company, I think I’m going to bribe my coworkers to take apart the z9 firmware and rewrite it for my z7…. Oh wait, that would probably cost like 50k in dev hours. Might as well buy the Z9.
It will be revolution in camera industry if they allow programming in cameras...
Unless you sell it to 1000 other people. That would make it $50 each. And It would sell like hot cakes. Rather worth it, unless we consider copyright lawsuit costs and the ensuing fines...
Pretty sure there would be hardware limitations
I sure Nikon won’t allow that 😂
I can do it for half the price😂
Superb clarity ❤
Thanks for the update and excellent appraisal.
Thank you for this review! Can't wait to try it out this weekend 😊
This seems excellent! Thanks for sharing this!
Thanks for this Steve. Great information as always.
Awesome and super useful. You really lead the conversation. I've seen your video before the firmware announcement itself ! 👏👏👏
Your amazing Steve thanks for all you do for us photographers
Steve thank you so much for the early view of this new firmware capability!
That update works wonders. Thanks Steve!
Awesome coverage... thanks Steve! This is one of the most informative channels on youtube. Love what Nikon is doing for us...
Way to go Nikon! Thanks for the video, Steve. I'm downloading the update while watching this :) You started this video with pure proof of your saying that what makes good photographs is loving what you photograph when you lit up when the hawk flew by -- nice!
Before going to bed last night, noticed a firmware upgrade notice email from Nikon and figured I check it out in the morning. Woke up to this timely update video about this exciting update for us bird shooters! Thanks for the quick run down, pros, and cons....will be trying it out this morning!
You are great Steve!
Thank you, Steve! The information you shared is much more descriptive than the little paragraph on the Nikon site. :)
This is exciting news, thanks Steve! Today i have my day off. So after watching you're video, i just updated my Z9 to 4.10! No problems with updating, so going to test this new bird feature right out in the field. Today is a good day!
I will be interested to see what others experiences are with this. Thank you Steve.
Thank you for the information!!
thank you, great insight
Hey thanks so much Steve for the heads up. I downloaded the update tonight and will try and give it a spin tomorrow with the new 180-600. I haven't had a chance to do BIF with this new lens. Love your videos and books. - Jim
Great information Steve. Thank you very much.
Yes,it works exactly well.
Thank you Steve
😃Thanks Steve. On the ball as usual! Just tried new firmware on my Z9/180-600mm. Airplanes - check! Birds - check - better than before. Birds were Rainbow Lorikeets & they fly like bullets. Cheers.
My biggest issue with my Z8 and BIF was losing focus with a busy background. Can't wait for the update now.
Beautiful work Steve. Thanks, I need to download this firmware.
Thanks for fine explaination.
Thank u Steve ❤ I like your Strait and Fair review. Previously, I got the same problem when Z9 jump to the body in animal mode both long neck and fast speed birds. I can't wait to try new F.W. with lovely bird in the National Park soon.😊 Thx u😊
Good stuff. Thanks.
Yes.. would love to see this next year on the Z8. : )
Can’t wait for it to come to my z8! 🎉
Steve, I always enjoy your videos, you seem to have the ability to teach, to explain to where the student "me" is able to make the connection and learn the point. I have your light room classes from long ago and still today refer to them and the best of best is the Nikon autofocus secrets. Thanks for all you do. I purchased a Z9 a year agp and really enjoy it. Also , I like the new intro music. Ted
Thanks so much! That's very nice of you to say :)
Sehr geehrter Steve Perry: Inzwischen ist Ihr Name für mich ein Synonym für echte Glaubwürdigkeit. Kompetent, unvoreingenommen, sachlich - und Sie beweisen statt nur zu behaupten. Herzlichen Dank für Ihre stets ausgezeichnete Arbeit!
Excellent work, as usual Steve. Hopefully they will release the Z8 version in time for the spring migration.
I keep reading and hearing that Nikon will be keeping the 2 cameras separate. The Z9 for action and the Z8 for Portraiture.
Very cool Steve, thanks for the update. Looks like we have some monsoon relief finally here in Florida!
It was a lot of rain that day and flooded a bunch of areas.
@@backcountrygallery yep 2 days ago we were picking our driving route here in Melbourne due to flooding.
@@johnredrup1036 Yeah, this area hovered over Titusville for hours and hours on Sunday.
Thanks for the heads up. Yep it's there on the Nikon Australia page just today. I'm keen to head to my favorite raptors spot in the next day or so and give it a try. This spot is a cliff top above the river. Absolutely perfect for birds in flight soaring over the river at eye level or lower. I see large Kites, Kestrels and Peregrines there as well as the usual water birds. Those larger birds are easy in flight. But the very fast moving and direction changing Welcome Swallows are a huge challenge. Maybe this upgrade will help. :)
Excellent video again Steve! Interested to see how good is it with adapted F mount glass
Great to see Nikon riding High ✌✌
THe good thing with the Z9 and Z8 is that instead of making a brand new camera, they just update the firmware makes a lot of sense, ie: getting the autofocus better and more improved with experience in the fleld very clever Nikon!
Yeah i have been shooting birds and in general it is very good on focusing on the eyes, i have had results
I get up in the morning and find out I have an update for my Z9... I think to myself, before I install this update, I need to hear from Steve... What does he think about this firmware... And I opened youtube to find out that, my wish had been granted... Absolutely AMAZING!!!!!! There are many reviewers out there... But your skill level... It's mind blowing... The pictures you add are just a treat to watch...
I was REALLY lucky to get a chance to try it. It was a bit of a fluke that it worked out. My Nikon rep says he thinks I'm the only reviewer who had it before launch.
@@backcountrygallery Probably one of the few reviewers that matter as well...
@@backcountrygalleryI was actually a bit surprised to note that you were the first to report/review on tube. Even Nikon Rumours posted this firmware update information several hours late....
@@ranjankmsphotography Nikon told me that I was the only reviewer anywhere who had early access. Again, it was more because of a quirky timing thing than anything else. Just right place, right time :)
@@backcountrygallery it's really very pleasing to note that ❤️😊. Nikon is going right now by having the right people like you in their privilege and preferences as this would be helpful for all of us.
Just the length of time for the download told me it was more that just 2 new icons...thanks for your video!
All this is certainly great, but it also gives me a greater appreciation for the professional wildlife and sports photographers before the advent of all this pinpoint, computerized focus technology. I thought the split-prism focusing on my Canon AE-1 was pretty sophisticated back in the day. :)
wow.... eager for this. I just went out this morning with 4.01. I wished I know this last night. :) Seem like Auto Area now working awesome now.
Thanks Steve. These firmware updates are being handled quite well. I have gone from thinking the Z9 was too heavy, too big and too quirky...to regarding it as my favorite camera. It isn't perfect, but on balance I love using it in the field. I love my D850, but the 9 has spoiled me into believing that I am handicapped if I don't have it in my hands when I am shooting wildlife. I can't wait to use this new firmware update.
Totally agree. I have both the Z9 and the Z8 but find I favour the 9 over the 8, it just feels that bit more solid. Both are superb cameras.
You've described the case most of Nikon users have !!😂
LOL, I went through the same thing. I went from using the Z9 as necessary (and using the a1 when I wanted to actually shoot for myself) to favoring the Z9 for most things.
Wild Alaska (YT channel) has very good things to say about the update, too. I'm really glad to see it... as a Canon shooter. Competition is a good thing! It motivates everyone to up their game.
This is exciting for Nikon shooters. Im waiting for the canon r5mkii for my upgrade, but im super excited for these updates for Nikon. Great footage, Steve. Those little birds are super quick but so fun to capture. Happy shooting 📸 🏕️
Hello Kevin !!!!!!!!!!!!!
@@JRodPhotoArt hey Jrod. Hope all is well.
This looks GREAT. It makes we want a dedicated cat mode 😊
Can't wait to try 4.1 this weekend with my favorite bird with metallic wings. Also give the bird mode a try when I take a trip out to Bosque Del Apache.
Looks pretty good to me. Can't wait for the Z8 upgrade in 2024.
Thank you for the update, @Steve. Eager to go through your Autofocus System: Mirrorless Edition.
It'll be updated to include this FW update soon (free update).
Wow! This is great, I am going to download it now even though I still don't have a Z9 😅
I love that arrogant prick of a company changed. I loved the humble fuji with the kaizen updates, but i think now nikon is doing it even nicer then them. I am very happy with this change in their approach.
Steve, a lot of us are waiting for your review of Zf regarding its wildlife capabilities. This camera is way cheaper and smaller than Z9 and Z8 and seems to be a good choice for us amateurs.
It is kind of funny because i've had this idea for nearly a year now. I have mentioned it in comments here at youtube. My idea was that the processor in the z9 is powerful and fast and the animal detection forces the processor to decide what kind of animal that should be in focus. By telling the processor that "this is a bird" it only needs to be looking for the head and then the eye. This could probably be possible to use on the z6ii and 7ii because it is shorten down the processor time and improves the bird autofocus.
Thanks!
WOW - Thanks so much!
What is wrong with Sony!! No firmware upgrade for their flagship a1 yet!! Where is pro capture?? Nikon is just killing it!
Sony are pretty well known (across their range) for not really giving out new features in firmware. Things like focus bracketing which finally came (and has been in almost every other brands cameras for years) in the A7RV, that should be possible to back-port to the A7IV etc - but they haven't and probably won't.
@@nightowlnzab I think Sony is capable of releasing a FW update for pro capture or any other minor updates but they just withhold it for some reason. Not that I have any issue with a1 but it’s been two years since its launch, it’s due for a major fw upgrade unless they are planning a2 which seems less likely.
@@withvinayak they're certainly capable from a technology point of view - their autofocus tech alone shows that, it's become the yardstick all other camera brands are compared against. Unfortunately, buying into their system does seem to mean you've got to be happy with the camera as-is, because it's just unlikely to get new features in firmware.
@@nightowlnzab agree!! Let’s hope we are wrong and Sony does release something early 2024!!
Sony CEO: lets add new function only to 2nd gen A1, mark the price higher and lure old A1 user to buy the new gear😂
That's impressive! Does it work on video? I need a fish detection mode too. I wish!
Hi Steve. I just wanted to thank you so much for introducing me to the Field Blur option in Photoshop. I find it much for useful than Gaussian and Average blur.
Agree 100% - it looks more natural I think.
Thanks Steve - as always very helpful. It would be interesting to see if using the improved bird detection would also work on human eyes.
Why understanding is that this update was only for birds and airplanes, no other changes were made to subject detection.
Thanks, Steve, for your timely review!! Welcome to our rainy fall Florida weather!! Wonder, did Nikon adjust the Animal mode after it added Bird mode??
As far as I know, it's the same as before.
Excellent video Steve. I enjoyed it! I have a question regarding how you do the internal filming of your camera, I like the scenes in the scenes where you can see that you follow the birds. Thanks!
It's with an ATOMOS. It's pricy, but it works :)
Informative, thank you for sharing! As a Sony user, these videos remind me of Sony’s lack of updates, but hey I can buy a new camera 😅🙄.
wow! Can't wait for the Z8 firmware release! The issue with long necked birds is that they look like planes ! LOL
Nikon加油，2023的Nikon真的好棒，持續在鳥類攝影上不斷超越自我，我們會全部都買起來的，感謝啦!
Great video and early intro. Really excited to see this. One thing I have really struggled with on both my z9 and z8 is barn owls in flight. The high contrast birds in low light the cameras will mostly refuse to lock and stay locked onto them even with manual encouragement. I know lots of others have commented the same issue. Do you think this new mode will address this?
Overall it seems better, so it may not be perfect, but I'd bet you'll see some improvement.
I live in China and have a Chinese version (not grey market), this summer for three months I was in the USA and didn't dare to install the 4.01 version incase I had problems and needed to take back to my local Nikon dealer. So today, I went in to install the firmware not knowing a new version had come out. I download my updates from the US site, and my anti virus said it was safe but I was only the 5th person to download it. I went on a photo walk and everything worked fine, all good sharp photos. I am 12 hours ahead here in China.
Now the must also add insects and butterflies. Specially butterflies often have fake eyes on the wings to distract predators and the animal eye AF even of a1, R3 and OM-1 stick straight to the wings. I tested all of them myself.
Great preview, Steve.
Great as Usual vid Steve, Thank you ! I will try it. Wonder if Nikon improved the "lift off" stickiness: When birds are flying off the perch, usually the Eye AF is not very sticky, it freeze for a split second and is lugging a bit, as if when the bird change it shape the software don't recognize it fast enough (or maybe its my own settings/ skills?).
My time with it was limited, but it does seem to lock on faster to a bird that's already flying. I don't think I had much chance with birds that were taking off though. Sometimes I think the problem is that during takeoff, there is so much happening in the viewfinder between the changing shape and velocity of the bird and the photographer trying to adjust that the processor just can't keep up. In fact, I think a LOT of subject detection problems will be solved with the next generation of processors.
Ooh this is a welcome surprise. If it's better at not dropping to the background then that's going to be a nice update. One thing I have noticed with the Z9 is it does have a tendency to eyelash-focus, or in the case of birds: cheek focus. I'll be curious to see whether this has improved that aspect. Only downside is I actually did a video of my birds-in-flight settings this past week, and now it's already out of date 😆
It certainly seemed better to me with backgrounds. It would still sometimes try to jump to them, but it felt far less frequent than before. The problem is, AF performance is incredibly subjective and it's pretty much impossible to do any kind of controlled test with BIF.
@@backcountrygallery Yeah my way of testing changes is to go to the same spot every time to test BIF settings. Hard to show the difference but I should be able to get an idea as to whether it feels any different, hopefully. I’ve found the Z9 generally really good at BIF most of the time anyway, so I suspect the difference is more visible in other bird shots 🤔
@@robert_may I think that's about the only option. I tired that as much as I could with this firmware, but there are always a lot of variables. As you say, I think it's just a matter of using it a bit and seeing an overall pattern.
Steve, your amazing thanks for letting us into the finer details of the update. I have received my 180-600mm and use sport mode for tracking birds as I know you do too - I feel however that I get more bluish fringing with VR especially seen more when the bird is on the right side of the photo and panning from right to left, I dont get the fringing when VR is OFF, any advice would be most welcome. And let us know how you remove yours. Oh! and keep up the good work.
Can’t wait till tomorrow to test it on birds in flight coming towards me that’s the most difficult thing with the Z9 IMHO they are maybe useable but not something I’m happy with often.
Great news! Getting better and better! Will this be available for Z8 too? Thanks
Yup, first half of 2024
@@backcountrygallery. Please exposure delay too, please oh please. Thank you for all your hard work Steve
Definitely seems alot better than when I tried a year ago. I shoot R5 mainly, but gave this a shot again now/shooting yesterday for hours on many birds. Still trying to figure out if its the camera/settings or learning curve. I had some situations where z9 would NOT focus on a closer bird or a static post even. Using down to single point focus, and other zones. But R5 immediately snapped to it and the bird. Also Short Eared Owls flying, both cameras struggled. But some shots, i'm quite certain R5 would have locked face, but Z9 was totally off/behind. Again, still not sure if me, or camera or what. Or the focus would be on the owl, then suddenly way behind, then on the bird, then a bit infront or hard to tell. A bit all over. But maybe i need to turn up/down some sensitivity or tracking settings.
Which mode to use if You have to capture the full bird, for documenting differences, to identify different individuals?
Makes my 10-year-old Nikon D7000 look like a box camera! Damn, wish I had the money for a Z9!
Thank you Steve for this video. They still haven't enabled the 'pre-release RAW.' That's what I would most like to see on this amazing camera, and I wouldn't be upset if they even go up to 30fps RAW. 😜
I'm wondering if there's just not enough buffer for RAW, even HE RAW
Exactly 👍 Nikon must enable RAW in Pre Release capture option.
I have rented a Z9 before, and based on your footage, the AF has definitely improved significantly. I think it looks better with my a1 + 200-600. I really hope Nikon can fix the problems that you've shown. There are so many people selling the Z9 to go for the Z8, I really should grab myself a unit considering how low the price has tanked. (As low as NT$108000 = US$3345 when I was posting this comment)
that's a steal
Still nothing on Nikon rumours, haha! Go Steve!!
This is excellent; the only thing I can think of to add now would be an “Insects” mode. 👍📷
You have pointed out the very interesting one .... insect, macro photography would benefit a lot
Hi Steve, I was out this morning and there was heavy fog but the new Bird Sub Detection was fantastic. I did not have the same issues as you describe with the long necked wading birds or the reeds. I was shooting Great and Snowy Egrets and a pair of Sandhill Cranes in tall reeds. The AF box never once came off the eye and when the cranes turned and I couldn't see the eye, the AF box just stayed on the back of the cranes head. Never once went to the body or the reeds. I should say I was in Auto Area AF mode and didn't get much chance with the fog to switch around to 3D. Maybe they did a slight tweak before final release. Either way, I will be going out tomorrow again with no fog in the forecast. so certainly hoping for much more opportunities and will try out the 3D AF mode as well.
From the comments I've seen, it sounds like most people are experiencing what I did with long necked birds. Keep in mind it wasn't happening to me every time - I was just showing that it could and to be prepared for it. :)
@@backcountrygallery Curious what AF mode were you using? I was out again today and I saw the same thing. I was in Auto Area AF mode. I tried the 3D and that AF mode I saw some, very few instances, of what you were saying about the long necked birds. But the Auto Area AF mode my z(+800Pf was rock solid on the eye pretty much all the time.
Great video! Commenting for an unrelated question (apologies if that's rude). Pre ordered the 180-600 and haven't gotten it yet. Flirting with the idea of buying the 800mm 6.3 prime. Is sharpness from the prime worth the extra 4k USD it'll cost me? I own both 1.4x and 2x TCs if that makes any difference. Hobbyist, so don't believe the extra weather sealing on the prime will do much for me.
Thanks Steve, can't wait for the Z8 version. Cheers.
I updated this morning. On my way home from a run, I noticed a red tailed hawk fly up to a low tree in front of me about 30 years. All kinds of background clutter and highlights in background through the trees but the focus box stayed on the eye much better than in a similar scenario with 4.0. I think it is going to be a great improvement, and I'll be testing it tomorrow. Steve, were you in 3D mode during the video clips?
Mostly Auto AF, although I may have pressed 3D from time to time - I don't even think about it when I override anymore - it's instinct.
Nice video, dang it is POURING there!
LOL, it really was! It made an interesting background though :)
Very interesting as usual. I noticed Steve you use bird detection with wide area AF. What about 3D? Can you recommend this mode with birds?
@steveperry, when will you release an updated book, including info on this new firmware update? Also, do you do hardcopy books?
Yes, there will be an update (not sure how soon, but I'll 100% happen) and no, no hardcopy books. They just go out of date too soon.
@@backcountrygallerySteve, please give a thought and consideration on your fans and followers in India 😊.... by arranging some discount offer for us as the Dollar when converted to Indian Rupee amount, it gets a bit higher..... lots of us here follow you and want to read and learn from your e-books
The synch speed shutter... that's my only gripe with the Z9, I had 1/320s on my D810! Also looking at what they have on the Canon bodies, "face priority exposure", when shooting with TTL flash. That's something I'd like to be copied to our Nikon bodies. That way the Flash will be more accurate in calculating exposure on the face of our subjects.
As always, thanks Steve! Road trip in a few days, one more thing that needs to be taken care of before departure!
Delicious night 99
Nikon just needs to work on the lower tiers of their cameras. All the improvements are just for the top of the line cameras for a long time!
Sounds pretty good. Do you think they will add this to the Z50?
No idea. I doubt it (I don't think it has the processing power), but they didn't say one way or the other.
Can you add in a video or in the book, how to toggle between animal and bird, in the easiest way. We need to be able and do this change rapidly.
You can do it by using Recall Shooting Functions if you want it fast. However, I was just using the "I" menu and it's was fine.
Steve, is it possible to assign the Animal/Bird detect Autofocus to a custom control? It would be really excellent if one could press a custom button to cycle between the subject detection modes.
You can use Recall Shooting Functions to do it. You'd have to set the camera to one or the other first, then use RSF to switch to the other one. So, maybe the camera is set to Animal and you use RSF to switch to Bird. However, keep in mind that even RSF (hold) will reset when doing things like changing ISO, exposure comp. etc. Most of the time I don't think it'll be an emergency anyway. Animal still works well for birds and if you end up in a situation where you know you'll be shooting birds, it's pretty fast to switch with the "I" menu.
@@backcountrygallery Thanks for the speedy reply. It would be great to see Subject Detection added to the Custom Function menus in a future update!
I'm waiting for dragonfly detect mode for my Z8 🙂. I tried it once this summer on an erratically flying one and it locked on and tracked in front of a water background but I've heard that with a cluttered background it fails.
Dragonflies are tough for sure. I've had a little luck, but nothing great.
Did the update… WOW!!! Instant Bird boxes. .. NOTE: While in Bird … it will still detect other items like airplanes… and for some reason… round cement things laying about. Airplane mode… SNAPS onto a passing Jet… can still use for cars but it’s slower to lock… so I jump to VEHICLES.. and cars/trucks get snapped on quick