Nikon Z9 vs. Sony a1 - WILDLIFE SHOOTOUT!
Call me crazy (my wife does), but I've decided to dance through the minefield of brand fanatics by publishing a video comparing the Nikon Z9 and the Sony a1 for wildlife photography. As someone who owns and is heavily invested in both systems, I get a LOT of questions from people asking which is "best" - the Nikon Z9 or Sony A1 - or at least what the differences are for wildlife photography.
This video will compare ergonomics, controls, colors, ISO AF systems, and much more. I think you'll find the comparisons surprising. Enjoy the video - and I'll brace myself for the comments! :)
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Which is your pick? The a1 or the Z9 - and why?
The D6 is still my choice, although I did add an Z7 II and grip and the new Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 S! For me the D6 still is my favorite camera, but I’m a photojournalist first and a wildlife photographer second, or mainly it’s a passion/hobby. Anyways, thanks for another great video Steve, I agree if you’re already with one brand or system you should stick with it. I switched a few times between Nikon and Canon over the years and lost a lot of money…chasing small advantages here or there. Nikon has also won for me over the years, if only slightly, I too prefer Nikon due to the glass. My main lens is the Nikon 500mm f/4E VR FL. It’s lightweight and I can handhold it, it’s incredibly sharp and takes the TC-14E III like a champ. Giving me an excellent 700mm f/5.6 that retains fast AF and excellent IQ. One tiny aspect you overlooked… (in my opinion) is price! The Sony A1 costs about $1500-$2400 more than the Z9 when you compare the cost of adding the Sony vertical grip, second battery and the two pricey CFexpress Type A cards. Whereas for a lot less money the Z9 comes with built in grip and the cards are cheaper. Although as you said the A1 technically has an advantage in that or can go without the grip, giving you a smaller/lighter option. But either way you slice it, the Z9 is at least $1,200 or so more than the Z9. That’s enough to get a nice lens or really nice tripod setup, whatever, you know? So price should have been a consideration in my mind. Either way I think this is by far the best comparison between the two. Built in teleconverter’s really are a game changer, I’ll agree with you there. While I don’t covet a new 500mm f/4, I do wish my lens had a built in TC. So my only question that remained unanswered here in the video…is, are you now exclusively shooting Z9/A1 alone or with a secondary body option? For me I’d definitely be using a Z9 and D6 in tandem, as the D6 absolutely has an high ISO advantage! So do you still use your D6 ever, when the light gets bad? I know you had or have a Sony A9 II, so I wondered what you’re doing when you get up into the 6400 range? Thanks again!
First of all just an amazing video… Your pictures are just an inspiration for me… Thanks a million for sharing them… Z9… Have been a Nikon shooter since the beginning… When I moved into the mirror less world I sold all my f mount glass and got Z glass… It was like buying a new system… I think it was a sort of brand loyalty that kept me with Nikon… For me it wasn’t between Nikon and Sony but Nikon and canon… Got the Z6 initially… I wasn’t a wildlife shooter before… have started since I got my z9 (after selling my z6)… Started with the 200-500… sold it after a year and now have the 400 4.5 (so light weight and sharp)… Was confused between the 800pf or the new 600 f4… have put in my order for the 600 f4 TC after watching your video on it… I personally agree with you… The new Z glass is just very nice… Sort of game changing… the lightness of the 400 and the TC for the 600… really nice…
I've been a Nikon shooter for decades and decided to stick with Nikon. My chance to switch was before I bought my first Z-mount body. The FTZ adapter kept me in the system. In retrospect, the Sony system mount is open to all the mirrorless glass being introduced by Sigma and Tamron on which I used a lot. The Nikon system is basically closed to this innovative glass. Oops (I didn't know.)
@@mzeeshanch Congratulations and I hope your new 600mm will ship sooner than later. When I bought my 500mm f/4E VR FL…I actually had intended to buy the 180-400FL. Except Nikon NPS and even big stores like B&H didn’t have any at the time. The 500mm was my second choice, but now that I’ve had it and I’ve been shooting with it…I’m absolutely in love. It’s actually better IQ wise than my 400mm f/2.8E FL was. The weight savings was shocking at first, I mean so was the 400FL compared to my old 400mm f/2.8G VR. At first the 400FL was great and the loss of weight was noticeable, however it wasn’t quite hand-holdable. Whereas my 500FL is absolutely hand-hold-able! I actually sold my $2,700 tripod setup, and I rarely use my ($900) monopod. I pretty much just sling my D6 and 500FL or Z7 II with 500mm over my shoulder. I actually covered an “Air Show” in Huntington Beach, California a few months ago and I hand-held my 500FL for hours. Sure I was absolutely sore the next day, but I got a lot of shots that others missed due to fumbling with tripod/monopod setup’s! The ability to hand hold a lens, especially with 4-6 stops of VR…is amazing! The only time I even bring my monopod along these days…is if I’m going to be stationary for awhile. Like during an MLB game or other sports event. For covering breaking news…I’m now using pretty much just a D6 and Z7 II combo. I always used to use two D5’s or two D6’s…however Nikon has no great lens for a “do it all in one” setup. Whereas with my Z7 II and 24-120mm f/4 S…I can cover almost anything. I can DX crop (Z7 II) and get a similar FOV to my 70-200mm. I used to typically use my D6 on my long lens and a second body with either my 24-70mm VR or 70-200mm FL, sometimes I’d actually have all three. I have a D500 backup and so for certain situations I do use three bodies. However since I got the Z7 II and new 24-120mm f/4 S…I now just use two bodies. This allowed me to save a lot of weight and I’m so confident and satisfied with this combo that I sold my 24-70mm and I may eventually sell my 70-200mm! The only downside is now I only have two F-mount lenses and I can’t put the amazing Z-mount 24-120mm on my D6. But outside of that obvious limitation…I’m extremely happy with my setup. I do hope though that Nikon gives people like me a true “replacement” for the D6. Either a 20/21mp sensor or 24mp BSI sensor that does 30/40/120fps, etc., etc.! I actually sold my Z9 for a profit (I got one early on) and I’m so glad I did, I was not happy with how noisy the Z9 files were. I shoot in near complete darkness at times and so the D5/D6 absolutely have an advantage…at high ISO. I know there are ways to lessen the noise, I use Topaz DeNoise A.I., but it’s not the same. Anyways I’m not trying to put the Z9 down and for most people it’s absolutely the better choice. However since I’m a a photojournalist…the D6 is still king, especially in low light! Plus the D6’s autofocus is maybe even better than the Z9’s! I know there have been major updates since I’ve last used the Z9, but I definitely felt the Z9 cost me shots, I’d have otherwise made. It probably also helped me get a shot, or two which the D6 maybe would’ve missed. However the D6 just felt a tad more “sticky” and tracks amazingly fast. I shot an US Air Force F-35 Lightening coming head onto towards me at 750+ mph, breaking the sound barrier and the D6 didn’t miss a shot. The guy next to me with a new Z9 and 400mm f/4.5 S missed a bunch of shots as the jet got closer or was filling the frame more. You’d think the Z9 would do better in that situation since it has so much more AF points and a wider AF coverage, but nope. The D6 did an phenomenal job at the Air Show, I don’t remember missing any key shots if any at all, but aircraft are pretty big/easy targets…so there’s that. However my buddy next to me did miss some key shots or opportunities and also his Z9 locked up like Steve talked about. Powering down the camera and removing and replacing the battery fixed it, but that’s not great. I haven’t had a Nikon camera lock up or freeze on me since like 2015, when my D4s occasionally would. One last important aspect of the D6 is it takes the WT-6A, an accessory vital to what I do. The built in wireless on the D6 and Z9 is not bad, it works (usually) but it’s range is limited and it’s just not 100% reliable. The D6 with WT-6A transmitter is not only 100% reliable but it also has an 650ft range, vs. like 30th on the Z9? I’ve actually been using both this WT-6A and before that WT-5A’s since 2013 and I’ve only ever once had an issue. The Nikon (WT-6A) wireless adapter is absolutely amazing, it’s well built and takes abuse and just always works. Being a photojournalist, it’s freeing to be able to transmit from anywhere and get my shots in before the competition. The D6 and WT-6A allow me to do this and it’s one less worry or hassle. Plus when everyone else is stuck in one spot while tethered with Ethernet cords…I’m mobile!
a1 due to 3rd party lens options!
Excellent, balanced comparison from the best wildlife authority in the world. Thanks Steve!
Thanks for the video. I'm using Nikon and have done so for 40+ years. All the glass that I have accumulated over the years makes that the clear choice. The Nikon Z9 has allowed me to take the photos I like so it isn't an impediment. Switching systems is just too much relearning. 😄
Not to mention expensive!
Fabulous review. Fair, and comprehensive. Wish I had the Z9 because I have Nikon glass. The photos you have captured are simply mind-blowing. Staggeringly beautiful. The ultimate in wildlife photography. Very well done, sir.
Thanks so much!
Outstanding! Great video as always, Steve.
Thanks so much for posting this, and for your contributions to the nature photography community. Even as a hobbyist, I get a lot out of your videos.
Steve, I tried both the Sony and Nikon in December 2021, when the Z9 started shipping. After using both side by side for 10 days, I chose the Z9. Both were awesome in their own ways. The $1000 difference in price finally won me over.
Great video Steve. I pick the Z9 as I have been using one over a year and have really appreciated the firmware strategy of Nikon. Any shortcomings I have with AF is very likely user error. Thanks for reinforcing my decision!
Thanks again for the extensive and most authentic comparison Steve!!
Another fantastic video Steve, thank you for the effort and for the amazing content.
loved this video. One of the most honest, lowest hype comparisons I've seen yet. Thanks Steve
Great review as always Steve , thanks.👍
Thanks Steve, good analysis and balanced as always!
I sold my A1 and the rest of my Sony gear a few months back and then recently bought a Z8. 3 main differences for me . 1. TTL flash on Nikon is far superior to Sony. 2. Slow power on is something that always annoyed me when I owned the A1. 3. My Sony had a hard time focusing on very small birds in the middle of the frame both with the 200-600mm and the 600f4. The Nikon is much better. And of course now the new Nikon 180-600 is just around the corner and cheaper the Sony 200-600. I am currently using the Z400mm 4.5 and 1.4x and I appreciate the weight reduction immensely.
Great balanced video. I appreciate the non-divisive approach that is so rare these days. For me, Nikon guy always. It's in the glass, and to your point if you've got an ecosystem of one or the other it's probably best to stick with it. Thanks for a great video.
Steve thank you for a thoughtful and non-emotional discussion of the two systems. Really appreciate it!!
Great video Steve, you are the best in the business for sure.
Thanks for taking the time to do this Steve. A very informative video. I’d have to go with the Z9; but only because I’ve been shooting Nikon for over 50 years and have accumulated a lot of nice glass.
You win. I have only been shooting with Nikon since 1976.
Steve you are the best. Always, objective, to the point. And your images inspire me to get out in the field more. Keep it up.
Fantastic comparison video. Thanks for taking the time to make this video. I've been Nikon since 1989, so very hard to switch brands.
An excellent comparison, without bias, respect.
Great comparison, the menus in Sony are vast, but complicated. Nikon 's menus are easier to remember. Both take time to learn and your books helped me greatly. Thanks again.
Thanks for your clear thoughts on both of these camera systems. I went from the Nikon D500 with 200-500 lens to the Sony A1 with 200-600 lens. I am getting up in years (just celebrated my 81st b-day) and just couldn't see me enjoying the Z9 due to size and weight. Overall I am extremely happy with the A1 and the 200-600 lens. There are days that I just settle for the A1 with the 100-400 lens to get the system weight down to a manageable level.
Beautiful photos &, Great comparisons on not only the cameras, but the systems as a whole.
Thanks so much!
I have watched more camera/lens/photography videos than I even like to think about :). This was the best comparison camera video I have ever seen. So well done! Thank you!
very well detailed explanation between these amazing mirrorless cameras.
Thanks, Steve. Informative as always.
I love the photo samples you put in videos great job
Thanks so much!
The Z9 made my day when it came, i was sooooo close to leave Nikon for Sony but decided to wait it out and im glad i did, been in the Nikon system from 2007 and it just feels right.
this is a really a very fair comparison between the two system, thumbs up!
Thanks Steve. I have a Z9 and already bought your ebook for Z9 too.
Thanks so much!
I’m just past a beginner stage and I’ll be shooting with my D500 and 200-500 mm for a while I’m sure. Still, I watch the videos on new equipment to dream a bit, but mainly because there are always useful tips and info that applies to every shooter and kit. Thanks Steve! 👍
I had d500 and used also 200-500 and I cannot really pick one major thing that would be bad about the setup. Not much more to dream about, realistically :)
D500 + Nikkor 200-500mm is still a really nice team for wildlife!
I shot that same unbeatable combination at raptors for years. Absolutely love my D500 (and the 200-500 - at it's price every Nikon shooter should have one). Just realized my dream of the 500mm PF lens (thanks to covid), and I love it too. The weight and length differences are major. I will probably go mirrorless someday just to get the 800mm PF, the 500mm is that great. Anyhow, kudos to you - I know you're getting great shots with that combo. I did.
@@_systemd The 200-500 is not weather sealed.
to me there is no replacement yet to the combo you have and that's the best one .,hold on to it forever,,for video purpose I moved on to other for video purpose but that D500 or D850 is way beyond anything when int comes to wildlife and sports ,,just search that combo in any picture sites like FLIKR
Steve , thanks for all the great information. I use the A 1 w batter pack and sony 200-600
great video as always Steve, especially as we get to see your pictures as well while watching. As a shooter of both brands -Sony for underwater and Nikon for wildlife, but shoot neither A1 or Z9, I found your video very informative for my future upgrade :) You're really spot on regarding the lenses at the end.. Fact that I would still have access to my 500FL when I turn mirrorless and have the possibility of having the Z's with builtin TCs sometimes in the future, really is a big +.
Steve, you forgot one big thing: The Sony A1 with additional grip costs a lot more than a Nikon Z9 with integrated grip which makes the Sony A1 a lot more expensive in comparison. For me this would be an important deciding factor, too.
In the US maybe, not necessarily true in the rest of the world.
that's wrong... z9 owners need that giant battery because the camera is so inefficient, but most a1 owners do not use a grip... z9 costs add up, for instance a back-up battery for the z9 is $200, vs. $78 for sony; you can't get an f/2.8 z supertelephoto prime without the integrated tc, so it's $2500 more than sony every time, etc.
@@DragRacingTV Sony fanboy wisdom? I never heard in any review that the Z9 is very innefficient and you obviously didn't watched the video from Steve Perry where he was measuring the battery lifetime. Watch Gerald Undone he was measuring video recording time with the battery, too. There is no evidence for your nonsense.
@@jorgepinogarciadelasbayonas steve perry just proved how inefficient the z9 is, the a1 with two batteries lasted far longer... hilarious, but typical nikon fanboy reaction.
@@jorgepinogarciadelasbayonas the z9 looks good in cipa ratings because its giant battery is over 2x the capacity/size/weight of the a1 battery... since both are lithium-ion, both have similar charge densities... watt-hours is the true measurement of battery capacity; amp-hours is the runtime, it does not account for the differences in voltage: z9 with en-el18d: 36 watt-hours, 10.8v, 700/740 a1 with np-fz100: 16.4 watt-hours, 7.2v, 430/530 a1 with two np-fz100: 32.8 watt-hours, 7.2v, 860/1060 the real ratings are slightly higher than that, because two sony batteries added together is still short of the 36 watt-hours rating of the nikon battery.
Steve, you nailed in the head. I appreciate your balanced well structure reviews. Ultimately people need to use their systems and spend less time on unnecessary camera wars.
you did finally upload in 4k, that's great, thanks.
Great video Steve! I realize that for some people, switching ecosystems is not an issue, but for those of us (weekend shooters, hobbyists etc) I believe that whatever system we've invested in will remain our first choice. I have five lenses from Nikon so eventually I hope to get a Z9. The hit I would take selling my glass and bodies makes switching a difficult choice at best. Keep up the fantastic content!
I’ve been using my D4 and decided buy Z9 to use as a main camera, I haven’t been disappointed I absolutely love it!
If I was coming to the choice cold, I think I'd pick the A1 for size and weight issues, but I've been invested in Nikon for far too long! I have, and love, the Z9. I find it balances well in my hand, but I sure feel the weight lugging it around!! Great video Steve - thanks!
Beautiful photos!
Great work, Mr Perry!
Good comparison. Happy Z9 owner here. And, yes, the glass is incredible.
Z9 for a number of reasons. I use Sony for video mostly portraits and people. The Z9 system is nature and animal all the way. Nikon has the ETZ21 with the 200-600 that works very well
Z9 for me, came from f mount, so sticking with brand I know. As well as familiar menu's. Thanks for a great video.
It's the z9 for me. I use the 1.4TC with the 400 4.5 for my wildlife. The number of auto focus choices is a bit daunting, but the z9 is a camera that I am not likely to outgrow any time soon.
Steve,, I have been following you for years, THIS IS THE BEST VIDEO YOU HAVE EVER PUT TOGETHER. I MUST ADD, YOUR WILDLIFE IMAGES ARE GETTING BETTER AND BETTER ALSO. Is this a result of cameras or photographer??? Answer: Both cameras and photographer,,,, good job.
Finally after waiting for a year I got the review I have been waiting for. Nikon Z9 does have state of the art autofocus.
Gracias por el gran trabajo, no creo que vaya a tener una de estas en mucho tiempo... pero es agradable ver cómo funcionan.
Z9 for me Steve. I love your videos because you tell it like it is. Keep the videos coming. Love my Z9 so much with my 600 f4 e, 300mm f2.8 and the stunning 400mm f4.5. The 200-600 Z lens is going to round out my collection nicely.
Thanks for the outstanding comparison. I own two Z9s. I shoot events - not wildlife. I noticed the good and bad points you made with the Z9. The latest Z9 firmware is a big improvement over 3.0. I was pleased to see your opinion on the Z9 autofocus compared to the A1. I thought Sony would win this comparison. However, your Z9 pictures seemed a little sharper than the Sony and that surprised me. I do agree that the Z9 could offer more customization on its function buttons. I hope Nikon continues to offer more customization options in future with firmware updates. As a Nikon owner, the Z9 is a fantastic camera. I do not have any experience with the Sony A1.
Hi Steve, thank you for your balanced review and your stunning photos. I'd go for the Z9, as I still have F-mount glass that would work well on the Z9.
It does indeed. I am using F glass on my Z9.
Excellent review Steve, Hopefully this will quiet down the youtube arguments. All of the major camera makers have fantastic options!!
Tons of information here. You present this unbiased leaving the watcher unknowing what your choice will actually be. Well done! I'm Nikon, all the way. Have been since 1978. The only Z camera I own and have used is the Z9. D6 is nearly ignored now. Thank you, Charles Loy
I loved my D6, but ended up selling it after really only taking on a couple of trips. Tech moved on too fast :)
Lamborghini and Ferrari…great way to put it. Both great systems that will push each other to get better. Canon has a high bar to meet when it finally comes out with a flagship
This is about as comprehensive and thorough as it gets! Great job! Curious for the color/iso comparison if you used mechanical shutter or electronic for the A1?
Electronic for both - I honestly forget the a1 has a mechanical shutter I use it so infrequently.
Stayed with Nikon and went from D850 to Z9. Too heavily invested in Nikon glass to switch. Totally happy
Steve your videos have been really inspiring and helpful! I've been trying to find a way to merge my love of nature into a potential career I love taking photos on all my adventures unfortunately I never made the leap into purchasing a dedicated camera, I always just used my phone. It's worked ok but these shots are amazing. I have some experience with photo editing and graphic software from college which I think will be beneficial. You've helped inspire me to take the plunge and invest in the equipment to make my love for the outdoors into something I never considered. Definitely earned a sub look forward to learning from your content! Thank you sir!
Been shooting the Z9 for over a year very happy, old lenses work great and the 800mm pf is killer, even with the converter 1.4.. but lately and not often it's been looking up, current firmware.. I just sent it in, see what happens and out of warranty !! Great review as always Steve ...
After 23 years of shooting Nikon I switched to the Sony A1 18 months ago when the Z9 didn't exist. I have no regrets on making the switch. First, not all my work is wildlife. The camera is also used for travel and I love how Sony has focused on a smaller, lighter camera bodies and for their new lenses as well! It makes travel so much easier. Lens quality is amazing too. I would like to see them add a TC to their longer glass. Third party lens support is also nice to have. I have thousands of wonderful images created with six different Nikon bodies over the years. Many of those images are priceless to me. I never regretted purchasing any of those cameras or lenses. Now the journey continues with Sony. I hope I feel the same way about Sony in 20 years time. So far, so good. It's amazing to have such wonderful equipment use and enjoy!
I don't think there's a bad choice and the Sony system has advantages for what you're doing, no doubt about it.
great video, Steve, thanks. I am with Nikon since ages. I didn't believe that changing from my D6 to Z9 would be such a progress, as the D6 was an incredibly fast camera. Still, today I work only with the Z9 and I am happy. Wouldn't trade it for anything else. The larger body to me is an advantage, it feels very comfy and offers me a safe grip. All the rest is said in yr video. And yes: I cannot compare to the Sony, never tried it.
Your knowledge and delivery is something to behold. Oh and you take some great photos too.
Thanks so much!
Greatly appreciated for your fantastic presentation!
A very balanced and considered video. I moved from Nikon to Sony several years ago as the A9 had the silent shooting. The Nikons are also too big and heavy for me now, my husband has the D850. I’ve recently got the Sony A7R5 and am finding the new features like the flippy and angled screen, photo stacking and new autofocus options great. The 100-400 and 200-600 are enough for me for wildlife. There is the 400 f2.8 and 600 f4 available for Sony which I think is ok. A 300 f2.8 that is not the cost of small car would be nice! The new Sony with its 60 megapixel sensor means that I can just crop at the touch of a programmable button don’t really need a tc and don’t loose a stop or two of light as you do when adding a tc.
Great video Steve! Your video does a great job in laying out the specifics of each camera in a factual manner, and is devoid of the common KZhead fan boy statements and generalizations. And you’re correct…. it’s not just the camera, it’s the system. Being already invested in Nikon F glass, it was an easy decision for me, as well as the Z9 ergonomics work for me. If I was invested in Sony, I probably would have gone that route. Well done.
Excellent comparison between the two cameras and systems Steve. Interesting how similar they are in most respects. The Z9 is my pick and I am currently shooting the Z9 with the new 600 f4 TC and I agree that the built-in TC is a game changer. As you say once the Nikon 200-600 has been released the Nikon lens selection will be very nicely rounded out. Of course there may be a Sony A1 mark 2 on the horizon and it will be interesting to see what improvements Sony can make that Nikon will then need to compete with. Interesting times for sure.
I thought this was a very fare comparison and certainly applicable to what some wildlife photographers wonder about - is there game changing differences between brands. Having made a commitment to Nikon way back in the 1980's, as my equipment accumulated it became more difficult to think about changing brands. In the past 8 years or so, I have felt the lack of focus on, well focus, with Nikon while Sony and Canon seemed to be developing cutting edge advancements that really benefited the photographer. It is nice to see my Z9 is moving my camera ability back with the pack...now I just need to hone my own abilities to equal the camera.
I have been shooting Nikon since 2009 and accumulated a ray of lenses through the years. The Z9 set the standard for Nikon future for Video and Photo departments. The Z9 Video features and performance is all i need. So im sticking to Nikon, plus i already bought the Z9 many for Padel, Tennis and video work. If i have all the money i would have bought the FX 3 for video as it is lightweight and compact system to carry around. Lets hope the future Z line up brings Z9 video features to other Z cameras :). I have never been a wild life photographer but your videos did help me configure my D850 and Z9 for sport photography in a way. Appreciate it Steve so much.
Thank you Steve! I am so happy that you did this comparaison and also no winner in your opinion. It is up to the user to decide which system. When I started photography I was Canon shouter until the D3S showed on the market. Since then I have been a Nikon shooter. I am used to the system and I love the Z9 the way it held in my hand. In fact I prefer large body camera. When I bought the D850 , I kept the grip on it all the time because It felt so little without it. So it is really personal preference. Also, what I love about Nikon, is the lenses. With the Z 600 tc, that I found amazing after using it for two weeks in Florida photographing bird. I came home with more than 60 000 photos, and so many beautiful and sharp shot. It felt so good in my hands. It is better to keep the same system when we invest so much in the lenses and learning about it. Thank you agsin
Thanks for sharing another wonderful video like always 👌👍
I think both cameras have great features - but I also really think Nikon is onto something special with their PF glass so I stuck with Nikon. Totally agree it takes some time and effort to learn how to use all the tools either camera provides. Thanks for your help with that.
Went with the Z9 mainly because of the investment I had made in glass.. Love my PF500 paired with the Z9. Thanks for the video & book. Keep it coming!
Thanks for the purchase!
Steve: Thanks for this review. I am still shooting a Nikon D500 and I'm quite pleased with my results. I keep watching videos and searching for justification to spend thousands of dollars from my fixed income to upgrade. I've been lusting after a Z9 for many months but it's hard to justify as a retired hobbyist. I keep hoping that Nikon is going to release some new bodies that will incorporate some of the focusing features, etc of the Z9. I already have some good F-mount full-frame glass that I can adapt to the mirrorless system. Rumors about new, more affordable options are rampant. It's time for some reality. Thanks so much for your review. You are one of the few KZheadrs I feel I can trust for knowledge and information.
I stayed with Nikon in migrating from the D850 to the Z9. What I valued is the integrated vertical grip as much of my photography is portrait. The memory card format and battery capacity were factors. Shutterless operation was a bonus. I definitely agree with you there is not enough flexibility offered by Nikon in programming buttons - more so with their non-flagship cameras.
Z9 for me since December of 21. Switched from Canon at the end of 2018 fed up waiting for better sensors from Canon. I’m not switching again. I have not even tried the new firmware yet, but I found the AF outstanding shooting aviation and motorsports all last year. 20fps is more than enough. People seem to forget that the legendary Canon 1D was only 8fps, somehow sports and action shooters survived. Then the glass, my F mount 300 f/2.8, and 500 f/4E are just nuts on the Z9.
Hi Steve, thank you for this great comparison with your in-depth knowledge! Good to see how both flagships are head to head. Even blindfolded the Nikon bodies feel like at home in my hands, whereas other companies bodies do not fit as well in my hands. And I love the Z glass ;) But I'm pretty sure you are right with your advice, to not switch if one is investet in a system! Cheers, Martin
Great video, thanks for taking the time. I haven't switched to mirrorless yet, but with all the Nikon lenses I have, I can't justify switching. However, if I was just staring over, based on my use of lenses so far, I'd probably go with the Sony because of it's size for travel and the versatility of the 200-600
Thank you!! I have both as well this is so refreshing to here that your not bashing the z9 auto focus. Like you know who. I love both I can’t see a clear winner here. They both are amazing camera. I will keep the A1 and z9
Cracking video as always Steve, pragmatism always wins. A breath of fresh air, information based finding on long time real world use. Thank god you are around, as there a lot of heavy hitting channels thank spout **** to just increase likes and subscribes
Very nice and rounded comparison between the two systems. I think your verdict hit the nail right on the head. If you can't get your shots with either one of the two switching brands ain't gonna do much to change that (unless you really need one of the features that is exclusive to one of them). Not really surprised by the basically non-existing difference in ISO performance between the two, since they are both using Sony's latest gen stacked sensors. It wouldn't even surprise me if they both were basically the same sensor, just with a shifted base ISO for the Nikon.
Hello Steve, I hope that the people responsible for Nikon will see your video and also react what they have to build into the upcoming bodies. Namely the incredible setting options of the A1. I think if nothing new comes from Nikon in the Z6_2 /3 range this year, I'll probably buy the Z9. thanks for your video LG Günter from Germany.
I am a Nikon shooter, simply because I started with the brand. I now have several long lenses that (when I take the plunge) would keep me with the Z9. It's far too late for me to change. The investment is too great! When the time is right, I will purchase a Z9 with the adapter for my 200-500mm f5.6, 400mm F2.8 G and my 600mm f4.0 G, not to mention several wide-angle lenses and shorter zoom lenses (plus other accessories). I can't even consider a brand change. To change would be to throw good money after bad. The video really had no effect on my decision as I have lots of investment already in Nikon. However, it is an excellent comparison and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks so much, Steve. Another wonderful video.
Thanks Stevie 😊
I was about to switch boats and then Nikon started updating. I am happy that I didn't. I still believe there is room for AF improvement, but V3.1 solved most of my issues. I hope we see more off those updates in the future.
Thank you, Steve. As always, rigorously objective and thoroughly thought out. "Comparing Lamborghinis and Ferraris" -- brilliant! 😂
Damn, I'm blown away by the images in this video. Truly professional quality regardless of the camera.
Thanks so much!
I just got my Nikon Z9 and I am really impressed about this camera. Still love my D500 so much that I bought a brand new one before it went out of production. Since I have 56 Nikkor glasses now I am Nikon forever 😊and besides Nikon was and still is the brand that developed more lenses than any other in the world. The variety and shear numbers are out of this world, that also is the reason I think Nikon is the winner.
56?? That's a lot of glass!
@@backcountrygallery I started my photo journey with a Pentax K1000 in 1974 I was 14. After two years with the camera My eyes went to Nikon. Got the F-2 A, what a camera thats when I started collecting Nikkor glasses, and also many other Nikon camera models. In 1998 When Canon launched the EOS autofocus system it really got my attention. Too bad that Nikon did not follow up with Canon. I went to Photokina 1998 and man what a surprise! Canon launching the EOS 3 with 45 autofocus sensor with eye activation! I was in awe when I saw that. Poor Nikon they had just launched the Nikon F-5 with 5 autofocus sensor and the squicky electric motors on the lens. Canon had patented the USM motors what a huge difference! I new I was going to switch to Canon systems and I did. After several years later I started to see that Canon sensors compared to Nikon were not as good. When Nikon launched the D3 it kept me thinking about switching back to Nikon. Nikon D4 wonderful when they launched the D5 together with the D500 I rented both to try and I was sure I was going to go back to Nikon and I did. Nikon D500 won the race. still with my "old" glasses and now buying the "new" ones. When Nikon lauched the Z6 with all the splash they made I got one and I was really frustrated to see that the autofocus system was not even near the D500. Oh well, I was happy with the D500 for BIF and purchased many other DSLR models as well. Still waiting for a decent autofocus body the Z9 was not there yet until the firmware 3.01. Man when I saw that I then new was time to pull the trigger. So all these years, I never sold my Nikkor glasses. I have the many Ai-S and VRs and the FLs. Like I said. Nikon has made so many awesome glasses. They really innovate when they want. Problem is they have to loose a lot to step down from their proud altar. LOL. Pentax was once the king as well. Look what happened. They have invested hard on new lenses and the Pro model LX remember? Right before Canon came up with the EOS USM technology. Olympus the same thing. Too bad Pentax and Olympus did not pay attention to what just happened to the auto-focus photography world. Man! Canon took over like a tornado! Gone Pentax, Gone Olympus, Gone Minolta (started first on auto-focus) Nikon had to pay Canon patent to make their own silent motors! otherwise they would also gone bankrupt! But they took too long to innovate. I am actually very happy that they flip the table after loosing so much. I thought they were going to bankrupt after the Z6/Z7 gimmick. So happy that they are now up on their feet and doing well. Any ways I wrote a lot! LOL happy shooting Steve! Thanks for your reply : )
I would love to have photo stacking on my Sony! Great video Steve.
You and me both!
Thank you for the video. Well done. Owned the Sony A1 first but for the last year I owned both. In the end I sold off the Z9 and now selling off the Z lenses I bought. In the end it was too difficult to get the lenses like the 800 PF until recently saw some used for sale. Have the Sony 200-600 for a long time and the Nikkor Z 400/4.5 VR S with 1.4x TC (tried the Adapted F mount 500/5.6E PF as well). Just decided the Z9 was heavier than I needed but agree both are very well done.
Thank you for the info. I am a Nikon shooter currently holding a D500/500pf combo and a Z6ii/24-120/100-400 combo. Patiently waiting for Nikons next release, hoping it is something like an improved Z7ii.
Informative and insightful. Thanks!
Thanks so much!
Currently have the z7II and thinking of upgrading to the Z9
Always enjoy your. videos! God Bless
As usual Steve, another great video. I am so glad you mentioned my all time biggest gripe with Nikon. I have a Z9 and love it and have been shooting Nikon since 1973. Yep that's 50 years. But the gripe is that when you set a custom shooting bank there is no "save" that will remember those settings. If you go to that bank and change anything - and you will, almost every time - that changes the settings. To me, it makes them nearly useless. I know, I know, you can save it to the memory card and then recall them every time you pick up the camera, but that's a pain. Also, if you format the card, all the settings are erased. So you have to carry a separate card with those settings and install it and recall the settings every time. Or you can just delete all the photos and not format the card but that setting is buried in the menus. It is much easier to format the card and I prefer that method anyway. The frustrating thing is, with all the incredible firmware updates that Nikon does release, this particular annoyance never seems to go away. I guess Nikon just thinks that is the correct way to do it. I wish they would at least give us the option to "save" those base settings. I have to believe this could be done in firmware. Oh well. Thanks again for the great video.
LOL, that post sounds just like one of my rants about the banks!! I agree, because they don't save your baselines, I don't use them at all.
My current camera does keep saved settings in the banks, which is a hindrance in a way, as for example despite the amount of light that moment etc, my quick or my slow bank remembers their value that is often not appropriate and needs to be adjusted upon every switch or a bank. On the contrary the banks of d500, that I preferred to consider "virtual cameras", where always adjusted perfectly to current conditions and shooting once I modified them for the first time or continuosly while shooting, by adjusting the needed setting for that situation. Then I would just switch between them fluently. For me it worked great exactly due to not hard saving settings and I would think that that was the reason why there were there. Not to store settings but to allow for the quickest adaptation to a shooting scenario.
Very interesting analysis Steve. Man that Nikon 600mm f4 TC alone is the reason why I want to shoot Nikon for wildlife. Hopefully soon they will release their 200-600mm which should be of a good quality and that will be an amazing lens to start shooting wild life, and later complement it with a faster long prime IF NEEDED.
It's changed the game for me. Although I love both systems, I find myself getting aggravated when I'm using the Sony gear and am in a situation that requires frequent TC changes.
Great Video Steve. I have only ever been in the Nikon ecosystem except for a brief time with a Cannon Rebel EOS 35mm film camera, and a Sony Mavic. My first Nikon was the D7200, and I love that camera. When we moved to Australia in 2018, the D7200 was the shooter and worked very well although I didn't't know much about photography. That all changed when I bought the Z6 and the 14-30 f4. I started to dig in and learn about photography. The more I learned, the deeper I got. I now have a Z9 and Z6II, some decent glass both F and Z mount (100-400S, 500PF, 24-120S, 24/50/85/MC105 primes), and I have my sights on faster glass in the super tele ranges. I'm sticking with Nikon for the same reasons you gave the slight edge to Nikon: fast glass with built in teleconverters. I'm sure Sony makes a good camera and lens, and they also make TVs and game systems. Nikon for me. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it! Thanks Steve. Appreciate all you do!
Excellent presentation Steve, very fair to each camera. Up until the Z9 software update the A1 easily won, now it's pretty close. Very good point about Nikon's built in teleconverters this is very handy. The built in battery grip is not necessarily a plus depending upon ones needs. In my case I hike and scramble up mountains and choose to leave my A1's battery grip at home and bring along 2 spare batteries. It saves space in my backpack and it's lighter, ounces saved up a mountain make a very big difference. It's great to see both Nikon and Canon as serious contenders in the wildlife realm. I am absolutely thrilled with my A1 and Sony glass.
I too like the option for using the grip or not. There are times the small body is the better choice :)
Wow, lots of great specifics. I'm currently in that conundrum. I have a Nikon D850 and want to go mirrorless for wildlife photography. Before this, I was sold on switching to Sony A1. Now, I'm rethinking that. Thanks!
Very well done!!
Your picture framing is excellent
Thanks so much!