Thom's stuff is almost always good -- this one (to me), especially so.
I'm one of the Nikon -> Sony (6 years) -> Nikon (1 year). I don't miss much from my Sony experience, but auto-focus would be one. (The other would be the 300/2.8. That lens is absolute goodness.) But I thought this piece did a nice job of walking through the current Z9 firmware state, hypothetical Z9II upgrades, etc.
EB-1 wrote:
Wasn't he the guy that said all we needed was the D700?
EBH
Even if he did he clearly changed his mind.
Thom is an incredible resource for Nikon users, almost a reason to shoot Nikon by himself. There are no equivalent to his books for Canon and Sony cameras. At least I couldn’t find anything coming close.
He is also a very knowledgeable observer of the camera market. His opinions are spot on 95% of the time.
To me the most likely Z9II isn’t listed in his options though. It would be btwn complete overhaul and modest and would include #1, #2, #3 and #5. Everything but a new imaging sensor. Similar to what Sony did with the a1 mkII.
But… recent comments from Ricci hint strongly at the possibility of a Z9II with a brand new global shutter sensor and at a Z9 firmware update. Which would be aligned with Nikon’s philosophy to deliver paradigm shifts with their flagship bodies. Nobody has forgotten how innovative the Z9 was with its electronic shutter only.
If Nikon managed to port Red’s global shutter tech to this camera, meaning to combine both GS and high DR together with the improvements we can logically expect from Expeed 8 it will be a very desirable camera for stills and video shooters.
While I don't mind more Z9 firmware update with new features, I think Expeed7 is the bottle neck for
many features that could be useful.
I think Z8/Z9 is stuck at 20 FPS RAW is mostly because of the processor rather than sensor.
It also might be bottleneck for no RAW pre capture .
I would not mind CFexpress 4.0 support since cards are now readily available.
While 20 FPS is perfectly fine for my use most of the time, once in a while 30 or 40 fps raw would be nice.
I am perfectly happy with 45mp but I suppose a bit more pixel for a bit more flexibility when I need to crop aggressively would be nice but I can settle for 45 mp.
suteetat wrote:
While I don't mind more Z9 firmware update with new features, I think Expeed7 is the bottle neck for
many features that could be useful.
I think Z8/Z9 is stuck at 20 FPS RAW is mostly because of the processor rather than sensor.
It also might be bottleneck for no RAW pre capture .
I would not mind CFexpress 4.0 support since cards are now readily available.
While 20 FPS is perfectly fine for my use most of the time, once in a while 30 or 40 fps raw would be nice.
I am perfectly happy with 45mp but I suppose a bit more pixel for a bit more flexibility when I need to crop aggressively would be nice but I can settle for 45 mp. ...Show more →
My feeling as well. More fps means even more time for reviewing shoots and even more storage space. But there is one specific application for which 40 to even 60fps would make a difference for me.
And yes, I am 99% sure that the Z9II will come with Exceed 8, if not a dual Expeed 8.
It's pretty much do it all camera with almost everything one can want(and way more than anybody trully need).
I'm on Z8(and A1 on Sony side) and see no need to upgrade to either Z8 II when it comes or A1 II now.
I see the following aspects that would require new hardware:
- a faster processor (aka Exceed 8) to enable higher ftp, raw pre-capture,...
- a faster data bus for even shorter EVF delay
- the new electronic hotshot of the ZR
- an improved heat dissipation design like on the ZR
- 32 bits float audio
- more buffer memory and faster card interface to enable deeper buffer in all configuration (lossless raw and back up mode)
- a global shutter sensor of even faster read out speed sensor for reduced led issues and faster flash sync speed
- automatic led flickering detection
- better IBIS to enable multi-shot like on the Z8
- whatever it takes to write video to 2 cards in parallel (or to one card and built-in memory, see next point)
- on camera large storage like on the X2D (4TB would be nice for video)
- 5G connection for direct upload to the cloud without wifi
- an even better EVF with higher res (I disagree, but more people want that), higher brightness
- a slightly lighter body with better grip material
suteetat wrote:
While I don't mind more Z9 firmware update with new features, I think Expeed7 is the bottle neck for
many features that could be useful.
I think Z8/Z9 is stuck at 20 FPS RAW is mostly because of the processor rather than sensor.
It also might be bottleneck for no RAW pre capture .
I would not mind CFexpress 4.0 support since cards are now readily available.
While 20 FPS is perfectly fine for my use most of the time, once in a while 30 or 40 fps raw would be nice.
I am perfectly happy with 45mp but I suppose a bit more pixel for a bit more flexibility when I need to crop aggressively would be nice but I can settle for 45 mp. ...Show more →
I too suspect that the next upgrade will require an upgrade in the the Expeed processor .... (would that be Expeed 8?)
20 fps is plenty for me. I remember when the Z8 and Z9 were coming out and there was negative input from the “S” people over here that 20 fps was not fast enough. GMAB!
I too am happy with 45 mp. Perfect for my cropping needs.
bernardl wrote:
I see the following aspects that would require new hardware:
- a faster processor (aka Exceed 8) to enable higher ftp, raw pre-capture,...
- a faster data bus for even shorter EVF delay
- the new electronic hotshot of the ZR
- an improved heat dissipation design like on the ZR
- 32 bits float audio
- more buffer memory and faster card interface to enable deeper buffer in all configuration (lossless raw and back up mode)
- a global shutter sensor of even faster read out speed sensor for reduced led issues and faster flash sync speed
- automatic led flickering detection
- better IBIS to enable multi-shot like on the Z8
- whatever it takes to write video to 2 cards in parallel (or to one card and built-in memory, see next point)
- on camera large storage like on the X2D (4TB would be nice for video)
- 5G connection for direct upload to the cloud without wifi
- an even better EVF with higher res (I disagree, but more people want that), higher brightness
- a slightly lighter body with better grip material
Right, its obvious you can always improve but that wasn't my point. As is Z9 can do it all, like seriously you can shoot anything without worry. Like 99% of time if anything is the limitation it's human not the camera.
olegkin wrote:
I am on Z8 and I don't have much complains about performance, but a dramatically smaller size and a bit better DR would be nice. And a better UI
Dramatically smaller size? Well thats not gonna happen for sure, not without serious compromise. Look at Sony C cameras, EVF is awful, 1 card slot etc... You can't have it all.
However, im pretty sure we will get something like Z7 III or Z6 IV which will be smaller and lighter than current Z8 and have all of its features and maybe even more.
This thread is hilarious. Better thermals? Bro I live in the asshole of Texas and I would not be able to get my Z9 to overheat in the summer if I tried.
Immortal wrote:
Right, its obvious you can always improve but that wasn't my point. As is Z9 can do it all, like seriously you can shoot anything without worry. Like 99% of time if anything is the limitation it's human not the camera.
Dramatically smaller size? Well thats not gonna happen for sure, not without serious compromise. Look at Sony C cameras, EVF is awful, 1 card slot etc... You can't have it all.
However, im pretty sure we will get something like Z7 III or Z6 IV which will be smaller and lighter than current Z8 and have all of its features and maybe even more....Show more →
No discussion that the Z9 is an amazing 4 years old body that Nikon has managed to keep highly competitive with Sony and Canon flagships through firmware updates. Because it’s hardware had the potential.
But this thread is focused on what a Z9II could be. Nikon will have designed it not just to beat the a1II and R1, it’s 100% sure that it will by a significant margin, but also to remain competitive until 2030 after the a1III and R1II ship. That must have been discussed in the first 5 minutes of the project when it started 3 years ago and made its core objective.
This line of thought drove the list of improvements I wrote. Including the obvious enhancements they have already made available in more recent bodies like the Z8, Z6III and ZR.
Immortal wrote:
Right, its obvious you can always improve but that wasn't my point. As is Z9 can do it all, like seriously you can shoot anything without worry. Like 99% of time if anything is the limitation it's human not the camera.
Dramatically smaller size? Well thats not gonna happen for sure, not without serious compromise. Look at Sony C cameras, EVF is awful, 1 card slot etc... You can't have it all.
However, im pretty sure we will get something like Z7 III or Z6 IV which will be smaller and lighter than current Z8 and have all of its features and maybe even more....Show more →
What compromise?
• Sony A1 II: 136.1 x 96.9 x 82.9mm, 743g
• Nikon Z8: 144 x 118.5 x 83mm, 910g
• Sony A1 II: 0.64 type, 9.44m-dot, 0.9x magnification. Blackout-free viewing
• Nikon Z8: 0.5 type, 3.69m-dot, 0.8x magnification. Blackout free Real Live viewfinder
• Sony A1 II: 2x SD/CFexpress Type A
• Nikon Z8: 1x CFexpress Type B, 1x SD UHS-II
Z8 is taller than GFX100SII... and guess what camera it is compared with here:
840g. 149 x 106 x 75 mm
• Nikon Z8: 144 x 118.5 x 83mm, 910g
For me "Dramatically smaller size" isn't A1 II size or weight, more in line with A7C series. If you expect something like A1 II size and weight than that's probably doable thou i think its gonna be callled Z7 III or Z6 IV not Z8 II. Like always, time will tell.
