Ready to make its best even better, Nikon has released firmware version 3.0 for its flagship Z9 mirrorless camera. This latest major firmware update adds a few key features to the camera, addresses some previous issues, and enhances the overall user experience.
The most noteworthy update is the inclusion of Hi-Res Zoom when recording 4K video. This digital zoom feature utilizes the native 8.3K resolution to provide up to 2x of zooming control with any lens in use, including primes. This extra bit of field-of-view flexibility can be employed using either the multi-selector button on the rear of the body, the Fn1 or Fn2 buttons, or via the Fn ring or control ring on select lenses. Three different zoom speeds are available, depending on the look you’re after.
The second update fills a small gap for high-speed continuous shooting enthusiasts and adds a 60 fps option, which falls between the blazing 120 fps peak and the more modest 30 fps options. This 60 fps choice is still benefited by full-time AF and AE but requires working with a DX crop and shooting in JPEG only.
Also catering to the speed shooters, FW 3.0 adds some general performance updates to the autofocus and shutter systems. Autofocus speeds should be quicker, with enhanced tracking for erratically moving animals and other subjects, and low-light performance should be more responsive for working in dimly lit conditions. For shooting indoors, high-frequency flicker reduction has been improved and can be used for video recording now to suppress any blank frames or other flickering artifacts during recording.
In regard to operability, the main update is a fresh, vertical menu orientation when you’re shooting vertically; the entire playback and “i” menus will now rotate to match the camera’s positioning. Also, exposure settings can be previewed through the EVF when working with a flash.
Finally, the last major update in FW 3.0 is support for timecode sync to keep multiple cameras and audio equipment linked. You can now reset and sync timecode on multiple Z9s with a remote control, like the WR-R10, and the camera is also compatible with the Atomos UltraSync BLUE for syncing with additional cameras and recording devices.
To learn more about Firmware 3.0 for the Nikon Z9, as well as to download the update for yourself, check out Nikon’s download page for all the details.
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