Nikon Z9 FW 2.1. Flicker reduction & Auto Focus Improvements !

[@RicciTalks]

Hey Everyone! FW2.1 for the Z9 is here this is a quick first look at the main changes. I certainly hope you find this video useful Thank you so much for watching.

[@johnhjic2]

Hello Ricci, I know that I have only had my Z9 since the start of Mach 2022, I must say it is a amazing but of kit that seems to get better each time I am out shooting. OUTSTANDING hit rate for focusing on three day eventing and birding. Just please pass my thanks on to all at Nikon for developing an amazing camera in the Z9. Keep well, keep safe and stay positive.

[@MrDaveB123]

So cool to see the changes. I know one thing that will never change !!!! People whining about the "Update I didn't get " "What about the Z6 or the Z7ii." I have both those and I don't care . Shut up and shoot what you got . If it comes be grateful if it doesn't be grateful. You can always go back to shooting film.

[@RaymondParkerPhoto]

Thanks Ricci. First impressions are positive. Glad to see Nikon addressing common requests.

[@LastXwitness]

Oooof look at this guy ! At the ready the moment this update was released further showcasing how Ricci is a true asset to us out there. Thanks for putting in the informative effort as always 🫀

[@RicciTalks]

We all know who the real asset is here 😉 thanks for all the support!

[@NikCan66]

thanks very much for your video is always informative 👍

[@ericmilner4367]

I noticed right away that you used a dark bird, in the shade, and that it is back-lit. How much harder could you make this test? And the Nikon prevails! Thank you for honest unbiased tests that put our gear through the ringer, Ricci!

[@hobbytake2845]

Nikon, deliver improvements to the 6ii and 7ii, such as the dreaded focus stall or fix the jumping to the background issues! Thanks for the video Ricci!

[@dah7772]

Love your honest approach to your reviews. Nikon community is very lucky you have you. One of the few you tubers that I will rewatch videos for when they have a lot of content in them. I always look forward to new content from you. Hint, hint hope you have more coming out as well. We were all spoiled when you were able to on a regular basis. Appreciate all that you do though.

[@ThePinoyAggie]

It's amazing how Nikon releases firmware updates for the Z9 while the Z6/Z7 (II) are afterthoughts.

[@mickbryan8908]

Fully agree George. When do you think we’ll hear something Ricci?

[@RicciTalks]

No camera is an afterthought There is no order to firmware updates they happen when they happen

[@ThePinoyAggie]

@@RicciTalks I hope so. Would be nice to have further improvements.

[@mickbryan8908]

@@RicciTalks hope not. There are a lot of users who are feeling left in the dark.

[@jackbrumby1892]

I had a Z6ii. There was every indication Nikon were going to be slack with updates. I had to scrape money & trade in to get a Z9. I’m very happy with it, but I wished I could have stayed with the Z6ii. Cheers.

[@corradopuccinelli2629]

Many thanks Ricci, another big jump to make even more unsurpassed the Z9! I take this opportunity to suggest / require the future improvement to the sub-menu RECALL SHOOTING FUNCTIONS. Would be useful to add the opportunity to specifically adjust the AF MODE (AF-S or AF-C). In my experience if you are in AF-S and have assigned to a FN button the transition to 3D TRACKING, you must first manually switch the AF to AF-C, otherwise the recall have no effect. I think that by this addition the speed of action and the Z9 flexibility would be further improved. My best regards

[@GeoffCooper]

Wow - the AF improvements 5:20 look really good! Re. Rolling back firmware - from experience I can say that the reset of all settings with firmware rollback happens with previous versions too. It's also expected behaviour given that otherwise, the camera could be trying to apply settings that are no longer present or coded in quite the same way! Looking forward to the 400mm f/4.5 S + 1.4x TC video...

[@GeoffCooper]

@Photo Bunny Nice! I've only pointed it at murky starlings through the kitchen door and didn't see a whole lot of difference, but hopefully will get out one morning at the weekend for a proper test... Yes, I ordered the 400mm f/4.5 early on the morning it was announced - I was in Finland so two hours ahead of the UK and hopefully that puts me in a pretty favourable place in the queue!!

[@GeoffCooper]

@Photo Bunny I put my 400mm f/4.5 pre-order in with WEX at around 06:30 UK time... Park didn't have links up yet at the point so I didn't get an order in with them until sometime later (around 10:00). Hope Nikon send you a big box of goodness soon then!!

[@johnhjic2]

Hello Ricci, I know this is the wrong place to send this. But its was good to see you at this years TPS 2022. A vert big thanks for passing on what you did. Thank you. Keep well, keep safe and please continue to inspire.

[@jeffreyneville9769]

Got out today to shoot birds with the updated firmware , a considerable improvement in tracking and stickiness on the subject, does not jump to the background a solid and welcome improvement I think this should make many people happy and silence the critics. Thank You Nikon.

[@PavelTsvetkovVideoandPhoto]

Thank you for the heads up! All of these changes are welcome but what I would really like to see introduced is the option to write video simultaneously to both cards. Nikon remains the only camera maker of the big three that does not offer it.

[@KnightsandWeekends]

As always - thanks for great information, professionally presented. Looking forward to trying the focus improvements!

[@karyleianawildernesscapes]

Did my update last night. This camera is already amazing & it just keeps getting better 🙌🏾📸

[@TorToroPorco]

It's always reassuring to see Ricci coming online to go over recent changes and new products. Thank you!

[@MikeJamesMedia]

Thanks, as always, Ricci. I'm enjoying the Z9 more each time I shoot with it. So, any firmware that improves what I'm already happy with is a bonus!

[@AlbertKel]

Good that they are addressing the autofocus. Hopefully major improvements coming in v 3.0😊

[@mickbryan8908]

When do you think Z6ii and Z7ii users will get an AF update Ricci?

[@markmakesphotos]

Thanks for the video. Very useful. Only had my Z 9 for 3 weeks, so nice to be getting some useful upgrades so quickly. My big worry before getting the camera was how the electronic shutter would cope under LED theatre lighting. Have shot a couple of shows with it, and I’m delighted so far - but great to have this new feature to tweak shutter speeds if I run into issues in future. And better eye- and face AF is always welcome, though I’m already delighted with the improvement between Z 9 firmware 2.0 and Z 7 II.

[@chrislognshot]

glad to see you back again we missed your videos

[@JOHNCROCHE]

Another great review thanks , maybe a video on the practical use of the new facility when shooting LED displays etc

[@ronaldpollard8990]

Always very professional Ricci. Thank you. 1)Do you think that this was to address Birders Concerns with the added precision of AF Smaller subjects?

[@RicciTalks]

Iv been impressed with the way it handles smaller birds just look at my 400mm f4.5 video 😊

[@ronaldpollard8990]

@@RicciTalks indeed man will do.

[@tristanholmes4153]

One thing that HFR is used for a lot is in more rural areas the football/baseball/softball stadiums have older florescent or halogen bulbs or really bad LEDs that have a 50-60 hertz cyclic rate and is almost impossible to photograph consistently without HFR.

[@charlesdavis6371]

great - ty for this. very comprehensive so early.

[@jorsetti]

So “Photo flicker reduction” needs to be ON, when High-frequency flicker reduction is being used? I’m guessing they work together and are not independent of one another? Thank You for this video so helpful in the work I do!

[@dr.dilipdesarker8118]

very reliable discussion, love you 👍

[@dieseldavey]

Thanks for another top video. I’m just wondering have they abandoned the z6ii and z7ii regards auto focus updates. Thanks

[@RicciTalks]

Cameras get FW updates all the time in no particular order Abandoned no Taking their time sure thing But I don’t know

[@gaperklake]

Great as always. Thank you, Ricci.

[@HorizonsDevelopmentKit]

Ricci the youtube person for collaboration is called Glyn Denis, for the portrait as discussed at the Photography Show 2022

[@HorizonsDevelopmentKit]

GLYN DEWIS

[@fpessolano]

And this update solves the issues with the 100-400!

[@gavriel_adi]

I have some questions for you and I would love a fair answer from you, as your customer it is my right to know why .. 1. Why is it impossible for any Nikon camera to record video on 2 cards at the same time? 2. Why do Nikon cameras lose themselves as soon as I try to shoot in complete darkness - because the focus does not find itself? 3. Why only with the flagship camera can you record 10-bit internal video while the other companies allow it with much cheaper cameras as well? 4. Why not put out a compatible flash for your mirrorless cameras with a built-in green laser - which will probably improve the focus system of your mirrorless cameras? 5. Why does your camera not have a smart hot show, while the rest of the companies have all put this option on their cameras (and it has improved the sound quality miraculously), just mentioning that I request it net because even the best microphone in the world that I connect to your cameras will sound like it Toy microphone - and all because of a bad amplifier that causes unexplained background noise? 6. As a company that strives to enter more strongly into the world of video and film, why to this day do you not have professional video functions in your cameras (such as: anamorphic, test field, customizable aspect ratio, false color, histogram, marker color, RGB histogram, markers Screen, bottom scan, vectorscope)? 7. Why does not even your mirrorless camera have an articulated screen, after all you always said that you build cameras that are also suitable for content creators - and probably without an articulated screen it is not relevant (I must point out that the Nikon Z9 screen is not built comfortably enough)? 8. Why every camera you take out is always limited in the end while recording the maximum video that even in your flag is 125 minutes and in a Nikon Z6II and Z7II camera the limit is 30 minutes, what is the point of this why every time you limit, you will understand videographers do not like a limit Time - Give us unlimited and not necessarily the highest quality even in 1080P we would be very happy? 9. Why is your maximum flash sync speed in mirrorless cameras at 1/200 Second when the norm in the DSLR world so far has been at least 1/250? 10. Why does connecting the camera to a smartphone take so long every time, while I bought an extreme camera for $ 200 two days ago that connects faster, and the connection is without connection problems, and by the way you can control just about every possible setting on the camera and there are lots? 11. Why on non-Nikon Z9 cameras did you not add the option in the settings that as soon as I turn off the camera the mechanical shutter closes which will protect the sensor from dust? And please in the next camera do as in the Nikon Z5 and Nikon Z9 that come with the same cards and not 2 different slots, it just creates a mess. I would love a detailed answer to my question and a full reference, as I will be posting these things publicly to everyone - so that photographers know if you as a company want to get better or if you are just looking to rebuild your relationship with the world of photography.

[@t1mothy.1]

Hey Ricci! Great video as always, I really appreciate the detailed explanations and demonstration of the new features! Do you think there is any chance for an increase of the stills frame rate to 30 or 60FPS in raw or jpeg, in a 3.0 firmware update perhaps? That would be absolutely amazing 🤩

[@1Sbnelson]

Thanks for the info Ricci. One question that I haven't seen to much info on is the GPS accuracy, how well does the Z9 track? I have the Z7ii and I've been not happy with Snapbridge tracking at all

[@RicciTalks]

That’s a question I sadly can not really answer. I don’t use my z9 gps But what I will say is photographers I know that do use it have had no complaints about the GPS.

[@Luke-dk4ei]

Locations show up pretty accurately in Lightroom. I really like the feature. Only once did the camera not note the location: When I was in no man’s land, just took 1 quick shot and turned it off again. I guess it takes a moment to update. I have not used the tracking option (continuous tracking for set amount of time) yet.

[@_Just_Some1]

Hey Scott, have you set the SnapBridge location accuracy to High? Also, if you’re using iOS (not sure the option is there for Android) make sure you go to the SB options in the iPhone settings and set ‘Allow location access’ to always.

[@1Sbnelson]

@@_Just_Some1 Thanks for the suggestion. I do run in High accuracy and always have set to "Always" (In Android there is a setting). Maybe I'll do a comparison when my Z9 (eventually) comes in

[@romanhar4151]

Hello Ricci, thanks for the video. Thanks to Nikon for the steady improvements. I have one question: It's a bit awkward, that it is possible to choose ISO Steps in 1/3EV and 1EV, but not 1/2EV. - Have they corrected this?

[@peterarmstrong7259]

Why is Nikon not doing a significant firmware upgrade for Z 7 II?

[@photo-markus]

Pls make a video on timecode Nikon Z9. Qqq: could Z9 sync with a zoom f6(with Bluetooth module) without an ultrasync blue???

[@solkga50]

Hi Ricci, great video and great additions by Nikon. Do you have an opinion on the Z100-400 + 1.4x vs the 200-500 in terms of sharpness, VR, Focussing - accepting max aperture at 400x1.4= 560mm is a stop slower than the 200-500 at 500?

[@TimSiggs]

Hi Ricci, I have broken the bank and purchased a Z9 but do not have Z lenses. I have had a Z6 for a while and shoot 90% Video. I'm using my 200-500 for both cameras. The Z9 has been good so far but I'm confused about something that has happened since the 2.1 firmware update. The video is super shaky and I have had to wipe out all my bird footage from this weekend. I noticed that the VR was 'greyed out' in the menu but the Electronic VR was available. As you are aware, the 200-500 has VR and I'm convinced it was working much smoother prior to the update. Can you please advise if the VR should be available with this combo and any other tips around this issue. Much appreciated.

[@nitch3304]

Love your content. Im waiting on the delivery of my Z9 and just wondering do you currently have an L bracket? Or what brand would you recommend for the Z9. Thanks in advance.

[@unreal3e]

今回のアップデートは地味ですがかなり助かっています。 しかし一点奇妙な動作と感じる部分があります。FnボタンでAF方式を呼び出すときに、ほぼ全画面を動体認識対象にするモード設定できないときがあります。 iボタンに割り付けて上下左右キーで選択しOKボタンで選択すれば設定できます。 こんな症状は私だけでしょうか？

[@Paul-D-Hoff]

I hope you are doing well, we haven't heard from you for some time. Please take care.

[@mahmoudabdulhalim6247]

Thanks so much for those info ❤️

[@iversonwhite1]

Hello Ricci, thanks so much for your videos. I have a Z9 with the 3.0 fw. I also have a Flashpoint 360 N flash that will not fire when it’s on the camera and set to ttl mode. It will fire on my d810 and it will fire on the Z9 when set to manual mode. I have Other flashpoint/Godox flashes and Nikon flashes that work in ttl mode. Research makes me think the flashpoint 360 is somewhat incompatible with the z9 electronic shutter. Is there any setting or workaround that can make these devices more compatible? Thanks.

[@mzeeshanch]

Thanks a lot for the update… Really appreciate it…

[@mzeeshanch]

This video helped me a lot to control flickering... I recently shot my daughter in sunglight... was on high-speed sync using godox ad200... shutter speed 1/3200... And the flash light caused this... What would you recommend I do to counter the banding with flash in high speed sync...

[@mm8276352]

Looks like the flicker function isn't assignable to the Mic/Qual/WB buttons. I don't understand why there is any limit at all about which functions can be assigned to which buttons. Specifically toggling the flicker function is not something you'd need to have access to on a prime place as Fn1/2/3, as it's slow to change because you need to dial in the specific shutter speed afterwards anyway.

[@jorsetti]

Also, once I find the appropriate shutter speed can I then choose a range of the chosen shutter speed as the base of ranges offered in menu?

[@Photographersforyou]

Ricci thanks for the update, unfortunately I’m holding back on updating to f2.1 as I just need to know if human eye af works better than f2.0, If anyone has tested this, would like to know what they think as there is conflicting results (but not many) ? The Z9 for wildlife and BIF seems great, even better than the A1 sometimes. However I have used the Z 85mm f1.8 in version 2.0 and have had eyelashes more in focus (only sometimes) even though confirmed focused. Also it sometimes picks the further away eye even though i have specified with wide-s for the closest eye and both eyes seem equal in brightness. We just need to get this fixed and not sure if f2.1 has done it. Anyone else experience such issues ?

[@lcador9]

This lens begs the question of what the specifications and performance of a Z 600mm would look like?

[@richardyuen5786]

Good one, thank you !

[@Lucent]

What is up with regular flicker reduction not shutting off in daylight when no flicker is detected? Sucks manually flipping it off to avoid viewfinder blackout.

[@willmierisch]

Hey Ricci, Just got my Nikon Z9 and it's awesome! I was just wondering if while shooting, do you ever notice very slight lag in the evf or LCD screen while focusing in lowlight? I am on the latest version 2.1. It's not really an issue for me, but I notice in some lowlight occasion I get frame drops "while focusing in 3D tracking" and haven't been able to find anyone who has mentioned this. Let me know your thoughts!

[@paulbusby2013]

Thanks Ricci.

[@bernardlanguillier7970]

Thanks, very interesting!

[@RayJustice]

Ricci, do you leave High ISO NR on or turn off? and why? Thanks

[@paulhab7267]

Thank for your help 🤩

[@TMAB2003]

I wish the z5 got some AF firmware love.

[@Skye_the_toller]

Next video… compare with the 500pf … please! 😜

[@devswarnakar3740]

I just upgraded and assigned fn2 button for flicker reduction but it's not activating. Is there anything I'm missing.

[@devswarnakar3740]

Once again thank you very much. One question is there any specific reason rolled back to a previous firmware again. Just curious.

[@RicciTalks]

There isn’t any particular reason but sometimes people will roll back.

[@AndyMillerPhotoUK]

Good Job Ricci

[@kaminobatto]

I wonder why would you want to go back to 2.0 with all the improvements of 2.1?

[@markhainen4311]

I did not see an improvement in small bird in flight. I was shooting 600 mm f4 tracking a black teen in flight and the camera would initially focus on background. I missed some good shots because of that. Not using C1 large area with animal eye detection.

[@markhainen4311]

Hello. I wanted to say it was a Black Tern. Apple auto-spell issue. Also I do use C1 large area with animal eye detection. The sentence should have read “Note”

[@Hofsaedter]

Waiting for pre capture in raw

[@mohanankk2674]

Good thanku 👍👍

[@markshirley01]

Riicci what lens was on your Z9

[@RicciTalks]

The one on the camera in my hand 40mm f2 The one on the camera recording 50 1.2 Or the one in the AF tests 400mm

[@MadManTnT]

What about the stuttering evf in low light? Was that fixed ?

[@irishseadollies]

my Z50 has the flicker reduction greyed out. anyone know what and how to change that?

[@sb4photos]

Any video tweaks ?

[@MichaelAres]

*Cries in Z6ii*

[@cwehden]

I'm the same, Nikon threw us under the bus..

[@mrtings]

I can understand as I have one too. I don’t think they’re going to further improve the z6 +z6 ii & z7 lineup as well simply because some of their quirks are mostly hardware issues - for example: AF issues, and evf lag.

[@tommywinterskioldvestlie3600]

Do you know when it will be available in snap bridge?. Just tried but its not there yet :)

[@RicciTalks]

Tomorrow 7th July

[@tommywinterskioldvestlie3600]

@@RicciTalks Thx :)

[@KamenMinkov]

Just curious - why did you need to go back from 2.1 to 2.0?

[@Photographersforyou]

I have the same question, what is Nikon trying to do with that procedure ?

[@airjaff]

Z7II and z6ii are the forgotten ones by Nikon. Their focus is on z9 only. I wish I didn't buy a z7ii the autofocus is awful should have bought z7 saved me the 1k auto focus is better on z7 I find. I just want some improvement to make use of the extra processor

[@RicciTalks]

That’s exactly what people said who had a z7 when the Z7ii was released and then all of a sudden z7 FW update was released FW dosnt happen over night it takes time along time

[@airjaff]

@@RicciTalks it's been 2 years, the z7 had way more improvements from launch than the mark 2s. They were updating thoes camera like they are the z9. The mark ii's are a quick money grab by Nikon

[@mozzman]

Curious why you rolled it back to 2.0, testing?

[@RicciTalks]

Yep I always move between FW when testing different versions

[@mozzman]

@@RicciTalks Cheers. Sounds like Nikon needs to send you a second Z9. I hope they know how valuable you are to the community and how appreciative we are for your insight and your timely video releases.

[@RicciTalks]

Yeh I normally always do this but I haven’t updated my stored z9 settings

[@pauldigiacomo134]

Does the flicker reduction work in video?

[@RicciTalks]

No this is stills only currently

[@pauldigiacomo134]

@@RicciTalks that’s what I thought. I was hoping though :P

[@TheDeltaMoo]

Wouldn't your shutter speed be low enough for flicker free videos anyway? ND filters are your best friend if it isn't

[@pauldigiacomo134]

@@TheDeltaMoo Not all the time. I've had stage lighting flicker at 1/25 of a second. Also when I shoot in 60fps or 120 fps, the flickering is worse and it would be great to be able to have this option on video for those situations.

[@tusharkant124]

Z 200 600 when when when ???

[@RicciTalks]

When it’s arrives 🤷🏻‍♂️ I don’t know anymore than you do

[@selianboy8508]

@@RicciTalks you forgot your 😉 Ricci!

[@tusharkant124]

@@RicciTalksCan you plz ask nikon to work on it. I think it will complete the z lineup.

[@EugeneMaynard]

👍🏾🙏🏾

[@debbiewitt7028]

Problem is you didn’t show us where it is in the menu? I need to turn my off.

[@jaychristianson]

Still lagging for bird photos apparently- the well known couple said the d850 would be more sure with birds in flight - this saddens me… come on nikon let’s kick Sony and canon out of the park

[@RicciTalks]

I would disagree but then who am I

[@LastXwitness]

..uh yea that’s cute that’s “They say” but maybe before you take as reality you try it for yourself and come up with a conclusion that’s concrete… just saying also …Ricci has been showing endless shots of birds in flight from all over since before this camera was even out I think he may have more insight than a couple of people who couldn’t even get their hands on one when it was release then showed they couldn’t even properly set the camera to get an exposure when they finally “borrowed one for a moment”. Sorry I don’t mean to jump down your throat but we need to really stop taking sources like that as the end all.. also I own both a d850 & z9 ..I don’t shoot birds and when I’ve had to I can absolutely find the Z9 more adapted to that with animal tracking alone…

[@FredBGG]

That looked like the shutter speed needed to be lowered all the way down to about 1/300s to remove the banding. Not a solution for replacing the mechanical shutter (that is lacking from the z9) for sports or fast action.

[@RicciTalks]

There where other shutter speeds that worked but this was the only shutter speed I could show through the external recorder

[@kandaceheimer4370]

Ricci why are so many pros switching from nikon to Sony or Canon? Are their cameras so much better than nikon? I've stayed with nikon mainly because I have so many lenses. I have the new z9 but so far I've not been that impressed.

[@RicciTalks]

I don’t think “many pros” are switching a lot of people have switched to nikon for the Z9 …. But what camera a pro uses shouldn’t affect the camera you use. Use what works best for you every camera is a tool nothing more I’m surprised You’ve not been impressed by a Z9 ???? The z9 has been rated the best camera available right now by a number of places

[@RobertFalconer1967]

Hi Fred!

[@RobertFalconer1967]

@Photo Bunny Well, Sony would like you to *believe* that the A1 is a professional body.

[@RobertFalconer1967]

@Photo Bunny LOL. I'm old enough to remember when pro photographers had the same worries about the F3 back in 1980 with its "new-fangled electronics." So they still took F2s with them. Within about three years most of them had given up their F2s and moved to the F3. The F3 continued on in production for 21 years... I can't speak to the issue you allege to have had with the Z9, because I know nothing of the details surrounding it. So I'll leave it at that.

[@RobertFalconer1967]

@Photo Bunny I misunderstood you. I thought you were referring to a problem with the Z9, but clearly you were talking about the Sony A1. Duh.

[@roybixby6135]

Its hard to believe the Z9 could be improved - but it is...🦘

[@jorsetti]

So “Photo flicker reduction” needs to be ON, when High-frequency flicker reduction is being used? I’m guessing they work together and are not independent of one another? Thank You for this video so helpful in the work I do!

[@paulbusby2013]

Thanks Ricci.