The Nikon Z9 for Landscape & Astrophotography: Magnificent Beast or More Than You Need?

In this video I'm sharing my impressions and experiences of testing out Nikon's flagship mirrorless camera, the Z9. It's a strong performer, but is it the right fit for my needs? Or yours?
Just ignore that mosquito bite flaring up on my forehead as the video goes on, they've been more fierce this year with all the rain....
Edited in Adobe Premier Pro 2023
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Equipment I Use
Camera: Nikon Z 6II amzn.to/3akJ0m9
Z Mount Adapter: Nikon FTZ II amzn.to/3bfQ7g4
Ultrawide Zoom Lens: Sigma 14-24 f2.8 Art amzn.to/3LE4VBz
Wide Angle Prime Lens: Tamron 35mm f/1.8 amzn.to/3MFCzrN
Normal Prime Lens: Nikon 50mm f/1.8 amzn.to/3lRddvD
Normal Zoom Lens: Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 amzn.to/3GaBQMV
Telephoto Zoom Lens: Nikon Z 70-200 f2.8 VR S amzn.to/3wANdui
Super Telephoto Zoom Lens: Nikon 200-500 f5.6 VR amzn.to/3ME8wRs
Macro Lens: Nikon Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S amzn.to/3Qfbv4f
Tripod: Sirui N-1204SK amzn.to/3MTktD7
Ball Head: Gitzo G1276M amzn.to/3MFJIZo
Vlogging Camera: DJI Pocket 2 amzn.to/3wy41lQ
Phone Gimbal: DJI Osmo Mobile 3 amzn.to/3yU40uc
Small Tripod: Joby Gorillapod 5K amzn.to/3G788IP
Small Video Light: Lume Cube Panel Mini amzn.to/3Nl0dtM
Video Microphone: Rode VideoMicro amzn.to/3ySOxdD
Camera Backpack: f-stop Tilopa 50L amzn.to/3NxvnOr
Drone: DJI Mini 2 amzn.to/3LGeFLw
Action Camera: GoPro Hero 10 Black amzn.to/3DB3jIq
If you use my Amazon links to purchase any of these items I get a very small percentage from your sale to support my small business at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

[@NikCan66]

Excellent video

[@edwardekman9832]

I recently got the Z8. I think you will totally enjoy it!

[@NicholasJensenPhotography]

Mine is finally on its way. Looking forward to it!

[@Mr09260]

Great Video What do you think about the Z8 >> I want one to replace my Z7

[@NicholasJensenPhotography]

I imagine it would be a great replacement to the Z7, but I haven’t spent time with it yet to give a more detailed review.

[@uhoh7541]

Did you upgrade? If so, what do you think? If you still have the Z7II- I'd think the Z8 would only be worth upgrading if you need better FPS and AF.

[@Photographersforyou]

Nice - can you tell me, where is your focus point in these images ?

[@NicholasJensenPhotography]

To photograph the night sky, one should use the live view screen on the back of their camera to zoom in on a bright star or planet. The lens should be set to manual focus and then adjusted to make the object they are focusing on appear as small as possible. Make sure the lens or camera stays set to manual focus and then take care not to change it. The focus should generally be at the marked infinity point on the focusing scale of then lens. I go through this on another one of the videos on my channel about photographing the night sky in Rocky Mountain National Park.

[@Photographersforyou]

@@NicholasJensenPhotographyI’ll take a look at that video too, however I meant how do you get the foreground sharp also ?

[@NicholasJensenPhotography]

When focusing to infinity with a wide angle lens (which is what is usually used for astrophotography), you'll usually have enough depth of field even at a wide aperture to have a reasonably sharp foreground in a single shot. With that being said, since I'm using a star tracker more often now I'll take one photo for the sky and then one for the foreground with a smaller aperture right before or after. I'll merge those two together in processing and everything looks even better.

[@Photographersforyou]

@@NicholasJensenPhotography great thanks for that Nicholas - so for example if I’m using a 200mm then it’s 2 shots and the foreground is done before/after. That makes sense, Thanks.

[@Mr09260]

What lens did you use for the first Milky Way

[@NicholasJensenPhotography]

That one was taken with my Tamron 35mm f/1.8 F mount lens, using the FTZII adapter. The sequence with Longs Peak was taken with the Z 14-24 f/2.8, the Tamron 35 again, and the Z 50mm f/1.2. The final one with the barn was taken with the Sigma 14-24 f/2.8 Art lens in F mount, again using the FTZII adapter.

[@TerryKontopoulos]

First we learn the camera we use and THEN we try to demonstrate and saying what we like and what not!...

[@KungPowEnterFist]

I think perhaps for what limited things you do the Z8 is "99%" of the Z9. In reality though, all considered, its more like 70% the camera for 80% the price (Z8 body, grip, second battery vs Z9). Major nerfs in memory config, thermal design, battery life, and overall reliability/durability do not equate to a mere "1%" less camera.

[@NicholasJensenPhotography]

Your use case I guess is different from mine, but that hardly makes what I do “limited”. I always carry a second battery for every camera I own, it’s just good practice, and buying the grip for the Z8 really just means you should have bought the Z9 to start with. I haven’t seen any complaints out there about the thermal management, and it’s way to early to make any commentary on the reliability of the camera. I believe it will hold up quite well over time, just as the Z9 has. Some people do need a Z9, I just don’t see myself as one of them.

[@KungPowEnterFist]

@@NicholasJensenPhotography Being that you titled this video "landscape and astrophotography" and you articulate further on these use cases in the video, I would say probably your use cases are very limited. There is nothing wrong with this in and of itself. You do what you.

[@uhoh7541]

​@@NicholasJensenPhotographyi haven't even seen a Z8 in person, much less use one- but apparently the Z8 thermal issues are all related to video (based on the reviews I've seen). The Z8 was a rumor when i got my Z9 10/22, but i probably would have get the Z8 today as i don't do video and i sometimes find myself wishing the Z9 was smaller. BTW, nice astro shots!