APERTURE NOTES

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Nikon Z 9 review: Nikon's 45.7MP flagship with no mechanical shutter

Nikon's 45.7MP stacked full-frame flagship from 2021, still current and now on "C" firmware 5.30. Launched at $5,499.95 (Nikon Inc. SRP, body only). Who it suits: sports, wildlife and event pros who want a built-in grip, a big battery, Ethernet and two CFexpress slots.

October 21, 2026 · Camera · Review

Related on site: Same sensor without the grip: our Nikon Z 8 review. Compare Nikon bodies: Z 8 vs Z6III.

A black Nikon Z 9 body with its built-in vertical grip, seen from the front
Nikon Z 9, front view.
Photo: Henry Söderlund via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 (resized)

HIGHLIGHTS

Why it exists. Nikon Inc. announced "the Z 9, the most advanced Z series mirrorless camera to date", "Powered by a completely new, Nikon-developed 45.7 megapixel stacked CMOS sensor and next generation EXPEED 7 image processing engine", with "a sensor scan rate so fast that it completely eliminates the need for a traditional mechanical shutter". Jay Vannatter, Executive Vice President of Nikon Inc., called it "the complete package, offering an unprecedented balance of speed, resolution, reliability and performance".

Nikon announced the Z 9 on October 28, 2021 at $5,499.95 body-only. It shoots continuous high at 10–20 fps and high-speed frame capture+ at up to 120 fps with Pre-Release Capture, with an electronic shutter to 1/32000 s. AF uses 493 points (single-point, FX) down to −7 EV, or −9 EV with starlight view. The built-in vertical grip holds the EN-EL18d, rated at about 700–770 shots per charge (CIPA). Nikon's online manual now covers "C" firmware 5.30, and video runs to 8K UHD, RAW video to 8.3K 60p, ProRes 422 HQ and N-Log.

Our gallery comes from four photographers: Balanced Rock under the Milky Way at ISO 6400, a brown bear foraging at Crescent Lake, a Pacific golden plover at 500mm, a western flycatcher at 600mm, a padlocked barn window shot with a macro lens and Glen Canyon photographed from the International Space Station. Who should buy it? Sports, wildlife and event pros who want the grip, the battery, Ethernet and dual CFexpress. Its limits: about 1,340 g with battery and card, and a 149 × 149.5 × 90.5 mm body.

The story

Nikon Inc. announced the Z 9 on October 28, 2021 as "the most advanced Z series mirrorless camera to date", with a 45.7MP stacked CMOS sensor and EXPEED 7 and no mechanical shutter (Nikon Inc. via PR Newswire).

Nikon priced the body at $5,499.95 SRP (Nikon Inc. via PR Newswire).

Nikon's Z 9 online manual now lists the post-upgrade specifications for "C" firmware 5.30, and its Battery Endurance page gives the CIPA figures for the EN-EL18d (Nikon online manual; Battery Endurance).

Specifications

Key specs for the Nikon Z 9, from Nikon's Z 9 online manual (post-upgrade specifications for "C" firmware 5.30 and Battery Endurance) and Nikon Inc.'s October 28, 2021 release. Source for each row in brackets.

Sensor45.7MP effective FX CMOS, 35.9 × 23.9 mm, stacked; EXPEED 7 [Nikon manual, Nikon Inc.]
ISO (stills)64–25600; Lo to ISO 32 equivalent, Hi to ISO 102400 equivalent [Nikon manual]
ISO (movies)64–25600 (mode M), with options up to Hi 2.0 (ISO 102400 equivalent) [Nikon manual]
AutofocusHybrid phase-detect/contrast AF; 493 points (single-point, FX); −7 to +19 EV (−9 EV with starlight view) [Nikon manual]
Stabilization5-axis sensor-shift VR [Nikon manual]
ShutterElectronic only, 1/32000–30 s (to 900 s in M); flash sync 1/200 or 1/250 s [Nikon manual]
BurstsContinuous high 10–20 fps; high-speed frame capture+ C15/C30/C60/C120 with Pre-Release Capture [Nikon manual]
Viewfinder0.5-in OLED, about 3,690k dots, about 0.8x [Nikon manual]
Screen3.2-in touch LCD, about 2,100k dots, tilts vertically and horizontally [Nikon manual]
Video8K UHD to 30p; 4K UHD to 120p; RAW video to 8.3K 60p; N-RAW (12-bit), ProRes RAW HQ, ProRes 422 HQ and H.265 10-bit; N-Log and HLG [Nikon manual]
Card / portsTwo CFexpress Type B/XQD slots; USB-C; HDMI Type A; RJ-45 Ethernet; ten-pin remote terminal; built-in GNSS; Wi-Fi and Bluetooth [Nikon manual]
BatteryEN-EL18d; about 700 shots (viewfinder only) / 740 (monitor only) with energy saving off, 740 / 770 with energy saving on, CIPA [Nikon manual]
Size / weight149 × 149.5 × 90.5 mm; about 1,340 g with battery and card (1,160 g body only) [Nikon manual]
Announced / priceOct 28, 2021; $5,499.95 body-only SRP (US) [Nikon Inc.]

Sample photos

Six photos taken with the Nikon Z 9 by four photographers, shared on Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons licenses or in the public domain. Each caption gives the settings the file records. Select a photo to enlarge it. More samples from Wikimedia Commons

A balanced rock formation silhouetted under a starry night sky with the Milky Way
f/2.8, ISO 6400, 60 s, 18.5mm: Balanced Rock under the Milky Way at ISO 6400 (NIKKOR Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S).
Photo: Eric Kilby via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 (resized)
A bear standing in misty shallow water at the edge of a lake, below forested mountains
f/4.5, ISO 180, 1/800 s, 115mm: a brown bear foraging at Crescent Lake (NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S).
Photo: Eric Kilby via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 (resized)
A Pacific golden plover with speckled golden plumage standing on the ground
f/5.6, ISO 1400, 1/640 s, 500mm: a Pacific golden plover (AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR).
Photo: Becky Matsubara via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 (resized)
A small olive-brown western flycatcher perched on a diagonal branch against a green background
f/6.3, ISO 560, 1/2000 s, 600mm: a western flycatcher at 600mm (NIKKOR Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S).
Photo: Becky Matsubara via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 (resized)
A weathered wooden barn window held shut with an old padlock
f/2.8, ISO 64, 1/640 s, 105mm: a padlocked barn window (NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S).
Photo: Henry Söderlund via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 (resized)
An aerial view of the canyons and reservoir of Glen Canyon seen from orbit
f/6, ISO 500, 1/2500 s, 210mm: Glen Canyon in Utah, photographed from the International Space Station (lens recorded as VR 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3G).
Photo: NASA Johnson Space Center via Wikimedia Commons, public domain (resized)

Nikon: Launched at $5,499.95 in 2021 (US SRP, body only).

Verdict

Who it's for: sports, wildlife and event pros who want 45.7MP, 20 fps, 120 fps pre-release capture, a built-in grip and two CFexpress slots.

Want the same sensor and EXPEED 7 without the grip? See our Nikon Z 8 review, the Z 9 vs Z 8 comparison and the Z 8 vs Z6III comparison.

Pros

  • 45.7MP stacked sensor; no mechanical shutter to wear
  • 20 fps and up to 120 fps with Pre-Release Capture
  • Built-in grip with the EN-EL18d (about 700–770 shots, CIPA)
  • Two CFexpress Type B slots, Ethernet and GNSS

Cons

  • About 1,340 g with battery and card
  • Large pro-body size
  • No SD slot
  • Electronic shutter only
Check price: Amazon (new, body) Check price: Amazon (Renewed, body)

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Further discussion

Sources