Nikon Firmware Update For The Z9, Z6 II & Z7 II Cameras

Nikon has announced new firmware updates for the Z9 flagship mirrorless camera as well as the Z7 II and Z6 II.

Firmware v.2.0 for the Z9 brings high-performance updates while firmware v.1.4 for the Z6 II and Z7 II improves focusing for stills and video. Both firmware updates will be available over on the Nikon website from 20 April 2022. 

Firmware v.2.0 for the Z9

•  8.3K/60p video in-camera: internally record RAW 8.3K video in ultra-smooth 60p. Shoot in N-RAW to record ultra-high-resolution 8.3K (8256×4644) video using the full width of the Z9 sensor.
• 4K UHD oversampled from 8K: record incredibly sharp 4K/60p Ultra HD footage oversampled from 8K.1
• 12-bit RAW in-camera: with ProRes RAW HQ (up to 4K/60p) or Nikon’s new N-RAW format (up to 8K/60p and 4K/120p).
• Waveform monitor: confirm tricky exposures at a glance whether shooting in N-Log or RAW.
• Custom i-menu: display the main video settings simultaneously on the monitor. Confirm resolution and frame rate via the camera’s top screen. 
• Red REC frame: a red REC frame appears on the monitor when the video record button is pressed.
• 8K still frames: extract consecutive high-resolution still frames from up to 10 seconds of 8K footage.
• Up to 20 selectable wide-area AF patterns: stay locked on the action and avoid fixed obstacles like tennis nets or hurdles.
• EVF - up to 120 fps refresh rate: for the camera’s bright (3000-nit) electronic viewfinder display. Ideal when shooting fast-moving subjects, such as race cars.
• Focus recall: assign focus positions to multiple camera buttons - each button can recall a separate focus position or the same focus position.
• Pre-release image capture: record images for up to a second before fully pressing the shutter-release button. Set a post-release burst to continue for up to 4 seconds. 

Firmware v.1.4 for the Z7 II and Z6 II

• Improved Auto-Area AF: better detection of, and focus on, foreground subjects in the centre of the frame.
• Support for linear manual focusing: videographers can accurately reproduce the focus pull distance from points A to B.
• Compatibility with Nikon’s ML-L7 Bluetooth remote control: allows control of key camera functions when shooting remotely. Boasts separate buttons for shutter release and video recording.

In addition, Nikon has also introduced the Nikon 660 GB CFexpress memory card (Type B) which is a high-capacity card compatible with the Z9 that achieves read speeds of up to 1700 MB/s and write speeds of up to 1500 MB/s. Pricing and availability will be announced at a later stage.

The final announcement from Nikon comes in the shape of a new Remote Grip (MC-N10) for the Nikon Z mount system. 

The Remote Grip MC-N10 is an accessory that allows remote control of Nikon Z-mount mirrorless cameras via a wired connection. It can control various functions of Nikon mirrorless cameras, increasing the efficiency of video recording with a small crew and expanding the possibilities of video recording. It also supports still shooting.