Big test: Nikon Z 9
Posted on May 12, 2025 by Pro Moviemaker
Zed’s not dead
Nikon’s Z 9 might be the oldest camera here, but it puts up a stunning fight and is still one of the very best around
Words Adam Duckworth
The Z 9 is the camera that not only put Nikon back on the map as a serious player, but was also the first step towards the company making serious inroads into filmmaking. From its launch back in 2021, Nikon followed it up with the more filmmaker-friendly and cheaper Z 8. And now, of course, it owns Red – whose cameras can come with Nikon Z mounts – and there’s even a Nikon cinema lens.
You might think the Z 9 has stood still, but it remains the flagship and has been continually improved over the years through firmware upgrades – the majority of which enhance the video spec. You can upload Red LUTs, for example.
The latest free firmware upgrade lets filmmakers set shutter angles in 15 steps between 5.6° and 360°. The colour of the zebra pattern display – as well as the size, transparency and position of brightness information displays such as the histogram and waveform monitor – may also be customised. This shows Nikon is listening to filmmakers.
The Z 9 was Nikon’s first serious professional camera, joining Canon, OM System and Fujifilm in licensing Sony’s stacked sensor technology. It largely aped the Sony A1 but in a pro-style DSLR body.
It shoots at up to 30fps in stills and 120p in 4K, with no viewfinder lag and incredible AF. The Z 9 is not only fast – but it also delivers highly detailed stills and video thanks to its 46-megapixel 8K sensor. Like the Sony A1 and A1 II, it remains a master of nearly everything. From sports and wildlife action shots to high-resolution stills and 8K video, it does it all. High frame rates and bit rates in 4K video are no issue, with 120p in 4K 4:2:2 10-bit recorded internally to CFexpress Type B or XQD cards.
The electronic viewfinder is large, bright and clear, and the stacked sensor eliminates stutter when shooting stills at high frame rates. However, the refresh rate isn’t quite as seamless as some other stacked-sensor cameras.
Nikon believes its stacked sensor is so fast that the Z 9 doesn’t need a mechanical shutter at all, though it does have a mechanical ‘gate’ to protect the sensor when changing lenses. While electronic shutters can cause bendy vertical lines due to rolling shutter, especially during fast pans, the Z 9 eliminates this issue – it’s as good as anything we’ve tested.
The camera can record 120fps in short bursts from the full sensor, but these are reduced to 11 megapixels. More realistic is 30fps for full-size files, but this is restricted to JPEG only. For Raw files, it’s 20fps max.
Even during video recording, the AF is great, and firmware upgrades have made it even better since launch. The touchscreen enables touch-to-focus, which performs well, and the AF is sticky enough to stay locked on to subjects without jittering or hunting for focus.
The video spec is impressive, with 4K oversampled from the full 8K readout for amazing quality. It records internally in 4:2:2 10-bit N-Log for maximum dynamic range. Colours look organic, with great skin tones and solid high-ISO performance. But with a native ISO of 800 in N-Log, some denoising is needed, and it’s not the best for recovering shadow details.
Perhaps best of all for certain filmmakers is that the camera can record internally in 10-bit ProRes HQ, as well as 8K/60p 12-bit ProRes Raw and 12-bit Nikon Raw. Nikon previously challenged Red over its monopoly on internal compressed Raw files – now, with Nikon owning Red, that’s no longer an issue.
Nikon’s Z 9 is the perfect tool for pro photographers, filmmakers and everyone in between. It offers high resolution, fast speed, excellent AF and internal Raw video, all at a lower price than its rivals.
The verdict
Although the slimmed-down Z 8 is a better design for true filmmakers, especially on a gimbal, the Z 9 is by far the best Nikon camera for those who want to shoot both stills and video. It’s a versatile tool that truly does it all – as long as you don’t mind the larger body style.
Nikon’s fast-growing arsenal of native Z mount lenses, available in various prices and styles, is a massive advantage. Using adapters, you can fit F mount, Arri PL and even Sony lenses. Unlike Canon, which restricts third-party lens brands from using its RF mount, Nikon welcomes all, which expands your options.
The Z 9 is the camera that put Nikon back on the map, and its TIPA test ratings of 75 for stills quality and 84 for video prove it worthy.
TIPA rating
Video image quality: 84
Photo image quality: 75
Features: 9
Incredible video and stills spec
Performance: 9
Fast stills, high-res stills and video, high frame rates, great AF
Handling: 9
If you like a pro DSLR-style body, you will love it
Value for money: 9
Cheapest of the bunch and you get so much!
Pro Moviemaker overall rating: 9/10
If you want a mirrorless body for fast, high-res stills and 8K video, it’s a stunner
- Pros: Amazing video and stills options
- Cons: No 240fps slow motion, no front tally light
This review was first published in the May/June 2025 issue of Pro Moviemaker
