Hey Andy. I've been shooting the Z9 now for 2 years (and use all 4 banks - portraits, action/wildlife, landscape, astro. All valid likes and dislikes. When retooling the Z9 after the firmware update 5.0, I found that making an Excel spreadsheet of all the settings and customizations for each bank extremely helpful - both in letting me know what I already used, and in keeping the banks very similar - and changing only things that made sense to change - so that muscle memory won't mess with me in the field. This included setting things up on the i-menu and items on My Menu. Items like using the record button in stills (Action/wildlife/sports) for cycling through the AF modes I want was extremely useful - and using the DISP button on to turn Subject detection off quickly - and using C1 for a 1x1 box that acts like single point with SD turned off - and uses eye detection when on - very quick. Use the quality button to cycle displays (not something I do a lot). Completely agree with the eye piece. One thing that seems to have really improved with the last FW updates is the cameras ability to regain focus if it gets lost on the background. My lens now racks focus on it's own from infinity and back and grabs close focus very quickly. I was trying to demonstrate the problem it had in the past to a Sony user, and couldn't make it malfunction after 10 attempts. Needless to say, the Sony friend was very impressed. Several basic things Nikon also needs to add - but obviously can't because of some issues - but programmable Zebras in stills (it's in video) would be nice so you could really start forgetting about the right side of the histogram. I rarely take my D850 out anymore - and I loved that camera. PS _ I do use the Dx/Fx switch for one of my buttons - and it helps not only enlarge the object in the viewfinder, but help with eye detection as well. Happy shooting. Nicely done.

Hello, I think I’m the UK version of you! I still use my D850, with battery pack along side my Z9 (zed 9). Everything you have stated in this video, I could repeat of myself…… Wow! Anyway a tip….. I use my red video button for fast FX-DX switching and use the fn3 front button for portrait use and in landscape recall. So I can switch instantly from say “animal to bird” . Great channel, I don’t know how I missed you before today? Thank you……..TonyH

I have both the D850 and the Z9. Love them both and don't really see myself getting rid of the D850. Perfectly happy using both systems. I purchased the Z9 January 2023 and so far no issues. I've heard other accounts of the rubber ring on the eyepiece coming off. I have not experienced that myself. I've actually tried to remove it and it takes a bit of force to pull the rubber out of its groove in the plastic mount, but obviously it does happen. You can reinstall it but you need a little bit of force to push it into its groove but it's not that difficult. Just placing it on there lightly will not solve the problem. Wild Alaska did a video on that to show the process. I think the main cause of the ring rolling out is from taking your camera in and out of camera bags. The surface of the padding can be a bit grippy and will tend to roll the rubber eye piece out if you have it fitted really snugly in the bag and once it starts to peel off it's easy to pull it off the rest of the way. I ended up getting some microfiber bags on Amazon to put my cameras in, not because of this issue, but because I noticed that the rubber grips were starting to develop some wear marks in the high spots from pulling the camera in and out of the bag. They come in different sizes. The 9 x 11.8" fits the Z9 nicely and the 7 x 9.8" fits regular body sizes, like the D850 or Z6/7/8. This has the added benefit of protecting the eyepiece from being rolled off.

Great review. I also had(and loved) my D850. I could have used it for the next 10 years, especially when paired with the D500. When Nikon came out with the Z9 I took the plunge into mirrorless. As Nikon comes out with firmware updates, the camera gets even better. I had to laugh when you mentioned the eyepiece. I've had the same problem and look forward to seeing the suggestions below on other options.

I went from the D850 to the Nikon Z9. No regrets !

I’ve looked forward to this review!

Great review and channel. Like you, my D850 was my workhorse. I picked up a Z6 just for fun and began to notice I was taking that out more often and enjoying the camera’s performance. The images were beautiful. Needless to say I moved from the D850 to a Z9 and found the transition almost seamless. Weight and functionality were pretty close, so I sold all my old F mount lenses and went with Z lenses and can’t believe the image quality. If you get a chance I liked to know your thoughts on some of the Z lenses for landscapes.

I've owned a pair of Z9s since late summer, 2022, and I'm always bumping the rear eyepiece on each of them, whether just in daily use, or by sliding the cameras in and out of a myriad of different types of camera bags, or by setting the cameras on their backs with the eyepieces resting on a desktop or whatever, and I've never experienced a single issue with the rubber eyepiece falling off or even partially lifting up from the mount. I wonder if it's just the copy of the Z9 that Andy has.

I enjoy your work and like keeping up with what is going on with Nikon and Canon even though I am a Sony shooter healthy competition keeps them all making the best products. The current firmware on even older Sony cameras most have an option to close the shutter over the sensor when the camera is powered off. I have this on my A1 which is several years old and even the firmware is over a year old. I like it because though I love my Sony the sensor does seem to be a dust magnet. I generally plan my day to avoid changing lens or adding/removing teleconverter in the field if at all possible but it is still nice to have the feature. Tell your buddy to check it out out. It is toggled in Setup/Antidust Function if I recall correctly.

Hi mate, I see in the background an stand for photographies. Do you print your photos? Is there any affordable printer that you can recommend? Cheers!

JCC eyecup replacement is the gadget to get.

Thank you for your video on the Z9! I purchased my Z9 in late June 2023 to shoot portraits, weddings, and sports. Recently, I got interested in wildlife. Regardless of what I do, I cannot get AF for Birds Eye’s to lock. I use back-button AF. FN1 for AF-Single, and FN2 for AF-3D. My metering is either matrix or center-spot. My slowest shutter is 1/the focal length. With the Z 600 f/6.3 PF, I am at 640. My F-stop varies from 6.3 to F11. I let ISO float unless I can crank it down. It is so bad on cloudy days that I decided to focus manually. Do you have any recommendations? Thank you. JP

Hoodman Eye Cup Replacement >> I love my Z8 Eye Cup

I have set to be able to view the histogram in the viewfinder on my Z9. I own both the D850 and the Z9. The Z9 is a D850 on steroids.

I sold my D850 3 yrs ago to get the Z7 and 2 weeks ago I sold the Z7 and got the Z8 to go with my 4 Z lenses >> Wild Life in Africa I dont use an FTZ Adaptor as I want to leverage the Z Mount advantage with Z Lenses .. 20. 1.8 S = Milky way , 24-120 F4 , 70-200 f2.8 S and 180-600 Z lens

The hoodman Nikon z9 eyecup is much better.