Again within the DSLR period, firmware updates had been principally about debugging or fixing compatibility points. No one actually talked about them, as a result of, frankly, there wasn’t a lot to speak about. However with the rise of mirrorless cameras, that modified dramatically. For Nikon, the breakthrough got here with the Z9 and much more so with its youthful sibling, the Z8. Since their debut, each main firmware replace has been awaited with anticipation.
And no surprise. These cameras alone obtained, by way of firmware, so many new and sometimes groundbreaking options that it might have justified a wholly new era of cameras. What’s much more pleasing is that many of those options trickled down from Nikon’s flagships into extra inexpensive fashions. It appears that evidently the times when Nikon intentionally crippled the options of inexpensive cameras to distinguish them from the costlier ones are gone.
Nonetheless, this doesn’t imply that every one present Nikon Z mirrorless cameras can do the identical issues as each other. Generally, the bottleneck is the processing energy of older fashions just like the Z6 or Z7. At different instances, as with the Z9, Nikon waits for a “large event,” such because the Olympics or the launch of a extra highly effective successor, so as to add main options. And naturally, advertising and marketing at all times will get the ultimate phrase. No model desires to undercut gross sales of its present or future cameras.
In right now’s article, I’ll repeatedly use the time period “era.” For readability, the oldest era consists of the Z5, Z6, and Z7. The second era consists of the Z30, Z50, Zfc, Z6II, and Z7II cameras. Lastly, the present third era, which was launched by the present flagship Z9, additionally consists of the Z50 II, Z5 II, Zf, Z6 III, and Z8.
Now let’s dive into probably the most fascinating options that Nikon mirrorless cameras have gained by means of firmware updates—or, within the case of the most recent fashions, generally had from the beginning.
By the way in which, thanks to Images Life Member Manjul Agrawal for the inspiration to put in writing this text! We’ll at all times do our greatest to cowl subjects that you’ve questions on.
Auto Seize
(Nikon Z6 III, Z8, Z9)
When Auto Seize first appeared within the Z9 about two years in the past, it induced fairly a stir. Primarily, it turns your digicam into a sensible digicam lure—or, when you favor, a semi-autonomous capturing machine. As soon as the motion in entrance of the lens matches the parameters you’ve set, the digicam begins capturing stills or recording video. And you may dial in precisely the way you need the digicam to behave as soon as the “digicam lure” is triggered.
Each sports activities and wildlife photographers will discover it helpful. It shines in conditions the place staying behind the digicam your self presents an impediment to efficiently taking a photograph, or if you need a number of cameras overlaying the identical scene from completely different angles or with completely different lenses. You may learn extra about this function within the article Nikon Z Auto Seize: A Tutorial and Evaluate.
Hen Topic Detection
(Z50 II, Z5 II, Zf, Z6 III, Z8, Z9)
In its primitive kind, animal topic detection already confirmed up in Nikon’s first era. However again then, the algorithms might solely deal with probably the most fundamental of pets—cats and canine. The second era didn’t fare significantly better, because it used the identical processor (simply doubled up). The breakthrough on this now “must-have” function got here with the Z9 mannequin. Initially, birds had been included in a single field together with different animals, however with a firmware replace, they got a separate class in AF topic detection choices.
Since then, Nikon’s potential to identify fowl eyes has come a good distance. With the most recent firmware, the capabilities of my Nikon Z9 have stunned me greater than as soon as—for instance, when it was in a position to reliably discover the attention of such weird and cryptic species because the South American Lengthy-tailed Potoo. Additionally, the widespread ache of the Z6 and Z7 (in addition to the Z6 II and Z7 II), when the digicam centered on the distant background, is quite uncommon within the present era.
Pre-Launch Seize
(Nikon Z50 II, Zf, Z5 II, Z6 III, Z8, Z9)
Initially obtainable solely on the Z9, Pre-release Seize is now a part of the complete third era. With a half-press of the shutter button, the digicam begins buffering photographs at as much as 120 frames per second, repeatedly overwriting the oldest ones with new captures. If you absolutely press the shutter, the buffered photographs are written to the cardboard, providing you with pictures taken as much as one second earlier than your finger truly accomplished the press. You may learn extra about this function right here.
Nikon was one of many first to convey this function to full-frame cameras. However now it’s lagging behind: Just about all of its rivals already enable Pre-Launch Seize in RAW. Nikon, in the meantime, has been caught on JPEG for years. My guess? RAW Pre-Launch Seize will probably be a headline function of the fourth era—almost certainly, beginning with the Nikon Z9 II.
Excessive-Velocity Body Seize
(Nikon Z50 II, Z5 II, Zf, Z6 III, Z8, Z9)
On this mode, Nikon cameras are able to capturing as much as 120 frames per second, which is actually spectacular. At this body fee, you’ll be able to seize each angle of a hummingbird’s wing fluttering round a flower. An athlete leaping over a hurdle will fly seemingly endlessly in a sequence of pictures. It is possible for you to to decide on one of the best shot, the actual decisive second. However…
Sadly, as with Pre-release Seize, Excessive-Velocity Body Seize is restricted to JPEG format (Regular or Tremendous). Within the case of the Nikon Z9, at 120fps you get 11-megapixel JPEG pictures, which is considerably limiting. Most body charges additionally range by digicam. The Z50 II, Z5 II, and Zf prime out at 30 FPS. The Z6 III, Z8, and Z9 add 60 FPS and 120 FPS. On the 24 MP Z6 III, the highest pace requires an APS-C crop (24x16mm).
Pixel Shift
(Nikon Zf, Z6 III, Z8)
This function first appeared on the Zf, and in a while the Z8 and Z6 III. On the latter two cameras, the Pixel Shift function can now be mixed with Auto Publicity Bracketing or Focus Shift Taking pictures due to new firmware updates. Together with Auto Publicity Bracketing, now you can take as much as 32 photographs per Pixel Shift (every 180MP), every with as much as 9 publicity variations. This offers you 1 HDR picture composed of a powerful 288 particular person pictures.
It might probably get even wilder. When utilizing Pixel Shift and Focus Shift concurrently, you’ll be able to take as much as 32 photographs per Pixel Shift in 300 focus steps. The result’s a high-resolution focus-stacked picture composed of 9600 RAW pictures! For this sort of work, you will have not solely a sufficiently massive reminiscence card, but in addition an exterior energy supply to your digicam.
You may then routinely merge the ensuing photographs in Nikon NX Studio to acquire a NEFX (RAW) file. You may edit this file both straight on this program or, for instance, in Seize One Professional, which is ready to course of it as a traditional RAW file (a function launched in February 2024).
Right here’s an instance evaluating an upsampled 24 MP picture to a 96 MP picture. You may see a transparent enchancment intimately:
Nonetheless, if you wish to use these options to take tremendous hi-res panorama or architectural pictures, I could disappoint you a bit. The scene you might be photographing should be completely nonetheless, which additionally applies to little particulars like rustling wind or atmospheric distortion. If it isn’t completely nonetheless, then you definitely’re undoubtedly higher off sticking with typical RAW capturing, which is a extra dependable choice. So it is a very special-case function for the time being, and never one thing you’ll be able to count on to make use of for many panorama pictures. Hopefully a future firmware replace can enhance the standard considerably; we’ve already seen higher implementations from Panasonic and Sony.
C2PA Authentication Normal/Content material Credentials
(Nikon Z6 III)
In its first main firmware replace (2.0), the Z6III turned the primary digicam in Nikon’s portfolio to function C2PA Authentication. In precept, it is a sort of clever watermark that confirms the authenticity of a photograph. If the picture has been altered in any manner and even manipulated by AI, these adjustments will probably be printed on the picture.
To make use of C2PA, it’s worthwhile to register your Z6III with the Nikon Imaging Cloud, which is able to then will let you obtain the authentication certificates to your digicam. This gives you entry to the C2PA/Content material Credentials in Setup menu and the choice to show the function on or off.
Sadly, it turned out that C2PA within the Z6 III has some flaws that have to be mounted. As photographer Adam Horshack identified, this flaw is the A number of Publicity (Overlay Taking pictures) function. Via misuse of this function, a composite and even AI-generated picture will be “confirmed” as genuine. Fortuitously, Nikon responded rapidly and briefly suspended the C2PA function till the issue was resolved. We will count on a future firmware replace to re-enable the function.
In-Physique Focus Limiter
(Nikon Z6 III, Z8)
An important function that may considerably pace up and enhance the accuracy of autofocus in sure circumstances. Think about photographing a hummingbird on a flower. Within the digicam, you would merely restrict the autofocus vary to, say, 0.15m in entrance of and behind the flower. This ensures that the autofocus won’t ever lock onto the distant background. In sports activities, for instance, you need to use this methodology to make the autofocus ignore the web behind the goalkeeper, the distant crowd, and so forth.
There are two methods to set the Focus Limiter. The primary choice is to enter the minimal and most distance values manually utilizing the digicam’s entrance and rear dials. The second choice is to make use of the AF-On button to focus and outline the closest level, and the shutter button to enter the furthest level to be inside the focus vary.
I like to recommend programming one of many Taking pictures menu banks (Nikon Z8) or Customized settings (Nikon Z6 III) to rapidly attain this setting. This manner, you’ll be able to swap again to the limitless AF vary at any time.
Recall Taking pictures Features
(Nikon Z6 III, Z8, Z9)
This function, beforehand reserved just for skilled Z8 and Z9 our bodies, has discovered its manner into the Nikon Z6 III with the most recent firmware. This gem, hidden within the Customized Settings f2 “Customized Controls (Taking pictures)” menu, drastically hurries up the photographer’s response to adjustments within the scene being photographed.
Think about, for instance, that you’re photographing a immobile dragonfly sitting on a reed stalk along with your telephoto lens. In fact, your digicam settings mirror this. The shutter pace, ISO, aperture, self-timer, focus mode, and vibration discount all assume that nothing will transfer within the shot. Out of the blue, the shadow of a flying eagle flashes overhead. By the point you modify the settings from “macro” to “birds in flight,” the eagle is lengthy gone.
Except, in fact, you’ve gotten the Recall Taking pictures function mapped on one of many buttons in your Nikon Z6 III, Z8, or Z9. With a single press of a button, you’ll be able to utterly reset the complete digicam with the intention to react to an sudden scene in time. You may learn extra within the article Recall Taking pictures: An Unknown Characteristic with Nice Potential.
Versatile Shade Image Controls
(Nikon Z6 III, Z8)
You will see that this function notably helpful when you actively use Nikon’s NX Studio software program. This software program accepts in-camera image controls and (when you shoot in RAW) makes use of them as a place to begin for additional enhancing or direct conversion to JPEG or TIFF.
The vary of various image management presets is already fairly extensive, however there’s nothing like creating your individual authentic model. It’s not tough. Edit the chosen picture in Nikon NX Studio and, based mostly on these edits, create a file which you can switch to the digicam by way of a reminiscence card. After updating, your preset will seem within the digicam menu. You may see how to do that step-by-step on the Nikon Europe YouTube channel.
Most Aperture Stay View
(Nikon Z6 III, Z8)
By default, Nikon cameras set the aperture to your chosen f-stop when utilizing reside view, till reaching the f/5.6 threshold. Past that time, the blades stay at f/5.6 till you press the shutter button. Then, they near the set f-stop (f/11 for instance) and return again to f/5.6.
The Most Aperture Stay View choice (Customized Settings a14) forces the lens to remain extensive open no matter your working aperture. It’s notably useful with quick lenses (f/1.2–f/1.8), the place further mild boosts AF efficiency in low mild circumstances. And for handbook focus with focus peaking, the razor-thin depth of area makes it simpler to nail crucial focus.
AF/MF Topic Detection Choices and MF Topic Detection Space
(Nikon Z50 II, Z5 II, Z6 III, Zf, Z8)
It’s often the case that options beforehand reserved for higher-end fashions step by step trickle all the way down to lower-end fashions. However it may also be the opposite manner round. The Nikon Z9 digicam has wonderful autofocus utilizing superior topic detection. Sadly, when focusing manually, you’ll be able to solely depend on the left/proper arrows and focus peaking. Nonetheless, all different third-generation cameras can benefit from topic detection even in handbook focus mode. The one limitation: handbook focus topic detection areas are simplified to Vast (S), Vast (L), and All.
Detailed Handbook Focus Lens Knowledge
(Nikon Z50 II, Z5 II, Z6 III, Z8, Z9)
For many third-generation cameras, except the Nikon Zf, 4 objects can now be entered for Non-CPU lens knowledge: lens quantity, focal size, most aperture, and lens identify (as much as 36 characters). A welcome replace, contemplating what number of handbook focus lenses have appeared lately with out chips and contacts to switch metadata to the digicam.
(Tremendous) Vast-Space C1 and C2
(Nikon Z8)
Customized 1 (C1) and Customized 2 (C2) focus areas first appeared on the Nikon Z9. They’re now a normal on all third-generation Nikon cameras. The Z8 Firmware replace 3.0 has improved this function even additional: Vast space C1/2 can now be set nearly to the sides of the body.
Hello-Res Zoom
(Nikon Z50 II, Z5 II, Z6 III, Z8, Z9)
This video-related function permits a digital zoom as much as 2x whereas retaining 4K high quality as you zoom in. With Hello-Res Zoom, a 500mm lens successfully turns into a 1000mm tremendous telephoto. In fact, this isn’t an optical zoom, however a digital zoom. The digicam merely makes use of the excessive decision of the sensor and downsamples video to 4K in actual time, sustaining a relentless 4K decision. In precept, the identical impact will be achieved in post-production when you shot in 6K or 8K from the beginning, however it is a higher resolution if you would like cheap file sizes and fewer post-processing work.
The function is very highly effective in case your lens has a motor-driven energy zoom. Should you allow this function in Customized Setting (g9), your energy zoom lens will achieve an fascinating vary. For instance, the Nikon Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ lens may have an obvious 24-270mm vary.
With such lenses, Hello-Res Zoom begins to take impact from the start of optical zooming, making the transition between optical and digital zoom nearly utterly unnoticeable. Moreover, most pairs of buttons on the digicam will be mapped to regulate Hello-Res Zoom. You may also use a smartphone, pc, or perhaps a devoted Nikon MC-N10 distant grip.
Conclusion
Greater than their DSLR predecessors, right now’s mirrorless cameras are, at their core, digital gadgets. A lot of their capabilities are software-driven quite than mechanical. So long as software program complexity doesn’t hit the {hardware}’s limits, it makes excellent sense from a consumer perspective to increase a digicam’s talents by means of firmware updates. From a enterprise standpoint, which will look counterproductive, however I see it in a different way.
In right now’s world, producers can (and will) prolong the lifespan of their merchandise, and by doing so, enhance the worth of their model. It sends a transparent sign that their duty to prospects doesn’t finish on the money register. I’m genuinely happy that Nikon is among the many manufacturers sensible sufficient to embrace this philosophy.
So what’s your favourite firmware improve that’s landed in your digicam? Or, maybe, what’s the function you’re nonetheless ready for? I’d love to listen to your ideas within the feedback beneath.