Nikon has further enhanced and extended its flagship Z9 camera with a new firmware update that’s the fourth major release of its kind since the camera’s launch.
Nikon’s Z9 camera continues to stay at the top of the brand’s lineup through a mix of still extremely robust hardware specs and major firmware releases that have continued to improve its functionality.
With these updates, the camera, built to deliver high-quality performance for a long time, has stayed competitive against rival devices from other brands (and Nikon itself).
In the case of firmware version 5.00, the Z9 now includes features designed especially to refine the pro user experience during portrait and sports photography.
The same firmware was even designed with feedback from pro photographers in mind.
The Z9 is by now roughly 3 years old and while it lacks a couple of more advanced “AI” features found in newer flagship cameras from Nikon itself and other brands, the camera remains at the cutting edge of versatility.
This is the case to such an extent that NASA has even selected the camera as the official handheld device for its 2026 Artemis mission to the moon.
As a recent piece by Digital Photography Review explained, NASA chose this model from all others because the agency still considers the device as one of the most complete cameras they’ve tested.
With these kinds of literally stellar existing credentials in mind, here’s a quick breakdown of key things that firmware version 5.00 adds to the Nikon Z9.
For Sports Photos
the Z9’s Auto Capture and High-Speed Frame Capture+ functions have been improved. A new aspect of this is a reserve function that lets photographers do a preset for shooting time and duration, thus conserving battery life.
Also, shooting in the DX image area, an AF Detection mode for aircraft and a standby mode with a yellow frame indication have all been added.
Sample sports photo taken with Nikon Z9
For Portrait Photos
Firmware version 5.00 gives the Z9 a new Rich Tone Portrait Picture Control, Skin Softening and Portrait Impression Balance modes. With these, photographers can create more detailed and lively portrait shots right in the camera, reducing post-production editing time.
The Z9’s extensive compatibility with NIKKOR Z lenses also certainly helps its superb additional chops as a hell of a portrait camera.
Finally, the Z9 now has some miscellaneous other improvements via firmware 5.00.
One of these is an enhanced manual focusing capacity through an adjustment option for focus point border clarity. Another is a new separated management option for photo and video modes if Extended menu banks is enabled.
The Z9 now also features a WiFi station mode for SnapBridge connectivity and extended Bluetooth connectivity with devices like the ATOMOS AirGlu accessory.
If you own a Nikon Z9 and want to take advantage of all these rich new firmware improvements, you can download version 5.00 here. It is of course free of charge.
The Nikon Z9, for all its powerful photographic and video specs, 45.7MP FX-Format Stacked CMOS Sensor and other premium features, is fairly reasonably priced at $5,500 by flagship camera standards.
For example, Sony’s A1 flagship model costs nearly $1,500 more than the Z9 while delivering only similar performance.
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