Another valuable Nikon Z9 firmware update!
1 Jan 26
After 4 years and firmware 5.30: How I now configure my Z9 … and my wish list for future firmware updates …
Firmware v1.11 - Shot at 500mm @ f/4, 1/1600s, ISO 1250
Happy New Year!
The Nikon Z9 is the gift that keeps on giving. They keep improving the camera’s software. Last month (December 25) yet another firmware (fw) update arrived, and again this is not a bug fix type of update. It is an update rich in usability and functional enhancements. One of the new features in fw 5.30 has even made me change my Z9 button configuration (more of which later).
Firmware v2.00 - Shot at 500mm @ f/5, 1/800s, ISO 1400
I have had my Z9 for 4 years now. It has taken more than 150,000 images (actuations). Every single one a RAW image. It has been across the globe. It has mastered torrential rain, snow, heat and dust. It has been submerged in Costa Rican thick wet mud (the evidence is still there!) and it has been dropped on a couple of occasions with no issues … it is built like a brick (the lens fared less well!). It has never stopped performing. It has been the best camera I’ve ever owned.
Four years ago, the Z9 was great out-of-the-box with its initial firmware, and then Nikon did something I never expected and which I had never experienced with my previous generation cameras … they kept issuing substantial new firmware versions. These updated were not the usual bug fix updates, but rather they included new functionality and improved ergonomics. Nikon seemed to listen, and many of the ideas on the wish lists of seasoned Nikon pros have been included in the firmware updates among many more enhancements. All in all 9 major firmware upgrades have been released (I exclude the 7 minor upgrades which were mostly bug fixes).
Firmware v3.01 - Shot at 500mm @ f/5.6, 1/2500s, ISO 220
After 4 years, and with rumours of a new Nikon Z9 Mark II being imminent, it was a pleasant early-Christmas present when firmware 5.30 landed last month. For still photography this includes key new items such as Improved AF performance, subject detection improvements and ability to use subject detection with more AF modes, the ability to cycle subject detection using a button, improved AF area C1 and C2 customisations, new picture controls, and the ability to limit the focusing range. These are but a few of all the enhancements included in firmware 5.30.
A couple of the new functions caught my eye, in particular the ability to cycle through subject detection modes using a button. For wildlife photography it is a great bonus to be able to quickly toggle between Bird and Animal modes, and on occasions when I use my camera for people photography, I can include this mode too. This is much quicker in the field than using the i-menu. In fact, I liked this addition so much that I changed my button configuration to fit it in. My latest Z9 configuration can be found below.
Firmware v4.00 - Shot at 800mm @ f/6.3, 1/50s, ISO 80
If anyone from Nikon visits this website then firstly, thank you for all the software updates to the Z9 which have made an already impressive camera even more so with numerous functional enhancements. Secondly, if I am allowed to be greedy, here is my wish list for a Z9 firmware v6.0. Keep it coming Nikon 😉 The list below relates to still photography which is what I do:
Raw pre-capture: Ideally this would cycle through +20 raw images before the shutter button is pressed, but even if it only cycles through 5 raw images in the buffer prior to pressing the button it would be valuable. The key use case in wildlife photography is waiting for action, e.g. a bird on a branch about to take off. The delay between seeing the action and pressing the trigger is approx. 0.2s. At 20 fps a pre-capture buffer of 5 raw images is 0.25s. Enough to override the human reaction delay for the perfect action sequence. If this is the only remaining feature Nikon includes for the Z9 I will be a very happy man indeed.
Assign cycle VR to a button: Like Subject Detection Cycle in fw 5.30, it would be great to be able to assign a button to cycle through the VR modes (Normal, Sport, Off), particularly as the Z series telephoto lenses do not have a VR mode button on the barrel. I often switch between VR modes, depending on situation, and currently I have to access the i-menu and scroll between the modes. A dedicated cycle button would be much better.
Setting Banks that reset: I do not find the setting banks in the Z9 intuitive or user friendly. Others love them. They just don’t agree with me. I would like to be able to set up different banks for different situations (e.g. one for Bird photography, another for general Wildlife, one for Nature, and one for People). Currently if I do so, and switch to a new bank and start to use it extensively in the field, it keeps the latest settings. I would like it to always reset to a pre-defined set of settings as a starting point, so every time I use a new bank, I know what to expect.
Improved file naming structure. The current structure is a bit 20th century. I would like to be able to use more characters to create a more intuitive naming standard.
Spot metering on a button: Currently it seems you cannot configure a button hold to activate spot metering. This was useful and possible on the Nikon DSLRs to check metering of the subject, particularly in highly contrasting or backlit scenes. It is not such a big deal but rather a nice-to-have. Currently I get around it by using Recall Shooting Functions for this.
And that’s it!. A very short list which reflects how good the Z9 is after such extensive firmware upgrades over the past 4 years. Impressive work Nikon!
Firmware v4.01 - Shot at 500mm @ f/5.6, 1/400s, ISO 4500
How do I configure my Z9 now that fw 5.30 has been released? There are thousands of different ways to configure your Nikon Z9 to suit your preferences, shooting style, subject matter and the situation in the field. There is no right or wrong way to set up the camera. What works for someone will not work for someone else, but over the years I have gleaned setup ideas from other shooters and tuned my setup accordingly. I have trialled some settings that I have discarded and others that have helped me. Below is a list of the latest configuration of my Z9 after the release of fw 5.30.
Firmware v4.10 - Shot at 800mm @ f/6.3, 1/500s, ISO 1400
This is not an exhaustive list, but rather focuses on some of the most used items:
Key Button configurations (Custom Settings f2):
Shutter: Image capture only. No AF activation (I’m a back-button AF guy)
AF ON: AF activation on for back-button autofocus.
ISO: No change – for ISO selection
Video Record: I don’t shoot video, so this button has been re-purposed to review images. A second press and the image is enlarged to 100%. This allows me to check images without taking my eye from the viewfinder.
EV comp: No change - EV compensation is a key button in the right place.
Fn1: Single point AF + AF On activation. No subject detection. Used frequently in tricky situations or to get AF in the right zone before another AF mode or subject detection takes over.
Fn2: Cycle AF-area mode (Wide Area C1, Wide Area C2, 3D, Auto Area). This is a brilliant feature introduced with fw 5.0. It allows me to quickly cycle between my most used AF modes.
Fn3: Cycle Subject Detection (Animal, Birds, Off)
Fn4: Brings up MyMenu (See below for MyMenu items)
DISP: Recall Shooting Function (Hold) for quickly bringing up settings for Birds in Flight photography. It toggles the camera to widest aperture (set it to f/1), and sets 1/2000s shutter speed, highlight protected metering, AF Auto area, Bird subject detection, Auto ISO, 20 fps frame rate
Sub-selector Centre: Configured with Recall Shooting Function used to activate Spot Metering when button is held down. I don’t use this very often but handy in tricky lighting situations. I find this button tricky to use, as you need to be highly precise in how you push it to avoid it being used in the arrow mode.
OK: Select Centre focus point. Quick way to re-centre focus.
Firmware v5.00 - Shot at 560mm @ f/4, 1/1600s, ISO 3600
My Menu entries in order (and as described above, I have configured Fn4 button to bring up My Menu):
Battery Info – % capacity remaining
Continuous High Speed – setting frame rate
Vibration Reduction selection (On, Sport, Off)
Active Subject Detection options (g6)
Auto ISO sensitivity control
ISO sensitivity
Focus limit setting (a17)
Focus mode restrictions (a9)
High fps viewfinder display (d22) – usually set to Off
Power off delay (c3)
Self timer (c2)
RAW recording - typically set to High Efficiency*
i-Menu entries (top row left to right, then bottom row):
Row 1: VR mode, White Balance, Warm display colours, View Mode, View Memory Card info, Metering
Row 2: AF area mode / subject detection, Focus mode, Flash compensation, Focus peaking, Airplane mode, Metering
Note both rows’ right-hand side entries are for metering – easier to hit one of them with the finger on the touch screen, particularly with gloves. This, and VR mode, are the functions I use the most in i-Menu.
Firmware v5.10 - Shot at 800mm @ f/6.3, 1/640s, ISO 450
A few other key settings:
Camera always set to AF-C (a9) for continuous auto focus
AF activation (a6) set to ‘Off’ on shutter release – as I use back-button AF with AF-ON button
Focus peaking (a14) set to ‘On’ – useful if I accidentally touch the lens focus ring as then MF peaking area (red colour) shows up in the viewfinder
Picture control set to ‘FL’ (flat) - I shoot Raw and this control creates a file with low contrast and saturation creating more flexibility in post processing
Active D-lighting = Off - as above.
I will enjoy my Z9 in 2026 with or without any further firmware updates, but let me dream of a firmware version 6.00 with my wish list adopted 😊 Happy shooting in 26!
Firmware v5.30 - Shot at 800mm @ f/6.3, 1/320s, ISO 2200