Nikon has announced the release of the latest firmware (version 5.00), which is the fourth major update since the release of the Z 9 camera back in 2021.
According to Nikon’s press release, this update will increase usability for sports photography by expanding the Auto Capture and High-Speed Frame Capture+ functions.
Portrait photographers should also be happy thanks to the enhanced Skin Softening and Portrait Impression Balance functions, and Rich Tone Portrait Picture Control.
Nikon also says that the update offers various improvements to the overall operability of the camera.
See below for the full list of features, function and improvements added with the update.
Primary features of firmware version 5.00 for the Nikon Z 9 (Follow link to download)
- Expanded functions for sports photography
- A reserve function that lets users specify the shooting start date/time and duration in advance has been added to Auto Capture. This helps to reduce battery consumption for more efficient\shooting, even when the camera must be positioned and configured well before it will actually be used. Auto Capture flexibility has also been increased to allow users to shoot using the DX crop (24×16) image area, and also adds the addition of an [Airplanes] AF subject-detection mode, plus the display of a yellow frame when the camera is in standby for shooting.
- In addition, a low-speed [C15] item has been added to High-Speed Frame Capture+ options for increased usability with continuous shooting. What’s more, frequency pre-sets for common LED lighting and signboards have been added to the High-Frequency Flicker Reduction function, making it easier to choose the optimal shutter speed and efficiently reduce the effects of high-frequency flicker.
- Enhanced portrait functions
- A Rich Tone Portrait Picture Control suitable for creating base images in situations that require retouching, such as wedding and studio photography, has been added. Also, a variety of functions designed to improve portrait photography, including Portrait Impression Balance and Skin Softening have been incorporated. Further, Nikon offers NIKKOR Z lenses including the NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.2 S, NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S, and NIKKOR Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena, all of which support the capture of portraits that accurately express the user’s intent.
- Overall convenience has been increased with the ability to use the continuous LED light of the Profoto A10 as an AF-assist illuminator and the addition of a [Prefer focus point (face priority)] option for frame advance when reviewing images displayed with playback zoom enabled.
- Other features added for enhanced operability
- When [Extended menu banks] is enabled, users can now manage the shooting modes for photo mode and video mode, which were previously linked, separately.
- Visibility is improved with an option that allows the user to adjust the width of the focus point border.
- Manual focusing is now possible with maximum aperture live view in manual focus mode.
- A function that allows the user to cancel zoom when focus mode is set to manual focus and the view through the lens is zoomed in by pressing the shutter-release button halfway has been added.
- High-Res Zoom operability has been improved, and the AF-area brackets display color when the subject is in focus has been changed from red to green.
- The number of functions that can be assigned to custom controls has been increased, as has the number of controls that can be customized.
- The addition of a [Customize retouch options] item allows the user to choose the functions displayed in the retouch menu.
- [Loop playback], [Wait before playback], and [Auto series playback speed] options have been added for playback of a series of images captured with a burst of continuous shooting.
- Playback speed for all videos can now be specified in advance from the i menu ([Original speed], [1/2× speed], [1/4× speed]).
- Wi-Fi station mode has been added to enable connection to SnapBridge without occupying the entire Wi-Fi connection on a smartphone.
Nikon SnapBridge Update
SnapBridge has also received an update to Ver.2.11.0, adding new functions such as Easy Shooting Setup, which allows users to configure camera shooting settings suited to a particular scene or subject directly from a user’s smart device.
