The Nikon Z9 sees Nikon's mirrorless cameras take an impressive jump forward to match flagship rivals from Canon and Sony. The Z9 feels like an indestructible DSLR, but inside are innovative features like advanced AF tracking, 20fps raw burst shooting, 8K video and an electronic-only shutter. We also like its new two-way tilting screen. It's a shame some video features won't be available until a firmware update in 2022, but the Z9's video prowess impresses already and we're looking at a modern-day Nikon classic.

Powerful Stacked 45.7MP sensor; Reliable tracking AF; Shoots lengthy 8K video clips; Rugged build quality; Dual-axis tilt screen; Excellent battery life; Dual-axis tilt-screen;

Some features need firmware update; Bulkier and heavier than rivals; Flash sync only 1/200s

Robust and versatile design ; 120fps shooting; 8K video recording ;

Expensive; Large and heavy body; Additional cost of CFexpress or XQD card ;

Much hyped and much anticipated, the range-topping Nikon Z9 combines 45.7-megapixel resolution stills with up to 8K video to make this a powerfully enticing all-in-one option for pro snappers being called upon to play ‘content creator’ in both disciplines.

Whopping 45.7-megapixel resolution, 8K video, It can do everything, Ergonomics, It's a workhorse

Chunky build, partly due to dual handgrips, Add a telephoto lens and we may as well be carrying four bags of sugar

This is the top of the line Flagship Z series camera, and we can tell. It has every feature imaginable, is beautifully made, performs impeccably and is every bit the professional photographic tool.

Top class quality throughout, Superb range of lenses, Bristling with features for every eventuality, Weather sealing, VR (Vibration Reduction), Extensive video capability, Vertical grip built-in, Excellent EVF, Fast and responsive, Vibration-free electronic shutter

Quite bulky and heavy, XQD cards expensive, CF Express cards are very expensive

The Nikon Z9 offers just about everything professional and enthusiast photographers might want from a camera. It’s big and heavy for a mirrorless camera, but it’s also twin-gripped, weather-sealed and a bit lighter than the Nikon D6.

New 45.7Mp full-frame sensor sensor, Advanced AF system, Durable, weatherproof build

No mechanical shutter, Firmware updates to come in 2022 to get the full video feature set

While it's a shame that picture and sound quality haven't been upgraded, the iPhone 13 was great in these regards and the iPhone 14 is, too Excellent display Admirable headphone performance Solid build quality No upgrades to picture or sound Familiar design Notch is still present

Apple's latest non-Pro iPhone is superb - it's just that it's strikingly similar to last year's effort.

Still an incredible smartphone, Brilliant battery life gets a bit better, Excellent camera system gets a bit better

Last year’s Pro hardware, Wireless charging slow by modern standards, No USB-C; it’s now well overdue

Even though the Nikon Z9 is geared toward action and event photography more than anything else, it’s a true generalist camera. It amazes me that the Z9 can credibly claim to be the best sports/wildlife photography camera on the market today… and the best landscape camera, and the best wedding...

High resolution sensor with some of the best image quality of any modern camera, Professional-level layout, vertical controls, and advanced customizability, Tank-like construction and build quality, Tons of ports for data transfer and niche operations, High-magnification EVF with no...

Auto ISO minimum shutter speed implementation is broken at 30 FPS and 120 FPS, Pre-release burst is 30/60/120 FPS JPEG only, not possible in RAW, Menu banks cannot be locked and are still somewhat unrefined in implementation, Menu doesn’t rotate during vertical shooting, No in-camera RAW...

The Nikon Z9 is perhaps the most complete camera we've ever tested. It shoots excellent 45MP images at up to 30fps (20 with Raw), it captures 8K video in everything from 8-bit MP4s to 12-bit N-Raw. Its autofocus system is both powerful and easy to use and works well for both stills and video. It's larger and heavier than some of its rivals, which make it less well suited to some applications, but overall it combines the best of a DSLR and a video camera in a single body.

Sports, photojournalism, wedding and events, video;

Travel photography where size and weight are critical.;