Nikon Z 9 Firmware 4.0 Update Released – Auto Capture, Lower Minimum ISO for N-Log and More

Firmware Update

by Francesco AndreolaJune 13^th, 2023

Nikon just released yet another major firmware update for their flagship full-frame mirrorless camera. The Z 9. Firmware 4.0 brings a new Auto Capture function for automatic triggering, lower ISO settings for N-Log shooting, improved Hi-Res Zoom settings, in-camera slow-motion, and more. The update is now available as a free download.

When first reviewing the Nikon Z 9 – which we awarded as the best mirrorless camera for video in 2021 – my colleague Johnnie rightfully pointed out that the camera had a huge potential for growth. And, indeed, it didn’t take long for Nikon to introduce two major firmware updates.

First, Firmware 2.0 enabled internal 12-bit N-RAW and ProRes RAW recording, while version 3.0 brought a digital “Hi-Res Zoom” function, new timecode options, and more. Now, Firmware 4.0 offers several improvements for both video and photo shooters. Given our specialty here at CineD, this article focuses on the most relevant video-oriented enhancements. However, you can take a look at the full firmware release notes here. Let’s dive in!

Nikon Z 9 Firmware 4.0 – Auto Capture

With Firmware 4.0, the Z 9 gets a new Auto Capture function that is available in both stills and video modes. Moreover, according to Nikon, it will also make its way to the newly-introduced Z 8 soon.

Essentially, Auto Capture is a smart shooting mode that enables you to program the camera to release the shutter or start recording when the subject meets up to three user-determined criteria. These can be set individually or together and include:

• Motion – the camera starts shooting as soon as it detects motion in a specific direction.
• Distance – the camera starts shooting as soon as the subject reaches a specific distance from the lens. This setting works best when using NIKKOR Z mount lenses.
• Subject Detection – the camera starts shooting when it detects a specific subject type. You can choose among people, animals, or vehicles.

If it proves reliable in real-world applications, this function can greatly help sports and wildlife shooters, essentially turning the Z 9 into a photo trap. Additionally, it can come in handy every time that the camera is rigged in a position that is hard to reach and thus remote triggering may be preferable.

Nikon Z 9 Firmware 4.0 – Lower ISO settings in N-Log

Until now, the lowest available ISO setting for N-Log video recording was ISO 800. With Firmware 4.0, it is now possible to go as low as Lo 2.0 (ISO 200 equivalent) when using Nikon’s log gamma curve. According to the manufacturer, this should result in cleaner shadows with improved details.

This claim seems reasonable, since the new Lo 2.0 ISO setting shouldn’t affect the overall dynamic range that the camera can capture – which we tested using both the original firmware and V3.0 for N-RAW recording – but rather shift this range towards the shadow regions.

So, for example, if you previously needed to use a 2-stop ND filter when shooting outdoors in N-Log at ISO 800, you can now lower the ISO to Lo 2.0 (ISO 200). As a result, the image will appear to be darker on screen, leading you to remove the filter to effectively gather more light, thus improving noise performance.

Improved Hi-Res Zoom and new Slow-Motion function

The Hi-Res Zoom function – introduced with Firmware 3.0 – allows you to exploit the 45.7MP sensor to perform a 2x digital zoom when shooting 4K or 1080p content. Firmware 4.0 expands the range of available zoom speed settings from 3 up to 11 steps, thus offering granular control over the digital zoom.

Lastly, the Z 9 now has a dedicated Slow-Motion function. In a nutshell, this means that you can now choose to have your 100/120fps high frame rate footage conformed to 24, 25, or 30fps directly in-camera to achieve up to 5x slow motion. However, the downside is that this feature is limited to Full HD recording.

Price and availability

Firmware 4.0 Update for the Nikon Z 9 is now available to download from the company’s Download Center and is free of charge for all users.

For more information, please visit Nikon’s website here.

Have you ever shot on the Nikon Z 9? What do you think of the new features that come with Firmware 4.0? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!