Nikon Z9 ProRes RAW gains internally 12-bit, 8K 12-bit N-RAW and other new features in firmware v2.0

Well, these are some very important updates for the Nikon Z9 camera. Nikon Corporation today announced the new version 2.0 firmware for the Nikon Z9 camera. It brings with it a host of new features that are interesting to both photographers and filmmakers including internal 12-Bit ProRes RAW recording at 4.1K up to 60fps and 12-bit N-RAW recording for 8.3K. 4K footage can now be sampled up from 8K and you can also get finer ISO control in 1/6 step increments.

On the photography side, there's a new pre-release capture feature that starts shooting for a full second before you actually hit the shutter. Twenty different wide-area AF patterns have been added for challenging sports and wildlife situations, along with better AF stability, tracking performance, and low-light subject detection. There have also been some improvements made to the long exposure exposure mode.

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Despite the great new features, there is some bad news. To get started, you'll have to wait until April 20 to actually download the new firmware. It was announced today, but not released for a few more days. Also, even though the Nikon Z9 gains ProRes RAW internally, you only get it at up to 4.1K 60fps. There is no 8K or even 6K resolution. And while it also gains native N-RAW recording in full 8.3K at 60fps, you'll only be able to edit it in DaVinci Resolve 17.4.6 or later. You can also edit low-resolution N-RAW footage in Edius X 10.32 (people still use Edius?) but there has been no word on when support will come for Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, and other mainstream editing applications.

But here's the full list of additions and changes for the Nikon Z9 still photo and video camera and features that include both.

Film and Video Photography Upgrades for the Nikon Z 9

• Added internal N-RAW video recording up to 12-bit 8.3K 60p and 12-bit ProRes RAW HQ up to 4.1K 60p. Powerful RAW video allows for maximum display range with color tone, with a range of over 68 billion colors for flexibility when grading or consistency as part of multi-camera production.
• Nikon's new N-RAW raw video format records a huge amount of scene information, yet has a much smaller file size, allowing for a longer recording time and less intense workflow. N-RAW footage can be recorded in the following formats: 8.3K 60p, 24p, or 4.1K 120p, 60p, 30p, 24p during full frame/FX, 3.8K 120p with 2.3x cropped, or 5.3K 60p, 30p, 24p with cropped DX (1.5x).
• The N-RAW format also creates an mp4 proxy file, which is effective for previewing, fast transferring or editing on the go.
• 4K UHD 60p footage can now be sampled from 8K footage, allowing for the sharpest, cleanest 4K content possible.
• A red "REC" frame indicator has been added on the screen and viewfinder during recording to easily identify when a video was captured.
• Added Waveform screen to confirm brightness levels and target position while recording.
• The new dedicated video information display provides various video recording settings at a glance, such as frame size and price, audio settings, codec, bit depth and HDMI output settings, all of which can be confirmed on a single screen. In addition, the display of frame rate / size on the upper control panel helps confirm the difficulty of seeing the rear screen.
• Precise ISO Control (Mode M) allows exposure to be adjusted in 1/6 EV increments for ultra-accurate and smooth exposure changes.
• The Fast AF-ON function allows the user to set different AF speeds for separate controls. From slow focus on the shelf to fast shifting, two speeds can now be assigned to customizable buttons to improve video shooting efficiency.
• To enable slow shutter video recording of extremely dark scenes or intentionally blurry input when shooting video in mode M, the shutter speed can be set to a rate slower than 1/frame.
• By selecting frame rates and resolution settings, the user now has the ability to save successive frames in a selected section of video footage as a series of JPEGs while playback is paused.

Nikon Z 9 Still Image Upgrades

• For the first time in a full-frame mirrorless camera, pre-release capture makes unpredictable moments easier than ever 3 allowing bursts to be captured up to a full second before the shutter is fully pressed.
• Twenty types of wide-area AF selection patterns have been added, giving the user more control over the part of the frame they want to focus on, which can also work in conjunction with subject detection. This is useful for a variety of sports and situations such as volleyball or the finish line. Twelve additional video capture modes are available.
• A new 'Motion Blend' retouch menu feature creates an in-camera overlay from a series of subject movements from continuous shooting to a single in-camera image. For example, an air skateboard can be picked up from start to finish sequentially in one completed frame.
• AF stability, tracking performance, and subject detection are improved in low-light situations.
• When reviewing photos, users now have the option to skip to the first shot in a particular batch.
• For capturing stunning star trails and long exposures, Firmware 2.0 improves the Z 9's Long Exposure display to include direct exposure time calculation. Users can now darken the viewfinder more and more precisely to conserve energy and their night vision.

Add-on upgrades:

• The Z 9's live viewfinder is arguably the most impressive electronic viewfinder, and the only one that offers a truly blackout-free view. Firmware 2.0 adds a high fps viewfinder function to increase the refresh rate to 120 fps for smoother, more realistic viewing.
• Auto exposure (AE) has been improved for more stable exposure of human faces, such as when a subject moves away from the camera and then faces it again, or when the composition changes.
• An improved "Viewfinder Prioritization" screen mode provides familiar shooting and review flow.
• "Preferred Sub-Select Center" has been added to the custom menu, which improves the operability of the sub-selector.
• AWB improvements even when scene changes quickly, color temperature selection adjustments, and manual white balance presetting.
• New Custom Setting: AF point selection speed allows users to set the speed at which AF points can be moved across the frame.
• To confirm high-speed shooting, the shutter-release indicators are clearly visible on the screen and the Real Live Viewfinder.
• Enhanced memory set/recall function allows instant recall of multiple focus positions.
• "Call shooting functions (wait)" has now been added to the traditional "Call shooting functions", allowing users to maintain the recall function without holding down a button.
• The option to switch focus/control ring roles helps photographers who do not need manual focus to use the control ring.

The new firmware update version 2.0 for the Nikon Z9 will be available for download from the Nikon website from April 20th and will arrive in the SnapBridge app shortly thereafter.