Nikon Z 9 User manual

• Read this document thoroughly before using the camera.
• To ensure proper use of the camera, be sure to read
“For Your Safety” (page 25).
• After reading this document, keep it readily accessible for
future reference.
DIGITAL CAMERA
Reference Guide
En

2When Your First Photo Can’t Wait
❚❚ Getting Ready
1
Insert the battery (
0
77).
For information on charging the battery,
see “Charging the Battery” (072).
2
Insert a memory card (
0
81).
3
Attach a lens (
0
83).
•Align the white dot on the lens with the
white dot on the camera body (q) and
rotate the lens in the direction shown
(w).
•A strap can be attached to the camera.
For more information, see “Attaching
the Strap” (071).
4
Turn the camera on and then choose a
language and set the clock (
0
85).
When Your First Photo Can’t Wait
128
GB
Z 9 Model Name: N2014

3
When Your First Photo Can’t Wait
❚❚ Take (088) and View (097) Pictures
1
To focus, press the shutter-release
button halfway (i.e., lightly press the
shutter-release button, stopping when
it is pressed halfway).
2
Without lifting your finger from the
shutter-release button, press the
button the rest of the way down to take
the picture.
3
View the picture.

4Package Contents
Be sure all items listed here were included with your camera.
•Memory cards are sold separately.
•MH-33 battery chargers and EH-7P charging AC adapters are sold
separately in some countries or regions.
DThe Nikon Download Center
Visit the Nikon download center to download firmware updates, NX Studio
and other Nikon software, and manuals for Nikon products including
cameras, NIKKOR lenses, and flash units.
https://downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com/
Package Contents
❏Camera
❏BF-N1 body cap
❏EN-EL18d rechargeable Li-ion
battery with terminal cover
❏MH-33 battery charger
❏EH-7P charging AC adapter
(supplied with a plug adapter
attached in countries or
regions where required; shape
depends on country of sale—
075)
❏HDMI/USB cable clip (0847)
❏AN-DC24 strap (071)
❏Warranty
❏User’s Manual
❏UC-E24 USB cable (0323)
❏BS-1 accessory shoe cover
(comes attached to camera;
0846)

5
About This Document
❚❚ Symbols
This document employs the following symbols. Use them to help locate
the information you need.
❚❚ Conventions
•This camera uses CFexpress (Type B) and XQD memory cards. Memory
cards of all types are referred to throughout this document as
“memory cards”. Where it is necessary to distinguish between the
different types, the terms “CFexpress memory card” and “XQD
memory card” may be used.
•Throughout this document, battery chargers are referred to as
“battery chargers” or “chargers”.
•Throughout this document, the display in camera monitor and
viewfinder during shooting is referred to as the “shooting display”. In
most cases, the illustrations show the monitor.
•Throughout this document, smartphones and tablets are referred to
as “smart devices”.
•Throughout this document, the term “default settings” is used to refer
to the settings in effect at shipment. The explanations in this
document assume that default settings are used.
About This Document
DThis icon marks notes, information that should be read before
using this product.
AThis icon marks tips, additional information you may find helpful
when using this product.
0This icon marks references to other sections in this document.

6Table of Contents
When Your First Photo Can’t Wait ....................................................................2
Package Contents ...................................................................................................4
About This Document ...........................................................................................5
For Your Safety .......................................................................................................25
Notices ......................................................................................................................30
Getting to Know the Camera and Its Menus 34
Parts of the Camera ..............................................................................................34
Camera Body .................................................................................34
The Control Panel ........................................................................41
The Monitor ...................................................................................42
The Viewfinder .............................................................................46
Touch Controls .............................................................................53
The Menus ...............................................................................................................59
The GButton ...........................................................................59
The iButton (the iMenu) ......................................................65
First Steps 71
Attaching the Strap ..............................................................................................71
Charging the Battery ...........................................................................................72
The Battery Charger ...................................................................72
The Charging AC Adapter: Charging ...................................75
Inserting the Battery ............................................................................................77
Removing the Battery ................................................................79
Battery Level .................................................................................80
Inserting Memory Cards .....................................................................................81
Removing Memory Cards .........................................................82
Attaching a Lens ....................................................................................................83
Detaching Lenses ........................................................................84
Camera Setup .........................................................................................................85
Table of Contents

7
Table of Contents
Basic Photography and Playback 88
Taking Photographs ............................................................................................ 88
Shooting Videos ................................................................................................... 93
Playback ................................................................................................................... 97
Viewing Videos ............................................................................ 98
Deleting Unwanted Pictures ................................................101
Shooting Settings 102
Image Recording Options (Image Area, Quality, and Size) .................102
Adjusting Image Area Settings ............................................102
Adjusting Image Quality ........................................................105
Choosing an Image Size .........................................................108
Focus .......................................................................................................................110
Focus Mode ................................................................................110
AF-Area Mode ............................................................................113
Choosing a Subject Type for Autofocus ...........................119
Focus Point Selection ..............................................................123
The Touch Shutter ....................................................................124
Focus Lock ...................................................................................126
Manual Focus .............................................................................129
Exposure ................................................................................................................132
Choosing a Shooting Mode ..................................................132
Long Time-Exposures (Mode M Only) ...............................138
Autoexposure Lock ..................................................................141
Exposure Compensation .......................................................143
Release Mode ......................................................................................................145
Choosing a Release Mode .....................................................145
High-Speed Frame Capture (C30/C120) ...........................149
Using the Self-Timer (E) ........................................................152

8Table of Contents
ISO Sensitivity ......................................................................................................154
About ISO Sensitivity ..............................................................154
Auto ISO Sensitivity Control .................................................156
White Balance .....................................................................................................158
About White Balance ..............................................................158
Fine-Tuning White Balance ..................................................163
Choosing a Color Temperature ...........................................167
Preset Manual ............................................................................170
Bracketing .............................................................................................................177
Auto Bracketing Set .................................................................177
Exposure and Flash Bracketing ...........................................178
White Balance Bracketing .....................................................183
ADL Bracketing .........................................................................187
Picture Controls ..................................................................................................192
About Picture Controls ...........................................................192
Modifying Picture Controls ...................................................195
Custom Picture Controls ........................................................199
Location Data ......................................................................................................204
Location Data Options ...........................................................204
Two-Button Reset ..............................................................................................209
Photo Shooting Menu ............................................................209
Video Recording Menu ..........................................................211
Custom Settings Menu ...........................................................212
Other Settings ...........................................................................213
Video Recording 214
Video File Types ..................................................................................................214
Tone Mode ..................................................................................215
Video Frame Size and Rate Options ............................................................216
Average Bit Rate .......................................................................217

9
Table of Contents
Video Image Area Options ..............................................................................218
Points to Note When Filming Videos ..........................................................220
Recording HLG Video .......................................................................................223
View Assist ..................................................................................224
Recording N-Log Video ....................................................................................225
View Assist ..................................................................................226
Viewing and Retouching Pictures 227
Viewing Pictures .................................................................................................227
Full-Frame Playback ................................................................227
Thumbnail Playback ................................................................228
Photo Information .............................................................................................230
File Information .........................................................................231
Exposure Data ............................................................................232
Highlight Display ......................................................................232
RGB Histogram ..........................................................................233
Shooting Data ............................................................................235
Overview ......................................................................................239
The iButton (Playback Mode) ......................................................................241
Photos ...........................................................................................241
Videos ...........................................................................................245
Videos (Playback Paused) ......................................................246
Playback Zoom ....................................................................................................247
Using Playback Zoom .............................................................247
Protecting Pictures from Deletion ...............................................................249
Rating Pictures ....................................................................................................251
Selecting Pictures for Upload ........................................................................253
Filtered Playback ................................................................................................255
[Filtered Playback Criteria] ....................................................255
Viewing Slide Shows .........................................................................................257
During the Show .......................................................................258

10 Table of Contents
Deleting Pictures ................................................................................................259
Using the Delete Button ........................................................259
Deleting Multiple Pictures ....................................................260
Creating Retouched Copies ...........................................................................264
RAW Processing ........................................................................267
Trim ...............................................................................................273
Resize ............................................................................................274
D-Lighting ...................................................................................280
Straighten ...................................................................................281
Distortion Control ....................................................................282
Perspective Control .................................................................283
Monochrome .............................................................................284
Overlay (Add) .............................................................................285
“Lighten” and “Darken” ..........................................................287
Editing Videos .....................................................................................................290
Trimming Videos ......................................................................290
Saving Selected Frames as JPEG Stills ..............................294
Voice Memos 295
Recording Voice Memos .................................................................................295
Playing Voice Memos .......................................................................................298
Deleting Voice Memos ...........................................................299
Connecting to HDMI TVs and Recorders 300
Connecting to HDMI Devices ........................................................................300
TVs ........................................................................................................................... 301
Recorders ..............................................................................................................302
Adjusting Settings ...................................................................302
YCbCr and Bit Depth ...............................................................308
External Recording Control ..................................................310

11
Table of Contents
Connecting to Smart Devices 311
The SnapBridge App .........................................................................................311
What SnapBridge Can Do for You ......................................312
Wireless Connections .......................................................................................313
Connecting via Bluetooth (Pairing) ...................................313
Connecting via Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi Mode) ....................................317
Connecting to Computers or FTP Servers 321
Making the Connection ...................................................................................321
Computers: Connecting via USB .........................................321
Computers: Connecting via Ethernet or
Wireless LAN .........................................................................322
FTP Servers: Connecting via Ethernet or
Wireless LAN .........................................................................322
Computers: Connecting via USB ..................................................................323
Installing NX Studio .................................................................323
Copying Pictures to a Computer Using NX Studio .......324
Computers: Connecting via Ethernet or Wireless LAN .........................327
What Ethernet and Wireless LAN Can Do for You ........327
The Wireless Transmitter Utility ..........................................328
Wireless LAN ...............................................................................329
Ethernet Connections .............................................................346
Uploading Pictures ..................................................................354
Camera Control .........................................................................361
Ending the Connection to the Computer ........................365
FTP Servers: Connecting via Ethernet or Wireless LAN ........................366
Wireless LAN ...............................................................................367
Ethernet .......................................................................................382
Uploading Pictures ..................................................................389
Ending the Connection to the FTP Server .......................396

12 Table of Contents
Troubleshooting Wireless LAN and Ethernet Connections ................397
Problems and Solutions .........................................................397
Error Codes .................................................................................399
Connecting to Other Cameras 401
What Inter-camera Connections Can Do for You ...................................401
Camera-Based Remote Photography
(Synchronized Release) .....................................................401
Clock Synchronization
(Synchronize Date and Time) .........................................401
Synchronized Release ......................................................................................402
Configuring and Using Synchronized Release ..............402
Synchronizing Camera Clocks .......................................................................421
Flash Photography 422
“On-Camera” Versus “Remote” .....................................................................422
Camera-Mounted Flash Units ..............................................422
Remote Flash Photography ..................................................422
Using an On-Camera Flash .............................................................................423
Flash Control Mode ...........................................................................................426
Flash Modes .........................................................................................................429
Flash Compensation .........................................................................................432
Adjusting Flash Compensation ...........................................432
FV Lock ...................................................................................................................434
Remote Flash Photography 437
What Is Remote Flash Photography? ..........................................................437
Using Remote Flash Units .....................................................438
Radio AWL ............................................................................................................439
Establishing a Wireless Connection ...................................439
Remote Flash Photography ..................................................444
Adding a Shoe-Mounted Flash Unit ..................................452

13
Table of Contents
Optical AWL ..........................................................................................................453
Using Optical AWL with the SB-5000 or SB-500 ............454
Menu Guide 464
Defaults ..................................................................................................................464
Photo Shooting Menu Defaults ...........................................464
Video Recording Menu Defaults .........................................468
Custom Settings Menu Defaults .........................................471
Playback Menu Defaults ........................................................483
Setup Menu Defaults ..............................................................485
Network Menu Defaults .........................................................489
CThe Photo Shooting Menu: Shooting Options .................................491
Shooting Menu Bank.................................................................................493
Renaming Shooting Menu Banks .......................................494
Copying Shooting Menu Banks ...........................................494
Restoring Default Settings ....................................................495
Extended Menu Banks ..............................................................................496
Storage Folder .............................................................................................497
Renaming Folders ....................................................................497
Select Folder by Number .......................................................498
Select Folder from List ............................................................500
File Naming...................................................................................................502
Role Played by Card in Slot 2..................................................................503
Deleting Copies .........................................................................505
Image Area....................................................................................................506
Image Quality...............................................................................................506
Image Size .....................................................................................................507
RAW Recording ...........................................................................................507
ISO Sensitivity Settings.............................................................................508
White Balance ..............................................................................................510
Set Picture Control .....................................................................................510
Manage Picture Control ...........................................................................510
Color Space...................................................................................................511

14 Table of Contents
Active D-Lighting .......................................................................................512
Long Exposure NR......................................................................................514
High ISO NR .................................................................................................. 515
Vignette Control .........................................................................................516
Diffraction Compensation.......................................................................517
Auto Distortion Control ...........................................................................517
Photo Flicker Reduction...........................................................................518
Metering ........................................................................................................ 520
Flash Control................................................................................................521
Flash Control Mode .................................................................522
Wireless Flash Options ...........................................................523
Remote Flash Control .............................................................524
Radio Remote Flash Info ........................................................524
Focus Mode .................................................................................................. 525
AF-Area Mode..............................................................................................525
AF Subject Detection Options...............................................................525
Vibration Reduction ..................................................................................526
Auto Bracketing ..........................................................................................527
Multiple Exposure ......................................................................................528
Creating a Multiple Exposure ..............................................530
HDR Overlay .................................................................................................537
Taking HDR Photographs ......................................................538
Interval Timer Shooting ...........................................................................542
Interval-Timer Photography .................................................545
Time-Lapse Video.......................................................................................556
Recording Time-Lapse Videos .............................................558
Focus Shift Shooting.................................................................................568
Focus Shift Photography .......................................................569
1The Video Recording Menu: Video Recording Options ..................576
Shooting Menu Bank ................................................................................577
Extended Menu Banks..............................................................................577
Storage Folder.............................................................................................577
File Naming ..................................................................................................578

15
Table of Contents
Destination ...................................................................................................578
Video File Type ............................................................................................578
Frame Size/Frame Rate.............................................................................579
Image Area....................................................................................................579
ISO Sensitivity Settings.............................................................................580
White Balance ..............................................................................................581
Set Picture Control .....................................................................................581
Manage Picture Control ...........................................................................581
HLG Quality...................................................................................................582
Active D-Lighting........................................................................................583
High ISO NR ..................................................................................................583
Vignette Control .........................................................................................584
Diffraction Compensation.......................................................................584
Auto Distortion Control............................................................................584
Video Flicker Reduction ...........................................................................585
Metering ........................................................................................................586
Focus Mode ..................................................................................................586
AF-Area Mode..............................................................................................586
AF Subject Detection Options ...............................................................587
Subject Detection .....................................................................587
AF When Subject Not Detected ..........................................587
Vibration Reduction...................................................................................587
Electronic VR.................................................................................................587
Microphone Sensitivity.............................................................................588
Attenuator.....................................................................................................589
Frequency Response .................................................................................589
Wind Noise Reduction ..............................................................................589
Mic Jack Plug-in Power.............................................................................590
Headphone Volume ..................................................................................590
Timecode.......................................................................................................591
External Rec. Cntrl (HDMI) .......................................................................592

16 Table of Contents
ACustom Settings: Fine-Tuning Camera Settings ..............................593
Custom Settings Bank...............................................................................597
Renaming Custom Settings Banks .....................................597
Copying Custom Settings Banks ........................................597
Restoring Default Settings ....................................................597
a: Focus ......................................................................................................... 598
a1: AF-C Priority Selection ..............................................................598
a2: AF-S Priority Selection...............................................................599
a3: Focus Tracking with Lock-On .................................................600
Blocked Shot AF Response ...................................................600
Subject Motion ..........................................................................600
a4: Focus Points Used.......................................................................601
a5: Store Points by Orientation.....................................................602
a6: AF Activation ................................................................................604
a7: Focus Point Persistence............................................................605
a8: Limit AF-Area Mode Selection................................................606
a9: Focus Mode Restrictions ..........................................................606
a10: Focus Point Wrap-Around.....................................................606
a11: Focus Point Display .................................................................607
Manual Focus Mode ................................................................607
Dynamic-Area AF Assist .........................................................607
AF-C In-Focus Display .............................................................608
a12: Built-in AF-Assist Illuminator................................................609
a13: Focus Peaking............................................................................610
Focus Peaking Display ............................................................610
Focus Peaking Sensitivity ......................................................610
Focus Peaking Highlight Color ............................................610
a14: Manual Focus Ring in AF Mode...........................................611
b: Metering/Exposure .............................................................................. 612
b1: ISO sensitivity Step Value ........................................................612
b2: EV Steps for Exposure Cntrl ....................................................612

17
Table of Contents
b3: Easy Exposure Compensation................................................613
b4: Matrix Metering Face Detection............................................613
b5: Center-Weighted Area..............................................................614
b6: Fine-Tune Optimal Exposure..................................................615
b7: Keep Exp. When f/ Changes....................................................616
c: Timers/AE Lock....................................................................................... 617
c1: Shutter-Release Button AE-L...................................................617
c2: Self-Timer .......................................................................................617
c3: Power Off Delay ...........................................................................618
d: Shooting/Display .................................................................................. 619
d1: Continuous Shooting Speed ..................................................619
d2: Maximum Shots per Burst .......................................................619
d3: Limit Release Mode Selection ................................................620
d4: Sync. Release Mode Options ..................................................620
d5: Extended Shutter Speeds (M).................................................621
d6: Limit Selectable Image Area...................................................621
d7: File Number Sequence .............................................................622
d8: View Mode (Photo Lv)...............................................................624
d9: Starlight View (Photo Lv)..........................................................626
d10: Warm Display Colors...............................................................626
d11: LCD Illumination.......................................................................627
d12: View All in Continuous Mode ..............................................629
d13: Release Timing Indicator .......................................................629
d14: Image Frame ..............................................................................630
d15: Grid Type.....................................................................................630
d16: Virtual Horizon Type................................................................631
Roll .................................................................................................632
Pitch ...............................................................................................633
d17: Custom Monitor Shooting Display ....................................634
d18: Custom Viewfinder Shooting Display...............................636

18 Table of Contents
e: Bracketing/Flash.................................................................................... 637
e1: Flash Sync Speed ........................................................................637
e2: Flash Shutter Speed...................................................................639
e3: Exposure Comp. for Flash........................................................639
e4: Auto cISO Sensitivity Control ...............................................640
e5: Modeling Flash ............................................................................640
e6: Auto Bracketing (Mode M) ......................................................641
e7: Bracketing Order.........................................................................642
e8: Flash Burst Priority......................................................................643
f: Controls ..................................................................................................... 644
f1: Customize iMenu ....................................................................644
View Memory Card Info .........................................................645
Split-Screen Display Zoom ...................................................646
f2: Custom Controls (Shooting) ....................................................647
Command Dials ........................................................................658
f3: Custom Controls (Playback).....................................................659
Command Dials ........................................................................663
f4: Control Lock...................................................................................665
f5: Reverse Dial Rotation .................................................................666
f6: Release Button to Use Dial .......................................................666
f7: Reverse Indicators .......................................................................667
f8: Reverse Ring for Focus...............................................................667
f9: Focus Ring Rotation Range ......................................................668
f10: Control Ring Response............................................................669
f11: Full-Frame Playback Flicks .....................................................670
Flick Up/Flick Down .................................................................670
Flick Advance Direction .........................................................671
g: Video ......................................................................................................... 672
g1: Customize iMenu ...................................................................672
Multi-Selector Power Aperture ...........................................673
Multi Selector Exposure Comp. ...........................................673

19
Table of Contents
g2: Custom Controls .........................................................................674
Command Dials .........................................................................681
g3: Control Lock..................................................................................682
g4: Limit AF-Area Mode Selection ...............................................683
g5: Focus Mode Restrictions..........................................................683
g6: AF Speed........................................................................................684
g7: AF Tracking Sensitivity..............................................................685
g8: View Assist.....................................................................................685
g9: Zebra Pattern ...............................................................................686
Pattern Tone Range .................................................................686
Pattern ..........................................................................................686
Highlight Threshold .................................................................686
Mid-tone Range ........................................................................687
g10: Limit Zebra Pattern Tone Range.........................................688
g11: Grid Type.....................................................................................688
g12: Custom Monitor Shooting Display ....................................689
g13: Custom Viewfinder Shooting Display...............................691
DThe Playback Menu: Managing Pictures .............................................692
Delete..............................................................................................................693
Playback Folder ...........................................................................................694
Playback Display Options ........................................................................694
Delete Pictures from Both Slots.............................................................695
Dual-Format Recording PB Slot.............................................................695
Filtered Playback Criteria.........................................................................696
Picture Review .............................................................................................696
After Delete...................................................................................................697
After Burst, Show........................................................................................698
Rotate Tall......................................................................................................698
Copy Image(s)..............................................................................................699
Copying Pictures .......................................................................699

20 Table of Contents
BThe Setup Menu: Camera Setup ...............................................................706
Format Memory Card................................................................................708
Language ......................................................................................................708
Time Zone and Date..................................................................................709
Monitor Brightness .................................................................................... 709
Monitor Color Balance..............................................................................710
Viewfinder Brightness...............................................................................711
Viewfinder Color Balance ........................................................................712
Finder Display Size (Photo Lv) ...............................................................712
Limit Monitor Mode Selection...............................................................713
Auto Rotate Info Display..........................................................................713
AF Fine-Tuning Options...........................................................................714
Creating and Saving Fine-Tuning Values ........................716
Choosing a Default Fine-Tuning Value ............................717
Non-CPU Lens Data ...................................................................................718
Save Focus Position...................................................................................718
Sensor Shield Behavior at Power Off...................................................719
Clean Image Sensor...................................................................................719
Image Dust Off Ref Photo........................................................................720
Acquiring Image Dust Off Reference Data ......................720
Pixel Mapping..............................................................................................723
Image Comment.........................................................................................724
Input Comment ........................................................................724
Attach Comment ......................................................................724
Copyright Information .............................................................................725
Artist/Copyright ........................................................................725
Attach Copyright Information .............................................725