I have a jutting out eyebrow bone, enough so that I need an eyecup. I use the eyecup as a shock absorber between me and the camera. I pull the camera in hard against my eye to give it support when shooting. The DK-33 eyecup that comes with the Z 9 isn’t enough rubber for my eyebrow, it hurts when I pull it in tight. With the larger circle to permit the EVF sensor to work properly, previous eyecups don’t work so I’ve been on a hunt for an eyecup that will fit that diameter. I found one on Amazon, have made it work, and shot with it for a while. Here’s the hack if you wanna try it for yourself.

You start by removing the DK-33 from the Z 9. You do that by depressing the Eyecup locking button and turning it. It comes off really easily. WARNING!!! What comes next will toast your DK-33 and at the time of the posting of this blog, they were not available yet to replace one if you damage it in this process. I have not tried to “undo” what comes next so consider yourself warned. With the DK-33 removed, you peel off the rubber ring on the DK-33 and then “pop off” the thin, metal retaining ring that is on the DK-33. This will leave you with just a plastic ring your are going to attach the new eyecup to and reattach to the Z 9.

The eyecup I found that you see in the top photo that works perfectly on the Z 9 is the JJC EN-DK29II available on Amazon. The JJC EN-DK29II has a plastic mounting ring of its own so it can be used on a Z 7II / Z 6II. The eyecup just peels off the plastic mount just like it does with the DK-33. Peel it off and then simply slip it over the ring left from the DK-33. Rotate it back on the Z 9 and you’re good to go. At this point in time, I’ve shot quite a bit with it and it has not fallen off on its own and has survived in/out of the camera bag. As I said, it’s not perfect or ideal. For me, for the moment, it is more comfortable than the DK-33. Hope this helps.

I’ve longed for a simple, small (emphasize small), protective bag for my mirrorless kit and have tried a bunch and found my winner in the Think Tank Urban Access 13 (they do make larger 15). The features I was looking for is small (it’s 12x19x9) with one zip access to all my gear while holding all my mirrorless gear while providing full protection. As you can see, the UA13 easily holds my mirrorless kit easily (Z1.4x & Z2x are in the top compartment not pictured). The UA13 also provides two side zippered compartments making it easy to get to particular pieces of gear on the fly. I wanted a bag I could keep my gear in that I could grab and run out the door (or go to a job) and know I have everything I need in it and the UA13 accomplishes just that. At the same time, it stands up vertically no matter what is or isn’t in the bag and while not looking like a camera bag. I love this bag!

Like all Think Tank bags, it came with plenty of dividers and rain shield. It took me a few moments to decide how I wanted to pack the UA13 with my kit. The Z 9 / Z40f2 lie the way they do so they are easier to grab out of the side flap. The Z70-200f2.8 & Z14-24f2.8 are the two lenses I would probably grab on the fly the most which are why they are on the outside of the bag. The flap can accept a 13″ notebook but I have no need to carry that in my camera bag. There are plenty of little pockets in the side pocket doors, top compartment and the front for extra “stuff.” There are two expanding outside pouches I’ve used for my SB-5000. Going lighter is just so much fun and the Urban Access makes it real simple!

The Z 9 has been an incredibly positive influence on my photography. With the shooting experience, the shooting results, and the desire to shoot, the Z 9 has brought so much fun back to the click. This is by no means a review of the camera, it is not a complete “how to use” the Z 9, it is as titled a fireside chat talking about just the key aspects of the camera that get me excited every moment I’m shooting with it. I hope it helps you understand it a tad more and bring a little excitement to your Z 9 experience.

Here is my latest Z 9 Settings

It’s a great question I constantly get, “How do I travel with my gear?” I do it literally with photopacks I designed and Think Tank manufactured for years (now out of production. Last three weeks I’ve been working traveling with and working out of the MP-3 v2 you see above that holds:

Z 9 x2
180-400VR
Z70-200f2.8
Z24-70f2.8
Z14-24f2.8
Z1.4x
Z2x

I’ve flown on 767, 737, 175 & CRJ with this photopack going into the overhead of each and everyone with ease. As you might imagine, I love these bags. Here’s a bigger post on the whole line. I hope this answers this important question simply.

Subject size in the frame is often an important criterion in photography. Wildlife photography tends to want that subject frame filling. And there are times when you can’t get close physically so you depend on glass. That’s where often the teleconverter steps in. Nikon just released their new Z100-400 which is a gorgeous lens! Incredibly well balanced, built like a tank, and features a new, anti-creep technology that works brilliantly. I recently spent time with a lovely lady who owns a Z100-400 and is very generous and shares it. I spent time with it with the Z2x attached photographing birds at Big Sable State Park (great feeders there attracting birds). Shooting handheld from around the corner of the warming hut, the effective 800 f/11 performed brilliantly! The AutoFocus even in the low, dark light was spot on keeping up with the activity of the birds and the resulting images, beautifully sharp. It’s easy for me to recommend this great lens and teleconverter combo to you. I had a lot of fun shooting with it, thanks Carol!

It’s been quite the ride but my Gear Locker landscape has changed a whole bunch in the last few months. In fact, this photo I just took this morning is already obsolete as I just ordered a Z2x from Bedfords … but that’s the fun! You’ll find my Gear Locker page completely redone, remodeled, and updated. Besides gear, all gear videos and settings can be found there quickly and easily. Hope it helps give you some ideas and direction!