It’s a big list of updates, it follows below. You can grab the firmware here. A new Shutter mode has been added, allowing the user to set the shutter angle to one of 15 steps between 5.6° and 360°.* This eliminates the need to select a shutter speed whenever the frame rate is adjusted, allowing users to always achieve optimal motion blur at the desired frame rate.

Note: The changes listed below under “Video Recording” and “Controls” are detailed in the Supplementary Firmware Update Manual.

Note: Due to the addition of new menu items, some Custom Settings menu items have been renumbered.

■ Video Recording

• Hi-Res Zoom is now available when the image area is set to “DX”.
• Added a [Power/Hi-Res Zoom collab]* item to the [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU] in position of g10.
• Added a [Shutter mode] item to the [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU] in position of g13.
• Added [Zebra pattern color] to g15 [Zebra pattern] in the [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU].
• Added options for customizing the brightness information display to g18 [Brightness information display] in the [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU].

* This feature may be available with NIKKOR Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ lenses (as of November 2024).

■ Controls

• Added [Save and load power zoom position]* to f2 [Custom controls (shooting)] and g2 [Custom controls] in the [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU].
• Added a [Zoom ring control (PZ lens)]* item to the [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU] in position of f10.
• Custom Settings f12 and g9 in the [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU] is now [Assign power zoom]. In addition, [Power zoom speed] has been divided into two items: [Power zoom speed (zoom buttons)] and [Power zoom speed (zoom switch)]*.
• The following items can now be saved and loaded using [Save/load menu settings] in the [SETUP MENU]:
– [Location data (built-in)] > [Record location data] in the setup menu
– [Retouch] > [Customize retouch options] in the playback “i” menu (from “C” firmware version 5.00).

* This feature may be available with NIKKOR Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ lenses (as of November 2024).

■ Other Changes

• Added [Power zoom speed (zoom buttons)] to the roles assignable to the “i” menu via [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU] > f1 and g1 [Customize menu].
• Fixed the following issues:
– The camera would sometimes stop responding if the [C30] high-speed frame capture + option was selected for [Release mode] and the shutter-release button was pressed halfway shortly after zooming in the monitor shooting display (live view).
– Pressing the AF-ON button did not end the zoomed-in display in manual focus when:
▸ The AF-ON button was set to either [AF-ON] or [AF-area mode + AF-ON], and
▸ [ON] was selected for d19 or g17 [Half-press to cancel zoom (MF)] in the [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU].
– The viewfinder and monitor shooting displays (live view) sometimes caused overexposures when the standby timer had expired and reactivated.
– In rare circumstances, photos would be overexposed when taken using [Recall shooting functions (hold)] assigned to a custom control.
– Buffer capacity sometimes dropped with some CFexpress memory cards.
– In rare circumstances, the camera would stop responding or the viewfinder and monitor shooting displays (live view) would be corrupted after burst photography when:
▸ [ON] was selected for [Photo flicker reduction] in [PHOTO SHOOTING MENU].
– RAW videos recorded under the following conditions would appear too bright when played back with compatible computer software.
▸ Either [N-RAW 12-bit (NEV)] or [ProRes RAW HQ 12-bit (MOV)] was selected for [Video file type] and [SDR] for [Tone mode].
▸ ISO 100 or below was selected for [ISO sensitivity settings].
– In slow network speed environments, the camera would be slower to respond when zoomed in or out on photos while uploading to the FTP server if:
▸ [ON] was selected for [Connect to FTP server] > [Options] > [Auto upload] in [NETWORK MENU], or
▸ An option other than [Off] was selected for [Connect to FTP server] > [Options] > [Upload in HEIF format] in [NETWORK MENU].

Every lens I’ve ever owned that accepts a filter has had a filter. Always has and always will ’cause life is tough on glass. When you come back from an A2A, stand a lens front element down, and you come back and find a puddle of oil, you thank your lucky stars you had a filter attached! In the field when goober hits that front, I fog it with my breath, hit it with the cleanest part of my shirt, and keep on going. Those filters give their life so I can keep on going!

It’s time to replace four of them on the Z400f4.5, Z70-200f2.8, Z50f1.2, and Z24-70f2.8. It just so happens that the new Arcrest II filters literally just started shipping (reached out to my friends at Bedfords!). One cannot miss that gold box, it’s a standout. I love what they have done to the filter ring. What Nikon did, I haven’t a clue but it feels so robust though it is a tad slimmer than the stand NC filter. According to the User’s Manual, the ARCREST II uses “Nikon’s proprietary “Flat plane system” technology for mounting to frames, loads on the glass has been significantly reduced minimizing glass distortion.” That translates to me as just Nikon magic (or great engineering).

It’s the glass that makes these the gold standard (couldn’t help myself). This is how Nikon explains the glass, “ARCREST II Protection Filters are crafted by Nikon utilizing high-performance glass, to protect your Nikon lenses. The filters are designed with a “Zero-One AR Coating” for ultra-low reflections and easy cleaning of water or oil residue. An anti-static coating reduces the adhesion of dust and dirt onto the filter’s surface. The ARCREST II high-performance protection filters preserve as much of the lens’s imaging power as possible, improving optical performance with attention to detail in every area.”

Arcrest II, the Gold Standard!

Your Nikon body comes with a plastic hot shoe cover. It’s there for an important reason, keep those contacts clean. Mirrorless bodies, I think they are essential to keep moisture out of that socket and the electronics below. They are always in the hot shoe except when a flash or Miops or Shotgun Mic is inserted then that plastic cap goes in a pocket. Being so light, I have lost too many and always have extra in my kit as they are that important. Nikon USA is now importing the metal versions and mine just came in. Being metal, there is heft to them and I can easily remember they are in my pocket. You can only get them via Nikon’s online store. They come in white or black, what you see above is the black version and I love it!

This is one fun, fine, mighty little camera! My apologies for the delay in getting my Z 6III setting posted, but here ya go! While these are my settings for the Z 6III, they are here to provide you a starting point in your adventures with this schweet little body. Have Fun!

I truly love this little ity bity sharp lens! Look closely, it’s the height of the 2x the rear lens cap, it’s that small (w/o its shade that comes with it that I don’t use). Its front element is so small the lens cap slips over the entire lens, what there is of it. It doesn’t even stick out on the body as far as the body hand grip. Did I mention, it’s sharp? Why did I get it? Well, it’s cute as a button which is obvious. Its small size means I can drop it into any pocket when I go out shooting with the Z 9 / Z 8 and the Z600f4TC and have a wide angle with me. Did I mention, it’s sharp? I know I’ve not mentioned yet that it’s got straight-line rendition. It was a no-brainer after shooting with Chuck’s to call Bedford’s and a couple of days later, I too had the amazing Z26f2.8!

The Z 8 is simply a great camera, hands down! The Z 9 is my primary camera but the Z 8 gets just as pounded in the field rounding out the kit, adding strength to the kit. One thing I love about the Z 8 is its smaller size, getting into places where the Z 9 simply can’t but of late, I’ve wanted a little more oomph. For example, when I set up the Z 8 to do a time lapse or long period of video, I need more battery time. Up in a plane on a photo mission, the Z 8 has the Z24-120 as a second body for some shots and I desire for surface to hold on to. The examples keep going on. I was thinking of buying another Z 9 to solve these problems but I didn’t need that extra “bulk” that often to justify the additional Z 9. Well, The MB-N12 (thanks Bedfords for getting it to me in a day!) solves the need perfectly while adding a great perk!

The MB-N12 holds two EN-EL15c batteries (the one in the Z 8 is removed) providing nearly 2x the battery power / battery life. They are in a tray that permits hot battery swamping (you can replace the dead battery and not shut down the camera). The really cool thing I think is the USBc charging. You can plug the MB-N12 in, without the Z 8 attached, and charge the two batteries at once! This means for me, leaving the Z 8 battery charger at home almost zeroing the weight and size increase in my luggage and always have the MB-N12 with me if I need it or not. The increase in battery life solves my needs perfectly. The extra “grip” along with the vertical firing button is perfect for my A2A photo missions and the best part is, I still have a small camera. When I don’t need that bulk, I just remove the MB-N12! It’s simply a beautiful duo, the Z 8 and MB-N12.