Robust and versatile design ; 120fps shooting; 8K video recording ;

Expensive; Large and heavy body; Additional cost of CFexpress or XQD card ;

Nikon was the last of the big three to reveal its hand. Its flagship Nikon Z9 is right up there as most accomplished of them all and one of the best cameras for photography you can buy.

The Nikon Z9 is perhaps the most complete camera we've ever tested. It shoots excellent 45MP images at up to 30fps (20 with Raw), it captures 8K video in everything from 8-bit MP4s to 12-bit N-Raw. Its autofocus system is both powerful and easy to use and works well for both stills and video. It's larger and heavier than some of its rivals, which make it less well suited to some applications, but overall it combines the best of a DSLR and a video camera in a single body.

Sports, photojournalism, wedding and events, video;

Travel photography where size and weight are critical.;

The Nikon Z9 is perhaps the most complete camera we've ever tested. It shoots excellent 45MP images at up to 30fps (20 with Raw), it captures 8K video in everything from 8-bit MP4s to 12-bit N-Raw. Its autofocus system is both powerful and easy to use and works well for both stills and video.

Sports, photojournalism, wedding and events, video

Travel photography where size and weight are critical.

The Nikon Z9 offers just about everything professional and enthusiast photographers might want from a camera. It’s big and heavy for a mirrorless camera, but it’s also twin-gripped, weather-sealed and a bit lighter than the Nikon D6.

New 45.7Mp full-frame sensor sensor, Advanced AF system, Durable, weatherproof build

No mechanical shutter, Firmware updates to come in 2022 to get the full video feature set

This is not a full review of the Z9. It’s just a brief chance to see how the camera performed during an afternoon of track shooting. As you’d expect the Z9 effortlessly dealt with the cyclists with minimal effort on my part.

It has all the typical shoot assists you would expect; focus peaking, zebras, even with tonal range, audio meters and a histogram. But that’s it, which is where it’s limited. But those are enough to get you by.