Nikon has developed many flagship SLRs over the years. The D6, announced in 2020, is a shining example of the perfection of this technology. The Z series boasts high-resolution images that surpass those of SLR cameras, but it is no easy task to surpass the performance of SLR cameras, which have reached a state of perfection through continuous technological innovation. Mr. Matsushima, who was in charge of product planning for the Z 9, explains, "Our concept for the Z 9 was to propose how Nikon's flagship mirrorless camera should be. If we were going to take on this endeavor, we needed to push our ideas and technology to a level beyond the norm. This is the kind of thinking that delivers the unexpected."

Meanwhile, Mr. Imamizu, who was in charge of product design, was exploring progress in a different area. "When it comes to design, I had a close understanding of the way photographers think, and I was conscious of how that could be used to get results that would be understood naturally, without explanation," he explains. "The ergonomics of Nikon cameras are designed to increase the area that touches the palm when gripped, to reduce the feeling of weight and physical load. To that end, we asked many staff members and professional photographers to handle the camera. We kept listening to the voices of real users and repeating shape adjustments right up until the deadline of mass production." With the aim of creating a camera that will mark a milestone as a leading global brand, Nikon is dedicated to pursuing both innovation and universal ergonomics. That is also a manifestation of Nikon's whole manufacturing philosophy.

"To ensure you never miss a moment, the Z 9 is designed so that you can operate almost everything with only your right hand, without taking your eyes off the viewfinder during shooting and image playback," says Mr. Saito of the development team. Furthermore, user-designated settings can be assigned to easily-accessible, customizable buttons for instant access to your own crucial functions. By integrating the vertical grip into the camera body and adopting the first 4-axis vertical and horizontal tilting monitor in a flagship, you can also shoot comfortably from any angle. The joints are thoroughly sealed^*1 for professional use in harsh environments. Not only that, but the NIKKOR Z lens and mount adapter are also dust and drip-resistant^*1 to achieve high reliability of the entire system.

They decided not to use a mechanical shutter, which has long had a symbolic meaning in the camera world. Removing the need for a mechanical shutter is another example of Nikon's technological advancement which pushes beyond what conventional wisdom thought possible. This innovation was brought to reality by the discovery that the stacked CMOS sensor's fast readout speed minimizes the rolling shutter distortion that used to afflict conventional electronic shutters. Mr. Saito further explains, "The Z 9 only has an electronic shutter. It was a big decision not to adopt a mechanical shutter, but that eliminated the worry of shutter wear, which was typically around 400,000 cycles, which brings you a different level of reliability. It also eliminates mechanical vibration, which is a big advantage when capturing high-definition images."

The EXPEED 7 image processing engine has made it possible to continuously shoot 45-megapixel RAW images at a high speed of approx. 20 frames per second and up to 1000 frames^*2 or more. This feature lets you continue to capture decisive moments without having to worry about buffer limits, even in competitions such as figure skating, where photo opportunities are abundant during a performance of around four minutes. These technological innovations in the Z 9 will unleash the limitless creativity of photographers and help them truly realize the meaning of "Unstoppable."

The Real-Live Viewfinder is a great help in pursuing your goals. I think this is a revolutionary feature and exceedingly useful because you can continue to follow the world seamlessly, without any blackout, while ensuring that you never miss a single moment. This has brought terrific improvements to shooting efficiency and productivity.

The Real-Live Viewfinder also enhances my work. It facilitates the framing of the composition, background, and key moments, and makes it easier to follow dynamic movements, so you won't miss the instant an athlete hits their peak performance. Instead, you can sensitively detect the moment and release the shutter with an assured reflex.

In sports shooting, we shoot continuously, with the focus on timing instead of always shooting with no clear intention; this means the presence or absence of blackout is a big deal. For example, with a snowboard half-pipe, each player flies out at a different height, so we need to visually determine the right time to release the shutter. The cool form of the athlete jumping out of the half-pipe is held for just a moment. Unpredictable movements like this are difficult to frame, but the Real-Live Viewfinder allows you to keep the ideal composition, so you can easily determine the best moment to capture that medal-winning move.

Silent shooting is also a nice feature. For example, the start of speed skating is very quiet, and shutter sounds violate etiquette because they distract the athletes. As a result, I've been hesitant and missed out on some shots, but what I really enjoyed about the Z 9 was that it let me shoot as much as I wanted.

I used to feel a vibration when the mechanical shutter was released, giving the impression that I had nailed the shot, so with the Z 9 without need for a mechanical shutter, which no longer vibrates, I tend to take too many pictures. The more convenient it becomes, the more I tend to forget the value of a single shot. I want to make a point of shooting at the exact moment I want to truly capture.

I recently shot various winter sports in extreme cold conditions, and I was able to truly experience the high reliability of the Z 9. Some photographers who used other brands' equipment had to use a USB charger because they didn't have enough battery power in the cold, but the Z 9 didn't need to be recharged until the end of the entire day of shooting.

The Z 9 isn't just about battery life. I was sending the RAW files I'd just shot to the editors in Stockholm via an Ethernet router in 5G — with quick access and smooth data transmission, I was able to send a large amount of high-quality images.

Also, thanks to the tilting monitor, it is now easier to take pictures that were previously difficult to shoot. When I shot a ski jumping competition with the D6, I had to lie in a puddle to capture a player jumping out to the air. Now with the Z 9, I did not need to do such things.

The Z 9 also has a powerful autofocus that keeps track of its subjects even in these kinds of challenging situations. Even during high-speed competitions such as downhill skiing, the Z 9 can capture sharp images within a few seconds of an athlete passing by.

It is very important for a sports photographer to be able to capture the moment. Not having to care about the sharpness of the picture means that the photographer can be more creative.

I believe that the camera must be a tool that faithfully reproduces the image I envision. When I feel "this is it" — that's when I want a camera to operate intuitively like it's an extension of my body. With the Z 9 in hand, you can immediately experience that feeling of synergy.