With the Z6 II and Z7 II coming next week, new information has surfaced online about a new mirrorless camera currently in development and if true, this might be a new flagship that would put Nikon back in the contending race with Sony and Canon.
According to Nikon Rumors (who credit their source as reliable), the camera will be called the Nikon Z9 and it would be available around this time next year. Rumoured specs put this camera on par with the Canon EOS R5 while having the body of a professional DSLR (which is weird because mirrorless cameras are supposed to be small. The presumption would be that the size is to help the camera deal with possible overheating issues). Below are some of the specs:
- Nikon Z9 is expected in the fall of 2021
- The Z9 is described as a D6 body combined with EOS R5 imaging, α9II like auto-focus system
- 46 Megapixel
- 20 fps burst mode
- Videos at 8K/30p, 4K/120/60/30p
- New EXPEED processor designed for 8K
- Improved AF (Object detection AF)
- Two XQD/CFX type B memory card slots
- ISO 64 – 25,600, Hi1, Hi2
- High resolution, blackout-free EVF
- New user interface
- New battery: Nikon EN-EL18x
- Gbit LAN, USB-C, WiFi, GPS
- Price: $6,000 – $7,000
Alongside the camera, the source says Nikon will release a new Nikkor Z 400mm f/2.8 mirrorless lens that will probably be Beta tested before/during the Tokyo Olympics alongside the camera.
There’s no official from Nikon but with the company gearing up to release the updated Z6 and Z7 bodies if at all there’ll be an announcement, it will come at the end of the year or the first quarter of next year.
__
