After the official presentation of the Nikon Z9 it seems that the new model has raised quite a lot of expectation. Some say it’s the big surprise of the decade and, according to Nikon Rumors, the pre-order list far exceeds previous models. But have its definitive features lived up to expectations? Do youhow it stands against the competition?
Already at the beginning of this year we made a comparison of what we could expect from Nikon and Canon to face the then recently presented Sony A1, a model that was a coup for this brand. And of course, many we hoped I had a reply by the other two; then we were talking about hypothetical “Nikon Z1” and “Canon EOS R1” that have finally become Nikon Z9 and Canon EOS R3.
Beyond the names, let us remember that they are models that were practically claimed since autumn 2018, when both Canon and Nikon were thrown (with very little difference of days) to the “ring” of the full frame mirrorless (which was inaugurated precisely by Sony). But they did it with cameras that, while notable, were clearly not on par with their professional models, the Canon EOS 1Dx Mark III and Nikon D6.
Now finally their catalogs already have a clearly professional model and we already have the complete specifications to compare the bet in this area of the three manufacturers that dominate the market. They are certainly not fully comparable cameras, but still, we are going to compare them through their data:
Nikon Z9 specs vs. rivals
Nikon Z9 | Canon EOS R3 | Sony A1 | |
---|---|---|---|
SENSOR RESOLUTION | 45.7 MP | 24.1 MP | 50.1 MP |
PROCESSOR | Expeed 7 | DIGIC X | BIONZ XR |
FOCUS SYSTEM | Hybrid phase detection / contrast detection AF with 493-point AF assist | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with 759 AF points | Fast Hybrid Phase-detection / Contrast-detection AF) 759 (PDAF), 425 (CDAF) |
TRIP SPEED | 20 fps / up to 120 fps with cropped sensor. Electronic shutter only | 30/12 fps (electronic / mechanical shutter) | 30 fps |
ISO SENSITIVITY | 64 to 25,600 IS0 (32 to 102,400 extended) | ISO 100 to 102,400 (50-204,800 expanded) | ISO 100 to 32,000 |
MEASUREMENT RANGE | -3 to +17 EV | EV -3 – 20 | EV-3 to EV20 |
VIEWFINDER | 1.27 cm 3690K OLED EVF | 0.5 ”and 5.76 MP OLED EVF with 100% coverage and 0.76x magnification | 9.44M-dot OLED EVF |
REAR SCREEN | 8 cm diagonal TFT touch screen tilting LCD, 170 ° viewing angle and approx. 2100K points. | 8.01 cm (3.2 “) Clear View LCD II, approx. 4.15 million dots Angle of view approx. 170 ° | 3.0 ″ TFT-LCD (1.44 MP) |
IMAGE STABILIZATION | 5-axis sensor displacement | IS with sensor shift up to 8 steps | Up to 5.5 steps |
IMAGE FORMATS | NEF (RAW) and JPEG | JPEG, HEIF and RAW (RAW / C-RAW) | RAW (two compression options), JPEG and HEIF |
MAXIMUM VIDEO QUALITY | 7680 x 4320 (8K UHD): 30p (progressive) / 25p / 24p | 6K DCI (17: 9) 6000 x 3164 (59.94, 50, 29.97, 25, 24, 23.98 fps) RAW | XAVC HS 8K: 7680 x 4320 (4: 2: 0, 10-bit, NTSC) (approx.): 30p (400/200 Mbps), 24p (400/200 Mbps), 7680 x 4320 (4: 2: 0, 10 bit, PAL) (approx.): 25p (400/200 Mbps) |
STORAGE | Two CFexpress or XQD cards | CFexpress 1.0 Type B slot and SD / SDHC / SDXC UHS-II slot | Double SD card slot UHS-I / II / CFexpress type A |
CONNECTIVITY | USB type C connector, HDMI type A, RJ-45, audio minijack and remote terminal of ten contacts / Ethernet IEEE 802.11b / g / n / a / ac and Bluetooth 5.0 | HDMI micro type D output, microphone input, headphone jack and N3 / WiFi type terminal, Bluetooth low consumption and Ethernet | Micro USB 3.2 connector, micro and headphone minijack connector, LAN terminal and multi-interface shoe / Bluetooth 5.0 and WiFi IEEE 802.11a / b / g / n / ac |
AUTONOMY | – | With LCD: approx. 860 shots (at 23 ° C) With viewfinder: Approx. 620 shots (at 23 ° C) | 430 shots approx. (viewfinder) / 530 shots approx. (LCD screen) |
DIMENSIONS | 149 x 149.5 x 90.5 mm | 150 x 142.6 x 87.2 mm | 128.9 x 96.9 x 69.7mm |
PES0 | 1,160 grams | 822 grams | 737 grams |
PRICE (BODY) | $ 5,500 | 6,299.99 euros | 7,300 euros |
Resolution and speed
We are going to comment on the data from the three cameras because it is clear that there are striking things. Of course, logically it is a comparison on paper, with pure and hard data, since the Nikon is not yet available (the other two we have been able to test). We start with the resolution data, one of the key things about a camera. Well, after confirming that the Canon was in a “modest” 24.1 MP we were in doubt as to what the megapixel figure of the Nikon was going to be; and, finally, it has not disappointed: 45.7 MP.
It is true that this resolution does not reach the 50.1 MP from the Sony A1, but it stays very close; and it certainly gets quite a bit above the Canon. Another issue would be to know the origin of this sensor, since it is publicly known that many of those that use Nikon have been manufactured by Sony.
Another of the data that always attracts more attention is the shooting speed, where the Nikon has given one of lime and another of sand. And it is that he arrives presuming to be able to shoot 120 fps, but it is a modality in which the resolution is cut down to a modest 11 MP; if we want full resolution photos we can shoot at 30 fps but only in JPEG, so that to have full resolution and RAW format we are left in “only” 20 fps.
That is, on the one hand it is ahead and on the other it is behind the 30 fps of its competitors, although it promises an endless continuous shooting. By the way, here is an interesting novelty: the Nikon Z9 directly discards the use of the mechanical shutter.
Another important topic to compare is the AF system, an already much more subjective matter. If we look only at the pure data, that of the focus points, the Nikon lags a bit behind by having “only” 493 AF points, in front of 759 from its competitors; yes, standing out for offering up nine types of different subjects for follow-up.
Of course we could not stop talking about video, now that it seems that cameras are increasingly looking to be more hybrid. Well, here the Nikon comes stomping because it is the first capable of recording in 8K 60p, when the Sony stays in 8K 30p (and the Canon stays in 6K). Of course, this capacity will not be available from the beginning, we will have to wait for a firmware update during 2022.
On the positive side, it seems that it will come very well prepared so as not to have overheating problems or recording limits, since it promises to capture more than two hours 8K 30p video.
Other interesting data to compare: the sensitivity of all of them is very similar, although the Nikon stands out for starting at ISO 64; As for the light measurement range, it is also practically traced in all three. Of course, another thing will be to see how they behave in practice (also in the case of AF), which is already “another matter.”
Physical issues
But we are talking about concrete data, and in that sense there are two very important: the size and weight of the cameras. Well, now that we know the Nikon in more detail we can say that this camera is the largest of the three and the heaviest, exceeding the kilo of weight (1,160 gr) to which not even the Canon (822 gr) nor the Sony (737 gr).
Of course, both Nikon and Canon adopt the typical design of pro cameras, with the integrated vertical grip, which makes the confrontation with the Sony more complicated. Still, we are going to see a comparison of its size that we have been able to make thanks to Digital Camera Size Comparison:
For users of the brand who can consider the jump from the reflex to the mirrorless, here goes the comparison: the Nikon Z9 it’s just a little smaller and lighter than the Nikon D6; in particular, approximately one centimeter less in width and length (and only 1.5 mm thick) and 90 grams less. But let’s look at it visually:
In the image it is well appreciated that, indeed, the change is much more in design than in size, and it seems that when creating it the power and capacity has weighed more than reducing weight and size. In this sense, the Canon EOS R3 is the winner, since they have managed to make a camera smaller than its direct competitor. The Sony, due to its design without vertical grip, is the smallest and lightest … as long as the photographer is willing to give up a better grip.
Other issues to consider are things like the rear screen, which only in the case of the Canon is fully folding; Both the Nikon and the Sony allow you to fold it up or down.
We cannot talk about issues such as autonomy, the quality of the viewfinder or the resistance and quality of construction for obvious reasons, but we wanted to mention them because, without a doubt, they are important for professionals.
Finally we have the question of price. In the absence of confirming in how many euros the $ 5,500 that the Nikon will cost in the American market, it seems that the Nikon and Canon will stay in a fairly even price, and well below the Sony which clearly is the mask from far.
Conclusions
With all these data (which we have tried to be as objective as possible) in hand we can ask ourselves Which of the three is better? But before trying to answer, we must return to something we said at the beginning: it is not about cameras fully equivalent. Starting because we already know that the Canon EOS R3 is slightly below its sister the Canon EOS 1Dx Mark III, and that the brand has already confirmed that they are working on a superior model (a hypothetical EOS R1). That explains the “low” resolution of this model, which is clearly very aimed at a more restricted audience.
As for Sony, as you will know his family Alpha It has many models, so we could have included in this comparison other cameras such as the Sony A7R IV, which would be the one with the highest resolution, the Sony A9 II, which would be the “queen” of speed, or even the Sony A7S III, the best prepared model for video.
The Sony A1 would be a bit the best of them all, and an excellent example that there is no reason to give up anything or have to choose between speed or resolution. That itself seems to be what the Nikon Z9 proposes, which offers a very powerful camera for all kinds of uses And, there is no doubt, it is a blow on the table of a brand that has recently gone through significant difficulties.
So let’s get back to the question, which is better? Well, feeling it a lot, you will understand that we are not going to get wet. But not for nothing, but because there are many things that are difficult to compare, and even less without being able to try them all together. On the other hand, we are talking about cameras that offer the best features on the markettherefore capable of satisfying almost any photographer.
Finally, we are very aware that in a possible election issues such as brand preferences and the inheritance received from the photographer (in which we have to abstain) will weigh heavily. So the choice is left to you.Which one would you choose? Do you think the Nikon Z9 is the best professional mirrorless and has outperformed the Canon EOS R3 and Sony A1?