Nikon Z9vs Nikon Zf
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Professional Sports & Wildlife — Nikon Z9 (2021): The Z9 redefined what professional mirrorless could be — no mechanical shutter, 45MP stacked BSI, and 8K RAW in the most rugged Z body.
Street & Travel Photography — Nikon Zf (2023): Full-frame performance in a stunning retro body — the Zf's 8-stop IBIS and gorgeous design make it uniquely compelling.
Who should buy what
Nikon Z9 (2021)
- Professional sports, wildlife and photojournalism photographers
- Nikon D6 or D850 users making the final switch to mirrorless
- Those who need the fastest, most reliable AF Nikon has ever made
- Professionals who need a flagship body with no mechanical shutter
Nikon Zf (2023)
- Photographers who want full-frame Z quality in a retro-styled body
- Street and travel photographers attracted to the classic dial aesthetic
- Zfc owners who want to step up to full-frame without losing the retro design
- Anyone who wants the best-looking full-frame mirrorless available
Quick take: The nikon z9 has the highest resolution at 46mp; the nikon zf is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Nikon Z9 (2021) | Nikon Zf (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,499 | £1,699 |
| Sensor | 45.7MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS | 24.5MP Full-frame BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 45.7MP | 24.5MP |
| Video | 8K/30p RAW, 4K/120p, ProRes RAW | 4K/30p oversampled, FHD/120p, N-Log, 10-bit |
| Autofocus | Subject detection AF, 493-point phase-detect | Phase-detect 273 points, subject detection (human/animal/vehicle) |
| Stabilisation | 6-stop IBIS | 5-axis IBIS, 8.0 stops |
| Burst Rate | 20fps RAW / 120fps JPEG | 14fps mechanical, 30fps electronic |
| Battery Life | 740 shots (CIPA) | ~380 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 1340g body only | 710g with battery |
| Dimensions | 149.0 × 149.5 × 90.5mm | 144.0 × 103.0 × 49.0mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | 0.5" Quad-VGA OLED EVF, 3.69M dots, 120fps | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.80× magnification |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen | 3.2" vari-angle touchscreen |
| Mount | Nikon Z-mount | Nikon Z-mount (full-frame) |
| Memory Cards | Dual CFexpress Type B / XQD | Single SD UHS-II slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, LAN | USB-C 3.2, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Nikon Z9 | Nikon Zf |
|---|---|---|
| Sports & Action | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Photojournalism | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Travel | ||
| Street | — | |
| Portrait | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history