New Nikon Z9 Firmware Update

credits: Nikon

Nikon has rolled out firmware version 5.30 for the Z9, continuing what has been a pretty remarkable run of post-launch support for its flagship mirrorless camera. Even though the Z9 has been around since late 2021, Nikon is still pushing meaningful updates rather than just maintenance fixes. This release lands more than a year after the major 5.00 update and builds on the smaller 5.20 update from earlier this year.

The headline of the update is autofocus. Nikon says subject acquisition, tracking, and overall stability have been noticeably improved, especially for fast-moving subjects like athletes and wildlife. Subject detection powered by Nikon’s deep-learning system now works across more AF modes, including single-point and dynamic AF, instead of being locked to specific configurations. There is also a new option to quickly toggle subject detection on or off via a custom button, which should be useful for photographers who like to switch approaches on the fly. Another practical addition is an in-camera focus limiter, letting users define specific focus ranges to prevent the camera from hunting, a feature that first appeared on the Z8.

Auto Capture, which turns the Z9 into a smart remote camera, also gets ‘smarter’. It now supports face detection and a new AF standby position, making it more reliable for unattended sports or wildlife setups. On the imaging side, firmware 5.30 adds Flexible Color Picture Control, allowing you to create and preview custom looks in NX Studio and load them directly into the camera. Smaller updates round things out, including higher live-view magnification, expanded AF area options, new monochrome profiles, improved audio controls, and refined HDMI output behavior.

Firmware 5.30 is available now from Nikon’s download centre here