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Colorado Adventure and Editorial Photographer

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Z9 Firmware update with dedicated bird tracking

October 4, 2023 • Gear Talk

Nikon has done an admirable job with updating features in the Z9 through firmware updates.  Not just little tweaks, but completely new shooting modes and much better performance.  Just about a day ago Nikon announced firmware 4.10 with a dedicated bird tracking mode, and after testing it today, I’d say one thing; it works!

The new mode gives you a ‘bird’ animal mode.  Choose this, and your Z9 will have improved performance tracking birds.  I found some birds to photograph near my house, and what I notice is this new mode sticks really well to the bird’s eyes, and doesn’t get fooled locking onto other parts of the bird.  Locking onto a goldfinch near our house I used 3D tracking mode and the Z9 just stuck to the bird’s eye.  I can’t wait to experiment more with Wide Area and Auto Area mode, I would expect similar results.

If you are photographing birds and mammals at the same time, just keep your camera set to Animal detection as before so the camera will track all wildlife subjects.  But I am very excited to try out this new mode photographing eagles in Alaska and cranes at Bosque, it will be fantastic.  Keep those firmware updates coming Nikon!

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