Capture the Thrill of Speed of Aviation and Racing with the Nikon Z 9

With the proliferation of air shows, race car rallies, and Formula 1 events, aviation and race car photography and videography have never been more accessible. All you need is a Nikon Z 9 and a few NIKKOR lenses, and you’re already on your way to capturing the excitement and drama of the track and skies. Whether you’re capturing the intense speed of race cars or the majestic flight of planes, the Z 9’s advanced features ensure you get every shot and action sequence you’re looking for. 

The Nikon Z 9’s versatility and speed are on full display when it comes to capturing the raw power and exhilarating thrill of planes as they rip through the clouds — or a stream of race cars as they whip past. For professional or amateur photographers and cinematographers alike, the Z 9 and its numerous standout features like its 45.7-megapixel stacked CMOS sensor help bring your incredibly detailed full-frame shots to life. This high pixel density means that even if your subjects are at a distance, you can crop your images significantly while still keeping most details, making it perfect for encapsulating the pulse of fast-paced action.

The Z 9 also sports an impressive range of shooting modes that cater to fast-paced situations. Its ability to shoot up to 30 frames per second (fps) at full resolution or 120 fps at 11 megapixels ensures you never miss a moment, freezing the action while achieving the overriding imperative of capturing the raw intensity of speed in the frame. The camera’s intelligent autofocus system, powered by a deep learning algorithm, maintains accurate focus on fast-moving subjects like a race car rounding a bend or a plane soaring through the sky.

Regardless of the machine you’re capturing, you won’t miss a moment with the Nikon Z 9’s Auto Capture and Pre-Release Capture modes. Able to anticipate action moments before you fully depress the shutter button, Pre-Release Capture is designed to capture the action that you may have missed in a split second. It essentially buffers images while the shutter button is depressed, so when it is fully released, up to one second of images are recorded before the shutter release. An innovative feature that ensures you get every action shot, regardless of your reaction time.

Whether you’re using the Z 9 for aerial or motorsports photography and videography, the Auto Capture function is a true game-changer. This feature allows the camera to automatically capture subjects based on predefined settings, making it ideal for photographers and videographers juggling multiple devices. It’s especially useful when the camera is placed in hard-to-reach locations, freeing you from having to be physically present to make adjustments. 

With the flexibility of [C15] and [C60] modes, on top of the usual [C30] and [C120], you can capture high-intensity moments at your preferred burst rates based on the expected subject’s action. This also helps minimise unnecessary memory usage and encourages a workflow efficiency. The [C15] mode, perfect for precise shots, is also available with Pre-Release Capture, ensuring you never miss an action-packed moment.

Enhanced with varying customisable Fn buttons and other operational features from auto image rotation for stills to expanded custom control functions, the Z 9 makes it even easier and smoother when framing moments in the sky or on the asphalt.

When it comes to capturing motorsports, the Z 9 excels on both the track and in the pits. The primary objective is to capture the intense, blistering speeds of cars as they torpedo past. Mastering this effect requires keeping a perfect focus on the body of the car and its driver while the background and wheels blur, conveying that sense of speed.

This is where the Z 9’s speed comes in handy. Its electronic shutter grants it the ability to shoot at an incredible 1/32000 seconds allowing you to capture every detail at the track. With shutter priority mode, the camera offers the flexibility of choosing the length of time the shutter stays open, compensating for aperture even when tracking a fast-moving vehicle and shooting in continuous mode. 

When it comes to documenting with video, the Z 9 exhibits one of the longest 8K UHD 30p internal capture times — up to 125 minutes. Multi-cam setups can be used to visualise the action from all angles, and with the camera’s ability to support both N-RAW and 12-bit video shooting in Pro Res Raw HQ, different pieces of complementary third-party accessories can be integrated seamlessly with one another. N-RAW format allows for shooting up to 8K 12-bit video to capture an immense amount of detail and dynamic range. 

Further leverage the Z 9’s ability to extract detailed high-resolution stills from videos recorded in H.264 or H.265 video formats, allowing for a flexibility of shooting for prolonged periods so you’ll never miss a moment.

Whether from the ground or another plane, aerial imaging and video present unique challenges that the Z 9 is well-equipped to handle. The camera is equipped with airplane detection within its versatile AF subject detection system (of up to 9 subject types!), capable of tracking a host of different plane types. Using 3D tracking, users have the convenient ability to switch subjects using the thumbstick to track multiple planes in flight. 

The in-body Vibration Reduction and blackout-free electronic viewfinder offer its users even more precision when panning rapidly to track accelerating aircraft without missing a beat. 

Whether you’re capturing from ground or air, the Z 9’s Active D-Lighting shines, helping preserve details for planes on the ground, especially during early morning or late afternoon when lighting conditions veer towards the dramatic.

When it comes to capturing modern machines in action, there’s no better pairing than the Nikon Z 9 and NIKKOR Z mirrorless telephoto lenses. The Nikon Z 9’s compatibility with Z mount lenses enhances its versatility and performance, seamlessly providing superior image quality and functionality. 

Turbulent environments and jaw-rattling jolts are all too commonplace when shooting from a moving vehicle or plane. The lens’ advanced optics and the camera’s powerful sensor work together to produce stunning images with minimal distortion and maximum clarity. This combination is an optimal match for aviation and motorsport photography, where capturing fast-moving subjects with precision is crucial. 

With the Z 9 in hand, you’re equipped to turn every thrilling moment into a storytelling moment, whether on the track or in the skies.