Nikon
Z9
Flagship stacked mirrorless with 45MP, 8K video, and no mechanical shutter.
$5,899
Released Oct 2021
Nikon
Zf
Retro-styled 24.5MP full-frame mirrorless with classic dials, EXPEED 7 AF, 8-stop IBIS, and 4K 60p video.
$2,049
Released Sep 2023
Zf is 1.9 years newer.
Wins
Z9
Wins
Zf
3 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- BZf has higher Burst (mechanical) (14 fps vs 0 fps)
- AZ9 has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 30 fps)
- BZf has higher ISO max (native) (64,000 vs 25,600)
- BZf has lower Weight (630 g vs 1340 g)
- AZ9 has higher 4K max frame rate (120 fps vs 60 fps)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
Z9
149 × 150 × 91 mm
1340 g (2.95 lb / 47.27 oz)
Zf
144 × 103 × 49 mm
630 g (1.39 lb / 22.22 oz)
Z9 is 5mm wider, 47mm taller, and 42mm thicker than Zf.
Z9 is 710 g heavier than Zf.
Depth (front-to-back): 91mm Z9 · 49mm Zf
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
Z9
149 × 150 mm
Zf
144 × 103 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
Z9
149 × 91 mm
Zf
144 × 49 mm
Sensor size, to scale
Z9
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
Zf
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
Z9
✓ more lensesNikon Z
90+
native lenses available
Zf
✓ more lensesNikon Z
90+
native lenses available
Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.
Use-case scoring
Which one for what?
Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class
Why pick one over the other
Reasons to choose
Z9
Codecs
Adds N-RAW, ProRes RAW HQ, ProRes 422 HQ…
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 149, 149.5, 90.5
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type B / XQD, CFexpress Type B / XQD
Burst (electronic)
120 fps vs 30 fps — higher is better
4K max frame rate
120 fps vs 60 fps — higher is better
Internal RAW video
Only Z9 supports it
Battery life (CIPA)
740 shots vs 380 shots — higher is better
Resolution
45.7 MP vs 24.5 MP — higher is better
Reasons to choose
Zf
AF low-light limit
-10 EV vs -8.5 EV — lower is better
Burst (mechanical)
14 fps vs 0 fps — higher is better
Codecs
Adds H.265/HEVC 8-bit, H.265/HEVC 10-bit, H.264/AVC 8-bit
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 144, 103, 49
Card types
Adds SD UHS-II, MicroSD UHS-I
ISO max (native)
64,000 vs 25,600 — higher is better
Weight
630 g vs 1340 g — lower is better
AA filter
Only Zf supports it
Both cameras share
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
- ✓Pre-Capture / Pre-Release — Both support pre-capture / pre-release
- ✓In-body stabilization — Both support in-body stabilization
- ✓Weather sealing — Both support weather sealing
- ✓Card slots — Both 2
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
Z9
Pros
- ✓45MP stacked
- ✓8K 60p internal
- ✓120fps stills
- ✓Pro build
Cons
- –Heavy body
- –Expensive
- –Large files
Zf
Pros
- ✓Beautiful retro design
- ✓273-point hybrid AF
- ✓8-stop IBIS
- ✓Fully articulated touchscreen
Cons
- –No grip extension standard
- –Mixed SD + MicroSD card slots
- –24.5MP only
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for video, Z9 or Zf?
Z9 scores 9.5/10 versus 6.0/10 for Zf — 8K recording for future-proof footage.
What's the resolution difference between the Z9 and Zf?
Z9 is 45.7 MP and Zf is 24.5 MP, so the Z9 captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the Z9 and Zf have in-body image stabilization?
Z9 has 6-stop in-body image stabilization, while zf has 8-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the Z9 or the Zf?
Z9 reaches 120 fps electronic. Zf reaches 30 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the Z9 and Zf?
Z9 weighs 1340 g and Zf weighs 630 g, so the Zf is 710 g lighter.
Do the Z9 and Zf record 4K video?
Z9: 8K UHD (max), 4K up to 120p. Zf: 4K up to 60p.
Are the Z9 and Zf weather sealed?
Z9: Yes. Zf: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 740 shots (CIPA) for the Z9 and 380 shots for the Zf, giving the Z9 the edge.
How much does each cost?
Z9 launched at $5,899 and Zf at $2,049. The Zf is $3,850 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of Nikon press materials.