It’s official: Nikon announces development of flagship mirrorless Z9DPR 11 March, 2021Following confirmation last week that it was working on a professional mirrorless Z-series camera, Nikon has officially announced the development of the Z9. Scheduled for release some time this year, the Z9 will use a ‘newly developed’ stacked CMOS sensor and processing engine. The image accompanying the announcement shows a camera larger than the Z6/Z7 II, with what appears to be an integrated vertical grip. At present, no other images are available but we will update our coverage with additional assets as and when they’re made public.The Z9 is a pro-grade mirrorless camera with an integrated vertical grip. This high-resolution rendering appears to show a D6-style control cluster on the upper right (viewed from the front) of the top panel. it also shows a ‘Format’ option associated with the red video record button – likely one half of a traditional Nikon 2-button format shortcut.Confirmation of support for 8K video strongly suggests that this sensor will be based on the same chip that we’ve seen in Sony’s flagship sports and action camera, the Alpha 1. That’s all we know for now, but Nikon promises that the Z9 will represent ‘ultimate usability as a tool’, which – coupled with previously-published remarks from an executive to DPReview that the new camera was ‘developed with the goal of surpassing the D6’ – hints at a professional workhorse, designed as much for ruggedness as performance.Read our interview with Nikon’s Keiji Oishi (published March 5th)Press release:March 9, 2021: NIKON IS DEVELOPING THE NIKON Z 9 FULL-FRAME FLAGSHIP MIRRORLESS CAMERAMELVILLE, NY – Nikon Inc. is pleased to announce the development of the first flagship model for which the Nikon Z mount has been adopted: The Nikon Z 9. The full-frame (Nikon FX-format) mirrorless camera is scheduled for release in 2021, and represents a significant leap in technology and performance.The Z 9 brings together Nikon’s groundbreaking technologies to deliver the best still and video performance in Nikon history, meeting the advanced needs of professionals in a wide range of genres. It utilizes a newly developed FX-format stacked CMOS sensor and new image-processing engine. In response to the growing needs of professionals, advanced enthusiasts and cinematographers, it includes support for 8K video recording as well as various other video specifications that fulfill diverse needs and workflows. The Z 9 embodies ultimate usability as a tool, offering users an unprecedented imaging experience from capture to workflow exceeding that of previous digital-SLR and mirrorless cameras.Information regarding the release of this product will be announced at a later date.For more information about current Nikon products, including the Nikon Z series camera line and NIKKOR Z lens lineup, please visit www.nikonusa.com.