Z9 or not Z9? (Page 2): If I felt that way I would never have made it to Iceland. OH so glad we went! Wanna go back! :sm04:...

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

kpmac wrote:

... I don't see the benefit of a one-time trip for that amount of money. That's just me.

If I felt that way I would never have made it to Iceland.
OH so glad we went!
Wanna go back!

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Keep the D500 and go to Costa Rica.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

ClarkJohnson wrote:

I have a not-so-hypothetical question for this knowledgeable and opinionated group. I primarily shoot birds and sometimes other wildlife, using a D500 and 500 PF. I get good and sometimes great results, and the usual share of unfocused images. With about $6,000 in hand, would you A) purchase a Nikon z9 OR B) take a trip to a spectacular birding location (e.g., Costa Rica). While the ideal answer is « both, » that is not an option for this discussion.

My keep rate when I owned a D500 was just about 98%.
My question is, if your not getting that kind of result, what makes you think a Z9 will change things?

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Rongnongno wrote:

From what I read and a friend who has purchased a Z7... The Z9 has video capabilities the Z7 does not. The rest is identical. Since he does not shoot videos...

Now if you have the $$$ are drooling and may start shooting video, it is a good choice, onerous but good.

As to the trip, this is your life.

The Z9 and Z7 are NOT identical. Not even close. What are you smoking these days?

mikeroetex Loc: Lafayette, LA

Rongnongno wrote:

From what I read and a friend who has purchased a Z7... The Z9 has video capabilities the Z7 does not. The rest is identical. Since he does not shoot videos...

Now if you have the $$$ are drooling and may start shooting video, it is a good choice, onerous but good.

As to the trip, this is your life.

Hmmm, never seen my former Z7 rip off 20,30, 120 fps.

huemax Loc: High Point, NC

Remember the solid golden rule; A CAMERA NEVER TAKE PHOTOS, YOU DO. I noticed for past 60 years, wise pro's use the money for themselves rather than camera store and manufactures.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

ClarkJohnson wrote:

I have a not-so-hypothetical question for this knowledgeable and opinionated group. I primarily shoot birds and sometimes other wildlife, using a D500 and 500 PF. I get good and sometimes great results, and the usual share of unfocused images. With about $6,000 in hand, would you A) purchase a Nikon z9 OR B) take a trip to a spectacular birding location (e.g., Costa Rica). While the ideal answer is « both, » that is not an option for this discussion.

Travel

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I'm going against my own advice here and suggesting that you use what you have or buy something different. To me, the Z9 is a specialized camera for those who need those specs. It's large. It's heavy, at 2.9 pounds, vs the 1.65 pounds of my D750. Add a long lens to that, and you have a serious bundle. The Z7ii is half the price and weighs 1.4 pounds, and - it's available. You could take thousands of pictures with a Z7ii while waiting for a Z9 to arrive.

https://photographylife.com/nikon-z7-ii-vs-z9
https://cameradecision.com/compare/Nikon-Z9-vs-Nikon-Z7-Mark-II
https://pxlmag.com/db/camera-compare/Nikon-Z7-Mark-II-vs-Nikon-Z9
https://www.dxomark.com/Cameras/Compare/Side-by-side/Nikon-Z7-versus-Nikon-Z7II-versus-Nikon-Z9___1270_1361_1378
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/edit-post-screen?postnum=13257298

YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=nikon+z9+vs+z7ii

jcwall396 Loc: Roswell, GA

This is a philosophical response, but here goes……Life is made up of experiences not “things”. Take the trip! You already have an awesome camera rig.

Jack 13088 Loc: Central NY

Take the trip. The memories from the trip will last forever. The camera won’t.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Jack 13088 wrote:

Take the trip. The memories from the trip will last forever. The camera won’t.

jbk224 Loc: Long Island, NY

ClarkJohnson wrote:

I get good and sometimes great results,......

Clark,
Your answer is in your question.
And, philosophical answers notwithstanding....the purpose of owning a camera, any camera, is to capture experiences and represent what you wish to express.
If I may suggest your next ?/Topic here or on Nikonians.org.......
Suggestions for trip to Costa Rica....

leftj Loc: Texas

ClarkJohnson wrote:

I have a not-so-hypothetical question for this knowledgeable and opinionated group. I primarily shoot birds and sometimes other wildlife, using a D500 and 500 PF. I get good and sometimes great results, and the usual share of unfocused images. With about $6,000 in hand, would you A) purchase a Nikon z9 OR B) take a trip to a spectacular birding location (e.g., Costa Rica). While the ideal answer is « both, » that is not an option for this discussion.

A decision you have to make for yourself however if you are leaning toward the Z9 then I would advise you to go to YouTube "Bayou Josh". He is a dedicated bird photographer who made the switch from Z9 to Sony A7RIV.

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

I’ve been to CR three times; twice on photography workshops. Participant cameras ranged from Canon 7d2 to Nikon D500 to Sony RX10 to Oly OM to LUMIX FZ1000 and everything in between. Most common was the D500 or 5d3 or 7d2 and something like a 150-600 lens. Maybe 10% bothered with a tripod or monopod. The Z9 is a beast and imho, overkill, so save the Z9 GAS for another day. Grab the D500 and a handful of lens like a macro, 500mm, and a med zoom, and go. My last trip was with a 7d2, 1.4x tc, a 100-400 ii, and 100 macro. Also had a 35mm, but never left the bag. Ergo, take the trip.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

I could be the poster child for GAS for I have a neverending itch to "buy something". I have a closet where I keep all of the things that I told myself that I could not live without. It's an addiction and regardless of what I buy, there will always be something else that I want.

Given the choices that you are considering, I would opt for the "once in a lifetime" experience of being in the rainforest with the excellent camera and lens that you already have to capture the sights that would remain with me that I could share with others.