If you are reading this then you will have made the decision to upgrade to the new Nikon Z9 mirrorless camera.
Congratulations!
You will now be in the market for some new accessories for your Z9 – read on for the 13 top accessories you should be considering.
I am on that journey myself and so will be posting informational articles of what I discover along the way.
Nikon Z9 accessory recommendations
Each accessory is linked to either B&H or Amazon so you can check out the detailed specs and current pricing.
Please note: I do not earn any commissions on items you may purchase.
Read also Nikon Z9 with 500mm f5.6 PF
FTZII Mount Adapter
The F to Z mount adapter is essential if you are still going to keep your F mount Nikon compatible lenses.
This adapter is compatible with all of the previous Nikon lens releases and it supports auto focus.
I have been using this since I bought the Z9 and it was the first accessory that I bought.
The FTZII adapter retails for around USD 235.
Nikon Z TC-1.4X Teleconverter
As at November 2022 the longest prime lens option in the Z line of lenses is 400 mm.
The new Z 600 mm f4 has been announced but this will retail for an astonishing USD 15 500.
400 mm isn’t long enogh for me to use in the field when photographing birds so a teleconverter is essential.
I never use anything bigger than a 1.4x converter and do not recommend at this stage that you buy both the 1.4x and the 2.0 x. The 2.0x TC is apparently excellent but I will wait until more testing is done.
The Z TC 1.4 x teleconverter retails at USD
L Plate
Look for an L bracket that does not obscure any of the ports of the Z9. L brackets wrap around the horizontal and the base of the camera and some of them are fixed.
I recommend that you invest in an L bracket that has a removable vertical piece and suggest you look at the Pro- Media Gear Universal L-Bracket.
The ProMediaGear Universal L-Bracket retails for about USD 90.
256GB CFexpress B memory cards
At 20 frames per second the Nikon Z9 needs an extremely fast card to keep up with it.
Your workflow is as strong as its weakest link and a slow card will destroy any gains from the speed of a Z9.
CFexpress cards are very expensive and you will need two – one for each memory card slot.
I find that the 256GB option is about the best value for money and I use the Lexar cards pictured above.
Another recommended brand is the Cobalt CF express cards and you can buy these in 165GB and 325GB capacities.
A Lexar 256GB CF express B card retails for USD 400 and the Cobalt 325GB express B card retails for USD 450.
CFExpress type B card reader
The Z9 capabilities necessitates that you upgrade everything image storage and transfer related.
I have recommended a fast CF express B card and so the other thing you need is something to get the files off the card as soon as possible.
At 1700 MB/s write speed I recommend the Lexar RW 550 card reader. It has a USB Type-C interface and includes a 2-in-1 USB Type-C to Type-C and Type-C to Type-A cable.
You also get a free SD card reader with it that has a UDMI port connector.
The Lexar RW 550 is good value at USD 70.
Another option is the Atech Flash Technology Blackjet TX-1CXQ CFexpress Type B / XQD Thunderbolt 3 Card Reader but this is pricey at around USD 150.
Sandisk Extreme portable 2 TB SSD V2
Continuing on the storage theme you will also need a solid state portable hard drive with large capacity.
I like the Sandisk 2TB SSD. It is very small at 4 x 2.1 x 0.4″.
EN-EL18d Spare Battery
The Z9 is heavy on batteries unfortunately. You will be able to get around 7000 shots from a single battery.
You can mitigate this by turning off some non essential functions. Things that reduce battery life considerably are:
- Rear screen playback
- GPS tagging
- Bluetooth
- Continuous focusing with VR on
The Nikon EN-EL18D Lithium-Ion battery will set you back about USD 230 however I do not recommend buying a third party battery.
You can charge the Z9 via the USB port so if you spend a lot of time shooting from a vehicle, as I do, then you can charge on the move.
Powerbank
An alternative to buying the hugely expensive spare EL batteries for the Z9 is to buy a powerbank.
The only recommended power bank compatible with the Z9 requirements is the Anker PowerCore+ 26800mAh PD 45W with 60W PD Charger.
Nikon have tested it and claim it works for the Z9 as well as the Zfc, Z30, Z5, Z6 II and Z7 II.
The Anker power core retails for USD 150.
LCD Screen Protector
Although I have yet to break an LCD screen I decided to invest in a screen protector. This probably had something to do with the fact that, having shelled out over USD 5 000 for the camera, I felt it would be silly to skimp on some of the basics.
The best screen protector for the Z9 is made by Vello. It retails for USD 25 and has the following features:
Antireflective Coating
Ultrathin Optical Glass Static Adhesion Leaves (no glue)
Multiple layers
Boya BY-BM 3032 External Microphone
I have yet to own a Nikon camera that has a decent built in microphone. The Z9 is no exception.
The Z9 has the best video capabilities ever produced by Nikon so it seems a shame not to be able to get decent audio along with your professional grade video footage.
I use the Boya BM 3032 shotgun microphone which picks up good audio in even windy conditions. I do 90% of my shooting outside so often attach the fluffy wind diffuser that comes with it.
The Boya BM is a cheapie at around USD 80. If you want to go more upmarket then take a look at the Rode VideoMic Pro Camera-Mount Shotgun Microphone which retails for USD 190.
Speedlight
The speedlight – external flash – that I recommmend for the Nion Z9 is the Nikon SB-5000 AF.
The SB-5000 AF is compatible with Nikon i-TTL (through the lens) metering which is a fully automatic capability based on the exposure meter of the camera.
I seldom use a flash out in the field however they do come in handy if you also do some portrait work or family shots, corporate head shots etc. The SB 5000 retails for USD 600.
A cheaper alternative is the SB 700 which retails for USD 350.
Remote controller
On the odd occasion that I shoot landscapes I use the 2 second delay function on the camera to reduce camera shake when hitting the shutter.
You may wish to have the ability to trigger your shutter from a distance. In this case I would recommend the Nikon WR-T10 remote control.
The WR-T10 retails for USD 70.
A slightly more expensive option is the Hahnel remote system for Nikon. It retails for USD 85 and has the following features:
- Long Exposures & Time-Lapse Photography
- Single, Continuous, and Bulb Modes
- Two Timing Sequences
- Digital Channel Matching
- 2.4 GHz, 328′ Range
Monopod
I usually photograph birds and wildlife from a hide, a safari vehicle, or my own vehicle. Because of this I usually use a bean bag as support.
It is possible to use a monopod in a hide or when you are on an open topped safari vehicle and I know a few wildlife photographers that do not go anywhere without a monopod.
The monopod pictured is the Gitzo Carbon 6x – which means it has 6 extensions
This has since been replaced with the Gitzo GM2562T Series 2 Traveler Carbon Fiber Monopod. The features are:
Load Capacity: 39.7 lb
Max Height: 55.9″
Closed Length: 14.2″
Sections: 6
Weight: 0.9 lb
Carbon eXact Tubes
Traveler G-lock
This top of the range monopod retails for USD 390 so you may wish to consider the more affordable iFootage Cobra 2 C180-II Carbon Fiber Monopod with Low-Profile Tripod, as this retails for USD 190.
You may also be in the market for a new tripod so check out the link to that article below.
Final thoughts
I hope you enjoyed reading about the 13 must have accessories for the Nikon Z9.
The Nikon Z9 is an expensive investment and it is important to supplement the camera with other tools that will enable you to capture the best images possible.
I will be posting additional Z9 related articles in the near future.
