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.
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 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.
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:
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 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:
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 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.
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.