Nikon Z9 Firmware v5.30 Rolls Out: Update Guide and What to Expect

Nikon has begun distributing firmware version 5.30 for the flagship Nikon Z9. The update is available now via Nikon’s official Download Center and is recommended for users who want the latest refinements and reliability improvements.

Changes from “C” Firmware Version 5.20 to 5.30

Note: The changes listed below under “Still Photography”, “Video Recording”, “Playback”, “Controls”, and “Network” are detailed in the Supplementary Firmware Update Manual.

Note: Due to the addition of new menu items, some Custom Settings menu items have been renumbered.

■ Still Photography

  • • Subject detection is now available when [Single-point AF], [Dynamic-area AF (S)], [Dynamic-area AF (M)], or [Dynamic-area AF (L)] is selected for [AF-area mode].
  • • Extended the dimensions of focus areas available with [Wide-area AF (C1)] and [Wide-area AF (C2)] AF-area modes.
  • • Added [Flat Monochrome] and [Deep Tone Monochrome] Picture Controls. Also added support for “Flexible Color” Picture Controls.
  • • Added [Reset focus after shooting] to [Auto capture]. Also added [Face] to subject detection type options.

■ Video Recording

  • • Subject detection is now available when [Single-point AF] is selected for [AF-area mode].
  • • Extended the dimensions of focus areas available with [Wide-area AF (C1)] and [Wide-area AF (C2)] AF-area modes.
  • • Added [Flat Monochrome] and [Deep Tone Monochrome] Picture Controls. Also added support for “Flexible Color” Picture Controls.
  • • Added [Reset focus after shooting] to [Auto capture]. Also added [Face] to subject detection type options.
  • • Selecting [ON] for [Hi-Res Zoom] in the [VIDEO RECORDING MENU] now displays a focus point on the detected subject in the shooting display.

■ Playback

  • • Added [Date] to [Filtered playback criteria] in playback menu and playback “i” menu.
  • • Added [Loop playback] in the video playback “i” menu.
  • • Added [Auto-rotate during playback] to the playback menu.

■ Controls

  • • Added an [Active subject detection options] item to the [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU] in positions of a10 and g6.
  • • The a14 [Max. aperture Lv during MF] item is now a15 [Maximum aperture Lv] in the [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU].
  • • Added a [Focus limiter setting] item to the [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU] in position of a17.
  • • [Focus limiter] and [Cycle subject detection options] are added to the roles assignable via f2 [Custom controls (shooting)] and g2 [Custom controls] in the [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU] and separate settings can now be saved to [Recall shooting functions] and [Recall shooting functions (hold)]. In addition, a magnification option of [400%] has been added to [Zoom on/off].
  • • Added [Jump to the source image] as an assignable role to f3 [Custom controls (playback)] in the [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU].
  • • Added a [Cycle image area using built-in TC] item to the [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU] in position of f11.

■ Network

  • • You can now add descriptive text to existing network profiles using [Connect to FTP server] in [NETWORK MENU].
  • • Added [Sync date and time with NTP server] to [Connect to FTP server] > [Options] in [NETWORK MENU].
  • • Added [Overwrite copyright info] to [Connect to other cameras] in the [NETWORK MENU].
  • • The master camera can now detect and connect to remote cameras on the same network.
  • • Added [USB streaming (UVC/UAC)] to [USB] in the [NETWORK MENU].

■ Other Changes

  • • Made improvements to the autofocus operation and its reliability including subject acquisition during still photography.
  • • Direct measurement of white balance is now available also for still photography via applications, such as NX Tether.
  • • Voice memo recording is now available with external microphones.
  • • Changed the specifications for uninterrupted video output to HDMI devices such as external monitors when recording ended.
  • • The headphone volume level can now be adjusted in the “i” menu during video recording.
  • • Videos no longer rotate automatically with the camera when [Auto-rotate pictures] is set to [ON] in the [PLAYBACK MENU].
  • • Added [Flat Monochrome] and [Deep Tone Monochrome] Picture Control options to [RAW processing (current picture)] / [RAW processing (multiple pictures)] in the [Retouch] menu. Also added support for “Flexible Color” Picture Controls.
  • • The speed at which the camera cycles through focus points using the multi selector or sub-selector no longer slows down when changing direction.
  • • The tonal characteristics have been changed when [ON] is selected for Custom Setting g14 [View assist] in the [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU].
  • • Fixed typos in the monitor display when pressing a control to which [Shooting menu bank] had been assigned using Custom Setting g2 [Custom controls] in the [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU] while either [Histogram] or [Wave-form monitor] was displayed during video recording.

Japan’s best-sellers: Nikon’s selling well

The Canon R6III has conquered the Japanese charts and is obviously in the lead. But Nikon cameras are still selling strong:

Mapcamera best selling cameras in November

  1. Canon EOS R6 Mark III
  2. RICOH GR IV
  3. SONY α7C II
  4. FUJIFILM X-E5
  5. Nikon Z5II
  6. Nikon Z R
  7. FUJIFILM X-M5
  8. RICOH GR IIIx
  9. Nikon Z f
  10. SONY α7IV

Yodobashi best selling cameras second half of November

  1. Canon EOS R6 Mark III Body
  2. Canon EOS R5 Mark II Body
  3. SONY α7C II Zoom Lens Kit Silver | Black
  4. SONY α7C II Body Silver | Black
  5. FUJIFILM X-E5 XF23mm Lens Kit Silver | Black
  6. Canon EOS R6 Mark III · RF24-105 L IS USM Lens Kit
  7. Nikon Z50II Double Zoom Kit
  8. Nikon ZR Body
  9. Nikon Z5II Body
  10. Hasselblad X2D II 100C Body

Yodobashi best selling lenses second half of November

  1. Tamron 25-200mm F/2.8-5.6 Di III VXD G2 (E-mount)
  2. Sony FE 100mm F2.8 Macro GM OSS
  3. Canon RF45mm F1.2 STM
  4. Canon RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
  5. Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II
  6. Sigma 20-200mm F3.5-6.3 DG | Contemporary (E-mount)
  7. Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S
  8. Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II
  9. Hasselblad XCD 2.8-4/35-100E
  10. Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II

The NIkon Z5II is the product of the year at Dpreview

In this video the Dpreview team discusses the gear of the year. Here is the list:

Product of the Year

Best High-End Camera

Best Enthusiast Camera

Best Prime Lens

Best Compact Camera

2025 DPReview Innovation Award

Chris&Jordan selected “The Best and Worst Camera Gear Of 2025”

In their usual professional and sober fashion 😉 Chris and Jordan analytically selected the Best and Worst gear of the year!

Best Camera:

  1. Canon R6 III
  2. Sony A7 V
  3. Nikon Z5 II

Best Lens

  1. Sigma 300-600mm f/4.0
  2. Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 S II
  3. Panasonic 24-60mm f/2.8

Best Video camera

  1. Panasonic S1 II
  2. DJI Mavic 4 PRO
  3. Canon R6 III

Worst Camera:

  1. Fujifilm X-Half
  2. Sigma BF
  3. Leica SL3-S

Worst Lens:

  1. Canon 75-300mm
  2. Laowa 200mm f/2.0

Worst Video Camera:

  1. Sony FX2

November data: Here are the best-selling cameras and lenses on the Japanese market.

BCN tracks roughly 50% of Japan’s retail camera sales. These were the best-selling models in November:

Best selling system cameras:

  1. Canon EOS R10 RF-S18-150 IS STM Lens Kit — BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet, Clifton
  2. Sony VLOGCAM ZV-E10 II Double Zoom Lens Kit ZV-E10M2X(B) — BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet, Clifton
  3. Canon EOS R50 Double Zoom Kit Black EOSR50BK-WZK — BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet, Clifton
  4. Canon EOS R50 Double Zoom Kit White EOSR50WH-WZK — BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet, Clifton
  5. Olympus PEN E-P7 EZ Double Zoom Kit Silver — BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet, Clifton
  6. Sony VLOGCAM ZV-E10 II Power Zoom Lens Kit Black ZV-E10M2K(B) — BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet, Clifton
  7. Nikon Z50II Double Zoom Kit — BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet, Clifton
  8. Nikon Z30 Double Zoom Kit Z30WZ — BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet, Clifton
  9. Olympus PEN E-P7 EZ Double Zoom Kit White — BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet, Clifton
  10. Sony a6400 Double Zoom Lens Kit Black ILCE-6400Y(B) — BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet, Clifton
  11. Canon EOS R6 Mark III Body — BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet, Clifton
  12. Nikon Z5II — BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet, Clifton
  13. Panasonic Lumix G100D W Kit DC-G100DW-K — BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet, Clifton
  14. Sony VLOGCAM ZV-E10 II Double Zoom Lens Kit Black ZV-E10Y(B) — BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet, Clifton
  15. Sony VLOGCAM ZV-E10 II Double Zoom Lens Kit White ZV-E10M2X(W) — BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet, Clifton
  16. Fujifilm X-M5 XC15-45mm Lens Kit Silver — BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet, Clifton
  17. Sony VLOGCAM ZV-E10 II Power Zoom Lens Kit Black ZV-E10L(B) — BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet, Clifton
  18. Sony a7C II Zoom Lens Kit Silver ILCE-7CM2L(S) — BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet, Clifton
  19. Sony a7C II Zoom Lens Kit Black ILCE-7CM2L(B) — BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet, Clifton
  20. Canon EOS R50 RF-S 18-45 IS STM Lens Kit Black — BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet, Clifton

Best selling compact cameras:

  1. Kodak PIXPRO C1 (BN) – BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet, Clifton
  2. Kodak PIXPRO WPZ2 – BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet, Clifton
  3. Panasonic LUMIX TZ99 (White) – BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet, Clifton
  4. Canon IXY 650M (Silver) – BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet, Clifton
  5. OM SYSTEM Tough TG-7 (Red) – BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet, Clifton
  6. Kodak PIXPRO FZ55 (Red) – BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet, Clifton
  7. Pentax WG-1000 Gray – BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet, Clifton
  8. OM SYSTEM Tough TG-7 (Black) – same links as item #5
  9. Canon IXY 650M (Black) – same link structure as item #4
  10. Escura InstantSnap White – BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet, Clifton
  11. Kodak PIXPRO FZ55 (Black) – identical to FZ55 Red above
  12. Fujifilm Instax mini Evo Black – BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet, Clifton
  13. Panasonic LUMIX TZ99 (Black) – same as item #3
  14. Fujifilm Instax mini Evo Brown – same as item #12
  15. Kodak PIXPRO C1 (Black) – same as item #1
  16. Canon PowerShot SX740HS (Silver) – BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet, Clifton
  17. Fujifilm Instax mini Evo Gentle Rose – same instax link
  18. Kenko KC-AF11 BK – BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet, Clifton
  19. Canon PowerShot SX740HS (Black) – same as #16
  20. Kodak PIXPRO FZ45 (Black) – BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet, Clifton