Nikon Z9 II: REDCODE RAW, 60fps Continuous Shooting, and a Sensor Three Times Faster Than the Original
By OFOKI TECH | August 11, 2026
As of now, Nikon has provided no announcement regarding a successor to the Z9, its flagship mirrorless camera released in October 2021. But the volume of leaks surrounding a Z9 II has reached a point where the camera’s existence is treated as fact within the photography community. The device has reportedly been tested in the field at major sporting events, including the Milano Winter Olympics, and detailed specifications have circulated through Asian supply channels since early 2026.
A 46MP Stacked Sensor Three and a Half Times Faster
The centerpiece of the Z9 II is expected to be a new 46-megapixel stacked CMOS sensor that Nikon Rumors described as 3.5 times faster than the sensor in the original Z9. That is a substantial generational leap. The original Z9’s sensor was already among the fastest in its class, capable of 20fps raw shooting with full autofocus tracking. A 3.5x improvement would put the Z9 II in the range of 60 to 70 frames per second in raw, or higher if Nikon uses a partial readout mode.
The sensor is also rumored to feature a native base ISO of 32, down from the Z9’s ISO 64. This would give the Z9 II greater dynamic range in controlled lighting and make it more competitive with medium-format systems for landscape and studio work. The extended ISO range is expected to reach ISO 204,800, matching the current Z9.
REDCODE RAW and 8K 60p Internal Recording
Perhaps the most significant feature leak involves video. Since Nikon acquired RED Digital Cinema in March 2024, the industry has speculated about how the company would integrate RED’s codec technology into its mirrorless line. The Z9 II appears to be the first product to answer that question.
According to Nikon Rumors, the Z9 II will record 8K 60p video internally using REDCODE RAW at 12-bit. REDCODE is a wavelet-based compression codec that preserves significantly more color information than standard H.265 or ProRes while maintaining manageable file sizes. The original Z9 could output 8K 60p raw to an external recorder, but internal REDCODE RAW would eliminate the need for external hardware and make the camera far more practical for documentary and commercial work.
The camera is also expected to support 4K 120p internal recording, likely with the same REDCODE RAW option, and a high-speed 1080p mode at 240fps or higher.
Autofocus and EVF Upgrades
The Z9 II is rumored to carry a new EXPEED 8 processor, up from the dual EXPEED 7 chips in the original Z9. This additional processing power is expected to drive improvements in autofocus tracking, particularly for subjects in motion. The original Z9’s 3D tracking system was already class-leading; the Z9 II is expected to add more granular subject detection, including improved eye detection for animals and birds in flight.
The electronic viewfinder is also due for an upgrade. Leaks point to a 5.76-million-dot EVF, up from the Z9’s 3.69-million-dot panel. The higher resolution would reduce the « screen door » effect when manually focusing and make the EVF more comfortable for extended use.
Build and Connectivity
The Z9 II is expected to retain the same vertical grip-integrated body as the original Z9, a design choice that has proven popular with sports and wildlife photographers who value battery life and handling. The body will likely gain CFexpress Type B card slots, possibly moving to dual CFexpress rather than the Z9’s CFexpress plus XQD configuration.
Wireless connectivity is expected to improve, with faster Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 for tethered shooting and faster image transmission to FTP servers. The Z9 II will also likely support the same Nikon Z lens mount, maintaining compatibility with the growing lineup of Z-mount glass.
Release Timeline
Nikon Rumors first reported that the Z9 II was being tested at the Milano Winter Olympics in February 2026. Field testing at a major sporting event typically indicates a camera is in its final validation phase, suggesting an announcement could come in late 2026 or early 2027. The original Z9 was announced in October 2021 and shipped in December 2021. A similar timeline for the Z9 II would place it on shelves by early 2027.
Pricing is unknown, but the original Z9 launched at $5,499. Given the addition of REDCODE RAW and the sensor upgrade, a modest price increase to $5,999 or $6,299 is plausible.
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