If you didn't immediately pre-order or aren't an NPS member, it's quite likely you'll have plenty of time to hear how the camera actually performs and how it gets reviewed before you can obtain your own Z9. My advice: stay calm and let the situation settle out if you don't already have an order in. It's going to take at least two months before we can begin to judge when the pre-order lists might start to significantly clear. I won't go into specific numbers, but every way I can monitor pre-orders says that the Z9 has racked up the most pre-order unit volume for a Nikon camera announcement so far. Even at the point when I posted my articles-which was literally within a couple of minutes of the start of Nikon's announcement presentation-two of the dealers I talk to felt (probably correctly) that they weren't going to be able to fill their five-minute-old wait list in the first shipment they'd get from NikonUSA.
![nikon z9 nikon z9](https://www.eoshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Nikon-Z9-scaled.jpg)
When will I get my Z9? Well, I warned you about getting your order in early ~).That said, Nikon is eager to ship the camera, so I'm pretty sure their goal at this point is "soonest possible." Nikon tends to just say "before the end of the year." Obviously, supply and shipment chain issues could possibly impact the actual date. The date most often mentioned since the announcement is December 15th. It's possible the ship date might be different for different regions, too. When will the camera ship? I've heard multiple dates.Each event has a Nikon ambassador involved, as well. When can I see the camera? Nikon has a Touch & Try set of events going on around the US where you can learn about and see/handle a Z9.So calm down and stop sending me "should I trade everything in and get a Z9" emails! If you haven't already ordered one, you wouldn't get yours very quickly, anyway, so you have some time to contemplate what you really need (and want) and wait for some thorough testing to reveal the pros and cons of the Z9 accurately. For me to say authoritatively who it is and isn't for will have to wait until I've used a Z9 for real photographic work. The Z9 is an all-around camera, but it still isn't for everyone. They've done that with the Z9-though they are almost certainly glossing over some minor things that will generate some negative commentary when cameras get into users' hands-and that now has all Nikon users wondering if they'll miss out on something if they don't immediately buy a Z9. I wished for Nikon's marketing to actually get into gear and promote a new product loudly and well.
![nikon z9 nikon z9](https://www.eoshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/1D1A9448-1.jpg)
So I guess I have to be careful what I wish for. The D500 is still, five years after introduction, the best APS-C (DX) camera you can buy, DSLR or mirrorless. If a photo is messed up from one of those two bodies, it's my fault, not the camera's. I'm never upset with the results I get from those cameras.
![nikon z9 nikon z9](https://www.nikonusa.com/Images/CPCAssets/pdp/z9/pdp/img/video-rig.jpg)
Last Update: 12/1/21 10 am - latest labeled New - Also, Nikon has provided me a pre-production test unit on loan, which arrived this morning.
![nikon z9 nikon z9](https://icdn.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/nikon-z9-in-action.jpg)