Fujifilm X-T4 vs Nikon Z9 Comparison

If you only compare these mirrorless cameras’ technical specifications, the full frame Nikon Z9 is the clear winner. As you can see below, it has better resolution, frame rates, and autofocus tracking.

However, Nikon Z9 vs Fujifilm X-T4 isn’t really a fair comparison.

The Fujifilm X-T4 has a smaller APS-C sensor, not a full-frame sensor. So it occupies a different niche among mirrorless cameras. This means there still are a few reasons why you might prefer it:

• It’s much smaller.
• It’s 733 g lighter.
• It has a wider range of available lenses.
• It has a selfie screen.
• It has a flash sync port.
• It’s available in silver.
• It’s less than half the Nikon Z9 price!

If none of these things means much to you, then feel free to go ahead and buy the Nikon Z9. Otherwise, you might want to read this article first.

Body and Handling

Fujifilm designs its cameras to be a joy to use. This is the key selling point of the Fujifilm X-T4.

It’s an APS-C camera and doesn’t have an integrated battery grip like the Nikon Z9. So it’s much smaller and lighter.

That goes for the lenses, too. This might be important if you’re a street photographer or don’t want to lug around a bag of heavy camera equipment.

Nikon Z9 vs Fujifilm X-T4 Optics

Few APS-C cameras will provide higher image quality than a full-frame Nikon. But, again, it depends on what you’re looking for.

The Nikon Z9 is one of the best mirrorless models on the market. It’s comparable to other cameras such as the Canon EOS R5 or the Sony a1.

Not only does it have a high-resolution sensor, but the individual pixels are 33% bigger. This gives the Z9 an advantage in low light.

But the Fujifilm X-T4 is designed for portrait photography, not landscape photography or wildlife photography. The colors and soft contrast levels work better with skin tones.

Besides the physical size and weight, the Nikon Z9’s specs are much more impressive than the Fujifilm X-T4’s.

It offers a larger sensor with larger pixels, eye tracking,  a wider ISO range, and more focus points. It also boasts a faster frame rate (with both the mechanical shutter and the electronic shutter) and a focus stacking feature.

But both the Z9 and X-T4 have face and eye detection, sensor-shift image stabilization, AE and focus bracketing, and anti-flicker. And both support RAW files but lack anti-alias filters.

Again, the Nikon Z9 appears to beat the Fujifilm X-T4 hands-down regarding its video capability. There’s no recording time limit.

The larger Z9 sensor size lets it shoot 8K / 30p Ultra HD video, with a resolution of 7680 x 4320 pixels. This compares to the DCI / Ultra HD 4K / 60p 4096 x 2160 maximum resolution of the X-T4.

However, the Fujifilm X-T4’s high-speed video frame rate of 240 fps beats the Nikon Z9’s 120 fps. And the selfie screen is very handy if you do a lot of vlogging.

Fujifilm models are also popular for their Film Simulation modes. The X-T4 offers 20 different filters for both stills and video.

The selections include vivid Velvia, the softer Astia, classic Sepia, and various black and white options. It’s something the Nikon Z9 doesn’t compete with. But both cameras do offer time-lapse recording.

The Z9 has better or more features:

• A higher viewfinder magnification
• blackout-free shooting
• A larger, higher-resolution LCD screen
• A full-size HDMI port
• Illuminated buttons.

But The Z9 and the X-T4 have many other things in common. They both have wireless and Bluetooth connectivity, an external flash shoe, and a touch screen LCD.

Both also offer microphone and headphone ports, smartphone remote control, and webcam functionality.

Technological development in modern cameras means that Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and face recognition are spreading through all camera brands. This means any advantage is usually a matter of degree and doesn’t last very long!

The Nikon Z9 relies on speed for a lot of its functionality. So you need to use CFexpress Type B or XQD cards with phenomenal read/write speeds.

The Fujifilm X-T4 supports UHS-I and UHS-II SD cards. But the UHS-I cards won’t be fast enough to shoot high-bitrate video. You can get either V60 or V90 versions of the UHS-II SD cards.

There are no restrictions on shooting video with either. The V60 cards are cheaper per gigabyte of storage, but the V90 cards are faster.

According to CIPA, the Nikon Z9 officially gets 740 shots from a single charge, compared to 500 using the Fujifilm X-T4. However, these figures will probably rise if you shoot in burst mode rather than a single shot.

The good news about the Z9 is that you get a built-in battery grip that houses two batteries (or enough for at least 1,480 shots). This means you shouldn’t worry about packing spare batteries for a shoot or a game drive.

The Fujifilm X-T4 is also easier to use if you’re a vlogger. Its LCD can be turned 180 degrees and used as a selfie screen.

Finally, from an aesthetic point of view, you might prefer the retro vibe of the silver X-T4. It’s made of metal and has an old-fashioned layout. It has individual dials for shutter speed, ISO, and exposure compensation.

It’s a throwback to the days of old film cameras like the Nikon F. The discreet shutter click sounds just like a Leica!

Choosing the best camera between the Nikon Z9 vs Fujifilm X-T4 depends on the kind of photos you take.

For sports, wildlife, or landscape photographers looking for the camera with the best specs, the Z9 is probably the wiser choice. (That’s if you don’t fancy upgrading to a Fujifilm GFX medium format camera!)

The Nikon Z9 boasts excellent color depth and dynamic range. And its overall DxO Sensor Score is an impressive 98 out of 100!

However, if you want something for street photography or taking candid shots at a wedding, you might be better off with the X-T4. Or you might like the retro styling of a Fujifilm camera, or you might prefer a small, light camera body with matching lenses.

So comparing these two cameras is not quite as simple as you might think!

Nikon Z9 vs Fujifilm X-T4 Alternatives

Check out our other popular camera comparisons for inspiration:

• Nikon Z6 vs Z6 II Comparison
• Fujifilm GFX 50S II vs Sony a1
• Canon T7 vs T7i Comparison
• Fujifilm X-T4 vs Sony a7R IV
• Fujifilm X-S10 vs Sony a6400
• Sony a6400 vs Sony a7 II

If you’re struggling to decide on a camera brand, we have great articles comparing Fujifilm vs Canon, Fujifilm vs Sony, Fuji vs Olympus, and Canon vs Sony Mirrorless Cameras.