P: Upgrading Nikon Z9 Firmware to 4.0 breaks tethering

[Carmine22401326f2nk]

I am attempting to tether a Nikon Z9 using Lightroom Classic, but LRC can't detect the Z9.  I am able to download pictures from the Z9 to LRC all day long, and LRC successfully detects my Nikon D850 for tethering.  Nikon Z9 firmware is 4.0.  Mac iOs is 13.4.1.  LRC release is 12.4.  All are up to date.  Any ideas?

[shermanphoto]

Frimware 4 breaks tehering with the z9

[Jao vdL]

Looks like the Z9 problem is the same firmware update issue. 4.01 was released last two weeks ago or so. The firmware version is not yet supported by the current Nikon tethering API that is included in Lightroom and so it won't work. You can use Nikon's free tethering software and just use a watched folder to get the raw files into Classic automatically. Works just as well as the built-in tethering and is Apple Silicon native so you won't have to run Lightroom in emulation.

[Marcus P2]

I'm hoping it will be fixed in the next lightroom update. If you are not interested in having a hot folder setup there is another work around that I am using to tether to LR. 

You can download a trial version of Smart shooter v5. (30days)

It enables Z9 tethering and is not too hard to set up. 

As long as you enable lightroom tethering and install the lightroom plugin it works great.

Main thing to do is start Smartshoot 5 first, ensure the camera is connected then you can tether as per normal in lightroom

[John R Ellis]

Another workaround is to roll back the firmware to version 3.10:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-classic-bugs/p-upgrading-nikon-z9-firmware-to-4-0-breaks-te...

[JonGib77]

I contacted Nikon CS and this was their reply:

Subject: Nikon Z9 - Tethering Issue with Latest Firmware Update

Dear Jon, Thank you for contacting Nikon Support. I understand the issue and I know it does not help you any further but it is Adobe who offers compatibility with Adobe´s Lightroom and not Nikon.  For that matter I advise you to contact Adobe Support to inform you whether the latest firmware update has disturbed tethering into Lightroom. In case you have questions or need more information, please do not hesitate contacting me. Kind regards,

[John R Ellis]

"I contacted Nikon CS and this was their reply"

Not surprising but about as trustworthy as Adobe support. LR uses a Nikon-supplied library for connecting to cameras. The v4 firmware update could be incompatible with that library, and Adobe will have to wait for Nikon to supply a new one (and Nikon is very slow at updating its library). Alternatively the firmware update could be compatible with the library but changed its behavior in a technically correct way that was unexpected by LR (a LR bug). 

Impossible for us to know where to point the finger. But based on years of past experience, we shouldn't expect much transparency from either company.

[Rikk Flohr: Photography]

Greetings all,

Updates for the Adobe Photography Products have been released.  The October 2023 updates contain a fix for this issue. 

If you do not see the update in your Creative Cloud Application, you can refresh it by hitting [Ctrl/Cmd]+[Alt/Opt]+[ R ].

Note: It may take up to 24 hours for your update to be available in your Creative Cloud app.

Thank you for your patience.

[WSTUDIOLA]

Does any one know if Nikon Z9 firmware 5.0 works with the current version (13.2) of LRC for tethering? Want to make sure before I move forward on purchasing the Z9. Thanks in advance!

[KR Seals]

I find that Z 9 firmware tethers ok to LrC in both PC and Mac OS. Z 8 will not tether properly in either. The new Z 8 firmware, 2.01 does not fix that.