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How to Find and Update a Nikon Z7’s Firmware Version

Keeping your camera's firmware up-to-date gives you the benefit of the latest bug fixes and features. Here's how to check the firmware version and update the firmware on the Nikon Z7.

Nikon Z7 Mirrorless Camera

Categories: Cameras
Tags: Nikon, Nikon Z7 Mirrorless Camera
Last updated about 10 months ago // Originally published about 10 months ago

Modern digital cameras are basically small computers with optics. And surprisingly powerful ones at that. And just like any computer, they need to be programming instructions in order to know what to do.

A camera’s firmware is software that works with the camera’s hardware to control features and functions. It controls everything from the color and fonts of the menu system to the available ISO range to the responsiveness of the auto-focusing system. So it’s an essential part of the camera’s functionality—it won’t work without it.

It’s also a way for camera manufacturers to make improvements to a how a camera works after the camera has already been built and is in use (at least, they’re nearly always improvements, but there are some instances where things go in the wrong direction). They typically include bug fixes and sometimes new features.

So, in nearly all cases, it’s a very good idea to be running the latest firmware that’s available. That’s the most likely version to have any bugs squashed, any security glitches addressed, and any new features added.1

Like most cameras, however, the Nikon Z7 doesn’t automatically update its firmware when a new version is released, even though the camera has wireless functionality built-in. And while it’s not difficult to update a Z7’s firmware, it is a process you have to run manually. And there are some things to watch out for to reduce the risk of problems.

The first step is to find out what version of the firmware your Z7 is already running. You can then compare it to the version that Nikon makes available on their download page. If you already have the latest version, you’re good to go. If not, you can proceed to the firmware update process.

How to View the Nikon Z7’s Firmware Version

With the camera turned on, press the MENU button.

Scroll down to the SETUP MENU. That’s the one with the wrench/spanner icon.

Scroll to the end of that section until you come to the Firmware version item.

Nikon Z7 Firmware Version

Press the OK button to open up the page displaying the versions. You’ll notice two entries there. The “C” version is the camera’s firmware. The “LF” is the lens’s firmware version. One of the innovations with some newer lenses, including Nikon’s new Z-mount lenses, is that the lenses can have their own firmware that can tweak their performance.

Nikon Z7 Firmware Version

How to Update the Nikon Z7’s Firmware

Here’s the standard process for updating the Z7’s firmware. You can find more detail of technical requirements on Nikon’s site.

Format a Memory Card in the Camera

Format a memory card in the camera. This will wipe everything on the card, so make sure you’ve backed any photos or videos before you start. While it’s not technically a requirement, starting the process with a freshly formatted card will reduce the risk of problems in running the firmware update.

Download & Unpack the Firmware File

Using a computer, you’ll need to download and unpack the firmware file.

You can download the firmware for the Nikon Z7 here. If you’re using Windows, it’ll come as an executable archive with an .exe extension. If you’re on Mac, it’ll come as a .dmg disk image archive. The filename will be along the lines of F-Z7-V###.exe or F-Z7-V###.dmg, with the hashtags replaced by the version number.

Once you unarchive or mount these files (double-click on them to do that), you’ll see the contents of the archive. The actual firmware file has a .bin file extension and will be named something like Z_7_0300.bin.

Copy the .bin File to the Memory Card

Copy the .bin file (not the .dmg or .exe versions) from your computer to your memory card.

There are two things to watch for:

Make sure to put it in the root directory of the card. That is, make sure it’s in the top-most level and is not inside another folder. Don’t put it inside the DCIM folder, for instance—it should alongside it. Like this:

Nikon Z7 Firmware Version bin file

Also, make sure you’re copying the extracted .bin file and not the .dmg or .exe files. The file on the memory card should have the .bin file extension—that’s the only type of file extension the camera will look for in this operation.

Load the Firmware in the Camera

Once you’ve copied the .bin firmware file onto your memory card, insert the memory card into your camera and turn the camera on. Make sure your camera battery has plenty of charge left on it; you do not want it running out of power in the middle of the firmware update operation.

Then repeat the process of looking up the firmware version from above. That is, go to Setup Menu and then Firmware version.

If the camera has correctly identified the .bin file on the memory card, you’ll now see two new options appear on that screen: Update and Delete firmware update files.

Nikon Z7 Firmware Update

You’ll get some on-screen instructions walking you through the rest of the operation. In this example, for instance, I’m updating from firmware v.2.01 to v.3.00.

Nikon Z7 Firmware Update

The “No” option is selected by default as a safety precaution.

Nikon Z7 Firmware Update

So move the cursor up to Yes and click the OK button.

Nikon Z7 Firmware Update

It’s very important that the camera not be interrupted while it’s updating the firmware. Doing so could render the camera inoperable (in other words: it can brick it because the firmware can be corrupted). So do not use any controls or turn the power off while it’s doing this, and make sure there’s plenty of battery charge before you start. You’ll see a progress bar and this warning on the Z7’s back screen:

Updating . . . Warning! Do not turn camera off during update. Update will take several minutes.

Once the update is complete, you’ll get the instructions on the screen that:

Update completed. Turn camera off.

You can now turn the camera back and check the firmware version to confirm that the operation was successful.

Next, it’s good practice to remove the firmware file from the memory card. You could do that in a computer with a card reader, of course, but the two safest options are to format the card in the camera or use the built-in “Delete firmware update files” function by going to Setup Menu > Firmware > Delete firmware update files.

Where to Find the Latest Nikon Z7 Firmware

You can find the latest Nikon Z7 firmware directly from Nikon’s download page for the Z7.

On that page, click on the firmware tab for a listing of the available downloads. That will give you a link to the specific page for downloading that firmware version, as well as the detailed changelog and instructions on how to update the Z7’s firmware.

FAQs

Is it hard to update the firmware of a Nikon Z7?

No, it’s not difficult. There is a specific sequence of steps, but they’re straightforward and spelled out above. There is the potential for problems, but that’s really only if the process is interrupted mid-process. So just be sure not to mess with the camera while it’s doing the update.

How often should you update the firmware of a Nikon Z7?

There’s no specific schedule to when manufacturers put out firmware updates. They put them out when they feel there’s something worth updating and when they think it’s ready. So it’s just a good idea to check in with the Z7’s official downloads page on Nikon’s website from time to time or keep an eye on photography news sites.


  1. There are some exceptions, such as when firmware introduces compatibility issues or introduces manufacturer-instigated limitations such as not working with third-party batteries. But, as a general rule, it’s usually a good idea to keep the firmware up to date. ↩
By David Coleman
Instagram: @havecamerawilltraveldc

Last updated on May 7, 2020

Categories: Cameras
Tags: Nikon, Nikon Z7 Mirrorless Camera

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News & Deals

With the holidays fast approaching, there’s some great deals on photography gear and services available. I’ve put together a roundup of Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2020 Photography Deals. It’s a running list as new deals are announced, so be sure to check back.

Canon announces new EOS Rebel T8i DSLR. Canon has announced their new T8i DSLR. 24MP APS-C cropped CMOS sensor, 4K24 video, and updated image processing and detection systems. It’s available for preorder from B&H Photo.

New Firmware for the Ricoh GR III. Ricoh has release firmware v1.31 for the GR III. Release notes are: “Corrected — When shooting with the multiple exposure, in rare cases the live view may not display correctly. Improved stability for general performance.” You can download it here.

New Canon 1D X Mark III Pro DSLR Announced. Canon has announced their new flagship model of pro DSLR, the 1D X Mark III. They’re sticking with a 20.1MP CMOS sensor, but it’s a new and improved version and boasts an incredible native ISO range of ISO 100 to ISO 102400 and an extended range that goes up to a jaw-dropping ISO 819200. With revamped autofocus, a new image processor, and all sorts of other bells and whistles, it’s no wonder that Canon is billing it as “The Ultimate EOS.”

New Manfrotto Pro Rugged Memory Cards. Manfrotto, an Italian probably best known for their tripods and studio accessories, has launched a new Pro Rugged range of high-end SD, microSD, and CompactFlash cards. While they don’t have a huge selection of sizes and speeds, the cards are aiming for very fast cards that can put up with rugged demands. For instance, they claim that their V90 rated SD cards can withstand three times the force (20kg / 45 lbs) of a regular SD card. I’ve ordered some to run through my speed tests.

New Sony Alpha a7 firmware released. A firmware update for the Sony a7R IV now lets you control external Sony flashes from the camera’s own menu system. Up to 15 flashes in five groups can be controlled via the camera. It also applies to the a7R III and a7 III.

Comments

  1. JERSON TERAN says

    November 5, 2020 at 2:07 pm

    MY CUESTION IS: IF I BUY A Z7 CAMERA WILL IT COME WITH THE LATEST FIRMWARE UPDATE OR COULD IT COME WITH AN ORIGINAL CONFIGURATION SO THAT I WILL HAVE TO UPDATE IT MY SELF?

    Reply
    • David says

      November 5, 2020 at 2:16 pm

      It depends on how long the camera has been sitting in the camera store’s stock and when the firmware update was issued. Most manufacturers will try to keep the firmware up to date before they ship to retailers, but they can’t do that when a firmware update is issued after the stock that has already been sent to retailers. In this case, the most recent firmware update was issued about a week ago, so any Z7s bought from a store this week or in the near future will almost certainly need to be updated.

      Reply
  2. Nancy Hunter says

    September 3, 2020 at 2:05 pm

    I am attempting to download the latest firmware for my Nikon Z7. I do not have a memory card reader. The directions say to download the firmware to a memory card AND THEN INSERT THE MEMORY CARD INTO THE CAMERA. Can I do this transfer without a memory card reader? Can I perform this transfer by attaching my camera with an empty memory card to my computer? Thank you.

    Reply
    • David says

      September 3, 2020 at 2:53 pm

      I’m not aware of any reason it wouldn’t work using the camera as the card reader.

      Reply

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