Live Science Verdict
With all the power and performance of the flagship Z9 , but in a smaller and cheaper body , the Nikon Z8 is a market - lead mirrorless camera .
45.7MP resolution
Up to 120fps outburst
(Image credit: Jase Parnell-Brookes)
8 K 60p video
Killer autofocus
stamp battery could be in effect
120fps is only 11MP
No articulating silver screen
Occasional AF flaw
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Type : MirrorlessSensor:45.7MP full frameLens saddle horse : Nikon ZISO range:64 - 25,600 ( exp 32 - 102,400)Viewfinder : Electronic , 3.69 m dotsVideo capability:8 K 60p / 4 K 120pWeight:2lbs 0.1ozSize:56.7 x 46.5 x 32.7 inchesMemory card:2x CFexpress B
The Nikon Z8 is referred to by Nikon as both " a baby Z9 " and " the true successor to theNikon D850 " . That ’s high praise indeed , with the Z9 being the company ’s cut - edge , flagship mirrorless photographic camera , and the D850 being widely affect as the finest DSLR ever made .
Both recording label are whole exact , though , as the Nikon Z8 lives up to every inch of the hype . With 45.7MP resolution , 8 chiliad 60p video recording and up to 120fps burst shooting , this can handle almost anything you throw at it ; its continuous shot swiftness and ferocious autofocus obviously make it one of thebest wildlife camerason the market , but it ’s also an absolute powerhouse for anything from astrophotography to portrayal .
In fact , the Z8 is so full that it jeopardise to make the pricier , bulkier Z9 redundant . Unless you really need the vertical grip and beefier battery power ( both of which are in reality available to the Z8 , if you buy an additional clutch ) , there really is n’t much to vindicate the extra grand or so that the flagship will be you .
There are asterisks next to a couple of lineament , such as the fact that the 120fps bursts are limited to 11MP JPEGs , but all in all the Z8 can tackle any labor – and it ’s probably the effective all - function television camera that Nikon has ever made .
Nikon Z8: Design
When Nikon calls this a " babe Z9 " , it is n’t kidding : while it pack the exact same technology as its self-aggrandizing buddy , the Z8 eschews the integrated upright bobby pin to deliver a camera body that ’s a interchangeable sizing to the Nikon Z6 and Z7 .
Taking a cue from Sony , this is the first flagship from Nikon ( or Canon , for that affair ) to offer a pro body without the erect grip – in turn , making it invoke to a much broader market . sure enough , if you ’re going to be using it with big bulky primes or foresightful telephoto lens , the Z9 balances well . But for routine and all - aim shooting , I ’m a much cock-a-hoop fan of this smaller step . Mirrorless is supposed to be smaller and lighter than DSLRs , after all !
As you ’d expect from a Nikon , the bioengineering are sublime ; the Big N really knows how to make a camera that fits your hand like a baseball mitt . The controls sense premium and are positioned just where your fingers and thumbs expect them , and shooting with the Z8 is a pipe dream . It also feature a heavy in - body image stabilization system that delivers up to 5.5 stops of compensation ( 6 full point with specific lenses ) .
My only ailment here is that the camera does n’t feature a fully articulating touchscreen , rather choose for a curious four - way tilting option . This certainly gives more flexibility than a standard tilt - only screen , but not being capable to flip the projection screen all the means round is a sensitive compass point when shoot video – and supernumerary baffling , give what a telecasting power plant the Z8 is .
The tilting sieve is fantastically vivid and elaborate with good color procreation even when comparing it to our 99 % Adobe RGB people of color monitoring equipment in the studio apartment but it ’s the restrictions of its tilting procedure which frustrate us a little .
Tilting the screen to the right and upwards from a normal shot position we get around 180 degrees and about 200 degrees of trend severally which is outstanding for pen scenes with awkward shot angles ( such as frame up foreground constituent when capturing astrophotographs ) . However , the left and down controversy give little more than 30 or 45 degrees respectively .
(Image credit: Jase Parnell-Brookes)
We ’re presuming that Nikon ’s thinking here is that it ’s more awkward to defy a camera in those latter positions and trigger the shutter release button , but it ’s a petty confusing as to why they did n’t opt for a fully rotating vari - slant vogue screen that competitor mannequin like the Canon EOS R5 have as nonremittal .
Nikon Z8: Functionality
Kit lens : Nikkor Z 24 - 120 mm f/4 SBest wide lense : Nikkor Z 14 - 24 mm f/2.8 SBest zoom lens of the eye : Nikkor Z 100 - 400 mm f/4.5 - 5.6 VR SSpare barrage case : NikonEN - EL15a , b or coke
In short , there is nothing the Z8 ca n’t do – it has been designed to conquer any and every shooting situation . The 45.7MP image detector offer an incredible amount of declaration , and it ’s back - side illuminated to offer greater light - gathering capability and cleaner public presentation .
However , this is also a stack sensor – meaning that it boasts lightning - truehearted readout speeds , delivering unbelievable results for stillness and video . For the former , it give you the power to shoot at previously impossible continuous burst speeds of up to 120fps – though this come with a few caveats .
(Image credit: Jase Parnell-Brookes)
When pullulate at 120fps , the Z8 can only capture 11MP JPEGs . However , it can still pip full - fat 45.7MP JPEGs at 30fps , or RAW files at 20fps – all with autofocus and autoexposure . Thanks to its press cutting - edge range of a function mainframe , the television camera can record more than 1,000 RAW images at 20fps before any buffering recoil in – which is candidly astonishing !
The quick - as - a - singultus readout velocity of the stacked sensor also mean that the rolling shutter phenomenon is virtually rule out when snap still and video . Indeed , it ’s such a non - issue that Nikon has n’t even nettle to include a mechanical shutter in the Z8 . It ’s electronic - only , gas a blistering 1/32000 sec level best shutter hurrying ( which is 4 times faster than most gamey - destruction cameras ! ) .
The camera also vaunt the same flagship autofocus system found in the Z9 , with subject detection algorithms for everything from humans and animate being to all manner of vehicles ( in fact , it even beat its big crony by incorporating a new " aircraft " mode on top of the standard " airplane " tracking ) .
And last but not least , the Nikon Z8 is one of the most capable cameras on the market place when it come to video , able-bodied to produce crystal clear-cut 8 K 60p as well as 4 K 120p footage – all without the overheating issues and recording limitation found in its rival , theCanon EOS R5 .
One exciting feature for astrophotographers is the night visual sensation mode . Gone are the days of using a reddish flashlights and shutting our eyes every time a railroad car run by just to have the television camera menu or figure preview blast blistering - ashen brightness into our eyes and break our night vision . manoeuvre into the usance shooting menu and navigate to d10 and we ’re met with Warm display coloring . Within it are two programmable modes to keep specific color balance scope on the rear covert and electronic viewfinder which are , by default , both set to red and to keep the projection screen dim .
" But now we ca n’t see whether the color remainder is true while shooting , everything is violent ! " we hear you say . Yes , but there are two caution to this : one is that we should be shoot in birthday suit data formatting anyway , so we can line up this when image redaction , and two , in the main you ’ll only be checking the rear screen when setting up a composition . This would involve check things like aperture , shutter speed and ISO , as well as monitor the histogram to fend off dark clipping on the graph . Plus , you’re able to just turn it off again if you truly want to check the coloring or brightness of the double .
Nikon Z8: Performance
The Z8 is an absolute home run for Nikon in just about every department . The 45.7MP file it bring about are arresting , dripping with item to use direct out of camera and packed with flock of datum if you prefer doing spot - production . The RAW files in particular reveal just how clean the look-alike are , coming off the new detector ; even when you maltreat the ISO , you ’re still getting beautiful images .
The 120fps continuous shooting is uproarious to the compass point of Schwarzenegger - like overkill . I ca n’t blame it , but there ’s no realness in which I ’m ever going to utilise it ; the 11MP JPEGs are perfectly fine , but I ’m not using a 45.7MP camera to take down - reticuloendothelial system photos ! I ’m also not going to sit flicking through thousands more trope count for another 100 versions of the decisive second – the 20fps RAW shot is more than enough .
However , the slightly lower firmness , tops - flying burst speeds are honed for specific photographic field . This include action photojournalism and athletics news media where the photographic camera would be rigged up to the net to download a constant flow of trope to a team of editors . These editors are then ready to make the perfect selection to publish online or in mark , where every 2nd count when it comes to reader traffic and print deadlines .
Where things get a little morsel knavish is with the autofocus . Now , liken to just about any other camera , the Z8 ’s AF is phenomenal . It line up , watch and focus on field of study with nervous degrees of truth … 98 % of the time . When I took this out to shoot wildlife , there were occasions where it falter – and any other television camera would have falter on those same occasions . Except for the Canon EOS R5 .
I have yet to level the R5 at a single animal , whether the AF has an algorithm for it or not , that it has n’t been capable to focalize on . That was not the case with the Z8 , which struggled to ascertain focal point on some wild animals – and also whole fail to notice a distich who were somewhat obscured by foliage ( in a way that the Canon does n’t shinny ) .
It was also less than honest for me when photographing sports , as the AF is slightly twitchy and apt to jump from player to player rather than stick on the bailiwick you want it to . Still , we really are compare Lebron James to Michael Jordan here – coming second is more a reflection of how good the GOAT is , rather than a failing on the part of the Z8 .
(Image credit: Jase Parnell-Brookes)
The tables are turned when it comes to TV , an area where the R5 has a few caution . That ’s not the case with the Nikon Z8 ; capable of 8- or 10 - bit H.265 , 10 - piece Apple ProRes 4:2:2 HQ and 12 - bit in - camera ProRes RAW HQ , TV here is of the finest quality at all resolutions ( unlike the uninspiring standard 4 K of the Canon ) . you’re able to also enchant 120 second of 4 thousand 60p footage , or 90 minute of arc of 8 K 30p – again , a far cry from the limitation of the R5 .
The same AF limitations implement to video shooting , and again the deficiency of an articulating screen is a big miss , but otherwise this is as much a goliath when it come to videography as it is to still .
In low light photography we are all aware of just how much camera autofocusing system shinny . As soon as crepuscule comes around , or when shooting in a indistinctly light church building or other lowly visible radiation venue , we supercharge up the ISO , slow the shutter hurrying and wallop spread the aperture just to have the autofocus hunting , whirring back and away before giving up .
(Image credit: Jase Parnell-Brookes)
While mirrorless cameras on the whole are improve their scurvy light AF , with some cameras spend down to -6.5EV , the Z8 walks away with the plunder offering a -9EV autofocus detection downcast limit . To apply this though , we have to turn on Starlight persuasion ( photo Lv ) in d9 of the impost shooting carte du jour . Once engaged it works both on the rear LCD cover and in the electronic viewfinder and it appears to storm up the brightness of the screen to help with composition in dark scenes as well .
Should you buy the Nikon Z8?
Do you want flagship level performance without flagship price or bulk ? Do you need Nikon ’s fine ever photographic camera technology ? Do you need gamey - res 45MP stills or 8 K video ? Then the Nikon Z8 is an absolutely fantastic choice .
Is it thebestoption , though ? For my money , I would actually commend the Canon EOS R5 unless you truly need 120fps stills , 8 kibibyte 60p video or the power to fritter more than 20 minute of 8 K in one go .
The Z8 is a technical wonder and an unprecedented powerhouse . Were it not for a couple of gripes – namely the twitchy autofocus and the non - articulating screen – it might be the sound camera I ’ve ever used . It ’s chintzy than rival flagships and outpunches them in almost every category ; you wo n’t find this much power at this terms anywhere else .
(Image credit: Jase Parnell-Brookes)
However , novice and even most intermediates probably wo n’t be able to take full advantage of this camera . Sure , if they have recondite pocket this tv camera will last them for years to come and is a worthy purchase . But there will be so many features and setting paid for and not used by beginners or medium lensman that a cheaper choice will yield results that are just as estimable .
If this isn’t for you
The direct contender to the Z8 is theCanon EOS R5 , which offers very interchangeable glasses – 45MP resolve , 20fps RAW + JPEG volley shot , 8 K 30p video – and unite them with the best autofocus system in the line of work .
While the Z8 is its successor , there ’s still plenty to love about theNikon D850 . It ’s a DSLR rather than mirrorless , but boasts the same full - build 45.7MP firmness along with fantastic ISO performance at a lower damage .
If you ’re interested in the affordability and advantages of APS - C , the Canon EOS 90D is a great option . Its 32.5MP sensor is still bundle with pixels , it ’s pretty rapid at 10fps , and its 1.6x harvest broker increases the effective focal duration of your lense – pure for gaining extra reach when shooting thing like wildlife !
