Nikon is arguably the world’s most well-known digital camera model, however with the decline of DSLRs it has lagged behind Canon and Sony. In 2022, it launched the Z9, a flagship mirrorless digital camera that would lastly maintain its personal towards rivals, however the $5,500 price ticket put it out of attain for many. To attraction to a wider viewers, Nikon unveiled the Z8 final 12 months with the identical sensor and practically the identical specs because the Z9 for $1,700 much less.
With a 45-megapixel stacked sensor and the newest Expeed 7 picture processor, the Z8 can do every part from sports activities to wildlife to scenic pictures. It is also a robust video digital camera, providing 8K RAW inside seize at as much as 60 fps.
The one different mannequin that may actually examine by way of velocity, decision and video is the Sony A1, nevertheless it prices a whopping $2,200 extra. To learn the way the Z8 stacks up towards that mannequin and others, I rented a Z8 and shot with it round Vancouver, Canada with my photographer cousin.
Physique and dealing with
Design-wise, you’ll be able to consider the Z8 because the Z9 with the battery grip chopped off. It is nonetheless a chunky digital camera at 910 grams (2 kilos), although, in comparison with 737 grams for the Sony A1. Which may swimsuit professionals or those that like a bigger digital camera physique, however the dimension and weight aren’t ultimate for journey. By the way in which, a $346 battery grip (the MB-N12) with secondary controls is out there for the Z8, successfully reworking it right into a Z9 for much much less cash.
The Z8 has a pleasant huge grip and all of the controls you’d anticipate, together with a joystick, D-Pad model menu management, change for digital camera/video settings and entrance and rear dials. Nikon customers will benefit from the format because it’s largely just like previous fashions, however every part is simply completely different sufficient that it might really feel awkward for customers coming from different manufacturers.
In contrast to the A1, the Z8 includes a show on high that exhibits key settings like shutter, aperture and battery life. Though it takes up area that may very well be utilized by buttons or dials, it is a helpful approach to see every part at a look and I miss it now on fashions that do not have it. Should you do should dive into the menus, they take a little bit of getting used to, however work properly when you’re over the training curve.
One of many key detrimental factors is the dearth of a completely articulating show. As an alternative, the rear 3.2-inch 2.36-million dot display solely tilts up and down and to the left or proper. That is too dangerous, as a result of the Z8 may very well be a robust vlogging digital camera and a flip-out show is should for that kind of labor (particularly because it makes solo taking pictures simpler).
The three.69 million-dot digital viewfinder is a bit low-res for a digital camera on this value vary, particularly in comparison with the 9.4 million-dot show on the Sony A1. Even Canon’s cheaper R5 has a 5.76 million dot show that makes it considerably simpler to verify focus.
Battery life is on the weak facet at 420 photographs (one to 2 hours of video taking pictures relying on decision), in comparison with 490 photographs for the Canon R5 and 530 for the A1, in line with CIPA scores. Once more, although, you’ll be able to practically double that with the battery grip. Different notable options embody UHS-II and CFexpress B reminiscence card slots, a full-sized HDMI port for exterior seize, in addition to two separate USB-C ports for energy supply and information.
Efficiency
With the quickest high-resolution stacked sensor on the market, the Z8 is unbelievably fast for a 45-megapixel digital camera. You’ll be able to shoot RAW images at 20 fps, a bit slower than the A1’s 30 fps RAW functionality, however the Z8 can shoot 30 fps in JPEG mode. It may deal with 40 uncompressed RAW frames earlier than the buffer fills, however can retailer extra compressed photos if in case you have a quick CFexpress card.
The hybrid phase-detect autofocus is Nikon’s finest to this point because of the upgraded picture processor, stacked sensor and big variety of AF monitoring factors. It provides dependable topic monitoring, and the face, eye and animal detection is quick and correct as properly. Actually, the corporate has mentioned it is practically equivalent to the far dearer Z9 as of the newest firmware.
That mentioned, the Z8’s AF isn’t fairly as reliable as Sony’s A1 when taking pictures on the highest speeds. It sometimes had bother monitoring topics, specifically these shifting towards the digital camera, leading to some out-of-focus photographs. The Z8 (and Z9) is kind of delicate to setup, so it is best to fine-tune the AF settings till it really works the way in which you need.
There’s no mechanical shutter, however the Z8’s sensor is quick sufficient that rolling shutter isn’t a difficulty, even on fast-moving objects like airplane propellers. The 5-axis in-body stabilization reduces shake by six stops, sufficient to get sharp images right down to 1 / 4 second or so. That’s superior to the A1, however falls method wanting the EOS R5’s 8 stops.
Picture high quality
The Z8 has the identical glorious sensor because the Z9, so after all picture high quality is equivalent in all respects. With 45.7 megapixels on faucet, it delivers sharp images on par with the 50-megapixel A1 and second solely to Sony’s 60 MP A7R V within the full-frame realm. Dynamic vary can be excellent, arguably a contact higher than the A1.
JPEG photos are vibrant and punchy straight out of the digital camera, with the very best outcomes by way of colours from the Pure Gentle Auto white steadiness setting. Colours are correct, although skin-tones aren’t fairly as heat as Canon’s R3 or R5.
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In the meantime, the 14-bit RAW photos maintain loads of element that may be teased out in Lightroom or ON1, significantly within the highlights. Just like the Z9, the Z8 not has an “uncompressed” choice, however now provides “lossless compression” and two high-efficiency lossy modes. I usually used the RAW setting with the best compression, as a result of it is tremendous environment friendly and albeit, I am unable to see any distinction between that and lossless compressed RAW.
The Z8 performs moderately properly in low-light, too. Grain is well-controlled as much as about ISO 6400, and photographs are usable at ISO 12800. Past that, noise can change into distracting. That strains up with Canon’s R5, however Sony’s A1 performs a bit higher in dim lighting.
Video
The Z8’s video specs are fairly mind-blowing for a non-cinema digital camera and exceed the A1’s capabilities. You’ll be able to shoot RAW video at as much as 8K 60p in Nikon’s 12-bit N-RAW or 8K 30p with 12-bit ProRes RAW HQ internally, to CFexpress playing cards solely, after all. It additionally captures 4K video oversampled from the complete width of the sensor at as much as 60p, and full-width 4K as much as 120p — once more, all in RAW.
It is value noting that Nikon just lately bought RED cameras, so it now owns the RED RAW video patent that stymied so many different corporations, together with Apple. It’s going to be fascinating to see if Nikon loosens up that enforcement, and if the acquisition impacts the tech in its personal future fashions.
As with images, video autofocus is quick and dependable, whereas doing job monitoring topics, faces and animals. It may deal with difficult conditions like topics shifting towards the digital camera, although once more, not fairly in addition to the A1.
8K and 4K oversampled video is extraordinarily sharp. Colours are correct, however once more, pores and skin tones aren’t fairly as fairly as on Canon’s newest fashions. Dynamic vary is top-notch, significantly within the ISO 400-800 stage in ProRes mode, making it simple to regulate shadows and highlights in put up. Should you love taking pictures ProRes footage, you should definitely get some high-capacity CFexpress playing cards, as a result of the information can get enormous.
One space the place the Z9 bests the Z8 in video is with thermal efficiency, because the Z9’s bigger physique permits for 125 minutes of 8K 60p recording in comparison with 90 for the Z8 earlier than overheating. There are only a few content material creators that might want to repeatedly shoot 8K video for that lengthy, nonetheless.
Wrap-up
Nikon’s Z8 is an especially succesful digital camera and exhibits that the corporate ought to supply as a lot velocity and energy as doable if it needs to catch as much as Canon and Sony. For a lot of hybrid shooters, the Z8 is a greater choice than Sony’s A1, significantly relating to video.
Whereas it does out-spec the Sony in quite a lot of areas, the Z8’s autofocus isn’t fairly pretty much as good — and that is arguably an important characteristic on any digital camera. Shooters who require a mechanical shutter (for flash pictures, and so on.) can even have to look elsewhere. One other 8K-capable full-frame mirrorless mannequin is Canon’s R5 that falls wanting each fashions in lots of regards, however is cheaper at $3,200.
A call to purchase this digital camera could be primarily based on what system and lenses you’re already into. Nevertheless, if I used to be ranging from scratch, I’d go for the Z8 over Sony’s A1, as you get the digital camera plus an excellent lens for a similar sum of money.
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