Nikon Z8 assessment: Good at every thing

Nikon pitches the Z8 because the mirrorless successor to arguably the best DSLR ever made, the Nikon D850. In actuality, it shares extra DNA with the model’s flagship mirrorless physique, the Z9, solely it is shrunken right down to be extra compact and it comes at a extra inexpensive value level.

This implies it has the potential to be one of many best possible cameras you can purchase in 2023, as evidenced by its completely stacked spec sheet with masses to supply for photographers and video makers alike.

It has been some time since I’ve used a Nikon digital camera, and all of the hype round this launch bought me excited to see what the model has to supply. I have been capturing with it for the previous couple of weeks, and it is secure to say it doesn’t disappoint. This is how I bought on.

Nikon

Nikon Z8

Editor’s Alternative

The Nikon Z8 presents each velocity and determination whether or not we’re speaking images or video. It will probably do just about every thing Nikon’s flagship Z9 can do, however in a extra compact physique and at a a lot better value.

Execs

• 47.5MP stacked sensor
• 20 fps burst capturing in RAW
• As much as 8K60 / 4K120 video recording
• Inner ProRes and N RAW

Cons

• Terrible synthetic shutter sound
• Tilting display isn’t splendid for video

Specs, value and availability

The Nikon Z8 was introduced in Might 2023 and is out there to buy now from all main digital camera retailers. It is priced at $3999 / £3999, which places it up in opposition to formidable cameras just like the Canon EOS R5 and Sony A7R V. Nevertheless, when you think about that the Z8 is actually a shrunken-down Z9, which retails for round $5500, it begins to appear to be a fairly nice deal.

Design

By taking one have a look at the Z8, you possibly can instantly see the way it bought its standing because the child Z9. The chassis is nearly equivalent, it simply has the built-in battery grip lopped off of the underside. It’s price noting, although, that in case you want the bigger chassis, you possibly can all the time add Nikon’s battery grip (MB-N12) which is bought individually for $350 – and is far more cost-effective than choosing the Z9.

It is about 30 per cent smaller than the Z9, but it surely’s not at all a small digital camera, it nonetheless weighs in at a hefty 910g, and that is earlier than you add some chunky full-frame glass to the entrance of it. Regardless of this heft, it does really feel nice within the hand, principally because of its spacious and well-sculpted grip.

The controls are properly laid out and simple to grasp. I particularly like the 2 programmable perform buttons on the entrance, that are inside straightforward attain of your fingers always. I exploit the equally positioned perform buttons on a regular basis on my GH6, and their inclusion made this physique straightforward to adapt to.

One factor that is a bit tougher to get used to, although, is the dearth of a PASM dial. As a substitute, you get 4 buttons for choosing mode, drive, bracketing and white stability. This implies you want two fingers to change mode, as you will maintain down the mode button and choose with the thumbwheel. I wasn’t a fan of this, just because it is not what I am used to, however on the plus aspect, you are a lot much less prone to swap mode accidentally, so I can perceive the choice.

Connectivity and shows

On the subject of ports, you get a full-sized HDMI, 3.5mm headphone and mic sockets and twin USB-C ports. You additionally get a 10-pin distant port, which juts out of the aspect of the digital camera at a 45-degree angle. It’s kind of of an eyesore, however I am positive customers of appropriate remotes will probably be happy to see it included.

In comparison with its massive brother, it lacks an RJ45 port, however to make up for it, you get an extra USB-C port and you should utilize a USB-C to ethernet adapter if you’ll want to tether the digital camera. It additionally lacks GPS connectivity, however there are workarounds utilizing the cellular app or 10-pin connector if you’ll want to seize this information. It is not one thing that issues to me personally, however I am conscious that sure shooters require this

For storage, you get a single CFexpress slot and an SD card slot. You may want to make use of the CFexpress to shoot in a number of the extra intensive video recording modes, as sadly, it would not appear that the USB-C output is quick sufficient for portable SSD recording – although it would work in decrease settings.

The three.2-inch 2.1 million dot free-angle tilting LCD is inherited from the Z9, and it is nice to make use of. The touchscreen is de facto responsive, which is nice for setting your focus and it is also very fluid when swiping by means of the menus. It is not a flip-out display, so you will not be utilizing it for vlogging (you’d want arms of metal to do this anyway) however there’s articulation in nearly each course, so it is easy to border your shot in nearly each situation.

The EVF is rather less spectacular, it 0.5-inch 3.69 million dot OLED panel, and it is completely serviceable, but it surely lags behind the competitors. The EOS R5, for instance, has a 5.75 million dot EVF, and the Sony A7R V bumps that as much as 9.4 million. It will get the job accomplished simply high-quality, but it surely’s not going to wow you.

There’s additionally a small monochrome settings panel on the highest of the digital camera, once more nothing groundbreaking, however loads of cameras forego the settings display, and I am an enormous fan of them, personally. It is good to have the ability to see your key settings at a look and never have them cluttering up the LCD/EVF view.

Picture and video efficiency

The Nikon Z8 shares the identical 45.7MP stacked sensor and Expeed 7 processor because the Z9, so it is no shock that it is able to capturing completely gorgeous pictures. I shot with the Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S, a flexible lens that is well-suited to the product pictures, avenue images and candids that I took throughout the testing interval.

As you’d count on from a forty five.7MP sensor, there’s an distinctive quantity of element, it won’t fairly match the A7R V’s 61MP output, but it surely does have the benefit on the subject of velocity. The stacked sensor can seize as much as 30 JPEGs per second or 20 RAW pictures, in case you drop the decision right down to 11MP you possibly can shoot at a staggering 120 fps. Comparatively, the A7R V tops out at simply 7 fps with uncompressed RAW pictures.

An fascinating factor concerning the Z8 (and Z9) is that it foregoes the mechanical shutter completely. It would not want one, clearly, but it surely does really feel unusual to make use of such a high-end digital camera and never hear that satisfying shutter click on once you take a shot. It should not actually matter, however the synthetic sound is fairly naff, too. Fortunately, you possibly can flip it off for utterly silent capturing.

I discovered the noise discount fairly spectacular, and you’ll nonetheless get usable pictures at ISO 12800, although I not often wanted to go wherever close to that top. That is partly because of the IBIS, or VR as Nikon calls it, which does an excellent job of stabilizing your stills – though I discovered it barely vulnerable to jerkiness in video capturing.

With regards to video, the Nikon Z8 isn’t any slouch there, both. It presents a slew of high-end options together with 8K 60fps recording, it is certainly one of only a few cameras available on the market with such capabilities. In fact, most individuals will not want 8K60, however in case you do, it is out there.

I am a sucker for gradual movement, and my favorite B-roll setting, 4K 120fps, is out there within the Z8. What’s extra, it will do it in 12-bit N-RAW and 10-bit 4:2:2. In additional customary capturing settings, like 4K60, you possibly can file in ProRes HQ and ProRes Uncooked internally, too.

I did not have sufficient time to totally discover the wealth of video choices out there on the Z8, however to this point, it looks like a severe contender. The autofocus is extraordinarily succesful in video, not fairly Sony-level however with an analogous reliability to Canon and Lumix, which is one thing that took me unexpectedly. I would fortunately depend on it for almost all of my work.

As I discussed earlier, the IBIS could possibly be higher in video capturing, it tends to jerk a bit bit, simply as I’ve seen on latest Fujifilm cameras. It is nonetheless good, however there’s room for enchancment.

Verdict

The Nikon Z8 is an unbelievable hybrid digital camera. It doesn’t matter what you are capturing, the Z8 can probably deal with it. It presents splendidly detailed pictures, quick and correct autofocus, tremendous speedy burst capturing and a tonne of pro-level video performance.

There is no avoiding the truth that it is an costly and ponderous digital camera; However contemplating what’s on supply, it truly presents nice worth in comparison with a variety of the competitors, and even its personal larger brother, the Z9.

If you happen to’re buying on this value vary, I believe the Z8 may be probably the most well-rounded choice out there right this moment. There is no longer a necessity to decide on between velocity and determination – the Z8 does all of it, and does it properly.