Z 8

14 September 2025
I just sprung for a new Z8 after longing for one for the last two years. I thought my Z7 was great with its large sensor but the Z8 takes the cake. I have never been so excited about a camera since I got my Nikon D300 way back when. The big difference for me in the Z8 is the fast and accurate autofocussing which surpassed my expectations despite the praise lavished on it by reviewers since it came out. They were right. This thing sings when you need fast action on moving objects in the lens. I have a flash but the high ISO on this makes a flash almost unnecessary. The Z8 has a solid heft to it that fits right in the hand. The new positioning of some of the buttons seems more intuitive which I like. The swing out monitor makes sense but the EV is still my go to viewer for photography. The use of double memory cards is finally right after only one on the Z7. The CF Express cards are so fast now and the SD card V series aren't far behind. The weather proofing of the Z8 body takes the worry out of getting moisture in the camera, a feature I have always admired in Nikon bodies. I bought a Nikkor Z 24-120 S lens last year, my first Z lens and the S-line quality is humbling. In combination with the Z8, this is the camera I have always wanted since the old days of medium format fim cameras.
My initial forays inside the house and outside have produced the sharpness, colours and fast lighting controls I want and I am ready to head out to find some local wild birds in their habitats along the shore. With fall approaching, the ducks and geese heading south will be stimulating to shoot with the Z8 and long lenses on tripods. The colder air will also provide some clear nights for astrophotography as well as city skylines. I feel a renewed energy with this Z8 to get out and shoot more which is what it is all about. Good one, Nikon!

A fantastic upgrade to my D850. The technical advances are exceptional but one thing that is extra special for me is the decrease in the weight of the body and lens compared to the D850. I couple my landscape and bird photography with long hikes in local county parks and the CVNP. The light Z8 lets me go the extra mile(s).

I recently purchased the Nikon Z8, and I can confidently say it’s one of the most powerful and versatile cameras I’ve ever used. Nikon has really outdone itself with this one—it’s like having the flagship Z9 in a more compact, manageable body without sacrificing performance.The image quality is stunning. The 45.7MP sensor captures incredibly detailed shots with beautiful dynamic range and color accuracy. Low-light performance is exceptional, and the autofocus system is lightning-fast and incredibly smart—face, eye, and even animal detection works flawlessly.What truly impressed me is how well it handles both photography and video. For video shooters, the 8K and 4K options with Nikon’s advanced color science make it a serious contender for hybrid creators. And the build quality is rock solid—rugged, weather-sealed, and ergonomically designed for long shoots.I also appreciate the dual card slots, the high-res EVF, and the intuitive menu system. It just feels right in the hands, and it’s clear Nikon listened to its users when designing the Z8.If you’re serious about photography or content creation, the Z8 is absolutely worth the investment. It’s a professional-grade tool in a body that doesn’t weigh you down.Highly recommended—5 stars!

Amazing camera, so versatile over a huge range of settings. Many can be changed quickly on the fly, or preset for immediate use. Clear, quiet. Solid and light. I truly love using it. My only sad point is my D850 is going to sit on the shelf a lot more.

This is my first "pro" camera and I am loving it. The focus is fast and accurate and the files are beautifully detailed. I advise taking it slow with the customization, it's hard to remember what's what in the field with so many choices. Set a few, learn them completely, then change some others to meet needs you have discovered while using the camera. Great Gear!

Great camera. Went from a Nikon 810 to the Z8. Quality, speed, and features are far superior. I'm even using my SB-900 flashes without a problem. If I had to make a comment, I am not happy my old version 5.7 of Lightroom cannot open the Raw NEF files. I suppose I now will have to subscribe to the new version of Lightroom.

My relationship with Nikon has a long history, in the 70’s I got my first 35mm camera, it was a F3 and it was a work horse, so good that I got my second camera in 1990 a N8008, which I still have, It gave to me so many satisfactions, that I refused to go digital, until the D300 came out. As time passed, came the full frame and Nikon really got me, the D700 still at its prime, made me forget the film era, years later I got the D800E and later the D810.Again I refuse for years to go into the mirrorless systems, my pictures are so good from the SLR that I didn’t want anything with the new cameras. But Nikon always has a way to take my money. The Zf came into the market and my old F3 came into my dreams, I got it and my mind changed, the mirrorless systems are far superior than the SLRs, with the images from the Zf during one year, I went into the Z8, so far it’s a wonderful camera, 5 Stars. Still I’m studying and seeing all its features and capabilities, but my opinion is the best of the best. Of course until the Zf r comes to life.Thanks Nikon for this long friendship!

In one word, PHENOMONAL! Wish I hadn't waited so long to get one!

I am the owner of two z9s and had a z7ii which I traded up for the z8. Wow! It is the mini me of the z9. I wanted a great camera that was smaller than the z9 as a carry around. I was amazed as I love the size, set it up with the same features as the z9. The only drawback is the smaller battery/life. I would highly recommend it as a VERY close sibling to the z9.