Z 8

From a faithful Nikon user, D700,D810, D850 then sold everything with a move to FujiFilm for what I thought a better photography experience. Happily I took the dive and switched back over to the Z8. Fast, always on target, natural colors out of camera etc! Just an amazing all around camera system!

If? It is a photographer/videographer's desire to go to the next level through exploring constantly improving capabilities through firmware updates and enhancements then the Z8 is the camera for you. The Z8, when coupled with Nikon Z mount lenses the opportunities to enhance current work and develop new skills and talents is endless and I know this sounds like a ad but the Z8 has allowed me to develop not just new skills but produce images and videos that exceeded anything I thought possible.With firmware enhancements to the auto focus system and purchase of the Z mount f/1.2 85mm S prime my portrait work has improved in quality to a level I did not think possible. Because of this and learning how to grow with the camera and other Nikon lenses including the f/2.8 24-70 S and f/2.8 70-200 S I have been able to produce the kinds of images and videos that opened the door for me to do presentations at camera club on abstract photography, artistic photography, and video composition.My passion is landscape, nature, and people and the recording capability in the manual mode for video production is extraordinary. Especially, when coupled with a Tascam Portacapture X-8, 32 bit stereo field recorder. The sound quality is phenomenal and I will be using this and a Rode Video Mic Pro Plus in Vancouver in 3 weeks to record and document orca's, humpbacks, and grizzly bears in the Great Bear National Rain Forest. Image quality and detail when using f/2.8 lenses or f/1.8 lenses produce incredible quality in low light situations. These Nikon tools utilized with NX Studio 1.9 ensure very sharp downloads for easy review and editing before moving to state of the art photo and video software. When all of this is combined (both still photography and videography) into a single video with nature recordings at the time of capture and the addition of music, and scripted narration support significant interest in the work you are doing. These things would not be possible without the many features designed and enhanced through firmware upgrades in the Z8.Which is why I have been asked to develop a professional educational on "How to improve personal videography through better inclusion of techniques associated with cinematography." To do this I will be featuring the power of the Z8's video capabilities. In closing, the Z8 has allowed me to develop new skills and understandings has to what can be done in both photography and videography by experiencing greater opportunities to create. Truly an amazing tools and firmware update 3.0 encourages that journey to greater creativity with an incredible sense of accomplishment. Well done Nikon!Jock

A very good camera, amazing considering it is generation one of the Z8, but frustrations for the photographer remain. Nikon needs to continue releasing improvements to stay ahead of the competition. To push into the five star realm, they need continued improvements in autofocus. Eye tracking on long-necked birds and animals other than pets is underwhelming. Resetting to a user’s standard settings requires a work around. Precapture does not include raw or even HEIF, and this is a pro level camera. Focus stacking can only be triggered within the menu rather than with the shutter or other assigned button. Battery life needs continued improvements. There’s more. It’s a great camera, yes, but I just can’t go to five stars. Yet. Hopefully Nikon will continue to upgrade generation one, exceeding what the competition has delivered. The D850 was and is a five star DLSR. The Z8 is so close to being a five star mirrorless. Come on Nikon… you can do it!

The Z8 has replaced my D850 in my bag and it is a nice addition. I bought it with the new kit 24-120 S, which replaced my F-mount 24-120 Gold Ring and I think that it is sharper than the old one. Please check out the bee pictures below, original and cropped. The focus is fast and the metering is accurate. I appreciate the lighter weight, especially after carrying it for several hours. It works well with my existing stock of F-mount lenses, which was a real concern for me. I pair the Z8 with my D6, which gives me a good range to work with as each camera has strengths of their own. The only complaint that I have is battery life, although I get more use than the 300-400 that I was told to expect.

A great camera. Took quite awhile to learn the ins and outs. Spent a lot of time setting up the A,B,C and D Banks. I would recommend setting up one bank to start with and then see if you really need the others. The function buttons also take some learning to set but are important. The longer I have the camera, the more I enjoy it.

Overall, the Z8 has been absolutely freaking incredible!!!The auto focus in eye tracking is amazing and I keep it on 3-D tracking most of the time and it works for most every situation I’m in. I only ever had a little hiccups in the auto focus when trying to focus in near straight darkness, but that’s still out performing any other mirrorless or DSLR I’ve ever used!The video capabilities are incredible and I’d suggest this camera to absolutely anyone who’s budget allows.

The badThe setup of the camera is confusing and complicated Many features that I will never useThe auto focus is full of problems especially when switching between close to far or far to close targets The good Ability to customize important features Subject programming like birdsQuality of picture is good Location of important buttons like ISO

Amazing do everything camera. I would love for Nikon to figure out how to reliably merge focus shifts and pixel shifts in camera, but that is more of a feature request. I currently can’t think of a fault for me in the camera.

The Z8 is a complete camera. I had previously owned (and loved) a D850. When I moved to digital, I got a Z7ii, which is an excellent camera and delivers superior image quality. But the Z7ii doesn't have the versatility of the D850, and it definitely is not designed for action (wildlife, sports). The Z8 is a major step up. The autofocus system is superb. The frame rate is astounding. The button placement and design are subtlety more intuitive than the Z7ii. I wish I had gone with the Z8 straight off!