Nikon Z8 is here

[mxbianco]

New versions of the software are out, supporting the Z8:

NX Studio Full Ver. 1.4.0 2023/05/23 https://downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com/en/download/sw/242.html
NX Tether Full Ver. 1.0.4 2023/05/23 https://downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com/en/download/sw/241.html
Picture Control Utility 2 Full Ver. 2.4.15 2023/05/23 https://downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com/en/download/sw/239.html
Camera Control Pro 2 Full Ver. 2.36.0 2023/05/23 https://downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com/en/download/sw/238.html
Wireless Transmitter Utility Full Ver. 1.10.0 2023/05/23 https://downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com/en/download/sw/237.html
N-Log 3D LUT Full Ver. 1.05 2023/05/16 https://downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com/en/download/sw/236.html

Ciao from Massimo

[Birna Rørslett]

With all these 'new' kidneys for sale, the kidney price must go down

The Z8 looks tempting, I freely admit. I'll try to resist, though. Must -- resist.

[Anthony]

It should nice replace a D500, just put it in DX mode, and you have the "reach" of the D500 and nearly the same pixel dimensions. (as with D500 and D850).

Reach is a bit of a myth. It is only cropping.

[mxbianco]

Reach is a bit of a myth. It is only cropping.

Say you are photographing the Moon, with a lot of black sky around it, with DX crop mode you have a more efficient usage of your memory card and your stacking of images will not require a memory card swp. Sometimes it's useful!

Ciao from Massimo

[Anthony]

Say you are photographing the Moon, with a lot of black sky around it, with DX crop mode you have a more efficient usage of your memory card and your stacking of images will not require a memory card swp. Sometimes it's useful!

Ciao from Massimo

Yes there can be advantages to DX, but reach is not one of them.

[mxbianco]

THE Z8 REFERENCE GUIDE IS OUT, LOOK HERE:

https://crossgate.nikonimglib.com/dsd_redirect/redirect.do?P=GdwvS71&R=PXS9c96&L=ypFBO05&O=fnq1L00


Please notice it's a hefty 948 pages!

Ciao from Massimo

[Ian Watson]

I am really tempted, must sell a kidney

Does it have to be one's own kidney? I'm asking for a friend.

[Michael Erlewine]

I'm selling my trusty D850 on Ebay. My Z8 is shipping and on its way. I may be tempted to sell my Z9 (which I find too heavy a lot of the time) and I still have my much-used Z7 II.

[ColinM]

It should nice replace a D500, just put it in DX mode, and you have the "reach" of the D500 and nearly the same pixel dimensions. (as with D500 and D850).

I too am not convinced by the Z8 as an upgrade path for a DX F mount body.
Years ago, I compared the results of my D300 with a D700 and later a D800 when used with telephotos for wildlife photography.

After cropping the FX images to give me the same dimension image as I got on the D300,  I wasn't convinced the benefits were enough. Maybe my technique was poor, but all shots were taken using a 300mm AFS f4 on a tripod.

What I'd really like is a mirrorless equivalent of the D500 type performance.
But it doesn't seem Nikon is interested in that niche

[Ilkka Nissilä]

Z8 results are likely to be significantly better than D800 because of improved focusing accuracy. You might be positively surprised.

To achieve the expected high performance in a D500-like Z mount camera, a new stacked sensor would need to be developed (Fuji is using a stacked APS-C sensor in the X-H2S but it might not be something Nikon can easily use due to differences in data processing pipelines and Nikon would likely want to "do their own thing" costing R&D funds). Would making such a camera improve Nikon's financial results? In my opinion, the Z6 III should be a higher priority for Nikon. It would not necessarily need a stacked sensor but the improvements to focusing from using Expeed 7 would probably be significant enough to improve Nikon's standing greatly in the overall ILC market.

If the cost a Nikon DX Z camera with stacked sensor would be similar to Fuji's X-H2S (2999€ in my country), would you still be interested in it, considering that the D500 cost much less?

Perhaps in the future a D500-type Z camera can be made.

[ColinM]

If the cost a Nikon DX Z camera with stacked sensor would be similar to Fuji's X-H2S (2999€ in my country), would you still be interested in it, considering that the D500 cost much less?

Thanks Ilkka, I realise I'm in a bit of minority here.
The last full frame body I owned was a film one....
Sadly I take few shots with focal lengths under 100mm.
I'm happiest above 200mm.
To achieve the reach and results I get with 300mm on DX on a full frame body would seem to require something over 400mm.

The Z lenses all seem very attractive, both performance and weight-wise.
But my transition using this path would seem to be

• Z8 body          UK price £4,000
• 400mm f4.5  UK price £2,600
• 1.4 TC             UK price    £600

Obviously I could initially just use the FTZ and my existing lenses but I'd have lost the reach
At some stage, this is a switch I may well take. But probably not yet

Having re-thought this, I realise the D500 isn't what's holding my results back.
I am the weak link in this chain!
But I still enjoy seeing what you guys are doing with this kit and I may even rent one sometime

[Bent Hjarbo]

I too am not convinced by the Z8 as an upgrade path for a DX F mount body.
Years ago, I compared the results of my D300 with a D700 and later a D800 when used with telephotos for wildlife photography.

After cropping the FX images to give me the same dimension image as I got on the D300,  I wasn't convinced the benefits were enough. Maybe my technique was poor, but all shots were taken using a 300mm AFS f4 on a tripod.

What I'd really like is a mirrorless equivalent of the D500 type performance.
But it doesn't seem Nikon is interested in that niche

The idea behind the use of the Z8 to replace the D500 is that the resulting pixel count will be the same as in the D500. Off course the price is higher  :'(

[Fons Baerken]

The idea behind the use of the Z8 to replace the D500 is that the resulting pixel count will be the same as in the D500. Off course the price is higher  :'(

The Dx mirrorless Zfc z50 etc score a similar pixelcount compared to their larger ff Z mounts!

[Fons Baerken]

A thoughtful review

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCcMMMuuvI0

[Michael Erlewine]

A thoughtful review

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCcMMMuuvI0

Yes, I agree. My Z8 arrives tomorrow. I also will put up my Z9 for sale once I check the Z8 out, along with a RRS L-Bracket and three batteries for the Z9, and a Hoodman eye-cup..