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The Nikon Z8 is one of the latest high-end full-frame mirrorless cameras in Nikon’s Z series, and it shows promise Z9-similar performance in a smaller and more compact body design for both stills and video.
Nikon’s Z8 is a welcome addition to Nikon’s already extensive offerings for users looking for a less bulky and less expensive system equipped with high resolution, high-speed and stable capabilities, and autofocus features.
Nikon Australia provided this publisher with devices for testing purposes. This did not affect our view of the device and our review remains independent of the manufacturer.
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To test the camera’s ability to focus on still images, I tested the Nikon Z8 with NIKKOR Z 24-70MM F/4 S at Sydney Motorsport Park and Royal Coastal Circuit.
Specifications and features
- 120fps capture before launch
- 45.7 effective megapixels
- Stacked CMOS sensor with minimal shutter distortion
- Expeed 7 processor
- Real-Live viewfinder
- Endurance for operation in freezing conditions down to -10°C (14°F)
- Double coating and touch shield
- Removing the mechanical shutter
- Adopting magnesium alloy and new professional carbon fiber composite material
- In-camera 8.3K/60p N-RAW, 4K UHD/120p
- Dual card slots
- 900cd/m2 4-axis tilting monitor with high brightness
- Nikon Z mount
- 20 fps shooting in raw
Body design
The body design of the Z8 is very well thought out and provides high quality photos with ease of use and mobility. I was able to take the Z8 on a long hike and had almost no issues with its weight. The lightweight design allows users to focus on composition and creativity rather than the logistics of the shooting journey. However, I sometimes found the grip to be a little uncomfortable when shooting for long periods of time.
LCD screen
The LCD is incredibly high quality and allows users to view images and/or videos even in bright outdoor conditions. Although there are a few mismatches between the viewfinder and the LCD screen for final image output, the LCD screen is very useful for shooting on the go.
The ability to quickly zoom in on images on the LCD screen with the arrow button was much appreciated, as it allows efficient review of images for sharpness and focus while shooting, and is more efficient than standard touchscreen zooming.
Image quality
The Nikon Z8 produces incredibly sharp images and with the autofocus system there is no problem capturing focused, impressive images. Even with a kit lens like the NIKKOR Z 24-70MM F/4 S, subjects were very sharp and separated from the foreground.
The Z8’s high 45.7 megapixels are excellent, but with the increased megapixel count comes a bit more noise in the higher ISO ranges.
But this can easily be fixed in post, leaving users with sharp, colorful and natural-looking photos.
I wasn’t able to test image noise at night, but with a faster aperture lens I could see that the Nikon produced wonderful images in low-light areas and scenarios.
I was impressed with the Nikon Z8’s dynamic range. While it wasn’t as full-featured as other cameras I’ve reviewed, I was able to retain plenty of detail in landscape images, even when faced with fairly sunny environments and compositions. The Z8’s NEF image format also allowed me to edit more efficiently in post, as it preserved more image data to correct and/or exaggerate high and low colors/shadows.
Battery life
The rechargeable lithium-ion battery EN-EL15C used for the Z8 survived a long day of shooting while walking around Royal Coast Track in NSW and retained half its charge during the four-hour ride.
However, the battery has not been tested for video recording, so users may need to carry a spare or two when shooting outdoors or for longer shots.
Autofocus and powerful burst of photos
I was very eager to test out the Z8’s burst shooting and how the autofocus system held up at full burst power, so I joined SMSP ride day at Sydney Motorsport Park to capture some fast moving motorcyclists.
The ability to shoot in Raw at 20 frames per second in itself is an incredible capability in the arsenal, giving sports photographers more flexibility when capturing fast-moving subjects and moments. The autofocus system held up exceptionally well when bursting with a fast-moving subject, as focus was not disrupted during a burst.
After taking 23 shots of one biker, the subject was in focus for all 23 shots, making it a great body for sports photography.
The downside to shooting raw images in a burst is the amount of storage space required and the time required to view a massive chunk of images as they are posted – the more photos, the more SD card space is required. The Z8’s shooting feature is a great addition if you need to capture a very specific and fast-paced moment, making it perfect for sports. Outside of this necessity, burst shooting in raw formats can sometimes be overkill when shooting in other photographic genres.
Final thoughts
The Nikon Z8 is a great stills camera with a range of features and functionality for many genres of photography.
The Z8 can be a great body for shooting sports with its fast AF speed and accuracy, and it’s just as effective for landscape photography with its high-resolution sensor.
If you’re looking for an all-in-one camera that’s both lightweight and focused on photo performance, this could be the one for you.
The writer thanks Sydney Motorsport Park to allow access to the SMSP ride day. For more information on the SMSP ride day, Press here.
Note: All test images have undergone post-processing edits.
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