Nikon Z8 Review
We've aggregated 24 high-signal reviews and 2 live retailer prices below.
Our editorial take on the Nikon Z8
The Nikon Z8 delivers flagship performance at a more accessible price point, packing nearly all of the Z9's muscle into a 30 percent smaller body for $1,500 less. With a 45.7-megapixel stacked sensor, blazing 20 fps raw shooting (up to 120 fps in JPEG), and a 493-point autofocus system with AI-driven subject detection, it proves itself as a serious workhorse for both stills and video. Reviewers consistently praise its versatility, calling it the best all-around camera for serious photographers and an outstanding hybrid tool. The 8.3K 60p N-RAW and 4K 120p internal recording make it a standout for video work, while the lighter, more compact design appeals to gimbal operators and those who prioritize portability without sacrificing capability.
Battery life remains the most cited weakness, with around 340 shots per charge falling short of expectations for a camera at this level. The electronic-shutter-only design also draws criticism for limiting flash sync options, and the lack of a built-in vertical grip may frustrate sports and wildlife shooters accustomed to dual-grip ergonomics. Still, reviewers overwhelmingly agree that the Z8 offers exceptional value, with many calling it the best camera they have used and a true successor to the beloved D850. Whether you shoot landscapes, wildlife, weddings, or commercial video, the Z8 adapts with confidence.
- Flagship 45.7MP stacked sensor with up to 120 fps burst shooting
- 8.3K 60p N-RAW and 4K 120p internal recording
- 493-point AI-powered autofocus with excellent subject detection
- 30% smaller and lighter than the Z9, easier to handle on gimbals
- Outstanding hybrid performance for both stills and video
- Battery life limited to around 340 shots per charge
- Electronic shutter only, limiting flash sync versatility
- No built-in vertical grip for extended shooting sessions
Synthesized by Geared editors from aggregated expert reviews.
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In a lot of ways, the Z8 is a Z9 on a diet at a lower price. This makes it an interesting proposition for anyone who needs to shoot a mix of video and stills.
The Nikon Z8 is not a camera that wows you with its specs, but it is a brilliant hybrid camera that will get the job done.
The Nikon Z8 was made for creatives searching for a camera loaded with pro-grade photo and video features in an easily adaptable, compact body. Sharing many of the key specs of Nikon’s mirrorless flagship Z9, the Z8 renders its vertical battery grip optional, making it a better match for gimbals, video rigs, self-shooting, or everyday carry.
The $4,000 Nikon Z8 is going to be the way to go for the vast majority of serious photographers, offering plenty of power at a more reasonable price.
Take the Z9's guts, put them in a smaller body, and cut almost $1,500 off the price, and you’ve got the Z8.
Nikon unveiled the Z8 last year with the same sensor and nearly the same specs as the Z9 for $1,700 less. With 8K video and a 45-megapixel sensor, it's a cheaper alternative to Sony's A1.
The Nikon Z5 II is a full-frame mirrorless camera with a 24.3-megapixel CMOS sensor and the EXPEED 6 processor. It supports 4K UHD recording up to 60 fps (with a 1.7× crop) and Full HD at 120 fps. The camera includes 5-axis in-body image stabilization, a 273-point hybrid autofocus system with subject detection, and dual UHS-II SD card slots.
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Specs
- Battery
- EN-EL15c Rechargeable Li-ion Battery (approx. 340 frames CIPA with viewfinder, 370 shots CIPA with LCD)
- Weight Grams
- 910 g (with battery and memory card), 820 g (body only)
- Dimensions Mm
- 144 x 118.5 x 83 mm
- Build Material
- Seerebo carbon fiber, magnesium alloy
- Weather Sealing
- Yes
- Bit Depth
- 12-bit, 10-bit
- Raw Video
- Internal N-RAW (8.3K 60p), Internal ProRes RAW HQ (4.1K 60p)
- Log Profiles
- N-Log, HDR (HLG)
- Internal Codecs
- N-RAW (12 bit), Apple ProRes RAW HQ (12 bit), Apple ProRes 422 HQ (10 bit), H.265/HEVC (8 bit/10 bit), H.264/AVC (8 bit)
- Max Frame Rate 4k
- 4K UHD 120p
- Max Frame Rate Hd
- 1080/120p
- Max Recording Time
- 125 min. in 4K UHD/60p, 90 min. in 8K UHD/30p
- Max Video Resolution
- 8K UHD (7680x4320)
- Tone Mode
- HLG (for stills and video)
- Autocapture
- Yes
- Hi Res Zoom
- Yes (in video)
- Sensor Shield
- Yes
- Flash Sync Speed
- 1/250 s or slower, 1/8000 s with auto FP high-speed sync
- Heif Format Support
- Yes
- Pre Release Capture
- Yes
- Pixel Shift Shooting
- Up to approx. 180-megapixels
- Built In Focus Limiter
- Yes
- Mechanical Shutter Equivalent
- No (electronic shutter only)
- Operating Environment Humidity
- 85% or less (no condensation)
- Operating Environment Temperature
- -10 °C to 40 °C (+14 °F to 104 °F)
- Sensor Size
- 35.9 x 23.9 mm CMOS sensor (full-frame/FX-format)
- Sensor Type
- Stacked CMOS Sensor
- Image Processor
- EXPEED 7
- Effective Megapixels
- 45.7 million
- Launch Price Usd
- 3396.95
- Iso Range Video
- ISO 64 to 25600 (expandable to ISO 102400 equivalent)
- Iso Range Stills
- ISO 64 to 25600 (expandable to ISO 32 - ISO 102400 equivalent)
- Continuous Shooting
- 10 fps (Continuous L), 20 fps (Continuous H), 15 fps (High-Speed Frame Capture+ C15), 30 fps (High-Speed Frame Capture+ C30), 60 fps (High-Speed Frame Capture+ C60), 120 fps (High-Speed Frame Capture+ C120)
- Shutter Speed Electronic
- 1/32000 to 30 s
- Viewfinder
- 1.27-cm/0.5-in. approx. 3690k-dot (Quad VGA) OLED electronic viewfinder, approx. 0.8x magnification
- Rear Screen
- 8-cm/3.2-in., approx. 2100k-dot vertically and horizontally tilting TFT LCD
- Touchscreen
- Yes
- Lens Mount
- Nikon Z mount
- Usb
- 2x Type C USB connectors (USB data connector SuperSpeed USB, USB Power Delivery connector)
- Hdmi
- Type-A HDMI connector
- Audio Io
- 3.5-mm stereo mini-pin jack (input), 3.5-mm stereo mini-pin jack (output)
- Wireless
- Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
- Card Slots
- 1x CFexpress (Type B), 1x SD (UHS-II compliant)
- Ibis
- 5-axis image sensor shift
- Af Points
- 493 points
- Af System
- Hybrid phase-detection/contrast AF with AF assist
- Af Low Light
- -7 to +19 EV (-9 to +19 EV with starlight view)
- Subject Detection
- 9 subject types (humans, animals, airplanes, bicycles, etc.)
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