Real-World Nikon Z8 Review: Over 10,000 Shots Later

Chapters
00:00
Introduction and Review Timing
02:32
Using New Equipment and Assessing its Impact
04:03
Importance of Looking at Actual Photographs
06:02
Autofocus Performance and Lens Compatibility
07:14
Shortcoming: Sensor Sound
09:21
Grip and Button Customizability
10:13
Lens Performance and Comparison
11:21
Sensor Flexibility and Dynamic Range
14:12
Battery Life and SD/CF Express Slots
15:11
Comparison with Nikon ZF and Conclusion

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[jbilly]

From a wildlife photographers perspective, I had to laugh when you complained about the lack of shutter sound! This goes to show that everyones tastes are different. I've had my Z8 for a month now and it's hands down the best camera I've ever used. The AF is like a cheat code.

[Robert-R]

Adobe seems to do something funky with the Z8/Z9 raw files. They have a lot more noise than would be expected even for low ISO images. When you open them up in NX Studio or Capture One, the shadows are much cleaner. You may want to try that to see if you get any difference.

[JeffDietzphoto]

more click bait nonsense titles "I sent it back"... well of course you did... it was a loaner

[sammadonline]

Gonna be honest here. Your images are absolutely fantastic. Loved them. But the cons you mentioned are kind of silly. I can maybe understand the lack of DR or the articulation of screen but shutter sound is your main con?

[LOLAifyable]

I own a Z9, funny story - during an event, I asked someone random to take picures of me and the group I was with, and gave him my camera.
Didn't take long for him to tell me that the camera is broken, when in fact he took some 10-15 photos, I showed him and he laughed being that he was used to DSLRs.
No doubt the lack of mech shutter requires getting used to, and it took me a bit, but I now see the advantages, silence, better stabilty and sharper photos, and no wear and tear!!
I am up to 140K photos with it, and the fact that I don't have to think about it is so liberating!!
For more tactile feel, Zf in Nikon is great, any Fuji, Or those with deep pockets - Leica, the Z8 / Z9 are workhorses (actually so are most new canons and Sonys) .

[ryanbrown]

So I haven’t tested this for myself, got my z8 near the end of the fall season and haven’t had any noise issues myself. But I’ve read in many groups that Adobe’s profile for the z8 are kinda trash and that changing your import settings to “camera settings” vs Adobe settings that this will solve these weird noise issues. Worth a try if you have any raw files to try it out with.

[boblozano]

Appreciate your approach and openness about the vagaries of testing at different times in different locations ... yet it's still data, and in the end we all have to make decisions with what we encounter.

One thought - base iso is 64 (secondary base at 500) on both the z8 and z9, noise does seem to increase in the gap between them a bit.

As for myself, often shoot with a z8 / zf pair, different strengths / weaknesses, really like them both. Actually prefer the sound of the z8 when situation calls for more discretion ... to me what I hear is the `sound of precision`. Yet also really like the mechanical sounds from the zf, like them both a lot, just different.

[TimKimzey]

Sam,
Firstly, your images are excellent, and clearly whatever camera you are using, your eye is yielding beautiful pictures. I too at first was very frustrated with the quiet (no mechanical) shutter. I think what we both were missing was the "feedback" from the sound/vibration of the mechanics, just being so accustomed to it. But, after a few months of using, honestly now i prefer it! I now use Z8/9 as my primary bodies, and have and love my Zf. I'm an old-school photojournalist who would have been floored to have this tech 30 years ago. Having to shoot weddings, funerals, court proceedings, etc has now revolutionized my thinking/workflow. I will shoot many more images, and better, without the fear of interuption and disturbance at such events! I do still love the feel/sound of old cameras (i started on FM2 and F3) and totally agree that Nikon should easily be able to add more and better sound sims for the shutter though! Simply ridiculous that you can't choose more options (they could even have all of their own classic body shutter sounds)! Enjoyed your observations though, happy shooting! 📷

[Mister_M]

The only thing that annoys me at the moment is that I can't use the HSS mode of my studio flashes anymore after firmware update 1.01. You now see the shutter (and yes, the Z8 has a shutter even if it's electronic) on every photo. Before the update, everything just worked fine with HSS...

I don't really have that problem with dynamic range since my workflow is different.

[cynvs]

The fact that you disabled like/dislike kind of shows that you're self-aware about this, but there's no camera on earth that would look much cleaner than this, when pushing the files this far.
You can't push a dark(!) file >3 full stops, boost shadows and complain about noise, this is ridiculous. You may get a somewhat decent result if there are no almost completely black spots in the image, but anything that is this dark is just unreasonable to push this far. The Z8 and Z9 are perfectly in line with the competition in terms of read-noise, very slightly behind similar non-stacked sensors like the R5 or Z7.

[notarealperson]

The Z8 & Z9 sensor very quickly falls apart when moving away from the first base ISO of 64. The next base is at 500 at which point it produces cleaner images than ISO 200 when pushed.

[MrKotische]

Thank you for your video. If the shutter sound is the only drawback, it looks like I need to buy this camera) Many reviews on YouTube mention the fact that the Z8 (unlike the R5 or A7R5) focuses on the eyelashes instead of the iris. Of course, we are talking about the open aperture of fast lenses. Could you confirm or refute this opinion? Thank you

[fuzzytalz]

Why didn’t you take issue of the digital shutter sound and lack of shutter shock with the Z 9? I have both cameras and, personally, I love the lack of shutter shock and the ability to shoot in complete silence when I choose to.

[yinetgonzalezgomez]

I actually love these colors! I have both the z8 and z9 and I now really wanna get your preset for these tones!!

[thomasphillips]

My question is how would you compare the images with the d850, I have noticed the z8 is colder. I know easily remedied. Just curious. I appreciate your honesty . Thanks great video.

[o.aldenproductions.]

I just came here for the pictures. I don't give a hoot about camera bodies bla bla bla camera. Your photos are total eye candy ❤😊

[HuneR]

I agree about dynamic range limitation mostly on the highlight. I can't recover anything and raws are difficult to work. I used Nikon Z7II, Canon R5 and Sony A7RV to compare.

[Mostlyphotography]

Great objetive review, Sam. I didn't expect noise on that file with such little push of the slider. Would you consider share that RAW file for us to try it on different editing software?? Thanks.

[thisisbenji]

I’ve found I really enjoy my Z8 for fast action, but I prefer my Zf for literally everything else.

[SeanMcChannel]

Appreciate your comments on the Z8... from a Sony A7IV user.
Did Nikon make you a left handed version of the Z8? hmm...😕
Why is the video mirrored horizontally from 9 to 10 minute?
I see many youtubers seem do this, which is distracting... don't see any reason for this ... perhaps just to test the viewer's attentiveness?🤓