Is the Nikon Z8 the best mirrorless camera yet?

Nikon's newest $3,999,95 mirrorless camera, the Z8, has a full-frame 45.7MP Stacked CMOS sensor that, thanks to the Expeed 7 Image Processor, can shoot RAW photos at 20FPS for over 1000 frames. There is also auto-focus readings up to 120FPS and impressive video specs: 12-bit N-RAW at 8k 60FPS or 4k 120FPS. And if all of that sounds very familiar it’s because the Nikon Z8 is almost the exact same camera as the Nikon Z9, but in a much smaller body and even lower price.

The new Nikon Z8 will be available on May 25, 2023 for $3,999.95 and the external MB-N12 battery grip will be available in May for $349.95.

0:00 Nikon Z8 who?
0:39 A bit about the Nikon Z9
1:25 Z8 Hardware
1:55 Z8 software
2:40 Things Nikon should have fixed
3:50 Things we don’t know about the Z8
4:19 Overall thoughts on the Z8

[TheVerge]

Who is winning the mirrorless camera race now?

[opalyankaBG]

Focus modes being named oddly to people who don't know a lot about the systems is a weird statement. Would a camera newbie buy a Z8?

[D_L_J_]

Hi Becca. I personally very much prefer this design of LCD. I always just want to flip the screen up when shooting in lower angles. I hate the flip out screen on my R5. It hits the USB port when I shoot tethered (95% of the time). I think the Panasonic design is the best of both worlds.

[novusstream]

Just bought the z 6ii and two S lenses a week ago when they did that amazing sale with 24 month 0% financing. What excites me about this new release is that just like you said, Nikon fans can take a deep breath and relax because Nikon BROUGHT IT on this camera. The z 6ii is fine for my applications but I plan to grow into a z 8 sometime in the future so excited to see what my future holds!

[ChrisDavisStudio]

I thought I'd want to sell my Z9 for this, and although the Z8 looks great, I'm so used to the Z9's vertical grip, and insane battery life, I'm happy to stay Z9 for now. 
I am 6'6 though, so the size is less of an issue for me I guess. That along with the fact I can shoot full speed to 2 CFexpess slots, i'm much happier to have a Raw backup, rather than a Raw + jpg solution. I can't see the SD cards getting up to 2 gig + a second like the CF Express cards can, not that it will bother most people though. 
Happy Nikon is adding more to their Lineup.

[Ben_Stewart]

My perfect camera has arrived. Got my order in! The AutoFocus is amazing.

[madst]

I've already sent my pre-order. All the bits I wanted improved in my z7ii and no bloody battery bulge. If I need more battery, hooking up to a usb-c powerbank seems an obvious choice.

[kingdom_]

She wants a $4000 camera dumbed down for novices? Wtf? Becca you should be telling people to not spend $4000 on a camera unless it makes them money and those of us who use cameras professionally do not want them dumbed down, they already make models for people who vlog and take selfies.

[karyleianawildernesscapes]

As a Z9 owner (for over a year), the Z8 IS more of what I wanted, upgrading from my D810. However, I DON'T regret getting the Z9 first/at all.

The Z9 checks alot of boxes for me, even some I didn't know I needed or cared about until using it full-time.

The ONLY area I felt an "issue" was for my UW work...outfitting my Z9 for an UW rig would be incredibly bulky & insanely priced (& you don't want to cheap out on a housing). So in that sense, I always wanted a smaller body camera to match the Z9 capabilities: enter Z8.

I'll be adding the Z8 to my gear, as my main back-up & UW camera. The smaller size also means it will become my primary hiking/backpacking camera too.

I see the Z8 as a perfect companion to my Z9.

[Uhaveanicedayty]

Becca Been a little bit but glad you covered this when I’m ready to get back to it I think I might take a trip to B&H so I can check it out in person. Thanks so much for sharing ✌️

[davidnelson]

Great review, the best I have seen on the subject today

[RezTechTube]

Becca's camera reviews just hits different

[goforbroke]

Hi Becca, I just discovered your EM. I am an intermediate photographer, a hobbist. I'm a Nikon user because my dad was a loyalist. After he got out of the internment camps, he tried Minolta, Konica and Nikon and loved the Nikon. You my dear have sold me on gettin the Z8; got the Z7 a couple years ago and enjoyed it. I just ordered it and lookin forward to takin pics of the grandbabies lol. Keep it up your approach and enthusiasm is great. Your questions and observations parallel my thought processes. Completely enjoyed your review.

[UnconventionalReasoning]

Some thoughts in response:

* Many photographers prefer the tilting screen instead of the articulating screen. Both have their benefits, so saying one is unequivocally better is a mistake. It does seem that less expensive cameras are used in ways that benefit from the flip-out while the more expensive cameras do well with tilting. Spending $5-6k for the Z8 and lens just to do talking-head recording is a waste of money. The Z50II and Z5II should probably get flip-out screens. If a Z8 is used in a way where the flip-out would be useful, an external monitor or wireless connection to a phone or tablet would serve the purpose.

* Nikon's AF modes may seem oddly named for someone whose job involves using many different systems. The person buying a Z8 is going to use it extensively, and learning what the modes mean is part of the process of learning a new system. For those already in the Nikon space, these are generally familiar. And while eye-AF is all the rage, deciding my focus point is one of the three things I actually think about when I'm about to press the shutter. I think YouTube photography influencers overstate the extent of how 'far behind' Nikon is, because they're explicitly looking for things which separate cameras. If two people run a 800m race, and the first finishes 1m behind the first, everyone in the stands sees it as a very close race. The photo-finish image, though, suggests a huge win. The perspective of both is relevant, but the commentator should emphasize how close it was rather than how the image at the tape looks.

* Red sued Nikon over NRaw. Adobe probably was waiting to see the outcome of the case to proceed with implementing it. Similarly, Nikon was probably waiting for the outcome to launch the Z8. The case was dismissed on April 27, two weeks ago.

* For the "We just don't know" questions: battery life, heat during long video recording, dual CFexpress card slots, Ethernet port:

* * If battery life is a concern, the Z9, USB power, or the vertical grip with hot-swappable batteries are the solutions. The Z8+grip is bigger than the Z9, so that's a consideration.

* * If long video recording is intended, the Z9 is the answer. If the recordings will generate revenue, the extra cost is justified. If the recordings will not generate revenue, get a Panasonic GH5/GH6 and record forever.

* * Nikon users know the answer to the dual CFexpress vs CFexpress/SD card options, it's been in the D4/D5/D6 vs D8*0 question for the past decade. Without an unequivocal reason to pick one over the other, having the same cards in the Z9 and different cards in the Z8 is an excellent decision by Nikon. If D800/D810 users had strongly complained, the D850 would have been produced with dual XQD card slots. When it was released, I some people asked why it still had an SD card. Again, the YT people. Actual photographers using the camera went with it.

* * If the Ethernet port is a significant need, the Z9 is there. If it is an occasional need, a USB-C to Ethernet dongle is available.

* The Z8 is still quite large. The "small size" will be better satisfied with a Z6III. [Sadly, I think the Z8 has ended the Z7 line.]

* The f/1.8 S lenses seem to satisfy many photographers who want a smaller size. The f/1.2 lenses are massive, I agree. Nikon may outsource the f/1.4 lenses to Tamron and Sigma, at least for the next few years. Those may hit the sweet spot for some.

* The "frustrated Z9 users" question comes down to, "Are you upset that Nikon didn't cripple the Z8 ENOUGH?" For the person who spent over $10k for a Z9 and lenses, they hopefully got $1500 in benefit over the past year. Many may still chose the Z9 over the Z8 because of exactly the "We just don't know", plus one more. If a person will generally want a vertical grip, the Z9 is significantly smaller than the Z8+grip. And then the price difference is only $1100. If and when I decide I need something better than the Z7II, I'm likely in this last group, with the Z9 winning over the Z8+grip. After going with the Nikon 'tier-2' option for years, making me the exact intended audience for the Z8...

[nngnuo]

3999 USD for a stacked sensor? Wow! I want this!

[tvariuness]

in this ecomony, 4k is not something the VAST VAST majority of ppl are dropping if they're a beginner or novice.

[khcstewie]

Not sure if this has been discussed elsewhere, but is the verge moving away from doing video reviews on a regular basis? I am noticing more podcasts/little news blurbs and less high quality reviews. I know Deiter (may have misspelled his name there) left to work for Google, but even the reviewers that filled his place are seldom seen.

[RollGlide]

No mention of HLG HDR photo of Z8? I believe it's first-of-its-kind in the camera market.

[JohanTalk]

I love the rear LCD screen, I think it's the best in the market. if you tether with your camera a full articulating screen is very limiting.

[fwfeo]

Hi Becca, thanks for the review and opinions.
You asked a bunch of questions including the battery life! You had the camera could test it and let us know! That’s how a review works. Answering as many important questions as you can in a short time for people who don’t have it, but interested to find out.