I’ve Owned My Nikon Z6 For 4 Years And REFUSE TO UPGRADE TO A Nikon Z8 AS A LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHER

What's up y'all. I'm back with another video and today we're talking about why I refuse to sell the Nikon Z6 for a Nikon Z8. The Nikon Z8 is an amazing camera with great specs and would be perfect for landscape photography, but I have a few reservations that I want to talk about in this video. Feel free to watch the video and if you enjoyed it please feel free to rate, comment, and subscribe for more content. Thanks for experiencing the world with me.

Cameras and Lenses:

Backpacks:

Tripod:

L-Bracket for Nikon Z6:

Filters:

Video Gear:

Miscellaneous:

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:24 I'm invested!
2:12 Nikon Z6 Vs Nikon Z8 weight
2:55 The REAL Reason I Won't Upgrade

Music:
LAKEY INSPIRED

Julian Avila

JëKo

All links to purchase the gear are affiliate links. However, this doesn't shape my opinions in a biased fashion and I will continue to give my opinion in an honest manner. It’d be much appreciated if you clicked on the links as it’d support me and my channel. Thank you.

[Ben_Stewart]

Good for you for not falling for the gear trap. I modified my Z6ii for Astro H-Alpha. Great results. The Z8 is everything but now I have to up grade my MacBook just to handle the video files. Hoping for a Z50ii!

[kaminobatto]

I don't usually favor the view of only upgrading if you "need" something, there is no harm in upgrading because you "want" something, as long as you do it responsible without breaking the bank and defaulting on honoring your other financial commitments. New gear definitely doesn't make you a better photographer, it just makes thins easier for you and accelerates your workflow. For example, if I compare the shots I took with my D800E when I first got it with the shots I can take with the same camera today I can see a huge different, as if I was using something and now I'm using something completely different. But if you can afford new gear and it brings you joy, then knock yourself out.

[wichersham]

I am on the same boat. I own the original Z6 as a landscape photographer and refused to upgrade to Z8 because of its weight. 24MB is more than enough and cost. I'd rather spend to travel and buy more lens.

[patrickmcmahon]

Great video and points for the Z6. I bought the Z6 several years ago as a fun camera and to see if mirrorless is something I wanted to switch to. My work camera for portraits and headshots was a D850 with battery grip. Well… I found I was grabbing my Z6 for photo sessions more and more and leaving the D850 at home. A few months back I sold my D850 and all my f mount lenses for a Z9 and new glass. Well guess what, I’m still grabbing my Z6 for sessions. It’s a fantastic camera! Maybe when the Z6III comes out I’ll switch then.

[davewalker]

I am getting a Z8 to complement (not replace) my Z6. Of course, the Z8 will not in itself make my work better but there are several reasons/features for my Z8 choice; 1. I want the redundancy of having 2 Z bodies, Z6/Z8 seems like a perfect combination, 2. Shutter shield - while you still need to be careful this is a valuable extra line of defence for the sensor when changing lenses out in the field, 3. 1/32000 sec (hesitate to say 'shutter' speed with the Z8!) - many times when shooting wide open with fast primes Z6 1/8000 has not been fast enough and I've had to stop the lens down, 4. better AF. The extra size/weight of the Z8 doesn't bother me, I used D200/300 which are of comparative size/weight for years for everything, until the Z's came along. Foe some things a slightly bigger body than the Z6 would be nice. Z9 is far to big and heavy to be useful to me, but Z8 is just right. can't wait to get one, but will still also love my Z6!

[HR-wdcw]

If you're primarily doing landscape or portraits, then you likely will want to stick with the Z7 II or Z6 II if you have them. The Z8 is capable of doing those things, but the Z7 II and Z7 do edge it out a bit in terms of DR at lower ISOs (up to about ISO 400) and there is no real reason to upgrade. The people who should / would buy a Z8 are those who are looking for the improved auto focusing and/or need the 8k video capabilities. That's the two big reasons to really go to the Z8 or Z9. Beyond that, the Z7/Z6/Z5 are actaully very capable cameras. For me, I got the Z8, but am keeping my Z7 II for landscape so I won't need to really worry about buying new L-brackets because I won't buy one for the Z8 (which is primarily going to be my sports/wildlife camera, and a backup for landscape, but I have a regular tripod plate for it -- not an L bracket, if I had to use it in a pinch). The Z7 II will remain my primary landscape camera, because it's lighter (which most landscape usually requires me to hike a bit anyway, so lighter and smaller is better).

Unfortunately I wished my Z6 II had fared a bit better than it did, but it started to develop a lot of hot pixels over time (over 2 years of long exposures) to a point where I was having to do sensor cleaning to clear the hot pixels, and sometimes mapping, but I suspect this problem will only get worse, so that one will need to be sold unfortunately. But since I did get the Z8, I sort of don't really need the Z6 anymore (as I bought it as a wildlife camera, but it was a bit disappointing to be honest).

[cars]

Same btw. Shot another wedding with fabulous results from my Z6. Those firmware upgrades over the years were wonderful. The shutterless Z8 isnt the choice you want for flash photography anyway.

[_Ryan_]

for landscapers, the Z7 II and onward would be the best choice. The Z8 and Z9 backlit buttons are nice, as well as the vertical articulating Z9 screen, (not sure if Z8 does this as well), but not nice enough to steer me off the Z7 platform.

[Moriningland]

I’m very very happy with my new setup of the Z8 and and Z6 as a backup/hiking camera

[davemil]

I totally agree with you... I have two Z5 and a Z50 and a Z30... I have no need to add another body because it will not make my work better... I did actually go backwards and bought a Nikon d200 for the CCD sensor and shooting directly to B&W with no raw... but that's a different subject! LOL Thanks for great videos and being down to earth about your views!

[Nearest_Neighbor]

Im considering the Z6 used with a Voigtländer 40mm. Seems like a killer budget setup in my head.

[lynnbriley]

I purchased the Nikon Z6 refurbished from Nikon ($1000) after first renting the D500 with their 200-500 lens. The Z6 has a faster frame rate (12 verses 10 for D500) and the full-frame image improving low-light images with body stabilization for older Nikon lens (20mm manual focus AI). As a travel, landscape and wildlife photographer I traveled light with the Nikon 28-300mm and Nikon's manual focus 20mm/F2.8. When you're forced to use a slow shutter speed minus a tripod at sunset or indoors, 3 stops of body stabilization saves those images. thanks for your blog.

[GamerRadar]

for landscape - Yea, that makes sense.. But the Z8 does have the crop factor as well as the AF for wildlife.

[nickcucchiara]

I shoot with a D850 and don't necessarily need to upgrade. As time and productivity moves on video and auto focus tracking has entered the arena which gives props to the a7iii for making Nikon & Canon step up their game with mirrorless as DSLR did hit a ceiling in tech. Where live view lacked the tech mirrorless said I got you, but wait there's more!
I held out waiting to see what the Z8 brought to the table and after seeing the Z9 4.0 drop I think I'll just buy both and be good for a long time. Especially considering S lenses as this glass is amazing as well.
It's a great time to see this transition from DSLR to mirrorless because we are living it seeing first hand, everything. Being the limits of the D850 is video autofocus tracking the stills will always be amazing.
My question to you is as a landscape photographer how do you feel about the Z7iii if perhaps it gets say a 70mp sensor? The Fuji with the 100mp should put a smile on any landscape photographers face come client time post shoot.

[rberto]

I keep looking at the Z8, but I do this for fun and can't justify its price.
Also want to see the possible Z6iii?
I gave my Z6 with the 24-70 f4 /S to my 15 year old grandson, he loves it.
Till then, I too will keep shooting my Z6ii.

[boostedmaniac]

I had a Nikon D800 for more than 10 years before finally upgrading to a Z9.

While I haven’t taken my D800 to the beach often, it seemed to occasionally start acting up like the someone was holding down some of the ISO or other buttons. I’ve also switch from landscapes to sports and portrait and I needed faster than 4 fps.

[Mr.Deeds.]

As a Nature & Landscape Photographer I use a Z7 and that is an awesome camera. The Z8 is great...something to be on "your" wishlist...BUT the in my case, my z7 is very very good. Maybe Z8 II ?

[patricialegault]

Great video. Right now, I have a ton of FX lenses and would mostly use those with the adaptor, but if I save money by buying the z6 I can splurge on some z glass too.

It’s so hard to not fall into the trap of not good enough. The AF looks fine to me!

[Stop-All-War]

Using D600 & Sigma Art 28mm.. nothing more needed.
Good PC/Laptop is equally important.

[noguisolano]

Yes I’m happy with Z6 but Z8 is a dream