WHY I got the Nikon Z8 BUT I’M KEEPING my Z7

But arent that small changes in iso reason it autofocus in dark much better ? Think that's the point of "slight better iso" not pixel Peeping photos.

Sold! 🤣

Great review. As someone who does a lot of long-distance hiking and backpacking, I end up taking the tiny Z50 with both kit lenses so often over my Z6 with the 24-120 because the weight difference is significant, especially when it's mounted on the peak design clip to a backpack. As much as I like this camera, the idea of a significantly heavier setup gives me pause.

I picked up a refurbished Z7 last year directly from Nikon for $1300. It is still a great landscape camera, and it gave new life to many of my f mount lenses. I don't need all of the af tracking features of the newer cameras, so i will stay put for a few more generations.

Hi mate, I'm really undecided about where to go next with my cameras. I do want to upgrade my landscape cam. I do have a Nikon D8 50 and I love it. I also have a Fujifilm XT5 that I'd actually didn't buy for landscape photography but what I've fallen in love with is the Fuji colours. Yep, I prefer them over the icon colours. It's just I have to do less editing with a Fujifilm camera then I do with the Nikon D850 camera and yes I'm shooting raw. So I started to think about the Fuji GFX, 50 S ii or 50R .... I'm in Australia and Nikon cameras are ridiculously expensive the Z8 sells for like $7000 New... It is absolutely absurd

please where did you buy your grip

Great video thanks. I'm toying with upgrading from Z6 (first model), and you've given me plenty to think about. I think the improvements in autofocus are probably enough to make the move.... And I love that you wove the way you made the decision into an interesting day's photo shoot rather than straight to camera or in the studio.

I have a Z6II but I wish I could afford a Z8 but i'll never be able to afford one.

One of the most down-to-earth, most balanced, most insightful, most mature, most lucid, and most truthful camera reviews. And I have listened to hundreds. The focus is just right. You place the emphasis on the right points, and that's a big problem in a lot of other reviews.

I'm still using the D810 I bought in early 2015. The Z8 looks very nice but I got a taste for smaller lighter cameras after I bought a Z50 for travel a couple years back. I definitely want to go with something more along the lines of the Z7ii when it's time to replace my D810. Hoping that when Nikon updates the Z7ii it has the 2 way tilting screen like on the Z8.

I bought a Z7II but not a Z8, because the Z7II iq sensor is more powerful and I like autofocus on the Z7Ii, I don’t see any problems anywhere.

Nikon Z8 The Unfiltered Truth! Overheating? Autofocus Struggles? Full In The Field Review! Seriously stop advertising crap

RECALL FROM NIKON, Another crap recommendation

I find nikons green cast that has always bugged me has been adjusted and fixed in z8 that’s what is tempting me, but with the shabby memory banks and no esposure delay mode? Hmmmm

Were you paid by Nikon or given free gear by them for a positive video? Interesting both you and Thomas Heaton were some what less impressed by the Z8 and then (surprise, surprise) you both come out with videos at approx the same time praising the Z8.
It appears a little fishy. What they give ya Nige?

The only digital body I have is a D3200. I have great minolta/sony a mount lenses and Nikon F mount lenses, so I've been hesitant to upgrade my digital bodies before deciding which system I wanna stick with for analog AND digital before eventually getting a mirrorless body. This was very helpful (especially since YT has wayyy more Sony users than Nikon!)

If you need a Z8, perhaps that says more than you think.

Great comparison. I bought Z7 II in December, when I moved from D750, and I love it. Z8 is the additional weight, as you mentioned, which is extremely important factor for me. The tilted screen and the sensor shield - yes! But why these features are not in z7II already?!
Anyway, great pictures ❤ I’m proud of my self, as since you started talking about the tree I was wondering if you take the photo with sun going through the branches 😊 and voilà! There is was 😊

It amazes me why people keep buying the latest camera when it really doesn’t matter, I’ve stopped doing it 5 years ago, waisted so much money over the years

I'm a Fuji shooter, so I have little interest in Nikon Z8s or Z7s, but I did really appreciate how you "worked the scene" in this video. Lots of good photos to be had with this tree and the surrounding rocks! A good reminder that we should not settle for one shot in a scene, but should instead consider and look for other compositions.

This video was excellent as usual! Thanks for the effort.

Love it their Nigel

Hi Nigel thx for this honest video (as usual). The Z8 is probably better in all areas vs the z7 but as you say for a landscape photographer the advantages are poor compared to its price. I paid 1500€ for my second hand z7 and so I will keep it. When Nikon will downgrade his z8 to say a Sony A7iv camera like targeting a price between 2500 & 2800 € I could change my mind… see you

Hiya, there is a product recall on the Z8.

Weight and size are pretty big considerations for landscape photography. And the little things wouldn't be such an improvement if the Z7 and Z7II were better cameras. For landscape photography, Nikon really doesn't have the mix right yet. A Sony A7RV or Canon R5 or Fuji XH2 or XT5 are better choices than a Z8 (for landscapes.) And $4,000.00 USD is a lot of coin for small improvements (for landscape photography) that should have been in the Z7 from the beginning. Of course, if Nikon "loaned" me a Z8 I'd be shooting with it too...

I've been using my Z7 II for a couple of years now (Nikon for years) and enjoy it. Sold my D850 + f mount lenses +++
Sold off because of the weight factor on my hikes. Just bought Fujifilm X-T5 and getting used to it still ~ but really like it's articulated monitor to portrait and landscape. Z8 does by your review look stunning and perhaps better ergonomics but price, weight and size unfortunately for me prohibitive . Good watching as ever .

Hi Nigel, Another great video, thank you. I’m just an amateur sports photographer equestrian and hockey mainly, sometimes under floodlights. I use a D850 fast enough during the day but can be a bit slow in low light, luckily Topaz comes to the rescue with using 10,000 ISO. Seriously looking at the Z8 in your tests how does the Z8 perform at high ISO unfortunately, the Z9 is out my price range. I have the Z6II and love it but not ideal for sport

Crap battery , by time you get grip n battery your in z9 territory

Please put together a video of bloopers. Thanks

So... the sensor shutter. There is one of these also on the Z6/Z7 range, you just have to use a simple 'hack' to utilise it. With camera ON, pop out the battery, then pop it back in again. You'll see a warning on screen that the shutter is closed and that you need to press the shutter button before shooting. Power off, change lens, power on, press shutter and you are good to go. I don't expect Nigel to see this given the number of folk who comment on his videos, but hopefully this might help others. It's a very simple procedure and very easy habit to get into for changing lens in the field without exposing the sensor.

For me, I got my Z7 for $1,800 USD brand new. For landscapes, I’m struggling to understand how the Z8 is worth $2,200 more. By time I sold my Z7 and got a Z8 I’d be out probably close to $3,000. I’d rather spend that money on glass or my savings account.

Great video pal. Firstly you use whichever camara your comfortable with and budget etc.. like anyone, if you can afford it and want it then get it, why not?

Im an absolute amatuer at photography and i use an entry level camera because its in my budget, its all what i have but i love it and photography. If i could afford, Z6, Z7 etc i would buy one in a heartbeat, may not need it but dont matter does it.

I really, really enjoyed watching you experiment with different ways to capture the rocks and trees and use the sun as it changed. I hope you can do more about how you like to use focus stacking. I also liked the way you talked about the dynamic range between the Z7ii and Z8 being a distinction without a difference. As an amateur who got a Z9 about a year ago, but hasn't really mastered it yet, I'm enjoying working on getting the most out of my four year old Z7. I'll stick with these two bodies for quite a while, as it is NOT my business, but it is my passion. I watch every video you put out and I always learn from you.

I'm still running an F-mount set-up, the D7500 with three nice lenses: Nikon's 50mm f/1.8G, Sigma's 105mm f/2.8 Macro and Sigma's 150-600mm Contemporary (for birds). There's only one other lens I'd like to buy, Sigma's 135mm Art, so I really can't see myself upgrading to mirroless given the much cheaper D780's, D810's and D850's I can get from Wex or MPB (which will hopefully get cheaper as others upgrade to the Z8).

Can some body help me

Hi Nigel,
good review.
I come from a D800 and it took me some time to decide between the Z8 and Z9.
But also doing some other types of photography than landscape (bridal, studio) the Z8 with grip turn out bigger than a Z9. Like you say, it's more than the MP's what makes one to decide on a camera. And also having a very good deal on the Z9 with the Ftz II, the decision was made.

I loathe the fact that the z7ii does not have a flip out screen for portrait orientation, nor does the camera fit the DR-6 right angle adapter (not even with duct tape!). It is not fun lying in the mud for flower shots, and I find it unforgiveable of Nikon to miss this functionality in a camera aimed at landscape photographers. Glad to see the z8 fixes this problem, but that is a lot of extra camera to buy for something that could have been included earlier.

Is the Z8 as heavy and as large as the Nikon D700? I'm still in love with my D700, but want to purchase a mirrorless camera, but size & weight are a factor. The D700 is to heavy and large for me to carry around nowadays? Can anyone answer this question for me please?

Why? Because you can afford it LOL (not that you dont deserve it)

Nigel, what bracket have you got on the Z8? Thank you… very interesting video…

FYI, 320g weight saving Z8 versus Z9. That’s equivalent to 4 EN-EL15C batteries.

My hobby & passion is capturing birds and wildlife photography paired with Z 600 TC or Z 400/4.5, plus crop-ability with 45.7MP. In addition, Z6/Z6ll AF tracking and subject recognition were not on the same level. I’ve never owned a Z7 or Z7 ll.

Ultimately, the phrase “right tool for the job, or for you” comes to mind.

Thanks Nigel, great comparison video. I had the Z8 for a few days and returned and keeping my Z7ii. While I loved the flexible screen, sensor shield, and the few AF shots I tried that were very nice, the extra weight and size given I mostly hand hold shots, higher cost to swap, and frankly, the Z8/Z9 seems more suited to professionals with banks, video features, and such that I wouldn't really use. I have gotten so used to my 7 with User settings and simpler menus so an easy decision. If they release a 7iii in 2024 with more MP's and some of the better features of the Z8 and lighter weight....I'm on it!

Great comments. Since I don’t have the z7 (I do have the z6ii), my choice would be the z8.

Well, the Z8 certainly looks great but I would think the Z7 would still be useful. (I don't have either one so I am only going from what I have heard)

Great video! I definitely agree with you on megapixels and dynamic range. I'm shooting a lot of panoramas now, with S lenses, so resolution really isn't an issue. I have had numerous Nikon cameras over the years, and have liked them all for landscape photography. More recently, I have gone from a D850 to a Z7II to now the Z8. I recently acquired the Z8, and the move from the Z7II was primarily from a new interest in wildlife photography. The feel of the Z8 in my hands is great...reminds me of the D850. The tracking ability in the Z8 is incredible. I love having the sensor shield, especially after constantly 'battling' dust spots on the Z7II sensor. With all that said, my question is actually about computer monitors, for I am wanting to upgrade my monitors. I believe one of your monitors is the BenQ SW270C Photographer 27" (2k). Do you prefer the SW270C over the BenQ SW271C 27" (4k) monitor, where the SW270C is half the cost of the SW271C? Did you base your decision on price or rendering of color?

Nigel, You mentioned the larger size and the weight of the Z8 vs the Z7II and I must say, that would probably be a positive for me. I upgraded from a D70s to a D5500 and immediately noticed that I liked the feel and balance of the D70s much better. I then upgraded to the D850 with a vertical grip and I simply love it. Guess what I'm saying is, I'm not a fan of smaller, lighter cameras. BTW, I love those earlier shots with the sunlight on the stones.

I bought a Z7 2 the week Z8 was announced. Too big. Now have Z7 & 6

Just an amazing review and really good points for people to ponder over. And also not only your video content, but I always love your pictures as well...