Nikon has officially unveiled the highly anticipated Nikon Z 8, a mirrorless camera designed to meet the needs of imaging professionals, serious photographers, videographers, and advanced creators. The Z 8 offers remarkable versatility and agility, incorporating cutting-edge innovations and speed inherited from the flagship Z 9, all within a lighter and more compact form-factor that is ready to perform in any shooting situation, whether it be in the field, studio, ceremony, street, or on-set.
The Z 8 delivers impressive high-resolution images and videos up to 8K 60p, capturing stunning detail, sharpness, and precise color reproduction. Its nimble design is approximately 30% smaller than the Nikon Z 9 and 15% smaller than its predecessor, the beloved Nikon D850, making it a true successor to the D850. With its focus on workflow efficiency, the Z 8 empowers professionals to capture without limits, producing exceptional files with Nikon's renowned color science, minimizing the need for extensive post-production or editing.
Similar to the flagship Nikon Z 9, the Z 8 sets a new standard in speed and versatility. At its core, the Z 8 combines Nikon's powerful EXPEED 7 image processing engine with a proven full-frame 45.7-megapixel BSI stacked sensor, eliminating the need for a mechanical shutter due to its incredibly fast scan rate. This enables completely silent shooting with virtually no rolling shutter distortion, while also reducing wear and tear by eliminating moving parts. Other standout features inherited from the flagship model include the blackout-free Real-live viewfinder, internal 12-bit RAW video recording in various formats and frame rates, and new features specifically tailored for portrait photographers.
The Z 8 excels in speed and precision, allowing for focused shooting in challenging low-light conditions during events like a first dance, while also delivering the speed required to freeze the motion of a flying falcon. Like the Z 9, the camera incorporates Nikon's most advanced and precise autofocus system, developed with deep learning technology. The autofocus is highly responsive and reliable, offering a range of functions including fully Auto-Area AF, acclaimed 3D tracking, and fully customizable Wide Area AF. These modes leverage enhanced Subject Detection capabilities for both photos and videos, recognizing various subjects such as humans, pets, birds, trains, cars, motorbikes, bicycles, and even different types of airplanes.
The Z 8 is a powerhouse video camera, enhancing the entire production workflow from capture to post-processing by delivering cleaner files at various frame rates and resolutions. Its compact size and internal recording capabilities make it ideal for gimbal use and an excellent choice as an A-cam for extended events, weddings, corporate projects, documentaries, and independent cinema. In addition to exceptional image quality, users will appreciate the Nikon colors and features tailored for the modern multimedia professional's workflow.
The outstanding resolution and creative freedom provided by 8K60p (N-RAW) and 8K30p video capture, enabling post-production flexibility with the ability to crop and pan within the massive resolution. The camera offers a wide range of 4K UHD video options, from cinematic to slow motion, including oversampled 24p/30p up to 120p with sound.
The Z 8 supports recording of up to approximately 125 minutes in 4K UHD/60p and approximately 90 minutes in 8K UHD/30p. It allows for internal 12-bit RAW footage capture in ProRes RAW 4K60p or up to 8K60p in N-RAW, Nikon's RAW video format that provides a smaller file size. N-RAW also generates a 1080p proxy file for easier editing. Capturing RAW footage maximizes image data and offers the highest bit rate for greater dynamic range and flexibility. For enhanced color grading options, the camera supports internal 10-bit ProRes 4:2:2 HQ recording, as well as other in-camera profile options including enhanced N-Log, HLG, and the easily adjustable Flat color profile.
The Nikon Z 8 camera is equipped with two dedicated USB-C ports for charging (PD) and accessory communication, offering a truly modular configuration to accommodate any production needs. Additionally, it features a full-size HDMI port, minimizing the need for adapters.
The camera prioritizes videographer-centric features, including those introduced in subsequent firmware updates for the Z 9. These features include a Hi-res zoom function for 4K, a highly visible red REC Frame Indicator, focus peaking, zebras, waveform, linear focus capability on many NIKKOR Z lenses, fine ISO control, customizable AF speed tracking, timecode sync, 24-bit stereo audio, and more.
The Z 8 combines the latest hardware and carefully curated features to bring even the most challenging creative visions to life.
With its 45.7-megapixel stacked CMOS sensor and EXPEED 7 Imaging engine, the Z 8 delivers exceptional image quality, stunning colors, impressive dynamic range, and high-speed calculations of up to 120 cycles per second, even in low-light conditions with minimal noise.
Users now have the option to shoot in a 10-bit HEIF image file format, offering superior quality compared to JPEG while maintaining a similar file size but with approximately one billion additional colors.
The camera supports 14-bit RAW image file formats, including the efficient high-efficiency RAW format and a new HLG RAW option for compatible devices.
Designed with portrait photographers in mind, the Z 8 includes settings such as the Portrait Impression Balance function for precise control of skin tone accuracy, a new Skin Softening function, and improved white balance.
Burst speeds range from 20 fps for full-resolution RAW+JPEG, 30 fps for full-resolution JPEG, 60 fps for DX-format JPEG, to 120 fps for 11 mp JPEG with High-speed frame capture+. The camera also offers Pre-Release Capture, allowing users to capture the moment in the camera's buffer before fully depressing the shutter.
The camera provides a wide and bright view through the truly blackout-free Quad-VGA viewfinder, delivering a clear image, especially when shooting at 120 fps. It also features a 3.2" horizontal and vertical tilting 4-axis touchscreen LCD, allowing for creative composition from any angle.
Vibration Reduction image stabilization has been enhanced with Synchro VR, providing up to 6.0 stops of compensation with compatible lenses.
As with all professional-grade Nikon cameras, the Z 8 exhibits a robust build quality, reaffirming the company's commitment to usability and reliability as top priorities. Professionals consistently choose Nikon for its exceptional ergonomics and reliability.
The Z 8 is fully sealed and gasketed, surpassing the durability of the D850, and built to withstand dust and drips. It can also operate in temperatures as low as -10°C/14°F. The camera's construction incorporates materials such as a new pro-grade carbon fiber composite and magnesium alloy to reduce weight and enhance durability.
The camera offers exceptional handling with carefully arranged functions and customizable buttons.
To prevent dust, the optical filter features a dual coating that repels dust in front of the sensor, complemented by a sensor shield that protects the sensor when the camera is turned off.
The Z 8 makes it easier to shoot in low-light environments, with illuminated buttons, a warm display color option, adjustable viewfinder brightness, and Starlight View, enabling focusing down to -9 EV.
The camera features dual card slots, supporting one CF Express Type B / XQD card and one SD card, providing a balance between speed and widespread availability. The optional MB-N12 battery grip offers approximately 1.8 times more battery life and adds a vertical grip and vertical shutter button/controls. The grip is also weather-resistant to the same level as the camera, and allows for hot-swapping batteries.
The Nikon Z 8 will be available starting May 25, 2023, at a suggested retail price of $3,999.95. The MB-N12 battery grip will also be available in May, with a suggested retail price of $349.95. For more information about the latest Nikon products, including the extensive collection of NIKKOR Z lenses and the full range of Z series cameras, please visit the official Nikon website at nikonusa.com.