Nikon Z 8 – Full Frame Mirrorless, 45.7 MP | Camera Review

Fellow Nikon Shooters, the time has come to make the inevitable jump from DSLR to mirrorless! Like many others, I have long used the highly regarded D850 and the D5, among other bodies. I have been waiting for Nikon to release a camera that genuinely warrants the expense of transitioning between systems. It is possible to fit an FTZ II mount adaptor to the body to accommodate current Nikon F-mount lenses. Unfortunately, the mount will set you back another R5,200-00 after paying about R94,990-00 just for the camera body.

I was recently allowed to try out the Nikon Z8 with updated software and an adaptor to accommodate my current Nikon F-mount lenses during our trip to Chobe, Botswana, in March this year.

My Review of the Nikon Z8
The Nikon Z8 is an impressive camera that has exceeded all my expectations. It is on par with Nikon’s flagship, the Z9, which I still have to test.

Despite Nikon having already released a range of mirrorless options over the past few years, the D850 and the D5 have remained the cameras of choice among wildlife photographers who focus primarily on stills instead of video. When they released the Z8 in May 2023, Nikon shooters were ecstatic to learn about the camera that would finally give them a reason to transition to mirrorless.

This review is based on my findings as I explored the Z8 in detail while comparing it to the D850 and the D5. I will start by touching on key areas where this camera excels in photos before moving on to topics such as high-speed shooting and battery life.

Autofocus
Autofocus is the most significant improvement in the Z8 and is in a class of its own compared to the D850 and the D5. The speed and efficiency with which the camera can lock onto and maintain focus are excellent.

The Z8’s dynamic area focus modes, which I use almost exclusively when working with big and small birds or animals, offer three focus boxes: small, medium, and large. I found the medium focus area perfect for cats and medium-sized antelopes. I used the large focus area with excellent results for larger subjects, such as elephants and hippos, and the small focus box performed extremely well when photographing small birds.

Image Stabilisation
The Nikon Z8 features 5.5 stops of in-body image stabilisation, which minimises camera shake and enables photographers to capture sharp images, even in challenging shooting conditions. This stabilisation technology is especially beneficial when shooting handheld or in low-light situations.

Auto Focus System
Nikon has also focused on providing top-notch performance in the camera’s autofocus system. The Nikon Z8 has a 493-point autofocus system, which includes subject-tracking capabilities. This advanced autofocus system ensures accurate and reliable focus, even when capturing fast-moving subjects. I found this accurate and a real game changer for Nikon users.

The camera’s 3D tracking AF system has been considerably improved. It pairs with subject detection and locks on to subjects that move fast and erratically, both parallel and perpendicular to the camera. Additionally, there are three Dynamic-Area AF modes, with a range of focus area sizes, for capturing various moving subject types.

Full disclosure: I have never been a massive fan of such modes simply because I have always preferred to maintain complete control when choosing my point of focus on any given subject. The Z8 blew me away with its speed and accuracy, making capturing faster-paced scenes significantly easier. I found the focus mode “wide area-L (large)” coupled with the “animal or bird” subject detection mode to work very well for a wide range of birds and animals in action. The camera will actively aim to track animals or birds that move within its boundaries, which is impressive.

Low Light Performance
Another area in which the Z8 boasts notable improvements over the D850 and the D5 is its ability to function well in low-light conditions. However, I would give constructive feedback once I could view my images in Lightroom. We were lucky to capture amazing sunsets with minimal ambient light, and the Z8 didn’t miss a beat. Even when shooting split shots, which can be demanding for cameras even in favourable lighting, the Z8 continued to find and lock focus effectively. Looking through my low-light images in Lightroom Classic, I see that the Z8 handles noise exceptionally well.

Dynamic Range
Dynamic range is yet another area where the Z8 shines. Dynamic range describes the camera’s ability to handle scenes with strong highlights and dark shadows. The Z8 was highly capable of just about every scenario I attempted. From shooting bright sunbursts in the early morning to capturing stunning animal portraits under the black of night, the camera consistently performed in a way that exceeded all expectations.

Burst Shooting
If you are a fast-action shooter who relies on natural light, you will be excited to learn the Z8 can fire at 20 RAW frames per second (fps), compared to the D850, which maxes out at just 7 RAW fps. These speeds and the camera’s highly responsive autofocus guarantee you will never miss capturing that one perfect encounter. It impressed me and exceeded the performance of the DSLR cameras.

Battery Life
One of the last remaining advantages of a DSLR over a mirrorless camera is its impressive battery life. The Z8 is listed for 330 to 400 shots per charge compared to the D850 at 1840 and the D5 with its large battery, which is triple the amount. I was worried that this might be a deal-breaker. While reviewing the Z8, I averaged only 380 RAW photos before changing to a new battery. I needed to add another battery. As a wildlife photographer, I am disappointed by this.

Size and Weight
Generally speaking, the smaller and lighter the system, the more suitable it is for travel. The Nikon Z8 is 10% lighter than the D850 and smaller in length and width. Although these differences seem small on paper, they are noticeable when carrying equipment for extended periods onto boats, game vehicles, and flights.

Concerns!
I felt slightly biased when writing this comparison review, with nonstop praise for the Z8 without complaints. However, there were some areas of concern where I felt disappointed compared to the DSLR bodies.

Z8 Supported Memory Cards
The Z8 performs best with a fast CFexpress card (NX-B1PRO Series) with a hefty price tag. However, the camera has two slots, one compatible with cheaper fast SD cards.

Megapixels
The 45.7MP is overkill for a fast shooter. Images take forever to download and use a tremendous amount of space. As a wildlife photographer using lenses from 14mm to 600mm, I seldom have to crop tight.

Battery Life
I would have preferred a larger battery, even if it would have added extra weight by increasing the size of the body to accommodate it.

Post-Processing
Nikon DSLR cameras were known for shadow recovery using RAW files. Users could always successfully pull dark shadows back in post-processing. However, with the Z8, I haven’t been able to draw anywhere near the details out of shadows that the DSLRs could, using the latest version of Lightroom Classic.

Closure
However, compared to the three cameras, the Z8 is a significant step up in all areas except battery life, which remains more than adequate. As a long-time advocate of the D300, D600, D750, D850, D4, and D5, it took me a couple of hours of shooting with the Z8 to make up my mind. Nikon shooters, if you can deal with the few concerns I’ve experienced, it’s time to go mirrorless!