p.13 #1 · Nikon unveils the highly anticipated Z8 camera!
wjmeyer wrote:
I must have missed that But like you said, they'll come around again. For perspective, after shooting film for years I got into DSLR in 2004 and my first Sandisk 2GB (yes, just two gigabyte) CF card was $400! At $200 per gigabyte, a 512GB card would have cost over $100,000
I will be selling my spare 325 delkin black, PM me if you have any interest. Won't be as cheap as the B&H deal but not a whole lot more either.
p.13 #2 · Nikon unveils the highly anticipated Z8 camera!
I’m starting to think if you want a Z9 and don’t want to pay the price, why can’t you get a Z8 with a grip. With two batteries, battery life will last almost as long as Z9. All for <4500$ vs 5500$ Z9.
Weather seal? Cmon, most of us caress the camera to sleep. You think we would actually let a drop of rain on it? Am I missing something here?
I’m a happy Z9 shooter since launch. Really happy for those who wanted the Z9 but either don’t want to shell out more than $5k for a camera or the size of the pro body.
Happy shooting.
p.13 #3 · Nikon unveils the highly anticipated Z8 camera!
this is me wrote:
I’m starting to think if you want a Z9 and don’t want to pay the price, why can’t you get a Z8 with a grip. With two batteries, battery life will last almost as long as Z9. All for <4500$ vs 5500$ Z9.
Weather seal? Cmon, most of us caress the camera to sleep. You think we would actually let a drop of rain on it? Am I missing something here?
I’m a happy Z9 shooter since launch. Really happy for those who wanted the Z9 but either don’t want to shell out more than $5k for a camera or the size of the pro body.
Happy shooting. ...Show more →
The Z8 with grip is larger than the Z9, will still have 1 fewer function button, and 1 cfexpress slot instead of 2, not as durable theoretically, otherwise you are good to go.
p.13 #4 · Nikon unveils the highly anticipated Z8 camera!
this is me wrote:
I’m starting to think if you want a Z9 and don’t want to pay the price, why can’t you get a Z8 with a grip. With two batteries, battery life will last almost as long as Z9. All for <4500$ vs 5500$ Z9.
Weather seal? Cmon, most of us caress the camera to sleep. You think we would actually let a drop of rain on it? Am I missing something here?
I’m a happy Z9 shooter since launch. Really happy for those who wanted the Z9 but either don’t want to shell out more than $5k for a camera or the size of the pro body.
Happy shooting. ...Show more →
Overall, the Z9 is the more robust camera for a variety of reasons. If you plan on shooting the Z8 gripped, I'd lean towards just getting a Z9...smaller and more capable package, even if a little heavier in the end.
p.13 #5 · Nikon unveils the highly anticipated Z8 camera!
this is me wrote:
I’m starting to think if you want a Z9 and don’t want to pay the price, why can’t you get a Z8 with a grip. With two batteries, battery life will last almost as long as Z9. All for <4500$ vs 5500$ Z9.
Weather seal? Cmon, most of us caress the camera to sleep. You think we would actually let a drop of rain on it? Am I missing something here?
I’m a happy Z9 shooter since launch. Really happy for those who wanted the Z9 but either don’t want to shell out more than $5k for a camera or the size of the pro body.
Happy shooting. ...Show more →
For the most part you can. Also the Z8 grip is weather sealed, as is the Z8, and while probably not to the degree a Z9 is, it is still going to be just fine in light rain or similar. I wouldn't use any camera in a downpour but admittedly I am on the overly cautious side of the spectrum with that sort of thing. The main downside of using a Z8 with a grip is the overall size - it's significantly larger than a Z9, and aesthetically doesn't look the greatest (subjective). Gripped cameras never feel quite the same as the "all in one" bodies, but having the option to un-grip the camera and reduce the size/weight is very important for some folks.
It's really nice to see that performance-wise, the Z8 and Z9 are virtually identical. Moreso than I thought they would be as well - personally I thought they would cripple the video features due to either cooling ability or simply wanting more model differentiation, but they didn't do that either. They even stuck the massive EVF from the Z9 on it, which also has the same specs in terms of brightness, refresh rate, and the dual-stream tech for a true zero blackout experience. The sensor shield is another thing I thought maybe they might skip, but nope, it's there too.
The main selling point of the Z9 is now it's build and form factor. It's heavy, but it's built like a tank and has the longest battery life. It has the highest level of dust/moisture sealing, and it's significantly smaller than both a D6 or a gripped Z8. You also get the symmetrical CFe B slots, which for anyone wanting to use the second slot for redundancy doesn't force you to give up any performance or the unlimited buffer.
Other than that, not a lot separates them from a feature standpoint. The Z9 has an ethernet port, an extra Fn button, probably longer maximum recording times if you're really pushing it, built-in GPS, and a more spacious control layout. The Z8 has an extra USB-C port and Airplane AF mode, which I assume will be in the next Z9 firmware update (currently it exists in the "vehicle" mode).
p.13 #6 · Nikon unveils the highly anticipated Z8 camera!
I was talking to my local Nikon dealer today, a small photography shop, about some details related to Z8.
He mentioned to me, the waiting list right now is 20 people.
No doubt, this camera will be a big hit, similar to D700 and D850.
I tried to resist, and to wait for D500 mirrorless replacement, but nobody knows when, if ever.
So, I have an approval from my "boss" for Z8, I just need to sell my z7II first...
p.13 #10 · Nikon unveils the highly anticipated Z8 camera!
1bwana1 wrote:
Whispers in the wind say July 2023. Test mules are already out there. But of course the wind is always changing its mind...
I've got no choice, I have to trust you, based on your information on Z8 earlier, it's been proven by now...credit.
I was pretty sure, you were close to someone from Nikon, or someone who Nikon uses for beta testing, you were very confident.
I was debating to replace my z7II with z8 before my vacation through June and partially July, or to use it until I come back, then to swap them.
With this information, second option sounds better to me.
If nothing happens with z90, I can still go after z8..
Thanks for this hint!
p.13 #11 · Nikon unveils the highly anticipated Z8 camera!
1bwana1 wrote:
Whispers in the wind say July 2023. Test mules are already out there. But of course the wind is always changing its mind...
The question is which body will they go with if it is released ? Will they go the d500 route and use the larger body with round eyecup or use the smaller Z6/7 body , I would prefer the smaller body.
Gonna have to rethink a Z8 purchase , I would rather a crop sensor for added perceived reach with 400 4.5 and TC’s …
p.13 #12 · Nikon unveils the highly anticipated Z8 camera!
JustShootMe wrote:
The question is which body will they go with if it is released ? Will they go the d500 route and use the larger body with round eyecup or use the smaller Z6/7 body , I would prefer the smaller body.
Gonna have to rethink a Z8 purchase , I would rather a crop sensor for added perceived reach with 400 4.5 and TC’s …
Damn you rumor mill , Damn You !
He was better than Nikon rumors about z8, 🤣
p.13 #13 · Nikon unveils the highly anticipated Z8 camera!
cvrle59 wrote:
Thanks for this hint!
That is just what it is at this point, a hint of what may be happening. I am hearing from one wind direction that there are two bodies in the field being tested right now. One the Z90, the other possibly an updated ZF. I get no detailed specs on either yet. Nor which may be announced in July (planned not locked in). Also supposedly being tested for announcing at the same time is whichever version of the 200-600 "ish" zoom will be produced. This wind blows from a long ways away, so is sometimes fuzzy on the details.
One of the reasons I hear that muddies the water on which goes first is business related. It seems that there is little enthusiasm in Nikon's second biggest market for a high performance APS-C camera. But there is a lot of interest in the number 1 market following the pattern of the D500. This limits the financial success prospects for such a camera. I don't know the sales history of the D500 in different markets to determine if this makes sense. I do know what a really great camera it was, and a lot of my D850 shooting friends bought one as their second camera. I almost did too, but switched to mirrorless before I did.
I keep listening for whispers in the wind from the other direction. But I think the crazy advanced activity of the Z8 took the wind out for a while.
p.13 #15 · Nikon unveils the highly anticipated Z8 camera!
1bwana1 wrote:
That is just what it is at this point, a hint of what may be happening. I am hearing from one wind direction that there are two bodies in the field being tested right now. One the Z90, the other possibly an updated ZF.
That would be extremely cool....now I just have to decide between the Z8 and the Z90. I'd probably get the Z90 as long as its price was $3000 or less.
p.13 #16 · Nikon unveils the highly anticipated Z8 camera!
If the Z90 does materialize I’ll be surprised.
I owned a D500. A great camera that arrived before the D850. When I moved to the D850, I could make it operate essentially the same as a D500 with the only major difference to me being the somewhat crippled viewfinder which was masked in dx mode.
Now with a Z9 (and I assume the Z8) firmware, I can tap one button (I programmed the video button) to move between fx and dx with a full dx viewfinder display. In the middle of an action sequence this is a big deal to me.
Unless they make the Z90 at a lower price point of significance or in a much smaller form factor I don’t really see the justification. My opinion only.
p.13 #17 · Nikon unveils the highly anticipated Z8 camera!
Spectro wrote:
If the Z90 does materialize I’ll be surprised.
I owned a D500. A great camera that arrived before the D850. When I moved to the D850, I could make it operate essentially the same as a D500 with the only major difference to me being the somewhat crippled viewfinder which was masked in dx mode.
Now with a Z9 (and I assume the Z8) firmware, I can tap one button (I programmed the video button) to move between fx and dx with a full dx viewfinder display. In the middle of an action sequence this is a big deal to me.
Unless they make the Z90 at a lower price point of significance or in a much smaller form factor I don’t really see the justification. My opinion only. ...Show more →
I can mostly agree with your points, but I would like to differentiate this a bit.
It was little simpler with D850/D500, D850 in crop mode is about the same MP's as D500.
If that happens again with Z8/Z90, I would definitely go for Z8, but I'm expecting Z90 to have at least 26MP, or even 32.
If you take for an example 600mm at 20MP as a base, 26MP would make it like 685mm with extra cropability.
If it becomes 32MP, that would work like 758mm, huge difference.
p.13 #18 · Nikon unveils the highly anticipated Z8 camera!
Cost is the biggest factor to still buy a D500 (not D850).
Nothing's changed since 2017, when the D850 launched over a year after the D500. Some added the FX or upgraded. But to this day there are many happy D500 campers. It is still bang/quid one of the best ILCs yet made for action photography and more besides.
A DX Z90 will likely cost $2K - 2.5K, and it will suit many travellers, birders and safari goers with a 24-200 and 180-600. There are so many Fmount lenses being sold a bargain prices that can be adapted.
This flagship of the Z-DX lineup will attract many on a budget into the Z System. Nikon has its Z30 and Zfc etc but there are many students , who are most keen on nature photography.
The Z8 is to grow in to FX for action genres with high end video and all, but costs twice of 1.5 times a stacked sensor DX MILC (that Fuji released already).
p.13 #20 · Nikon unveils the highly anticipated Z8 camera!
I've been sitting here in the last week since the Z8 was announced, looking over at my Z9 from time to time, knowing that it's a camera that would handle literally anything I throw at it, ever, and wondering how the Z8 will realistically stack up long term.
The weight savings will have to be substantial to push me to the keep the Z8 I feel like. Didn't expect to have the attachment to the Z9 that I apparently do!
That said, there are a few key things I'm curious to try on the Z8, like my CV 40/1.2. It's a bad design with the focus ring being so close to the body that it's downright hard and uncomfortable to use on the Z9 because the bottom grip gets in the way.
But like you said, they'll come around again. For perspective, after shooting film for years I got into DSLR in 2004 and my first Sandisk 2GB (yes, just two gigabyte) CF card was $400! At $200 per gigabyte, a 512GB card would have cost over $100,000 
