p.14 #2 · Nikon unveils the highly anticipated Z8 camera!
As a video shooter my Z9 is best suited for dedicated tripod based video capture, especially seeing as the Z9 is bolstered by a cage, shotgun mic or wireless audio receiver and an RDS. The Z9 is comfy to use and I love the longer lasting battery. Really, the only downside of the Z9 is the size and weight which only starts to be bothersome on longer walks.
Recently I've been experimenting shooting N-Raw at 3.8k120p DX (2.3x crop) with the 100-400Z and am fairly impressed from the results as long as the light is decent. The 400mm @2.3x crop yields a solid 920mm equivalent reach, but the really amazing thing is how effective VR is with this combo -- even at 920mm! The Z9's stabilization is vastly superior to my (now sold) A1 and is markedly better than my (now sold) GH6 as well.
SO I'm considering the possibility of adding a Z8 and maybe a 400/4.5 for my "light weight" (5 lb) carry rig. The 400mm prime is light and sharp and takes TC's well, and I could "zoom" by simply changing video modes by shooting N-Raw from 8k60p/4k120p in FX to 5k60p @1.5x DX to 3.8k120p @2.3x DX.
So the Z8 has opened up new lighter weight possibilities and as a result I've decided to postpone plans to buy a 800PF or 600TC until I fully explore this idea.
p.14 #3 · Nikon unveils the highly anticipated Z8 camera!
A Z90 a la Fiju X-2Hs for about €2500 would be an instant buy for me. Although the Z8 ticks all my boxes (except perhaps a little bit high on weight) I can’t affort €4600 for a camera.
July is just fine. 🤣
p.14 #4 · Nikon unveils the highly anticipated Z8 camera!
Chris Dees wrote:
A Z90 a la Fiju X-2Hs for about €2500 would be an instant buy for me. Although the Z8 ticks all my boxes (except perhaps a little bit high on weight) I can’t affort €4600 for a camera.
July is just fine. 🤣
That would be a great camera for a lot of people.
It's been interesting, but not surprising, to hear the X-H2S is still fairly erratic at AF acquisition and accuracy for birding.
p.14 #5 · Nikon unveils the highly anticipated Z8 camera!
Anyone moved from Sony to Nikon?
I am interested in your experience.
I don’t change systems often, but the Z9 and now the Z8 has me really interested in Nikon systems.
My interest in primary driven by getting a more rugged body than the Sony’s that I have. I would like to shoot in any conditions just like I did with my Canon DSLRs 10 years ago.
I moved to Sony 9 years ago as I saw mirrorless as the next evolution of photography. Sony bodies just don’t feel that rugged to me as my old Canon cameras. I know that it might not be true, but that’s how I feel.
I started looking at the Z9, but the size didn’t work for me as does the Canon R3.
The Z8 that was announced is just the ticket. But I would like to hear about other people’s transition experiences before I go that way.
And please, this is not about one brand over the other, it’s just what best suits my need after trying something for the better part of a decade.
Thanks.
p.14 #6 · Nikon unveils the highly anticipated Z8 camera!
Lifeinpictures wrote:
Anyone moved from Sony to Nikon?
I am interested in your experience.
I don’t change systems often, but the Z9 and now the Z8 has me really interested in Nikon systems.
My interest in primary driven by getting a more rugged body than the Sony’s that I have. I would like to shoot in any conditions just like I did with my Canon DSLRs 10 years ago.
I moved to Sony 9 years ago as I saw mirrorless as the next evolution of photography. Sony bodies just don’t feel that rugged to me as my old Canon cameras. I know that it might not be true, but that’s how I feel.
I started looking at the Z9, but the size didn’t work for me as does the Canon R3.
The Z8 that was announced is just the ticket. But I would like to hear about other people’s transition experiences before I go that way.
And please, this is not about one brand over the other, it’s just what best suits my need after trying something for the better part of a decade.
Thanks. ...Show more →
p.14 #7 · Nikon unveils the highly anticipated Z8 camera!
Lifeinpictures wrote:
Anyone moved from Sony to Nikon?
I am interested in your experience.
I don’t change systems often, but the Z9 and now the Z8 has me really interested in Nikon systems.
My interest in primary driven by getting a more rugged body than the Sony’s that I have. I would like to shoot in any conditions just like I did with my Canon DSLRs 10 years ago.
I moved to Sony 9 years ago as I saw mirrorless as the next evolution of photography. Sony bodies just don’t feel that rugged to me as my old Canon cameras. I know that it might not be true, but that’s how I feel.
I started looking at the Z9, but the size didn’t work for me as does the Canon R3.
The Z8 that was announced is just the ticket. But I would like to hear about other people’s transition experiences before I go that way.
And please, this is not about one brand over the other, it’s just what best suits my need after trying something for the better part of a decade.
Thanks. ...Show more →
Video guy here so my comments won't mean much, but FWIW after I got hooked shooting some video with a Z7 I gravitated to Sony (A7SIII/A1) while I waited for Nikon to get on the mirrorless bandwagon. I'm in the process of returning to Nikon mainly for the superior video quality and cost effective long-lens offerings, though admittedly I'm sacrificing some AF prowess and other features (e.g. 240 fps) to do so.
For MY needs TODAY, Nikon has the best offerings. My main complaint about Sony is the lack of high-quality high-resolution codecs and affordable long-lens options. The latter goes for Canon too, though Canon has some great cameras and arguably the best autofocus, I shoot MF most of the time anyway so needing the best AF isn't a hill I'm willing to die on.
p.14 #11 · Nikon unveils the highly anticipated Z8 camera!
Video guy here so my comments won't mean much, but FWIW after I got hooked shooting some video with a Z7 I gravitated to Sony (A7SIII/A1) while I waited for Nikon to get on the mirrorless bandwagon. I'm in the process of returning to Nikon mainly for the superior video quality and cost effective long-lens offerings, though admittedly I'm sacrificing some AF prowess and other features (e.g. 240 fps) to do so.
For MY needs TODAY, Nikon has the best offerings. My main complaint about Sony is the lack of high-quality high-resolution codecs and affordable long-lens options. The latter goes for Canon too, though Canon has some great cameras and arguably the best autofocus, I shoot MF most of the time anyway so needing the best AF isn't a hill I'm willing to die on. ...Show more →
p.14 #12 · Nikon unveils the highly anticipated Z8 camera!
Thanks, looking through it now.
That thread doesn't address my transition to the Z9, but suffice to say I'm taking more and better pictures than ever and wouldn't have pre-ordered a Z8 if I wasn't enamored with the Z lineup and Z8/9 featureset.
p.14 #13 · Nikon unveils the highly anticipated Z8 camera!
+1 that was my thought process as well. I started with Nikon then moved to Sony some years ago. I had a love-hate relationship with Sony. The tech was some of the best but I did not enjoy the process of making images like I did with Nikon. Then moved to Canon R5 and gfx100s. Both of these are great cameras for different use cases. Canon R5 for videos and event photography and gfx for landscapes and portraiture.I enjoyed the Canon a lot more than Sony but it made me realize that I loved my Nikon gear the most. Going to keep the gfx and move back to Nikon (ordering the z8 to replace my canon). Great lens selection, codecs. I just hope the video AF of the z8 is going to be as good as the R5. The fact that we're comparing the z8 to a 3 year old camera speaks to how great the R5 continues to be.
So why am I moving ? In addition to the z lenses and video specs, I also have some e mount lenses that I'm really looking forward to using. Plus I missed the 58g and 105e/1.4 . Those two alone are enough reasons to shoot Nikon.
Gary Irwin wrote:
Video guy here so my comments won't mean much, but FWIW after I got hooked shooting some video with a Z7 I gravitated to Sony (A7SIII/A1) while I waited for Nikon to get on the mirrorless bandwagon. I'm in the process of returning to Nikon mainly for the superior video quality and cost effective long-lens offerings, though admittedly I'm sacrificing some AF prowess and other features (e.g. 240 fps) to do so.
For MY needs TODAY, Nikon has the best offerings. My main complaint about Sony is the lack of high-quality high-resolution codecs and affordable long-lens options. The latter goes for Canon too, though Canon has some great cameras and arguably the best autofocus, I shoot MF most of the time anyway so needing the best AF isn't a hill I'm willing to die on. ...Show more →
p.14 #14 · Nikon unveils the highly anticipated Z8 camera!
Z9 / Z8 in crop mode will yeild ~20mp.
The current mirroless DX line of cameras are all already 20 mp. I suspect if Nikon was to bring it a z90, it would have to be higher than 20mp to provide a competitive advantage over the Fuji and Sony DX mp.
So if that's the case, then it wouldn't be the same as the Z9/Z8 in DX mode.
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 →
p.14 #16 · Nikon unveils the highly anticipated Z8 camera!
Picture This! wrote:
+1 that was my thought process as well. I started with Nikon then moved to Sony some years ago. I had a love-hate relationship with Sony. The tech was some of the best but I did not enjoy the process of making images like I did with Nikon. Then moved to Canon R5 and gfx100s. Both of these are great cameras for different use cases. Canon R5 for videos and event photography and gfx for landscapes and portraiture.I enjoyed the Canon a lot more than Sony but it made me realize that I loved my Nikon gear the most. Going to keep the gfx and move back to Nikon (ordering the z8 to replace my canon). Great lens selection, codecs. I just hope the video AF of the z8 is going to be as good as the R5. The fact that we're comparing the z8 to a 3 year old camera speaks to how great the R5 continues to be.
Even from the early days I got used to manufacturers leap frogging each other with features, if you're always looking for the latest and willing to switch systems - that can get pretty expensive (been there), so decided to stick with a system I trusted in and have done that with Nikon. They haven't always been the best at everything, but when I take the time to learn the system and know its limitations I have been very pleased with the results in Lightroom. I've tried MFT a couple times over the past decade and just can't seem to pull myself away from FF.
p.14 #17 · Nikon unveils the highly anticipated Z8 camera!
If its just the features I agree there's always going to be leap frogging. Its also the shooting experience with a system. That takes hands on and quality time with a system to know if I love it or not. Guess I can rent but I buy everything used so it hasnt had too much of a negative impact financially.
wjmeyer wrote:
Even from the early days I got used to manufacturers leap frogging each other with features, if you're always looking for the latest and willing to switch systems - that can get pretty expensive (been there), so decided to stick with a system I trusted in and have done that with Nikon. They haven't always been the best at everything, but when I take the time to learn the system and know its limitations I have been very pleased with the results in Lightroom. I've tried MFT a couple times over the past decade and just can't seem to pull myself away from FF. ...Show more →
p.14 #18 · 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. 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.
I will keep listening......Show more →
Knowing how the 200-500 is a match made in heaven with the D500, it seemed like the right thing to do is launch a D500 mirrorless equivalent with a 180 / 200-600mm zoom. While it may not happen, thanks for giving some of us hope that this may indeed happen
p.14 #19 · Nikon unveils the highly anticipated Z8 camera!
f_a_98 wrote:
Z9 / Z8 in crop mode will yeild ~20mp.
The current mirroless DX line of cameras are all already 20 mp. I suspect if Nikon was to bring it a z90, it would have to be higher than 20mp to provide a competitive advantage over the Fuji and Sony DX mp.
So if that's the case, then it wouldn't be the same as the Z9/Z8 in DX mode.
I suspect Nikon will go higher in MP count for a higher end DX. But if a DX version of the Z8/9 chip was available, I suspect it’d be the cheapest option for Nikon and hopefully some of that savings will be passed on. And going by the read speed of the Z8/9, that hypothetical DX chip would be best in class at well over 1/500s. But you’re right in that it won’t really gain much over a Z8/9 in DX mode and miss out on the potential pixel density advantage.
There’s the X-H2s with a stacked sensor at 26MP which is around 61MP FF pixel density that Fujifilm sells for $2500 so that would be a target price. However I don’t believe the readout speed is as quick and may still necessitate an expensive high performance mechanical shutter. I haven’t looked closely enough at the details of the XH2s though.
There’s also a rumoured stacked FF sensor in the region of 67MP that supposedly was a bit too slow in FF to drop the mechanical shutter but may be quick enough as a DX at around 29MP worth of data to read off.
p.14 #20 · Nikon unveils the highly anticipated Z8 camera!
I know a couple of folks who use the Canon R7 and get great shots from it. Nikon should aim at least in that territory. If it has the D500 cachet it will fly off the shelves.
