I am currently looking at the Z8 with the 150-600 lens for Birds and Wildlife. When do you think Nikon might announce an update to the Z8 Mark ll, and what is your opinion of the current Z8 or do you think it would be advisable to wait for the update. I don't know how long ago the current Z8 has been around. Much appreciate your comments
Grampy wrote:
I am currently looking at the Z8 with the 150-600 lens for Birds and Wildlife. When do you think Nikon might announce an update to the Z8 Mark ll, and what is your opinion of the current Z8 or do you think it would be advisable to wait for the update. I don't know how long ago the current Z8 has been around. Much appreciate your comments
Thanks,
Grampy
The current Z8 has been out since late May 2023. I don't think we will see a Z8II until about May 2027, as Bernard states. Of course, this is just an opinion.
Grampy wrote:
I am currently looking at the Z8 with the 150-600 lens for Birds and Wildlife...what is your opinion of the current Z8 or do you think it would be advisable to wait for the update.
I faced a similar decision back in April, April 1st in fact, when I fell for the April Fools announcements of the z9ii with pre-capture RAW (from .jpg only) that I was waiting for.
Coming from another winter with the aps-c Fuji x-h2s in poor light, I wanted to switch to a FF system for wildlife with faster lenses and hopefully better dynamic range. The biggest issue for me was giving up pre-capture RAW, 40fps of the x-h2s, which I really adapted my shooting style to for dynamic wildlife shots. So, given the same estimates for a z9ii you see in replies here, I decided to just pick one up. After renting the z9 I found it too heavy for me, so went with the z8 & 150-600. It's still a pretty heavy combo. I also rent and may add the stellar z 600 pf s mainly for weight, faster AF and IQ which is noticeably better, but the z8 still lacks pre-capture RAW. I tried out the .jpg-only option and really disliked the process and output vs. the flexibility and IQ of RAW. Since you mentioned Birds and Wildlife in that order, perhaps you would also miss pre-capture RAW if you've grown accustom to the flexibility in other systems that support this.
I'll enjoy the z8 for now, but realize I don't attempt small bird stills at all these days and default to video, which is a strength of the system. When the z9ii is available, ideally with pre-capture RAW solved, I'll probably jump into it despite the probable weight increase vs the z8, then jump back to the z8ii when that option comes to market in a few years.
Just buy a minty used Z8 now and enjoy it for a year or two before any replacement comes out. If you buy it used at or south of $3K, any depreciation you can write off mentally as cheap rent.
I suspect they are right that the Z9 will be upgraded first. I would find a good deal on a Z8 and buy it. I like B&H because I get 30 days to test anything I buy.
I bought the Z8 several years ago at its launch and this is my second year with my 180-600. I do loons on several basins and butterflies in my wildflower garden.
IMO the Z8 is perfect! I love it. Honestly, I do not see how this camera could be improved with an upgrade anyway.
Ok,I must admit that I found Nikon’s menu to be needlessly complex for me. I am a biologist and not technically inclined. But once I learned to use the Z8’s “My Menu” to my advantage and worked (via phone calls) with NikonUsa in (Melville or Philly?) , I settled on a group of perfect options that cover everything I want…. including video.
Unless you have a capable birding camera currently, I think you’ll miss many months of great photography by waiting for the next version of the Z8 or Z9. The current Z8 version is very capable for a wide range of photographic efforts. I don’t do bird and wildlife photography specifically, but after seeing Z8 photos of those subjects, I have to assume the camera is very proficient. I use the Z8 in more of a commercial arena and it shines!
With any of the newer Z8 or Z9 bodies, you will need to study up on the more complex autofocus systems to be most effective! Steve Perry and Backcountry Gallery is a good resource.
It'll be after the Z9II so the Z8II might hit at either really late 2026 or sometime in 2027. Grampy wrote:
I am currently looking at the Z8 with the 150-600 lens for Birds and Wildlife. When do you think Nikon might announce an update to the Z8 Mark ll, and what is your opinion of the current Z8 or do you think it would be advisable to wait for the update. I don't know how long ago the current Z8 has been around. Much appreciate your comments
Z9 just has big firmware upgrade, there maybe 6.0 ver as well.
If there is 6.0 ver firmware for Z9 then Nikon might be won't have Z9II before a huge event like world cup
And so on, Z8II might not available until end of 2027 or even first half year of 2028.
bernardl wrote:
The Z9II is likely to come first at some point in 2026, probably during the first half.
I don't expect a Z8II before sometime in 2027.
Cheers,
Bernard
This is exactly my thinking, too.
Unless you already have a Z8 level camera, such as a Nikon Z9, Sony a1ii or Canon R5II I would definitely get a Z8 now. By the time the Z8II comes out and is readily available, it will probably be close to 2 years. That's a lot of time and pictures you could have taken, and the Z8 is still one of the most capable cameras on the market.
Most of the flagship bodies from the FF manufacturers get updated about every 4 years, and the releases are staggered. So, about every 2 years, people will start itching for an upgrade as new cameras come out with new features. At some point, you just need to jump in, because there will always be something new on the horizon.
I don't actually expect a Z8ii for awhile, much as others above have said.
I eventually plunged for a Z8 from a Z6. I heavily considered a Z6iii as well as I've enjoyed the small size of the Z6 for some applications. I have 0 regrets. It's great with a normal/wide prime. It's been great with any medium range zooms. It's been great with my 500/4 E FL , FTZ and TC14EIII.
Any camera body at the Z8/R5/A9 or higher level is going to give you great performance and ultimately the quality of results you get will be based on the user learning the hardware. A used Z8 or refurb Z8 is a great choice if you want to limit the cost.
patotts wrote:
Just buy a minty used Z8 now and enjoy it for a year or two before any replacement comes out. If you buy it used at or south of $3K, any depreciation you can write off mentally as cheap rent.
… I got mine last week for less than 2800 usd brand new warranty set in Singapore with free extra battery.
It is literally dirt cheap.
I like to hedge my bets/investments and delaying for z8II is too long of a wait at this point of time. Too many benefits of new system outweigh my time spent shooting. And if you must have the Z8ii just be in the first wave of people selling their z8s off to buy the newer body.
Grampy wrote:
I am currently looking at the Z8 with the 150-600 lens for Birds and Wildlife. When do you think Nikon might announce an update to the Z8 Mark ll, and what is your opinion of the current Z8 or do you think it would be advisable to wait for the update. I don't know how long ago the current Z8 has been around. Much appreciate your comments.
What's wrong with Z8?
I mean, what features does the Z8 lack that you would like to see in a Z8II?
Probably the bottleneck of Z8+150-600 (Sigma? or Z 180-600?) combo for BIF (and wildlife) is not the body.
