The Nikon Z8 is Nikon’s smaller version of its mirrorless flagship camera, the Z9. Now one year after the Z8, we’ve got the Z6III is a 24MP full-frame camera, that incorporates many of the autofocus abilities and other features from the 45MP Z8. What should you get? Read on to find out!
Nikon Z8 vs Nikon Z6 III Specifications Comparison
Camera Feature | Nikon Z8 | Nikon Z6 III |
---|---|---|
Announced | May 2023 | June 2024 |
Camera Type | Mirrorless | Mirrorless |
Sensor Type | Stacked CMOS | Partially Stacked CMOS |
Image Processor | EXPEED 7 | EXPEED 7 |
Resolution | 45.7 MP | 24.5 MP |
Pixel Dimensions | 8256×5504 | 6048×4024 |
Sensor Dimensions | 35.9 x 23.9 mm (Full Frame) | 35.9 x 23.9 mm (Full Frame) |
Sensor Pixel Size | 4.35µ | 5.94µ |
Low Pass Filter | No | Yes |
IBIS (In-Body Image Stabilization) | Yes | Yes |
Base ISO | ISO 64 | ISO 100 |
Max Native ISO | ISO 25,600 | ISO 64,000 |
Extended ISOs | ISO 32-102,400 | ISO 50-204,800 |
High-Resolution Sensor Shift | Yes | Yes |
Focus Stack Bracketing | Yes | Yes |
Pre-Shoot Burst Mode | Yes (JPEG only) | Yes (JPEG only) |
Fastest Shutter Speed | 1/32000 | 1/16000 |
Longest Shutter Speed | 900 seconds | 900 seconds |
Continuous Shooting (Mechanical Shutter) | No mechanical shutter | 14 FPS |
Continuous Shooting (Electronic Shutter) | 20 FPS | 20 FPS |
Notes for High FPS Shooting | 20 FPS figure is for .NEF files (full-res JPEG at 30 FPS; DX JPEG at 60 FPS; 11 megapixel JPEG at 120 FPS) | 20 FPS figure is for .NEF files (full-res JPEG at 60 FPS; 11 megapixel JPEG at 120 FPS) |
Buffer Size (Raw) | Over 1000 frames (20 FPS) | Over 1000 frames (20 FPS) |
Autofocus System | Hybrid PDAF with deep learning subject recognition | Hybrid PDAF with deep learning subject recognition |
Autofocus Points | 493 | 273 |
Maximum Low-Light AF Sensitivity (Standardized to f/2, ISO 100) | -7.5 EV | -8.5 EV |
Standard Flash Sync Speed | 1/200 | 1/200 |
Curtain to Protect Sensor at Shutdown | Yes | No |
Video Features | ||
Maximum Video Bit Depth (Internal) | 12 bits | 12 bits |
Maximum Video Bit Depth (External) | 12 bits | 12 bits |
Raw Video | Yes | Yes |
8K Maximum Framerate | 60 FPS | N/A |
6K Maximum Framerate | N/A | 60 FPS |
4K Maximum Framerate | 120 FPS | 120 FPS |
1080P Maximum Framerate | 120 FPS | 240 FPS |
Additional Video Crop Factor | No | No |
Chroma Subsampling | 4:2:2 | 4:2:2 |
Video Recording Limit | 90 min | 125 min |
Physical and Other Features | ||
Card Slots | 2 | 2 |
Slot 1 Type | CFExpress Type B | CFExpress Type B |
Slot 2 Type | SD (UHS-II) | SD (UHS-II) |
Rear LCD Size (Diagonal) | 3.2 in | 3.2 in |
Rear LCD Resolution | 2.1 million dots | 2.1 million dots |
Articulating LCD | Dual Axis | Fully Articulating |
Touchscreen | Yes | Yes |
Viewfinder | EVF | EVF |
Viewfinder Magnification | 0.8x | 0.8x |
Viewfinder Resolution | 3.69 million dots | 5.76 million dots |
Viewfinder Coverage | 100% | 100% |
Voice Memo | Yes | Yes |
Headphone Jack | Yes | Yes |
Microphone Jack | Yes | Yes |
Built-in Flash | No | No |
GPS | No | No |
Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
WiFi | Yes | Yes |
USB Type | Two Type C 3.2 Gen 2 ports | Type C 3.2 Gen 1 |
Battery Type | EN-EL15c | EN-EL15c |
Battery Life (Viewfinder) | 330 frames | 360 frames |
Battery Life (Rear LCD) | 340 frames | 390 frames |
Battery Life (Eco Mode) | 370 frames | 410 frames |
Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
Weight (Body Only w/ Battery + Card) | 910 g (2.01 lbs.) | 760 g (1.68 lbs.) |
Dimensions (LxHxD) | 144 x 119 x 88 mm (5.7 x 4.7 x 3.5″)1 | 139 x 102 x 89 mm (5.5 x 4.0 x 3.5″)2 |
Price Comparison | ||
MSRP, Body Only | $4000 (Check Current Price) | $2500 (Check Current Price) |
Used Prices (eBay affiliate) | Nikon Z8 Used Prices | Nikon Z6 III Used Prices |
1The Nikon Z8’s official dimensions do not include the depth of the protruding viewfinder. To match the typical standards today, 5mm were added to the Z8’s depth measurement in this table. | ||
2The Nikon Z6 III’s official dimensions do not include the depth of the protruding viewfinder. To match the typical standards today, 15mm were added to the Z6 III’s depth measurement in this table. |
Summary and Recommendations
The Z8 is essentially a smaller Z9 – very impressive in specs, but still a little older in technology than the Nikon Z6 III. Thus, it’s not surprising that the Z6 III has some entirely new features compared to the Z8 and the Z9.
For example, the Nikon Z6 III focuses down to -8.5EV versus -7 for the Z8. The Z6 III also has a brand-new wide-gamut electronic viewfinder that’s brighter than on the Z8 and has more resolution. Even in the video realm – where the Nikon Z8 is one of the best mirrorless cameras available – the Z6 III has a couple of wins in its column (1080p at 240 FPS and a slightly longer recording limit).
What about autofocus? In older times, if you wanted a fast action camera, you’d get the Z8 or Z9, or maybe compromise with the Zf. Now the decision is not so clear with the Z6 III, which is is a significant improvement from the Z6 II and Z7 II cameras. The Z6 III is much closer to the Z8 and Z9 with its new “partially-stacked” sensor, which makes it 20% faster than the autofocus of the Z6 II, according to Nikon. And the speed of the Z6 II was never the problem anyway – the problem was autofocus tracking, where the Nikon Z6 III’s EXPEED 7 processor and subject recognition algorithms put it way ahead of its predecessor.
That being said, the sensor of the Z6 III is still not fully stacked, and it still has a mechanical shutter, unlike the Z8. Like the Z8, the Z6 III can shoot up to 20FPS with its electronic shutter, but it’s not as fast as the Z8’s stacked shutter. The readout speeds still favor the Z8, too.
Thus, although the Z6 III shares the same EXPEED processor as the Z8 and Z9 and shares some of the autofocus features, you can still expect the Z8 to be faster and more precise at the margins.
Finally, there’s no denying that the Z6 III only has 24MP. That’s more than enough for most kinds of photography, but it doesn’t give as much cropping room as the 45MP sensor of the Z8.
So, which camera should you get? It’s safe to say that the Nikon Z6 III can handle almost any situation, and won’t stutter as much as its predecessors in the Z6 line. However, I would still consider the Nikon Z8 for more stringent action situations because of its faster stacked sensor and its 45MP. The Nikon Z8 also makes a better landscape photography camera if you plan to print large, thanks to the higher resolution.
What does the Nikon Z8 offer over the Nikon Z6 III?
- 8K Video
- Faster, stacked sensor
- 1.87 times more megapixels (45.7MP vs 24.5MP)
What does the Nikon Z6 III offer over the Nikon Z8?
- More advanced electronic viewfinder – higher resolution, brighter, wider color gamut, and faster refresh rate
- Lighter weight (150g lighter)
- Much lower price, costing $1500 less
Questions? Go to our forum, where you can start a conversation and talk to photographers about these two cameras!
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Maybe a silly question – why have a 1,000-frame buffer when the battery only runs for 400-odd frames??
It’s not a silly question. The 400 frames is a measure of average use of the camera, which includes looking at the rear screen sometimes, switching settings, etc. It’s an approximate metric which is designed to indicate the battery life of the camera with respect to other cameras.
In reality, if you just hold down the shutter on high-speed mode, the camera can absolutely take WAY more than 1000 shots!
In the UK, the z8 is £3200 where as the z63 is £2700, so for me it’ll only be appealing once it lowers the price. Also isn’t the z63 4k120 cropped?
For many wildlife photographers the difference in cropping ability (MP number) is a major advantage for Z8, especially for those who have to travel light. Z6III will require longer/heavier lenses for the same reach which annihilates the advantage in body weight/price unless you can always get close enough to the subject. In addition there is the Z8 stacked sensor / electronic shutter advantage for fast moving subjects.
Z6III has nice specs for wildlife photography and I understand Nikon wanting to have a lower priced option in this area. But it would be more compelling IMHO with such spec/features in a 24-33 MP APS-C body. While I would prefer a small/light body like Z6 series over Z8, it doesn’t work out if you have to use a bigger/heavier lens for the same reach.
Yes, that is true. When shooting my original Z6 I do feel some disadvantage when cropping. Once you get to around 1.4x linear resolution increase, you definitely start to feel a difference, which is about the linear resolution factor between 45MP and 24MP.
Depends on the wildlife though and style, too. But for birds, most photographers will be cropping a little.
In lower light, the extra pixels don’t help as much though. So in such conditions, a 24MP full-frame camera will do quite nicely.
But yeah, for wildlife, I would pretty much always recommend the Z8/Z9 over any 24MP camera.
Are you going to publish a Z8 review? I can’t seem to find one on the site.
I still intend to write one, but I don’t have an estimated date for you yet. Other projects like our lens reviews have taken priority.
Maybe if I get my Z8 soon I’ll help write it :)
Both the Z8 and Z6iii have 120 fps EVF. You claim that the Z6iii is faster.
That was my bad, Allan. The Z8 indeed can be set to 120 Hz refresh rate in the electronic viewfinder. I’ve updated this article accordingly.
You don’t need to pick between the 2 of them. I own the Z8 and the Z6ii. They complement each other. After having a D850, I wanted 45MP, so I got the Z8. I pre-ordered the Z6iii today because I love the Z6ii size and sensor. It’s my backpacking camera and non-landacape, non-tripod choice. If I have room for a tripod, I’ll take the Z8. The Z6ii with the latest firmware is great, but when the Zf came out, the IBIS improvement and sensor had me sold, but I didn’t want 2 cameras with such different button layout. Z8 and Z6iii, an ideal pair!
Doesn’t the Z8 have pixel shift with latest fw?
Thanks, I forgot about that! Yes it does. I just updated the chart.
Any early indications or thoughts on the expected performance difference between the Z6 III ML-Based Subject detection and the Z8’s (also ML-based, I assume) *Eye* detection AF for birds and other wildlife?
I’m curious about if the Z6 III is giving up a lot in that area, as I’m trying to settle on a body upgrade between the two, with amateur birding/wildlife watching (maybe ++Z8) and astrophotography (maybe ++Z6 III) being among my two favorite activities.
If the Z6 III doesn’t currently have Eye AF for animals (birds and others), do we know if it may come in a future FW update?
It absolutely may appear in a future firmware update, just like it did with the Z8.
That said, I find that on the Nikon Zf, which doesn’t officially have bird eye AF, the focus box still narrows and tracks the eye relatively often.
I do think the Z8 would be the better choice in your case if it’s in your budget, though. For birding, the ability to crop from 45 megapixels will be more useful than any (likely small) high ISO advantage to the Z6 III for astrophotography.
Thank you for the reply! Looking forward to more detail in the future.