Hello there,
this topic should discuss the upcoming Nikon Z8.
Based on nikonrumors.com the camera is supposed to be announced pretty soon. I guess it will be in the next few days during NAB. But maybe only the two new lenses get announced - which would disappoint.
Regardless of the release date: are you guys interested in a high-megapixel camera? I certainly am, as my main photography goals depend on high resolution.
A few open questions remain and I wonder what you guys think about those:
1) If the Z8 surpasses the Z7/Z7II/Z9 in resolution, will we get more problems with weaker glass and diffraction? Possible implications could mean a worse performance for landscape photography at f stops like f10-f11, correct? I expect the camera to have the Sony sensor from the A7RV.
Will the 24/70f2.8 still be enough? It for example does not perform as well in regards of sharpness like the 24-70f2.8 GMII from Sony. I've heard many stories that the A7RIII could be a better landscape camera than the A7RIV in that regard if you shoot closed apertures.
2) If the price goes up, will it be cheaper than the Sony A7RV? Or will it offer many other features to justify a possibly higher price. If so which features could it offer?
3) Will the Z6/Z7 series be obsolete then? Or will the Z8 actually be the Z7III?
4) Connected to point 1 - will we get Version 2s of the lenses? Maybe a new Trinity Series if the camera gets a bump in megapixels? I kinda think, that if they go the route of 61 or even 80 mp they would require better-suited lenses.
5) Are you even interested in an Z8? Would you sell your current cameras for it? I recently sold my Z7 and my 2470f28 for some cash for my new car. Now I earn money back to buy a new camera. I am interested in the Z8, but my gut tells me that Sony offers better lenses with their new releases.
If my answers look rude, sorry in advance, I just want to be concise ;).
1/ I don't care about more resolution. 45MP is already more than enough. I just would like to see the 3D autofocus back and as good as in the D500/D850... that's all.
2/ I don't care about Sony's prices :D
3/ Z6 and Z7 (I or II) are good for what they do, and it won't change, for the rest, of course, the decision about Z6/Z7 series is Nikon's.
4/ Still don't care :D... however, most Z-S lenses are so impressive, I think they are probably already ready for anything. Just try Z 24-120 F/4 - that is even not supposed to be as high end as Z 24-70 F/2.8 - on Z7II and I think everything will be understood. :D
As another example, Z 35-50-85 1.8 trinity consists probably of the most precise lenses you'd ever buy at this right time.
5/ I will sell one Z6 and maybe some old lenses I don't use anymore... but it will be the case even if I don't buy Z8 anyway.
1) I don't think it makes sense to go beyond 45 MP. It's only usefull for very special applications. And even then, something around 60 MP doesn't really matter compared to 45 MP - you would need to go way higher, something like 80 or even 100 MP.
Personally, I prefer a faster readout speed (and no mechanical shutter) over 60+ MP anytime - I would like to see a Z8 that's basically a "mini Z9".
3) I think Nikon should keep the Z6 series as "low-res high-speed" model, and soon bring a Z6III with 24-30 MP stacked sensor.
Z7 series can keep its place as "high-res low-speed" model, with eventually a Z7III with 60+ MP (in my opinion lower priority than Z6III).
5) If the Z8 is what I expect/hope it to be, it will eventually replace my Z7II (as soon as it's on a good sale or available used for a good price).
If it's a higher resolution camera without stacked sensor, I'll pass.
I would have to know a lot more about the Z8 before I could ever decide to purchase or not. MyZ7ii is doing just fine for my photography.
Between a higher-res (say 80-100 MP) camera to maximize detail, versus a "mini Z9" (stacked sensor, faster FPS) where are people leaning?
To me, the biggest gap in Nikon Z FX at the moment is a less expensive camera, $2500 or so, that can autofocus near the Z9's level. Although, the rumors I've heard suggest the Z8 will be more expensive and higher-end than that.
45 mp sensor is plenty good enough for me. Love my D850 and 500 pf combo. Just need a faster, better focusing Z7. If Nikon packs too much into the Z8 causing the price to be >$3500 I’d probably pass.
All I'm looking for is a good secondary camera to my Z9. I have a Z7, but I want something better than that. It doesn't have to have the speed of a Z9, but at the very minimum it should have the computational power to focus similarly to the Z9. It's really frustrating to go to a Z7 after using the Z9. Ideally, their new camera should be to the Z9 as to what the D850 was to the D5 – complimentary without much compromising.
I'm not concerned about the resolution of Z lenses or the need for lens updates. The Z lenses are already among the best available in terms of sharpness across the lens and overall acuity.
I would be open to a higher resolution camera, but the big thing is the real time EVF, shutterless design, EXPEED 7, and some of the other Z9 features. I'd expect some compromises based on power. Resolution alone is not enough to justify an update from the Z7ii.
Eric Bowles
www.bowlesimages.com
I don't have a real need for a new camera. My D850, Z6II and Z50 are plenty. There are however two features I miss: a tilting display such as the Z9 and a "preview feature" where you could set a preview format ratio (16:9, 3:1, 1:1, custom) while the camera captures the full 3:2 ratio.
None of these are showstoppers so I guess I won't be buying a new camera soon.
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Pascal Hibon
Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/phibon/
Website: https://pascalhibon.net/
Between a higher-res (say 80-100 MP) camera to maximize detail, versus a "mini Z9" (stacked sensor, faster FPS) where are people leaning?
To me, the biggest gap in Nikon Z FX at the moment is a less expensive camera, $2500 or so, that can autofocus near the Z9's level. Although, the rumors I've heard suggest the Z8 will be more expensive and higher-end than that.
In terms of practical use, there are so few cases where a 80MP body would give a serious advantage over a mini Z9 when it comes to wildlife photography for most people. Nikon made so many telephotos as well like the 400 f/4.5 that would be much more practical on a mini Z9 with a 26MP APS-C sensor. I'm very biased but I'd definitely prefer a mini Z9.
Really like the Nikon Z series. Actually I like it more than I thought I would. Partly it is the lenses which are impressive. I agree that the lineup needs a camera which is well priced. There are so many innovations in the Z9. Nikon is clearly in a position to produce a midpoint camera which has just a few of those features and still make an excellent camera.
No matter what they announce there will be lots of debate (most of it irrelevant noise) about what they should have done.
I think the question of whether 60mp or more is sensible is wasted energy. I get it, camera specification collectors are like train spotters. It's a hobby about the technology and comparisons etc. It is an interesting hobby but at the moment the image quality we have available to us doesn't really justify getting too upset.
I would trade impressive looking specifications for impressively keen pricing any day. If they try to do both as they did with the Z9, it can take at least a year to fulfil all the orders (and the Z9 was not a cheap camera).
I initially was very interested in a possible Z8, but after thinking about it, it's clear it's going to be quite expensive and maybe the Z6ii/Z7ii has reached a price low point here (which is around $2k/$3k respectively, inc 24-70mm lens) and hence the Z8 must be somewhere between the actual Z7ii list price and the Z9 price, so I guess the Z8 body must be around $4500 at launch and I just can't justify that.
I actually expected more from Nikon with the Z "ii" models in the AF area, with the twin Exspeed processors but I don't see that they made any significant improvements really over and above what has been released as software updates to the earlier models..
It's interesting how this time Nikon manages to keep almost all information about the new model secret. Even the local distributor doesn't know more than a regular reader of Nikon Rumors or Photography Life (of course).
Personally, I'd rather see the Z8 as a mini Z9 than a huge resolution camera. As Jason wrote, lightweight lenses like the Nikon Z 400/4.5 would fit better on a camera without a grip than on the Z9. It will also be important what processor (or processors?) Nikon puts in the new camera. In addition to dust and water resistance, I think future resistance is also important. By that I mean that the camera should allow for more fundamental updates and not be limited by processing power (like the first generation Z6/7, for example).
In the past, the biggest issue was how the new camera would handle high ISO. Today, that touchstone is the AF performance. This is where I think Nikon is a bit behind the competition. Sure, the Nikon Z9 is at the very top, but there is a big gap underneath. It's time for advanced AF features to trickle down to the lower tiers of the range. And here I'm a little worried that the Z8 won't quite do that. But who knows, maybe we'll all be pleasantly surprised.
To me, the biggest gap in Nikon Z FX at the moment is a less expensive camera, $2500 or so, that can autofocus near the Z9's level. Although, the rumors I've heard suggest the Z8 will be more expensive and higher-end than that.
I agree! That will probably be the Z6III. Additionally, I think a D850 successor/mini Z9 (hopefully the Z8) is of similar high priority, as well as a high-end DX body ("Z90").
With these 3 products, Nikon would have a near-perfect mirrorless body lineup. The next step would then be a Z5II, Z50II and Z7III, in my opinion.
As a Z7 owner and someone who shoots both landscapes and also a bit of birding, I am after something with a faster autofocus and thats pretty much it. Certainly can't fault the lens line up so far. Wouldn't say no to a 600 pf though!
In a perfect world I think an affordable DX mirrorless D500 replacement would pair nicely with the Z7 for my needs. However, if the Z8 (or Z7ii for that matter) has fast enough autofocus and higher MP which can give decent MP in dx crop mode then it could be a perfect allrounder and sayonara Z7!
I guess time will tell.
The next camera always seems to be 1 month away when you look at rumour sites. It will arrive eventually but the suspense is killing me!