Nikon announces Z8 with same 46MP sensor and 8K video recording capability as Flagship Z9

After much anticipation, Nikon has officially announced tracking it groundbreaking mirrorless flagship-the Z8—and if you were expecting a “baby Z9”, you have it. Nikon’s press release opening line (below) clearly states: “The Z8 combines the advanced functionality and performance of the flagship Nikon Z9 into a compact and lightweight body, while maintaining outstanding durability and reliability.” Nikon says the Z8’s body is about 30% smaller than the Z9’s—and the Z8 is even 15% smaller than the popular body D850.

That means the Z8 is built around the same 45.7MP stacked CMOS sensor and EXPEED 7 image processor found in the Z9. It also inherits Nikon’s sophisticated 3D-tracking autofocus system built on deep learning, a fully electronic shutter, and an “unobstructed” viewfinder. Like the Z9, the new model is capable of 20fps RAW shooting, 30fps full-resolution JPEG, and 60fps cropped JPEG (DX format). The Z8 also offers pre-release shooting, where the buffer captures frames before the shutter is fully pressed.

On the video side, we’re capable of recording 8K/60p in Nikon’s proprietary, 12-bit compressed RAW format, N-RAW, as well as up to 4K/120p from 8.3K (subsampled) movie recording— both available on the Z9 obtained later through a firmware update. The Z8 can also shoot 12-bit RAW footage in the ProRes RAW 4K/60p format.

The main difference between the Z8 and Z9 concerns the smaller form factor of the new model: While the Z9 has two CFexpress Type B memory slots, the Z8 offers a single CFexpress slot and a card slot SD—although many users may prefer this configuration because they can use the (fast) SD card they already own. Additionally, the Z8 uses the EN-EL15c (2280mAh/16Wh) Li-ion battery—used by most Nikon mirrorless cameras—rather than the larger and more powerful EN-EL18d (3300mAh/36Wh) battery than that of the Z9. That means a CIPA rating of 330 shots per charge for the Z8 compared to 700 shots for the Z9 (using the viewfinder).

Shipping from May 25, the Z8 will retail for $4,000—a handy $1,500 less than the Z9—from retailers like backscatter.

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TOKYO – Nikon Corporation (Nikon) is pleased to announce the release of the full-frame/FX-format Nikon Z 8 mirrorless camera.

The Z 8 combines the advanced functionality and performance of the flagship Nikon Z 9 into a compact and lightweight body, while maintaining outstanding durability and reliability. The Z 8 is ideal for a wide range of image creators seeking new possibilities for expressing images in a wide range of genres and subjects, such as landscapes, wild birds, aircraft, portraits and weddings . Whether shooting stills or video, the great versatility of the Z 8 enables versatile movie shooting, offering outstanding operability that allows users to unleash their creativity even further. In addition, its reliable performance allows users to capture decisive moments and achieve outstanding image depiction.

Nikon will continue to pursue a new dimension in optical performance while meeting the needs of users, contributing to the evolution of imaging culture in the hope of expanding image expression.

main feature

1. Comfortable operability ideal for diverse shooting situations

The Z 9’s enhanced functionality and performance are packed into a compact camera body measuring approx. 30% smaller than the flagship model. The miniature body has been designed to maintain easy grip as well as comfortable operation. This enables fast and stable movie recording in a variety of scenes, even when a super-telephoto lens is attached. Additionally, the 4-axis tilting monitor offers high operability when shooting from high and low angles in both horizontal and vertical positions.

For video recording, the Z 8 can capture 12-bit RAW and 10-bit Apple ProRes 422 HQ video in-camera, allowing users to take advantage of a minimal video capture system that doesn’t require an external recorder. Versatile combinations of shooting devices accommodate a variety of shooting styles to streamline operations. With the included MC-N10 Remote Grip (sold separately), videographers alone can enjoy more control over how they can operate the camera — in ways they’ve never seen before. difficult to do on your own. Furthermore, by taking advantage of a wide range of accessories and high compatibility with products from accessory brands, users can operate the Z 8 as comfortably as if it were a professional video camera. use.

2. Ability to safely capture decisive moments

The Z 8 can record up to approx. 125 minutes. at 4K UHD/60p*^first and up to approx. 90 mins. at 8K UHD/30p*², which is a great benefit for a variety of shooting situations, such as documentaries or weddings, where extended shooting times are required. The same nine object types are detected in stills and video as the Z 9, and there’s a new dedicated aircraft detection mode. With this subject detection mode, users have stronger detection and tracking performance when shooting aircraft — whether up close or far, in low light or with crowded backgrounds. In addition, the camera realizes high-speed, high-precision AF performance comparable to the Z 9 and can also detect subjects in low-light limits of -9 EV*³. These features assist in improving autofocusing for subjects in dark environments, as well as effectively focusing on subjects in backlit situations, by individually controlling the exposure of the image. live view images and AF images.

For still photography, the Z 8 has a Pre-Release Capture*⁴, which allows up to one second to be taken before the shutter-release button is pressed completely. For example, when photographing wild birds, you can capture the exact moment a bird suddenly takes off with just a half-press of the button — even if the user only fully presses the rear shutter-release button when the bird took off.

*^first H.265 8-bit (MOV), [Extended oversampling]: [OFF], [Auto temperature cutout]: [Standard]at 25°C/77°F, using a Nikon MC-CF660G memory card and an external power source.
*² H.265 8-bit (MOV), [Auto temperature cutout]: [High]at 25°C/77°F, using a Nikon MC-CF660G memory card and an external power source.
*3With Starlight view. Photo mode, using single AF sub-lens (AF-S), ISO 100, f/1.2, at 20°C/68°F.
*⁴ Pre-Release Capture can only be set when shooting in High Frame Rate+ mode, which enables continuous shooting at a frame rate of 120 fps.

3. Outstanding image rendering enhances user expression in both stills and video shooting

The Z 8 supports the HEIF format, which captures high-quality still images while reducing the amount of file data. This file format allows for dramatic rendering of scenes with rich tones, such as sunrises and sunsets, as well as scenes with brightly lit subjects, such as parades at night. , using a 10-bit rich tone hierarchy. In addition, when capturing HEIF images (via live view) or playing back images, users can clearly see how those images will look on an HDR (HLG) compatible monitor with an EVF and a 3000cd/m2 compatible 900cd. of camera /m2 high brightness image screen.

The Z 8 can shoot in a variety of video formats depending on the purpose or process, including high resolution 4K UHD/60p*, 50p* and 30p oversampling from 8K, providing the opportunity Capture high resolution videos that can be enjoyed on a big screen. In addition, when shooting portraits, the camera helps to achieve the desired results with the portrait dramatic balance function, as well as the newly added skin smoothing function. Additionally, to maximize the potential of the high-speed NIKKOR Z lens, a combination of ISO 64 and 1/32000 sec. shutter speed can be used.

*Supported when [Extended oversampling] in the video recording menu is [ON]image area is [FX]and the frame size/frame rate is 3840×2160 60p/50p. Note that the power consumption of the battery increases when [ON] chosen.

4. Additional Features

• 45.7 effective megapixels deliver outstanding resolution that maximizes the outstanding performance of NIKKOR Z lenses.
• The Real-Live viewfinder continuously shows the actual movement of the subject without any flickering or skipping/repeating frames.
• 3D tracking helps focus on the target subject even when the subject moves quickly or erratically.
• Custom wide-area AF supports a variety of AF-area patterns.
• VR sync*^first achieve strong vibration reduction up to approx. 6.0 stops*²
• Assistive functions for shooting in dark locations, such as starlight view and illuminated buttons, are included.
• Image playback/display i menu in portrait orientation while playback effectively supports portrait photography.
• High resolution zoom*³ allows zooming in at high resolution while recording video — even when using a prime lens.
• Timecode synchronization facilitates synchronization of video footage from multiple cameras and audio data from an IC recorder, which is extremely useful for video editing*⁴.
• Durability to operate in freezing conditions down to -10°C/14°F supports professional photography in harsh environments.
• The removal of the mechanical shutter allows photography without having to worry about shutter wear and tear.
• Dual coating and sensor shield are used to protect the image sensor from dust.
• Two USB plugs, one for charging/supplying and the other for communication, allowing communication during charging/powering.
• The use of new professional-grade magnesium alloy and carbon fiber composite materials provides outstanding durability and reliability.
• NX Studio version. 1.4.0 HDR display*⁵, which allows displaying and editing still images taken in HLG tone mode. It also supports customizing portrait display balance and skin softening function.

*^first When combined with synchronous VR compatible lenses.
*² Based on CIPA Standards. When using the NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S telephoto head with NORMAL mode.
*³ Hi-Res Zoom is only available when recording video in the following codecs: at ProRes 422 HQ 10-bit (MOV), H.265 10-bit (MOV), H.265 8-bit (MOV), or H.264 8 -bit (MP4) — with the image area set to FX (36 x 24). Restrictions apply to some camera features.
*⁴ Specialized accessories are required.
*⁵ For system requirements, please refer to the user manual for system options.

Main Features of MB-N12 Power Battery Pack

The MB-N12 Power Battery Pack is an optional power pack for the Z 8 that enhances vertical shooting while extending* battery life by approx. 1.8x. Focusing on vertical shooting is made easy with the easy-to-grip handle. Excellent dust and drip resistance enables operation in temperatures as low as -10°C/14°F, allowing users to trust the grip as much as the camera. The MB-N12 Power Battery Pack also supports hot swapping, where power continues uninterrupted even if either battery is removed, as long as the other battery remains charged. In addition, it also allows to charge the internal battery even when not attached to the body. All of these features are ideal for long-term recording, such as when shooting weddings or time-lapse landscape videos.

*Actual endurance varies by factors such as battery health, interval between shots, and options selected in the camera menu.

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