Following the launch of Nikon’s new Z8 mirrorless camera, you may be asking yourself a simple question. Should you get the Z8 or its big brother, the Z9?
First of all, a little bit of good news. I was able to get my hands on one soon Z8 and is now putting it through its paces in real-world scenarios. I will provide a hands-on review shortly. So wait a moment.
However, even without making it into the field, one can simply tell from the product announcements that the Z8 and Z9 have a lot in common. Like a lot. Like they’re basically the same camera with some key differences that I’ll dive into below. However, if they are in fact very similar, how does one choose between the two?
I am particularly interested in this question as I am a longtime Nikon photographer. I’ve used their cameras for almost my entire career in still photography. Starting with the D200 and growing up to the D850, Nikon DSLRs have become the bread and butter for all my photography needs. They just work. They are the perfect cameras for my shooting style and workflow. And D850in particular, I believe it will become the best DSLR camera ever made.
Top DSLR shooters like D6 may disagree with me. Those flagships, always with larger bodies and more expensive prices, took perfection to the next level. They are built solidly like a tank. Built to withstand the rigors of any shooting situation. If you’ve ever been on a dangerous mission and need to use your camera as both a photographic tool and a baton for self-defense in a dark alley, Nikon’s flagships will do the trick. However, since I’m an advertising photographer and primarily shoot in controlled environments to create images for large-scale campaigns, camera durability has always come second to megapixels for me. with my needs. And the D6-style body always focuses on speed at lower resolutions, while the D850 trades off some of that speed for a higher megapixel count. So while I really love the machine gun sound the D6 makes at full speed, for my work the D850 is more suitable.
Compared to some other brands, Nikon has taken the time to carefully develop its line of mirrorless cameras. Their mirrorless lenses are amazing right out of the gate. The original mirrorless bodies went through a gradual evolution. It wasn’t until Nikon released the Z9 that I finally felt that Nikon had produced a mirrorless body that could be best with my D850. Especially since I make more movies now than take pictures, that camera is the perfect camera for me at the moment.
Of course, the Z9 is top of the line. So from a D850-style body, it’s a change from what I’m used to. However, unlike the lower megapixel sensors of previous flagship DSLRs, Nikon has chosen to equip the Z9 with their highest resolution sensor yet. Suddenly you have all the machine gun speed of the D6, but with a resolution that suits the needs of my particular genre of photography. Apparently, at the time the Z9 was announced, the Z8 didn’t exist yet. If it existed, I might never have owned a Z9 and be stuck with the familiar 8-level form factor. But I went all out with the Z9 and haven’t looked back. To my surprise, who tends to want every new camera to hit the market, even with the amazing specs of the Z8, I find myself still loving my Z9 like day one. it appear. But I will understand more about that in a moment.
Rumors of a potential Z8, a mirrorless replacement for the D850, have persisted for years. No one knows which direction Nikon will go. Will it be a Z9 mini? Does it offer a big megapixel gain over the Z9, in the same way that the D850 offers a megapixel gain over the D6? Would it be a camcorder perhaps?
Well, as it turns out, the Z8 will end up being roughly the same shape as the Z9, but smaller and cheaper. You might ask “How does it work”? Well, although the two brothers have a lot in common, there are still some key differences. I’ll find out what makes them different in the next section. First, though, let’s determine how similar these two cameras are.
As we talked about resolution, the Z8 and Z9 share the same sensor, a 45.7 MP stacked CMOS sensor to be exact. So there’s nothing to separate the two cameras in terms of image quality, dynamic range, ISO performance, etc. Neither camera has a mechanical shutter. They both share the same excellent dual-line electronic viewfinder, which is truly one of the best mirrorless experiences on the market, especially for those, like me, who are wary of forgo the optical viewfinder on our DSLR.
To my surprise, the Z8 includes all of the same video functionality as the Z9, including a wide range of video formats available from 8K N-RAW to ProRes 422 HQ video inside. Both have full-size HDMI ports. Nikon could have been forgiven for withholding some things with the cheaper model, but instead opted to put it all in to take advantage of the same EXPEED 7 processor found in the flagship Z9.
One might think that Z9 buyers might find it a bit difficult. We spent about $1,500 more on our Z9 body and then Nikon released the camera with the same basic features for a cheaper price. And, while I love my Z9, I have to admit that the larger body that I loved on set starts to feel heavy if used for more casual street photography. However, I don’t feel any buyer remorse for spending more on the Z9. At the same time, I absolutely love what they did with the Z8. I almost feel that the best setup for any photographer is to own one of these, budget permitting of course, as the two bodies really complement each other very well.
Here’s what I want to say:
Why did you choose Z8
The first reason people choose to buy the Z8 over the Z9 is obvious when looking at it. The Z8 is 30% smaller than its big brother. And, if you don’t need the extra ruggedness that comes with a top-of-the-line body, longer battery life, or built-in GPS, the idea of reducing weight in one’s camera bag is always appealing.
Also, as I mentioned earlier, it’s about $1,500 cheaper. So again, if you don’t need the extras, you can essentially get the same performance for less. In addition, by making battery slot optionally with the Z8 you get a slightly more versatile camera. It can be smaller and more compact when you need it. Or, you can integrate it with the battery clamp as needed.
Because the two cameras use identical imaging systems, it is not advisable to try to separate them based on image quality. So to put it simply, you would choose the Z8 if your focus is on size and price and you don’t need some of the extra features the Z9 offers. However, in terms of image quality, you will get the same.
Why did you choose Z9
Speed. Pure speed.
What I love about the Z9 is how fast it works. I don’t mean frames per second. The Z8 and Z9 are identical in that regard. I mean the body just provides everything I need in the most convenient way possible.
Here is an example. One of the reasons why the Z9 is bigger than the Z8 is because of the built-in battery. In that battery, the Z9 has a large battery that can last all day. For comparison, the Z8 uses a smaller battery. And while the battery life isn’t bad, it’s no surprise that it’s nothing like the Z9’s massive battery. You might say, “Sorry,” you might say. If you want to extend the battery life of your Z8, all you need to do is attach an extra battery clip. And this is true. But two things. First, if you plan to shoot with a battery grip most of the time with the Z8, you’re losing out on the size advantage over the Z9. And two, just speaking from a personal standpoint, knowing that my Z9 battery can seemingly run forever gives me a certain amount of peace of mind on set. What is the value of peace of mind? That could be different. But basically, I never had to worry about running out of battery or having to remember to carry a battery clip in my pocket, which made it a little less stressful for me. It’s always there. Not having to deconstruct my video rig to get to the battery compartment multiple times a day is a tangible plus. It’s a personal matter, but it’s something I really appreciate, even though it comes at the expense of carrying a larger camera.
Handling wise, the Z9 fits my hand perfectly. But I also want to choose the Z8 because it is also a great machine. If you’re used to shooting D850-sized bodies, you’ll find the Z8 very comfortable to hold. Whether you want to shoot with a grip is up to you. But both of these cameras are excellent in terms of ergonomics.
What you get on the Z9 and not on the Z8 are creature comforts. The Z9, for example, has a raised mode dial at the top. You can change all of these same things on the Z8, but the enhanced, tactile dial can speed things up in the field. Likewise, the Z9 has a built-in GPS system. Again, you can also use GPS with the Z8 via Snapbridge. However, like the battery clamp, it’s an extra step. It’s not too high a hurdle to climb. The Z9 has an ethernet port. This may or may not apply to you. But, if it does, it will be appreciated. Both cameras have a great dedicated autofocus mode knob on the bottom left of the camera, which speeds things up when shooting. The Z9 has three custom function buttons on the front compared to the two on the smaller Z8. Again, not the biggest thing in theory, but if your workflow uses this, it could speed you up again. I’m sure you’re noticing a theme.
And the Z9 has two CFexpress card slots compared to the Z8, which has one CFexpress and one SD card. The benefit of SD is that the card is cheaper and more common, so it’s easier to find in a pinch. The benefit of having both CFexpress identical card slots is the added stability of just using CFexpress and just worrying about having an assortment of memory cards with you. Again, not a game changer. Just something that makes my life easier. In other words, faster.
So where Z8 provide scale and cost benefits, Z9 benefits in terms of speed and efficiency. Which is most important to you is entirely up to your own needs. By ensuring that there is no difference in image quality or shooting format with either camera, Nikon allows its customers to make choices based on their own professional workflow instead of (usually) meaningless individual specifications. This is really great for customers, because you know that whichever camera you choose, you will set yourself up for an outstanding professional tool with superb image quality. You just need to choose the one that best suits your actual shooting needs.
So which of the two should you buy? It is, in the end, your decision. But you can rest assured that you won’t go wrong with either camera.
