Nikon Z 8: Nikon's Z 9 in a smaller body, explained
Nikon's 45.7MP stacked full-frame body, still current. Launched at $3,999.95 in 2023 (body only). Who it suits: wildlife, sports, wedding and hybrid shooters who want Z 9 performance without a built-in grip.
Why it exists. Nikon introduced the Z 8 as "The Perfect Follow-Up to the Z 9. True Successor to D850.", "a full frame mirrorless camera made to meet the needs of imaging professionals, serious photographers, videographers and advanced creators". Nikon says it is "approximately 30% smaller than the Nikon Z 9, and 15% smaller than the venerable Nikon D850 to which it is the true successor", using "the proven full-frame (FX-format) 45.7-megapixel BSI stacked sensor with a scan rate so fast that no mechanical shutter is needed".
Nikon announced the Z 8 on May 10, 2023 at $3,999.95 body-only, available May 25, 2023. It shares the Z 9's sensor and EXPEED 7 engine and its subject-detection AF, with 493 focus points down to −7 EV, 5-axis VR rated up to 6.0 stops with Synchro VR, 20 fps continuous (C120 in high-speed frame capture), 8K/30p and 4K/120p, and internal N-RAW and ProRes RAW HQ. There is no mechanical shutter; the electronic shutter runs to 1/32000 s.
Our gallery comes from four photographers: a blue-footed booby, swallow-tailed gulls, a European robin, a red deer hind in Richmond Park, autumn maple leaves at f/1.4 and the CN Tower through a ship's rigging. Who should buy it? Wildlife, sports, wedding and hybrid shooters who want flagship speed in a smaller body. Its limits: 910 g with battery and card, and about 330 viewfinder / 340 monitor shots per charge (CIPA).
The story
Nikon Inc. announced the Z 8 on May 10, 2023 under the line "The Perfect Follow-Up to the Z 9. True Successor to D850.", priced at $3,999.95 for the body with availability from May 25, 2023 (Nikon Inc. via PR Newswire).
Nikon says the Z 8 is "approximately 30% smaller than the Nikon Z 9" and uses a 45.7MP BSI stacked sensor "with a scan rate so fast that no mechanical shutter is needed" (Nikon Inc.).
Key specs for the Nikon Z 8, from Nikon's Z 8 online manual (Specifications and Battery Endurance) and Nikon Inc.'s May 10, 2023 release. Source for each row in brackets.
Sensor
45.7MP effective FX CMOS, 35.9 × 23.9 mm, BSI stacked; EXPEED 7 [Nikon manual, Nikon Inc.]
ISO (stills)
64–25600; Lo 32 to Hi 102400 equivalent [Nikon manual]
ISO (movies)
64–25600 (mode M), with options up to Hi 2.0 (102400 equivalent) [Nikon manual]
Autofocus
Hybrid phase-detect/contrast AF; 493 points (single-point, FX); −7 to +19 EV (−9 EV with starlight view) [Nikon manual]
Stabilization
5-axis sensor-shift VR; up to 6.0 stops with Synchro VR and compatible lenses [Nikon Inc.]
Shutter
Electronic only, 1/32000–30 s (to 900 s in M); flash sync 1/200 or 1/250 s [Nikon manual]
0.5-in OLED, about 3,690k dots, about 0.8x [Nikon manual]
Screen
3.2-in touch LCD, about 2,100k dots, tilts vertically and horizontally [Nikon manual]
Video
8K UHD to 30p; 4K UHD to 120p; internal N-RAW and ProRes RAW HQ; ProRes 422 HQ; N-Log and HLG [Nikon manual, Nikon Inc.]
Card / ports
One CFexpress Type B/XQD plus one SD (UHS-II); two USB-C; full-size HDMI; mic and headphone jacks [Nikon manual]
Battery
EN-EL15c; about 330 shots (viewfinder) / 340 (monitor), CIPA, energy saving off [Nikon manual, battery endurance]
Size / weight
144 × 118.5 × 83 mm; about 910 g with battery and card (820 g body only) [Nikon manual]
Announced / price
May 10, 2023; $3,999.95 body-only (US) [Nikon Inc.]
Sample photos
Six photos taken with the Nikon Z 8 by four photographers, shared on Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons licenses. Each caption gives the settings the file records. Select a photo to enlarge it. More samples from Wikimedia Commons
f/10, ISO 2800, 1/1250 s, 180mm: a blue-footed booby (NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR). Photo: Enoch Leung via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)f/6, ISO 1100, 1/320 s, 320mm: swallow-tailed gulls (NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR). Photo: Enoch Leung via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)
f/6.3, ISO 400, 1/125 s, 600mm: a European robin in Brackley (NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR). Photo: Julian Herzog via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0 (resized)f/7.1, ISO 100, 1/60 s, 450mm: a red deer hind in Richmond Park (NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR). Photo: Julian Herzog via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0 (resized)
f/1.4, ISO 64, 1/125 s, 50mm: autumn maple leaves at f/1.4 (NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.4). Photo: Henry Söderlund via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 (resized)f/2.8, ISO 64, 1/2000 s, 44mm: the CN Tower through a ship's rigging (Tamron 35-150mm F/2-2.8 Di III VXD). Photo: Erik Drost via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0 (resized)
Nikon: Launched at $3,999.95 in 2023 (US SRP, body only).
Verdict
Who it's for: wildlife, sports, wedding and hybrid shooters who want Z 9 speed, 45.7MP and internal RAW video without a built-in vertical grip.
Look elsewhere if you mostly shoot landscapes and want a lighter body: our Nikon Z6 III review covers a smaller 24.5MP option, and the Z 8 vs Z6III comparison sets them side by side. Want the same sensor with a built-in grip? See our Nikon Z 9 review and the Z 9 vs Z 8 comparison.
Pros
45.7MP stacked sensor; no mechanical shutter needed
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