Official Nikon Z8 Launch And Discussion Thread

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Getting ready to pre-order the Z8 through NikonUSA. Have others used the Bread pay options? Opinions? Anyone know when payments start - when ordered (checkout) or when product shipped?

went ahead and ordered, they don't charge until shipped.
I did a pre order using Bread pay. The email from them said the payment is due 30 days after Nikon confirms the order

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It's kind of confusing tho what a confirmed order means because I did received an order confirmation email.
 
Hi there
Has anybody had the chance to hold the Z8 with the grip attached ? It looks really big in Ricci’s review..
I’m shooting a gripped d500 + 500pf (which feels perfect for me) and was wondering how it compares.
I’m torn between the z8(gripped) and the z9. I’m shooting fifty/fifty wildlife and landscape.
D500 for Wildlife and z7 for landscape.
 
Hi there
Has anybody had the chance to hold the Z8 with the grip attached ? It looks really big in Ricci’s review..
I’m shooting a gripped d500 + 500pf (which feels perfect for me) and was wondering how it compares.
I’m torn between the z8(gripped) and the z9. I’m shooting fifty/fifty wildlife and landscape.
D500 for Wildlife and z7 for landscape.
If you shoot with gripped body I would suggest Z9.

I am still torn between Z9 and Z8. Lighter body is great but Z9 is just so comfortable to hold.
 
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Hi there
Has anybody had the chance to hold the Z8 with the grip attached ? It looks really big in Ricci’s review..
I’m shooting a gripped d500 + 500pf (which feels perfect for me) and was wondering how it compares.
I’m torn between the z8(gripped) and the z9. I’m shooting fifty/fifty wildlife and landscape.
D500 for Wildlife and z7 for landscape.
Nikon didn't send a grip with my test camera, but I'd recommend trying it without. It's surprisingly nice without it.
 
Nikon didn't send a grip with my test camera, but I'd recommend trying it without. It's surprisingly nice without it.
Hi Steve,

I am wondering if the smaller battery has any impact on driving large lenses af motors.

Maybe the battery life itself is impacted. I think there is a difference between output voltage between Z9 and Z8 batteries.

Would appreciate if you can share your experience 🙏🏻
 
Nikon didn't send a grip with my test camera, but I'd recommend trying it without. It's surprisingly nice without it.
Thanks Steve. I’m shooting a lot handheld and was wondering about balance without a grip.
I guess the z9 comes closest to the gripped d500, but it seems such an overkill for landscape. No other way then trying myself when it hits the shops in the UK :))
 
If you shoot with gripped body I would suggest Z9.

I am still torn between Z9 and Z8. Lighter body is great but Z9 fits so comfortable to hold.
My dilemma. I’d like to go back to a one camera body set up, which the the Z8 would fit into nicely. I’m not bothered about the aesthetics of the grip, but the overall size is a concern. The other option (the most expensive one) for me is going for z9 and keeping the z7 for landscape… or waiting (again) for the z500 🤣
 
I did a pre order using Bread pay. The email from them said the payment is due 30 days after Nikon confirms the order

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It's kind of confusing tho what a confirmed order means because I did received an order confirmation email.
The confirmation I got from Nikon: "You will not be charged until your order is ready to ship." Not too big of a problem unless Nikon has another prolonged delivery problem. Really hate paying for something that still hasn't even shipped.
 
The confirmation I got from Nikon: "You will not be charged until your order is ready to ship." Not too big of a problem unless Nikon has another prolonged delivery problem. Really hate paying for something that still hasn't even shipped.
FYI: Just got response from Bread - they start billing 30 days after Nikon acknowledges/confirms your order, NOT from when the product ships.
 
My only issue is the repeated comments wrt the MB-N12 grip.
I don't understand the comments on the grip either…if you want one then buy a Z9 and it's not an issue. And since it's (a) an ugly non ergonomic looking grip anyway and makes the Z8 bigger than the Z9…I can't see the point of buying a grip for a Z8 over getting a Z9…yeah, an 8 and grip is cheaper than a 9 but the tradeoff is you get the bigger battery and the second CFXB vice an SD card. One should always use the right tool for the job…after all you can drive screws with a hammer but a screwdriver is better…and requirement for grip or longer battery life or dual CFXB cards means the 8 isn't the right tool for your job.
 
Hi Steve,

I am wondering if the smaller battery has any impact on driving large lenses af motors.

Maybe the battery life itself is impacted. I think there is a difference between output voltage between Z9 and Z8 batteries.

Would appreciate if you can share your experience 🙏🏻
I suspect that the circuitry in the Z9 already steps the voltage down…otherwise the same processor and sensor would not perform at the same level. Most electronics will function just fine at 10.something as well as 7.something volts (or whatever the numbers are)…but lowering the voltage to the processor will (and presumably the sensor as well although I'm not sure there) lower the performance…and since the FPS and AF performance is the same between the two bodies…then basic electronics understanding says they both use the same voltage internally. What the higher voltage and 3 cells vice 2 get you in the EN-EL18 is the greater capacity it provides…and in reality the cells are in series in both batteries…they could have used a series parallel setup in the EN-EL18 but that would require 4 cells and not 3. I don't have any more information than anybody else outside of Nikon does…but I understand how electronics and batteries work so I'm fairly certain of the same internal voltage suspicion.

And speaking of delivery…I ordered mine direct from Nikon but not until about 3PM EDT because I wanted to see Steve's first video to move me from the 95% sure to 100% sure I wanted to preorder…for those of you who've got shipping confirmation are you NPS or not and has anybody not NPS with a midafternoon order time gotten delivery confirmation?
 
I don't understand the comments on the grip either…if you want one then buy a Z9 and it's not an issue. And since it's (a) an ugly non ergonomic looking grip anyway and makes the Z8 bigger than the Z9…I can't see the point of buying a grip for a Z8 over getting a Z9…yeah, an 8 and grip is cheaper than a 9 but the tradeoff is you get the bigger battery and the second CFXB vice an SD card. One should always use the right tool for the job…after all you can drive screws with a hammer but a screwdriver is better…and requirement for grip or longer battery life or dual CFXB cards means the 8 isn't the right tool for your job.
I’m split between landscape and wildlife. I hoped that a gripped Z8 would make it possible for me to use one camera body for both…which probably was unrealistic to start with. Maybe in the same way that I hoped the AF in the Z7ii would be a massive improvement over the 7.
It seems as if I stick with my z7 for landscape for now and wait until the price of z9 comes down :))
 
I’m split between landscape and wildlife. I hoped that a gripped Z8 would make it possible for me to use one camera body for both…which probably was unrealistic to start with. Maybe in the same way that I hoped the AF in the Z7ii would be a massive improvement over the 7.
It seems as if I stick with my z7 for landscape for now and wait until the price of z9 comes down :))
I'm truly curious...how is it that a Z8 is unsuitable for both landscape and wildlife...is it the battery life? Or do you like the ergo's of a gripped body for wildlife? If it's about the battery, It boggles my mind that people make such a big deal out of battery life with this camera, or any modern, pro-sumer camera or above..carry a few extra batteries. If you don't like carrying them in your pocket, get a small belt pouch and carry them there...wherever.

If you're doing a time-lapse or astro with very long exposures, you should be powering off a power bank or such anyway...far less expensive and more power storage than any Nikon batteries and you can hot swap, if necessary. Fill me in here, I'm really curious about this.
 
I'm truly curious...how is it that a Z8 is unsuitable for both landscape and wildlife...is it the battery life? Or do you like the ergo's of a gripped body for wildlife? If it's about the battery, It boggles my mind that people make such a big deal out of battery life with this camera, or any modern, pro-sumer camera or above..carry a few extra batteries. If you don't like carrying them in your pocket, get a small belt pouch and carry them there...wherever.

If you're doing a time-lapse or astro with very long exposures, you should be powering off a power bank or such anyway...far less expensive and more power storage than any Nikon batteries and you can hot swap, if necessary. Fill me in here, I'm really curious about this.
No, it’s not the battery life (that’s a bonus) and I can live with a half hearted designed grip as well. It’s purely down to ergonomics for me. Most of my wildlife pics are handheld and I really like the ‘feel’ of a gripped D500 /500PF and I don’t mind the weight that much as my locations are fairly local.
It’s different with my landscapes as day hikes are more the norm than the exception.
I was hoping the Z8 + grip would be similar to a gripped Z7 in size and weight.
 
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