2nd camera body, z 8 or 9 and why?
- Thread starter Terry32
- Start date
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Coming from a D850 and D500 combo, which I sold within a week of each other about a month after receiving my Z9 in April of last year, it's been a long year working with only a single body in situations where I was used to having two nearly identical bodies. I ordered a Z8 at 8:12am on the announcement day, as soon as I could confirm the full specifications and feature list and received the Z8 on May 26th. The Z9 and Z8 are the perfect complement to each other, even more so than the D850 and D500.
O
Well-known member
The spare Z9 battery is 180 G, 4 Z8 batteries is around 416g if my math is correct this excludes the Z8 grip at 295G, finally the Z8 with batteries and grip is heavier than a Z9 with a second battery.
Plus you need to pack a separate/different charger.......
I am preferring the Z9 system, cards batteries compatible with my D850 gripped or rented D6 or another Z9.........
Only an opinion
O
Well-known member
Excellent, enjoy......
O
Well-known member
That's great, tools have to work and suite your needs, i hear many people are very happy with the Z8 Z9 combo.I tried using my last D850 as backup to the Z9 - love the EN-EL18 battery but switching became confusing.
Same problem with the Z6/7ii.
Apart from the battery The Z8 is so similar to the Z9 that switching is effortless ...
I like this idea. I recently tried the idea:Z9 big glass, Z8 smaller glass. Here is the issue: what combination did I use the most. The answer is the Z8. However, a one or two-time trial is not enough. The other issue I have is advancing age (mine) and the weight of the lenses I used with my D5. Do I keep my big glass or sell them to a younger shooter as I was forty years ago?
This summer I will put the double body to the test as well as the best lenses for me to use. I will have to make some decisions relative to selling off rarely used equipment. Such is life.
I carry Two Z9 with 2 spare batteries OR 2 Z8 with 4 spare batteries. All is good and light.
The charger that comes with the Z9 is already small and USB-C powered.
I am trying an alternative (and very cheap) solution for charging EN-EL15 from a 99 Whr power bank in the field -- I would really rather NOT to have to buy a grip I will not use.
The charger that comes with the Z9 is already small and USB-C powered.
I am trying an alternative (and very cheap) solution for charging EN-EL15 from a 99 Whr power bank in the field -- I would really rather NOT to have to buy a grip I will not use.
Roy
Well-known member
If the Z8 grip took EN-EL18 batteries then I get the grip ...
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If you find such a creature please post…you can charge the battery in camera with a PD brick but that doesn’t help with the used battery in your pocket unless you swap them and charge while hiking or driving to the next location…and I have no data yet on how fast the PD recharges the battery.
I just received my Z8 to go with my Z9. To me, I need a second camera as a backup but also to give me the versatility of having two lenses ready to go in the field. As a Nikon shooter who has fully transitioned to the Z system, it just made sense to upgrade having previously shot the Z7ii and Z6ii.
I too am transitioning to the Z system but not yet ready to abandon my D5 and D850 and associated glass.
The Z8 vertical grip makes the camera larger than the Z9.
SoCalRick
Well-known member
Personally, I think the Z8 vertical grip looks fairly ugly. It looks somewhat unwieldly, and I wonder about the ergonomics. For now, if I need a grip, I'm grabbing my Z9. At this point I don't see myself ever getting the Z8 grip.
I just sold my D850 this week, after keeping it around for a couple of years as mostly a security blanket/backup. I just didn't see myself ever going back to the older technology/OVF, slower frame rates, etc., even though the D850 is a stellar camera. There's no going back to that world now.
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Roy
Well-known member
A great Camera - But I'm not getting the battery grip unless one comes out that takes EN-EL16 batteries ...
sdloeffler
Member
Looking for a back up to Z9. Go with a second Z9 or go with Z8? What are those of you doing? Can get a refurbed Z9 for $500 more than a Z8.
Like the idea of a smaller body of Z8, but also like the idea of same cards and batteries of Z9.
Real first world problems…
Like the idea of a smaller body of Z8, but also like the idea of same cards and batteries of Z9.
Real first world problems…
As much of a PITA as it is to have to deal with multiple battery types I went with the Z8. Feels like I got my D850 back 
We all have different drivers for these decision. In my case a significant consideration is that the smaller body is easier to get in/out of a dry bag when paddling. All things considered now I'd trade the Z9 for another Z8 rather than vice versa.
We all have different drivers for these decision. In my case a significant consideration is that the smaller body is easier to get in/out of a dry bag when paddling. All things considered now I'd trade the Z9 for another Z8 rather than vice versa.
If the 8 and 9 had both been available originally…I woulda bought the 8…hands down. Got the 8 as mu second body and haven’t decided yet whether to keep the 9 or swap it for a second 8 for weight.
A possible consideration is whether the Z8 and Z9 will receive the same updates to bring them into parity software wise.
For example, there is now some doubt as to whether Auto-Capture will come to the Z8. Nikon may further differentiate between the two cameras.
For example, there is now some doubt as to whether Auto-Capture will come to the Z8. Nikon may further differentiate between the two cameras.
ARClark
Well-known member
I've been holding onto my D850 for essentially the same reasons (including security blanket
). The one key benefit I've found is that its AF system performs better than the Z9's in certain situations when shooting both BIF and perched birds with cluttered backgrounds. But I generally prefer the Z9 shooting experience, higher frame rates, pre-release, EVF, etc.
SoCalRick
Well-known member
The problem is, that you have to have the D850 with you and ready to use at a moments notice, if you want to take advantage of the few circumstances where it might outperform the Z9 (or Z8). The slim potential payoffs were no longer worth the hassle for me of bringing the D850 along, so it just sat at home collecting dust.I've been holding onto my D850 for essentially the same reasons (including security blanket
ARClark
Well-known member
Yes, the limited use case is a good reason to sell. It was also easier to hold onto the D850 when I was shooting the Z9 with all F mount lenses as they were interchangeable between the two cameras. Having just purchased an 800 PF and eyeing other Z lenses makes this justification less tenable. However, I may still hold onto the D850 and use it as a backup until the next iteration of the Z9 comes out, rather than replacing it with a Z8 or another Z9. The Z9 will be two years old by the end of the year, so if my patience can hold out, I may hold on to the D850 a bit longer, hoping for continued Z technology AF improvements.The problem is, that you have to have the D850 with you and ready to use at a moments notice, if you want to take advantage of the few circumstances where it might outperform the Z9 (or Z8). The slim potential payoffs were no longer worth the hassle for me of bringing the D850 along, so it just sat at home collecting dust.
Z8. Near-identical setup, smaller form factor, slightly less intimidating for people photography, less weight. I really cut my teeth in doc work using a Leica and miss the small form factor. It wasn't really up to the environments and situations I was increasingly finding myself in though.
Still waiting for the Z8 to come in, but it'll replace my Z9 for most documentary work. Really looking forward to the dual rig setup with a Z8 and Z9, knowing the Z8 can handle everything the Z9 can while one is in for service or cleaning. Knowing the setups can be nearly identical and I don't have to re-learn the settings (ie. my Z7ii). I've been close to just buying a refurbished Z9, but the smaller form factor is a big deal for me in a lot of cases.
nmerc_photos
Well-known member
for me, I will be going with 2x Z9 for two reasons:
#1 I want my backup camera to be the exact same down to the formatting, AF modes, etc.
#2 I want to share the same batteries. In the past I've used multiple systems, and it was a large annoyance for me to have to utilize multiple chargers, batteries, etc. bring too many of a drone battery, not enough of a Fuji, bring too many 360 batteries, not enough Canon
although I prefer the lighter body of the Z8, I think I will maybe eventually pick up a Z6 or Z7 variant as a lighter weight option in addition to the 2x Z9
#1 I want my backup camera to be the exact same down to the formatting, AF modes, etc.
#2 I want to share the same batteries. In the past I've used multiple systems, and it was a large annoyance for me to have to utilize multiple chargers, batteries, etc. bring too many of a drone battery, not enough of a Fuji, bring too many 360 batteries, not enough Canon
although I prefer the lighter body of the Z8, I think I will maybe eventually pick up a Z6 or Z7 variant as a lighter weight option in addition to the 2x Z9