Official Nikon Z8 Launch And Discussion Thread

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I took a quick look at the online guide on the Nikon website about viewing HLG photos.
In the NX Studio section, indicate that the colour space for that photo is BT2100 in the "Image Setting" box.
Has anyone who owns the Z8 and a monitor that natively supports that colour profile noticed if the difference is significant in RAW?
I know that for now, it would seem that the HLG format works only on JPG/HEIF formats, but maybe a suitable monitor can also show the difference on RAW.
 
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Marco74 said:
I took a quick look at the online guide on the Nikon website about viewing HLG photos.
In the NX Studio section, indicate that the colour space for that photo is BT2100 in the "Image Setting" box.
Has anyone who owns the Z8 and a monitor that natively supports that colour profile noticed if the difference is significant in RAW?
I know that for now, it would seem that the HLG format works only on JPG/HEIF formats, but maybe a suitable monitor can also show the difference on RAW.
Click to expand...
here ya go:

Z8 HLG / SDR Tone Mode RAW File comparison

Below is a BCG only video is just shot (sorry, it's just off the cuff and not my usual quality). There's been a lot of discussion about Tone Mode and if / how it affects RAW files. Yesterday, Nikon updated NX Studio for Z8 compatibility - including HLG. So, I shot a quick video as I played with...
bcgforums.com bcgforums.com
 
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I picked up my Z8 this afternoon 1 PM local time (0500 GMT) in Singapore. I then spent time at home setting my Z8 to match my Z9 settings and went out to shoot our local Malaysian Pied Fantail nesting. The parents were taking turns feeding the pair of chicks and coming around once every 10 - 15 minutes or so and spending about 20 s to 45 s feeding (this is related to my point 1 below). I was shooting at 20 fps (and only when the parent came to the nest) and although I was sure that I had set to RAW, I found out when I got home that it was in JPG (Grrr..).

Anyway, a couple of observations:
1. During the shooting I found that my Z9 gave me a "Hot Card" warning (edited) several times. I was using an Angelbird AV Pro 2.0 1TB card. I have never encountered this problem with this card on my Z9 and I have shot many more continuous shots on the Z9. I did not take any videos and so I was surprised that the message came out whilst shooting stills on the Z8. It was always in bursts of 20 fps and never prolonged for more than a few seconds.
2. When I picked up my camera from the store, the supplied EN-EL 15c battery was totally flat. This is the first time I have experienced this. In all my previous Nikon DSLR and Mirrorless camera purchases, there is always some "juice" left, probably around 10% - 30 %. My sales guy swapped that battery with another new one which was also totally flat. Hmmm...
3. I was able to get over 3500 shots with my spare EN-EL 15c battery which I had at home and which had about 70% when I inserted it into the camera. I did minimal previews of the shots taken when in the field.
4. Camera performed as expected and I got some awesome shots today even if they were in JPG.
 
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Sree said:
I picked up my Z8 this afternoon 1 PM local time (0500 GMT) in Singapore. I then spent time at home setting my Z8 to match my Z9 settings and went out to shoot our local Malaysian Pied Fantail nesting. The parents were taking turns feeding the pair of chicks and coming around once every 10 - 15 minutes or so and spending about 20 s to 45 s feeding (this is related to my point 1 below). I was shooting at 20 fps (and only when the parent came to the nest) and although I was sure that I had set to RAW, I found out when I got home that it was in JPG (Grrr..).

Anyway, a couple of observations:
1. During the shooting I found that my Z9 gave me a "Hot Card" message several times. I was using an Angelbird AV Pro 2.0 1TB card. I have never encountered this problem with this card on my Z9 and I have shot many more continuous shots on the Z9. I did not take any videos and so I was surprised that the message came out whilst shooting stills on the Z8. It was always in bursts of 20 fps and never prolonged for more than a few seconds.
2. When I picked up my camera from the store, the supplied EN-EL 15c battery was totally flat. This is the first time I have experienced this. In all my previous Nikon DSLR and Mirrorless camera purchases, there is always some "juice" left, probably around 10% - 30 %. My sales guy swapped that battery with another new one which was also totally flat. Hmmm...
3. I was able to get over 3500 shots with my spare EN-EL 15c battery which I had at home and which had about 70% when I inserted it into the camera. I did minimal previews of the shots taken when in the field.
4. Camera performed as expected and I got some awesome shots today even if they were in JPG.
Click to expand...
In your point #1.....I think you mean the Z8 gave you a hot card warning?

Have you been able to replicate this behavior?
 
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JoelKlein said:
Angelbird get hot. I had it in Florida during an air show when the Delkin black filled and overflowed to the Angelbird
Click to expand...
There are two types of Angelbird cards - one is very fast and does not overheat. The other is intended for lower volume and 4k video - both of which are less taxing on the card.

I do think the slow and large Angelbird card is okay for overflow or for long 4k video recording.
 
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EricBowles said:
There are two types of Angelbird cards - one is very fast and does not overheat. The other is intended for lower volume and 4k video - both of which are less taxing on the card.

I do think the slow and large Angelbird card is okay for overflow or for long 4k video recording.
Click to expand...

Yes the Av Pro Mk 2 is the fast one.

Mine is 4TB, which theoretically can store 93 mins of the highest codex (see below)

You get a hot card warning but the camera keeps going in most formats/codex and normal standard quality.

However setting the vid rec to 8.3k 60p HQ N-RAW N-LOG i had hot card after 10 min and shutdown due to heat after 25 min. Leave the camera for 5 mins to cool. Gave me another 15 mins. Turn camera off and wait 5 mins to cool; then off again for another 12 min and. So on….. longer cool down periods pay off

So 25+15+ 12+ and so on.

I simply do not remotely consider this real world for me — I shoot short 60p segments and much longer segments in 30p. Folk who want this should invest in a full Cine camera not a hybrid. Even though the Z9 can be shot for much longer with these settings.

I also rarely use 8.3k, 60p or HQ. 4.1k 30p STANDARD QUALITY No over sampling is plenty for me.
120p 4k for short hunting and action but again this footage is measure in 10-20 seconds not minutes or hours.
4.1k 30p is far more normal in standard quality. I would change cards and batteries during cool down.

Some comparisons between the Z8 and other hybrid cameras should actually use the same settings, formats, codex, fps and quality and then we will see how each really stand up.
 
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Butlerkid said:
In your point #1.....I think you mean the Z8 gave you a hot card warning?

Have you been able to replicate this behavior?
Click to expand...
Yes, you are right, it was a warning rather than a message (I will edit my original word).

I will probably go out this evening again ( it’s 6 AM now) and I will see if it replicates the behavior. Although the warning appeared, I was able to continue shooting. (To clarify, mine is the Mk 2 version that Andy Miller mentioned, the fast one. I also have the 512GB SX card which I use for videos and occasionally to take pictures.)
 
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Sree said:
Yes, you are right, it was a warning rather than a message (I will edit my original word).

I will probably go out this evening again and I will see if it replicates the behavior. Although the warning appeared, I was able to continue shooting.
Click to expand...
The camera is pretty quick to provide a warning, but there are tiers of warnings for both the card and the camera. If the camera is the issue, there is a setting to let it run hotter than normal so it does not shut down. You can also slow the frame rate slightly - maybe to 12-15 fps - and it will run cooler. Using 4k video is also a good option if you are running hot because of the card or because you don't really need 8k video.
 
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Slightly different topic. A lot of photographers say that they want two card slots. I have the Z6 with only one, which I’ve now had for 4 years! The reason is that they want the back up for insurance.
interesting that using the two cards together in the Z8 slows down the fps. But I guess if you’re shooting weddings, then 20 fls isn’t required. What about fast sports? I suspect those of you who shoot fast sports and need the backup will stay with the Z9?
 
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Patrick M said:
Slightly different topic. A lot of photographers say that they want two card slots. I have the Z6 with only one, which I’ve now had for 4 years! The reason is that they want the back up for insurance.
interesting that using the two cards together in the Z8 slows down the fps. But I guess if you’re shooting weddings, then 20 fls isn’t required. What about fast sports? I suspect those of you who shoot fast sports and need the backup will stay with the Z9?
Click to expand...
Yup, that tracks IMO. The thing is, in my opinion, the only people who absolutely MUST have a backup are some of those who make a living with their camera. If you're making a living with it, I kinda feel like that difference in price between a Z8 and a Z9 shouldn't prove a major obstacle.
 
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Sibling meet up

First impressions - battery was totally flat which someone else mentioned - really nice in the hand similar size and heft to a D850 - it's nice to have cameras with similar controls as always had some stunned moments when I shot with the Z711 after the Z9

Of course its a Canadian Zed 8 not a Zee 8 and so will likely be humble and apologetic even if I make the mistake.....:)



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