I recently watched a YouTube video by Matt Granger on the new Z9 4.1 firmware update and he made an observation which made me sit-up and take notice!
With the recent 4.1 upgrade adding the new & improved bird subject detection feature, he speculated that Nikon is starting to diverge the two cameras; positioning the Z9 for bird and wildlife photography, and the Z8 more for things like portraiture. For example, he points out that the Z8 has a "Skin softening" feature, which the Z9 does not. He goes on to point out that the Z9 has two CFe card slots (which he implies wildlife photographers would want to have), while the Z8 has a single CFe and an SD card slot.
What also came to mind for me (which he doesn't mention) is that in a recent, previous firmware update, Nikon gave the Z9 the "Auto-Capture" feature, but NOT the Z8.
Could it be that Nikon may leave all of us bird & nature photographers who bought a Z8 in the lurch?
What do you think, and how do you feel about this possibility?
To see Matt's comments, here's the video:
His Z9 vs. Z8 comments are between the 3:02 and 4:18 minute marks.
The Z8 to me is a stop gap model, short notice sudden launch, quick availability, hurried, sadly with some QC issues.
I feel its more like an interim model to buy time and protect Nikon customers from whats coming soon from the opposition.
Also with all this good light glass its a bit of a contradiction to expect everyone mostly consumers to swing a Z9 of the end of a 400 or 600 PF lens, so the Z8 is far better.
The ZF is showing some interesting technical tid bits not in the Z8 or Z9, a window into the future, maybe.
I think for MG the general public of photographers which is his main target audience he is doing the right thing for them, he is offering his opinion simply and reasonably, and if new buyers were asking him about the Z9 Versus the Z8 yes its fair to say they are very similar technically yet they are also different, if your not a full time Pro or into lots of long heavy video then the Z8 is a far better user friendly choice, the Z8 is a very high performing all round amazing camera absolutely usable for wild life or action as well as everything else, the Z8 is lighter smaller easier to walk around and travel with and unless you need all that extra video capacity, its a no brainier especially for the ladies who often don't like bulk size or excessive weight. Some of the ladies in our camera club recently opted for the Z8 purely because of this.
I personally feel at launch the Z8 being left close to the Z9 was possibly to keep the Z9 like interest momentum going and encourage the D850 owners to finally come across, now the Z8 has pipe lined somewhat up-scaling the Z9 a little is smart as its been knocked around on resale because of the Z8.
Has the Z8 done well in sales ??? i don't know..........
The Z9 is really due for a hardware update soon, again the Z8 to me is a stop gap model to fill the gap or vulnerability of Nikon owners yet to come across as Canon and Sony are coming out with new toys that will be next level hopefully. I anticipate Nikon will lag then catch up, but they don't want to be left to far behind this time round as mirror less is a dynamic geekish game to be playing in.
I think the ZF is a good unit and fits the bill well as the new Z6III, I am really hoping that the 45mp Z7III replacement version will be out soon.
The Z9 is great, as is the amazing Z8 and its does most of what i personally need, would i like the Z9 to be smaller lighter, yes, selling the Z9 to get a Z8 doesn't make sense as i feel the Z9 has a lot more head room for expansion.
The ZF is showing a little new features of whats to come, will some of the ibis features and other tid bits come into the Z8 Z9 who knows.
2024 i feel we may see a Z9 S or Z9 II...........
Are Z8 owners being left behind, NO, 90% of what is achieved comes from the user if they have any skill sets. I think the greatest benefits are in the glass every time.
Only an opinion
