Nikon’s Z8 mirrorless camera offers 8K60p RAW video and 20fps burst speeds #GeekLeap

Nikon has introduced the 45.7-megapixel Z8, a robust full-frame mirrorless digital camera with as much as 8K60p RAW video, 20fps RAW burst speeds and extra. It is successfully a slimmed-down model of Nikon’s Z9, and shares the latter’s stacked, backside-illuminated (BSI) sensor and full lack of a mechanical shutter. The primary factor the Z8 lacks subsequent to the Z9 is limitless video recording, but it surely’s additionally $1,500 cheaper.

Nikon is greatest recognized for pictures, however the Z8’s headline characteristic is the 8K60p N-RAW video. There’s an attention-grabbing story there, because the cinema digital camera firm RED has used its patents to cease different digital camera firms from utilizing RAW video up to now. Nonetheless, RED’s lawsuit towards Nikon was dismissed late final month, permitting Nikon to make use of N-RAW (a compressed 12-bit RAW codec developed at the side of an organization known as intoPIX) in any of its cameras. It might additionally seize 12-bit ProRes RAW video. 

Together with 8K60p, the Z8 helps 4K seize at as much as 120fps and 10-bit ProRes, H.264 and H.265 codecs. It additionally gives publicity instruments like waveforms, customizable autofocus and extra. As talked about, the smaller physique means it could’t document all video codecs for a limiteless time just like the Z9. Somewhat, you are restricted to 90 minutes for 8K30p and two hours for 4K60p with out overheating. With the stacked sensor, rolling shutter needs to be very nicely managed, similar to on the Z9.

When it comes to pictures, the Z9’s burst speeds aren’t restrained by a mechanical shutter, as a result of there is not one. As such, you’ll be able to seize 14-bit RAW+JPEG photographs at as much as 20 fps, mighty spectacular for such a high-resolution digital camera. It comes with settings designed for portrait photographers like pores and skin softening and human-friendly white steadiness. 

It gives face, eye, car and animal detection autofocus, promising AF speeds on the identical stage because the (wonderful) Z9. It might acknowledge 9 varieties of topics mechanically, together with eyes, faces, heads and higher our bodies for each animals and folks, together with autos and extra. 

The Z8’s magnesium-allow physique could also be smaller than the Z9, but it surely’s equally as dust- and weather-resistant. It is also a lot the identical by way of controls, with a beneficiant array of dials and buttons to vary settings. Battery life is nice at 700 photographs max (CIPA) and two-plus hours of 4K video taking pictures, however when you want extra, you may get the non-obligatory MB-N12 battery grip ($350). 

Different options embody 6.0 stops of in-body stabilization with appropriate lenses, which is nice however inferior to current Sony, Canon and Panasonic fashions. The digital viewfinder (EVF) has a comparatively low 3.69 million dots of decision, but in addition very low lag and a excessive 120Hz refresh fee. Sadly, the three.2-inch, 2,100K dot rear show solely tilts up and does not flip out, so the digital camera will not be appropriate for a lot of vloggers — a poor choice on Nikon’s half, in my view. 

It has one SD UHS-II and one CFexpress card slot that helps speeds as much as 1,500 MB/s required for inside 8K RAW recording. That differs from the Z9, which has two CFexpress card slots. On high of the same old USB-C charging port, it has a super-speed USB communication terminal for speedy information transfers. It additionally comes with a full-sized HDMI connector for exterior video recording and monitoring, together with 3.5mm headphone and microphone elements. 

The Nikon Z8 goes on sale on Could twenty fifth, 2023 for $4,000. That is $1,500 lower than the $5,500 Z9, $2,500 lower than the Sony A1 and $700 greater than Canon’s R5 — with far much less critical overheating points.