
The Nikon Z8 Mirrorless Camera incorporates the same stacked CMOS sensor featuring 45.7 effective megapixels as the Z 9. This enables incredibly fast scanning speeds making it possible to minimize rolling-shutter distortion while eliminating the need for a mechanical shutter. Nikon’s most advanced image-processing engine, EXPEED 7, processes a vast amount of data and enables next-generation features like the Real-Live Viewfinder, powerful AF, 120fps Pre-Release Capture, High Efficiency RAW, in-camera 8.3K/60p N-RAW, 4K UHD/120p, and more.
Nikon Z8 brings groundbreaking subject detection and AF performance. It's powerful AF algorithm automatically detects and tracks nine subject types — people (eye, face, head, upper body), dogs, cats, birds, cars, motorcycles, bicycles, trains, and planes. The detection performance in dimly lit situations, such as indoors and at sunsets, has also been enhanced.
The powerful EXPEED 7 engine allows the Z 8 to detect faces even as small as 3% of the frame’s long edge. This is very useful for wide-angle portraiture and it also allows videographers to capture a person approaching from a distance, keeping the AF on them as they run toward the camera from a starting point.
The Z 8 enables extended recording up to 125 min. in 4K UHD/60p and up to 90 min. in 8K UHD/30p without overheating. With its smaller and lighter body than the Z 9, it is suitable for demanding all-day weddings and long, fly-on-the-wall documentaries.
Two card slots, gives you a choice according to your shooting needs. One slot takes industry-leading CFexpress Type B cards or XQD memory cards. While the second slot takes the more widely available SD (UHS-II) cards, which have a great balance of writing speed and cost.
The Z 8 incorporates the same stacked CMOS sensor featuring 45.7 effective megapixels as the Z 9. Among the world’s fastest scanning speeds makes it possible to minimize rolling-shutter distortion while eliminating the need for a mechanical shutter.
The Z 8 is equipped with Nikon’s most advanced image-processing engine, EXPEED 7. It processes a vast amount of data and enables next-generation features like the Real-Live Viewfinder, powerful AF, 120fps Pre-Release Capture, High Efficiency RAW, in-camera 8.3K/60p N-RAW, 4K UHD/120p, and more.
The powerful AF algorithm automatically detects and tracks nine subject types — people (eye, face, head, upper body), dogs, cats, birds, cars, motorcycles, bicycles, trains, and planes. The detection performance in dimly lit situations, such as indoors and at sunsets, has also been enhanced. Together with fast AF calculation and constant, rapid communication between the camera body and the NIKKOR Z lenses, the Z 8 offers high AF performance in a variety of shooting scenes.
The powerful EXPEED 7 engine allows the Z 8 to detect faces even as small as 3% of the frame’s long edge. This is very useful for wedding scenes when you want to shoot the couple in an expansive landscape and keep them in sharp focus. The function also allows videographers to capture a person approaching from a distance, keeping the AF on them as they run toward the camera from a starting point.
The Z 8 has two card slots, which give you a choice according to your shooting needs. One slot takes industry-leading CFexpress Type B cards, excellent for fast reading/writing of heavy stills or video data. This slot also accepts XQD memory cards. The second slot takes the more widely available SD (UHS-II) cards, which have a great balance of writing speed and cost.
The Z 8 enables extended recording up to 125 min. in 4K UHD/60p and up to 90 min. in 8K UHD/30p without overheating. With its smaller and lighter body than the Z 9, it is suitable for demanding all-day weddings and long, fly-on-the-wall documentaries.
*1H.265 8-bit (MOV), [Extended oversampling]: [OFF], [Auto temperature cutout]: [Standard], at 25°C/77°F, using a Nikon MC-CF660G memory card and external power source.
*2H.265 8-bit (MOV), [Auto temperature cutout]: [High], at 25°C/77°F, using a Nikon MC-CF660G memory card and external power source.
Landscape/cityscape photographers can now take full advantage of capturing the rich tones of sunset and high luminance of city illumination by shooting in HEIF (High Efficiency Image File). The HEIF format can retain rich tonal gradation with HLG gamma in 10-bit. You can also get an idea of how the HEIF images that you shoot will look on an HDR (HLG)-compatible monitor with the Z 8’s 3000cd/m2 compatible EVF and 900cd/m2 high-luminance image monitor on location. It is also possible to create 8K UHD HLG time-lapse videos in-camera. You can enjoy viewing the HEIF images and footage by connecting the Z 8 to an HDR (HLG)-compatible monitor or television via an HDMI 2.1 cable.
With the Z 8’s Hi-Res Zoom, you can enjoy an extra reach of up to 2× zoom during 4K UHD and Full HD video recording with the touch of a button, even when using prime lenses. Unlike an ordinary digital zoom, it preserves high resolution when zooming in, as it utilizes up to 8K resolution in real time. You can also select a zooming speed from three options.
* Available in 10-bit ProRes 422 HQ or H.265 4K UHD/30p/25p/24p, and 8-bit H.265/H.264 Full HD with FX format in all frame rates. AF-area mode is fixed at wide-area AF (L), and the focus point will not be indicated.
A constant, seamless connection to your subject through the viewfinder is key to capturing decisive moments you would otherwise have missed. The Z 8’s Real-Live Viewfinder prevents blackout or repeats of certain frames, even during intermittent continuous shooting, ensuring you see every single moment. A 120-fps refresh rate can be selected when you want to follow fast-moving subjects even more smoothly.
The Z 8 records pristine 12-bit ProRes RAW HQ, Nikon’s proprietary N-RAW video, or 10-bit ProRes 422 HQ internally — no external device required. Full HD proxy files are simultaneously created in-camera when shooting in ProRes RAW and N-RAW, which makes editing the footage a smoother process. Furthermore, you can shoot in N-Log for any of the 12-bit and 10-bit in-camera codecs to get more control over the look of your final footage.
Nikon’s groundbreaking N-RAW* video format packs all the depth and detail of 12-bit RAW into a file that is half the size of ProRes RAW HQ files. You can work with 8.3K/60p, 5.4K/60p (DX format), 4.1K/120p, or 4K UHD/120p (2.3x crop) footage in compatible editing software to create 8K or 4K video outputs in both DCI and UHD formats. Furthermore, 8K footage gives you the freedom to crop, zoom, and track in post, while still being able to output your finished video in 4K.
* Compatible with Blackmagic Design DaVinci Resolve ver.17.4.6 or later, and Grass Valley EDIUS X ver.10.32 or later.
The Z 8 lets you record 4.1K/60p in 12-bit ProRes RAW HQ, also in-camera. ProRes RAW HQ is a go-to codec for professionals, so it’s practical to use when you are editing videos with footage taken by multiple different cameras and recorders which support the format. You can take advantage of the flexibility in post, including for green-screen chroma key compositing and other digital effects.
The Z 8 lets you shoot in 10-bit video files that pack rich depth and detail but are easy to grade and edit on your laptop on the go. ProRes 422 HQ, regarded as an industry standard, is a video format that is compatible with a wide variety of editing software. You can shoot up to 4K UHD/60p and Full HD/120p in 4:2:2 color sampling with ALL-I intraframe compression to achieve high image quality. You also have the option to shoot in H.265, which supports up to 4K UHD/120p without cropping.
You can select the tone mode when recording video from SDR, N-Log, and HLG. Nikon’s original N-Log utilizes extensive color depth and 12-stop 1,300% dynamic range to record rich tones in both the highlights and shadows. You can also take advantage of Nikon’s 3D LUT*2 to help speed up your grading in post.
*1 N-Log is not supported in 8-bit.
*2 Can be downloaded from the Nikon website
Sharpness matters, especially on larger monitors. With the Z 8, you can record high-definition 4K UHD/60p, 50p*1 30p, 25p, and 24p oversampled*2 from 8K in 10-bit and 8-bit. Combining this with high-resolution NIKKOR Z lenses creates overwhelmingly immersive 4K videos.
*1 Oversampling expansion is available when the FX-based video format is selected.
*2 For 60p and 50p, [ON] must be selected for [Extended oversampling].
The Z 8 lets you record high-quality audio in 24-bit/48 kHz linear PCM* when shooting video. With uncompressed linear audio, you can record sound clearly with a wider dynamic range.
*H.264 only supports 16-bit AAC 48kHz
The Z 8 is designed to let you go further and faster with your creativity. With the first-rate performance and functionality of the Z 9 condensed into a well-balanced, compact body, this is an agile camera allowing for a more flexible shooting experience and more space in your camera bag. With less weight yet assuring durability, you can tackle even the toughest mountain climbs, lengthy bird shoots, or demanding all-day weddings. The sturdy grip and the robust, well-balanced body are engineered to be comfortable in your hands with a wide range of NIKKOR Z lenses, from ultrawide-angle to super-telephoto, making the camera more stable in various different still and video shooting conditions.
The Z 8’s 4-axis horizontally and vertically tilting image monitor gives you the confidence to shoot from more perspectives that would be otherwise difficult, letting you try new, creative camera angles intuitively — whether it’s still or video shooting.
The compact yet well-balanced body of the Z 8 gives you the confidence and freedom to shoot video, as well as stills, handheld. It supports not only in-camera VR but also Synchro VR, a function in which in-camera VR and the VR of compatible NIKKOR Z lenses*1 work together to enhance the stabilization, giving you a VR effect equivalent to a shutter speed of 6.0 stops*2 faster. In addition, you can apply the powerful electronic VR*3 to facilitate recording while walking. It also helps correct trapezoid distortion, something usually common with wide-angle lenses.
*1 As of May 10, 2023, the following lenses are compatible with Synchro VR: NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S, NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S, NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S, NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S, NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S, NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S, and NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S.
*2 Based on CIPA Standards. When using the telephoto end of the NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S with NORMAL mode.
*3 With electronic VR, the angle of view becomes equivalent to 1.25× the focal length of the lens in use. Not compatible with 120p/100p, 8K UHD, or RAW.
A perching kingfisher suddenly takes flight — some action happens too quickly to react in time. The Z 8’s Pre-Release Capture lets you nail such a fleeting millisecond that you would have missed before. Simply hold the shutter-release button half down to start buffering, and the camera captures images up to 1 second before — as well as up to 4 seconds after — the button is fully pressed. At 60 fps (C60), the image area is in DX format, which brings your subject larger into the frame with a 1.5× crop factor. In combination with the Z 8’s powerful AF performance, Pre-Release Capture* helps turn fast-moving instants into stunning tack-sharp images.
* JPEG normal image quality only; selectable between 30 fps, 60 fps, and 120 fps. At 60 fps, the image area becomes approx. 19 megapixels only in DX format; at 120fps, approx. 11 megapixels only in FX format. Use of a recommended card is advised.
The Z 8 allows you to shoot in more locations. Its body and the EN-EL15c Rechargeable Li-ion Batteries are designed to work in freezing conditions down to -10°C/14°F. The front cover of the Z 8’s body is made from magnesium alloy to ensure mount rigidity when using super-telephoto lenses, to secure the image sensor with high precision, and to ensure heat dissipation. The back and top covers are made of a Sereebo® P series material, a new material from Teijin, a world-renowned Japanese material manufacturer. By using the lightweight Sereebo® P series material, the Z 8 realizes as strong a body as with magnesium alloy, providing high impact resistance for the entire camera. With its excellent dust- and drip-resistant performance achieved with thorough sealing applied across the entire system, including lenses, the Z 8 can withstand a wide range of extreme conditions.
The Z 8 features thorough sensor protection to minimize the risk of foreign matter collecting on the image sensor. The camera incorporates the same cutting-edge double-coating process as the Z 9 on the optical filter in front of its image sensor. The first layer is an electro-conductive coating that repels dust, and the second is a fluorine coating that makes it easy to wipe off more stubborn dust. Furthermore, the camera is equipped with a sensor shield that is closed when the camera is turned off, which blocks out dust, and accidental touches when you change lenses. When the camera is turned off, the in-camera VR lock mechanism holds the sensor securely in place. This prevents it from being damaged if the Z 8 is accidentally jolted or shaken during transportation.
The optional dust- and drip-resistant MB-N12 Power Battery Pack increases the battery life by approx. 1.8 times compared to the included EN-EL15c batteries. The MB-N12 enables hot swapping, so you can continue shooting when one of the two batteries is removed. In addition, because the Z 8 offers two USB terminals — one for communication and the other for power charge/supply — this enables power charge/supply via a mobile battery or V-mount battery while the camera is communicating with other devices.
Lens mount | Nikon Z mount |
---|---|
Compatible lenses | Z mount NIKKOR lenses F mount NIKKOR lenses (additional mount adapter required; restrictions may apply) |
Effective pixels | 45.7 million |
Image sensor | 35.9 × 23.9 mm CMOS sensor (full-frame/FX-format) |
Total pixels | 52.37 million |
File format | NEF (RAW): 14 bit with lossless compression, high efficiency or high efficiency JPEG (JPEG-Baseline compliant) or HEIF: fine (approx. 1:4), normal (approx. 1:8), or basic (approx. 1:16) compression; size-priority and optimal-quality compression available NEF (RAW)+JPEG or NEF (RAW)+HEIF: Single photograph recorded in both NEF (RAW) and JPEG or HEIF formats |
Picture Control System | Auto, Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait, Landscape, Flat, 20 Creative Picture Controls; selected Picture Control can be modified; storage for custom Picture Controls; Standard, Monochrome, and Flat are available for HLG tone mode during still photography |
Storage media | CFexpress (Type B), XQD, SD (Secure Digital), and UHS‑II compliant SDHC and SDXC memory cards |
Dual card slots | Either card can be used for overflow or backup storage, for separate storage of NEF (RAW) and JPEG or HEIF pictures, or for storage of duplicate JPEG or HEIF pictures at different sizes and image qualities; pictures can be copied between cards |
Viewfinder | 1.27-cm/0.5-in. approx. 3690k-dot (Quad VGA) OLED electronic viewfinder with color balance, auto and 18-level manual brightness controls, and support for high frame rates |
Viewfinder frame coverage | Approx. 100% horizontal and 100% vertical |
Viewfinder magnification | Approx. 0.8× (50 mm lens at infinity, −1.0 m−1) |
Monitor | 8-cm/3.2-in., approx. 2100k-dot vertically and horizontally tilting TFT touch-sensitive LCD with 170° viewing angle, approx. 100% frame coverage, and color balance and 15-level manual brightness controls |
Shutter type | Electronic shutter with shutter sound and sensor shield |
Shutter speed | 1/32000 to 30 s in steps of 1/3, 1/2 and 1 EV, extendable to 900 s in mode M, bulb, time |
Release modes | Single frame, continuous L, continuous H, High-Speed Frame Capture+ with Pre-Release Capture, self-timer |
Approximate frame Advance Rate | Continuous L: 1 to 10 fps Continuous H: 10 to 20 fps High-Speed Frame Capture+ (C30): 30 fps High-Speed Frame Capture+ (C60): 60 fps High-Speed Frame Capture+ (C120): 120 fps |
Exposure metering system | TTL metering using camera image sensor |
Exposure metering modes | Matrix metering Center-weighted metering: Weight of 75% given to 12- or 8-mm circle in center of frame or weighting can be based on average of entire frame Spot metering: Meters circle with a diameter of approx. 4-mm centered on selected focus point Highlight-weighted metering |
Metering range (ISO 100, f/2.0 lens, 20°C/68°F) | -3 to +17 EV |
ISO sensitivity (Recommended Exposure Index) | ISO 64 to 25600 in steps of 1/3 or 1 EV; can also be set to approx. 0.3, 0.7 or 1 EV (ISO 32 equi valent) below ISO 64 or to approx. 0.3, 0.7, 1 or 2 EV (ISO 102400 equivalent) above ISO 25600; auto ISO sensitivity control available; ISO 400 to 25600 for HLG tone mode |
Active D-Lighting | Can be selected from auto, extra high 2, extra high 1, high, normal, low, or off |
Autofocus type | Hybrid phase-detection/contrast AF with AF assist |
AF detection range (in photo mode, AF-S, ISO 100, f/1.2 lens, 20°C/68°F) | -7 to +19 EV (-9 to +19 EV with starlight view) |
Focus points (in photo mode, FX format, single-point AF) | 493 points |
AF-area modes | Pinpoint AF, single-point AF, dynamic-area AF (S, M and L), wide-area AF (S, L, C1 and C2), auto-area AF, 3D-tracking and subject-tracking AF (available in video mode only); Pinpoint AF, dynamic-area AF and 3D-tracking are available in photo mode only |
Camera on-board VR | 5-axis image sensor shift |
Lens on-board VR | Lens shift (available with VR lenses) |
Flash control | TTL: i-TTL flash control; i-TTL balanced fill-flash is used with matrix, center-weighted, and highlight-weighted metering, standard i-TTL fill-flash with spot metering |
Flash modes | Front-curtain sync, slow sync, rear-curtain sync, red-eye reduction, red-eye reduction with slow sync, off |
Nikon Creative | i-TTL flash control, radio-controlled Advanced Wireless |
Lighting System (CLS) | Lighting, optical Advanced Wireless Lighting, modeling illumination, FV lock, color information communication, auto FP high-speed sync, unified flash control |
White balance | Auto (3 types), natural light auto, direct sunlight, cloudy, shade, incandescent, fluorescent (3 types), flash, choose color temperature (2500 to 10000 K), preset manual (up to 6 values can be stored), all with fine-tuning |
Bracketing types | Exposure and/or flash, white balance, and ADL |
Video metering modes | Matrix, center-weighted or highlight-weighted |
Frame size (pixels) and frame rate | 7680 × 4320 (8K UHD); 30p (progressive), 25p, 24p 1920 × 1080; 120p, 100p, 60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p |
Frame size (pixels) and frame rate (RAW video) | 8256 × 4644; 60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p 5392 × 3032; 60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p 4128 × 2322; 120p, 100p, 60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p 3840 × 2160; 120p, 100p, 60p, 50p |
File format | NEV, MOV, MP4 |
Video compression | N-RAW (12 bit), Apple ProRes RAW HQ (12 bit), Apple ProRes 422 HQ (10 bit), H.265/HEVC (8/10 bit), H.264/AVC (8 bit) |
Audio recording format | Linear PCM (48 KHz, 24 bit, for videos recorded in NEV or MOV format) or AAC (48 KHz, 16 bit, for videos recorded in MP4 format) |
Audio recording device | Built-in stereo or external microphone with attenuator option; sensitivity adjustable |
Video exposure compensation | -3 to +3 EV in steps of 1/3 or 1/2 EV |
Video ISO sensitivity (Recommended Exposure Index) | M mode: ISO 64 to 25600 in steps of 1/6, 1/3 or 1 EV; with additional options available equivalent to approx. 0.3, 0.7, 1 or 2 EV (ISO 102400 equivalent) above ISO 25600; auto ISO sensitivity control (ISO 64 to Hi 2.0) available with selectable upper limit P, S or A mode: Auto ISO sensitivity control (ISO 64 to Hi 2.0) with selectable upper limit; ISO 400 to 25600 for HLG tone mode |
Other video options | Time-lapse video recording, electronic vibration reduction, time codes, N-Log and HDR (HLG) video, wave-form display, red REC frame indicator, video recording display zoom (50%, 100%, and 200%), extended shutter speeds (M mode), and dual-format (proxy video) recording for RAW video; extended oversampling available; option to view video recording info available via i menu; Hi-Res Zoom |
USB | Type-C USB connectors USB data connector (SuperSpeed USB) ×1 USB Power Delivery connector ×1 |
HDMI output | Type-A HDMI connector |
Audio input | Stereo mini-pin jack (3.5-mm diameter; plug-in power supported) |
Audio output | Stereo mini-pin jack (3.5-mm diameter) |
Ten-pin remote terminal | Built-in; can be used with MC-30A/MC-36A remote cords and other optional accessories |
Wi-Fi | Available |
Bluetooth | Available |
Battery | One EN-EL15c Rechargeable Li-ion Battery; EN‑EL15b and EN‑EL15a batteries can be used in place of the EN‑EL15c; Note that fewer pictures can be taken on a single charge than with the EN‑EL15c and that EH‑7P Charging AC Adapter and EH‑8P AC Adapter can be used to charge EN‑EL15c and EN‑EL15b batteries only |
Battery pack | MB-N12 Power Battery Pack (available separately) taking two EN-EL15c batteries; EN-EL15b and EN-EL15a batteries can be used in place of the EN-EL15c |
AC adapter (available separately) | EH‑7P Charging AC Adapter EH‑8P AC Adapter; requires UC‑E25 USB Cable EH‑5d, EH‑5c, and EH‑5b AC Adapters; requires EP‑5B Power Connector |
Tripod socket | 0.635 cm; 1/4 in., ISO 1222 |
Dimensions (W × H × D) | Approx. 144 × 118.5 × 83 mm/5.7 × 4.7 × 3.3 in. |
Weight | Approx. 910 g/2 lb 0.1 oz with battery and memory card but without body cap and accessory shoe cover; approx. 820 g/1 lb 13 oz (camera body only) |
Operating environment | Temperature: -10 to 40°C/+14 to 104°F; Humidity: 85% or less (no condensation) |
The Z 8 incorporates the same stacked CMOS sensor featuring 45.7 effective megapixels as the Z 9. Among the world’s fastest scanning speeds makes it possible to minimize rolling-shutter distortion while eliminating the need for a mechanical shutter.
The Z 8 is equipped with Nikon’s most advanced image-processing engine, EXPEED 7. It processes a vast amount of data and enables next-generation features like the Real-Live Viewfinder, powerful AF, 120fps Pre-Release Capture, High Efficiency RAW, in-camera 8.3K/60p N-RAW, 4K UHD/120p, and more.
The powerful AF algorithm automatically detects and tracks nine subject types — people (eye, face, head, upper body), dogs, cats, birds, cars, motorcycles, bicycles, trains, and planes. The detection performance in dimly lit situations, such as indoors and at sunsets, has also been enhanced. Together with fast AF calculation and constant, rapid communication between the camera body and the NIKKOR Z lenses, the Z 8 offers high AF performance in a variety of shooting scenes.
The powerful EXPEED 7 engine allows the Z 8 to detect faces even as small as 3% of the frame’s long edge. This is very useful for wedding scenes when you want to shoot the couple in an expansive landscape and keep them in sharp focus. The function also allows videographers to capture a person approaching from a distance, keeping the AF on them as they run toward the camera from a starting point.
The Z 8 has two card slots, which give you a choice according to your shooting needs. One slot takes industry-leading CFexpress Type B cards, excellent for fast reading/writing of heavy stills or video data. This slot also accepts XQD memory cards. The second slot takes the more widely available SD (UHS-II) cards, which have a great balance of writing speed and cost.
The Z 8 enables extended recording up to 125 min. in 4K UHD/60p and up to 90 min. in 8K UHD/30p without overheating. With its smaller and lighter body than the Z 9, it is suitable for demanding all-day weddings and long, fly-on-the-wall documentaries.
*1H.265 8-bit (MOV), [Extended oversampling]: [OFF], [Auto temperature cutout]: [Standard], at 25°C/77°F, using a Nikon MC-CF660G memory card and external power source.
*2H.265 8-bit (MOV), [Auto temperature cutout]: [High], at 25°C/77°F, using a Nikon MC-CF660G memory card and external power source.
Landscape/cityscape photographers can now take full advantage of capturing the rich tones of sunset and high luminance of city illumination by shooting in HEIF (High Efficiency Image File). The HEIF format can retain rich tonal gradation with HLG gamma in 10-bit. You can also get an idea of how the HEIF images that you shoot will look on an HDR (HLG)-compatible monitor with the Z 8’s 3000cd/m2 compatible EVF and 900cd/m2 high-luminance image monitor on location. It is also possible to create 8K UHD HLG time-lapse videos in-camera. You can enjoy viewing the HEIF images and footage by connecting the Z 8 to an HDR (HLG)-compatible monitor or television via an HDMI 2.1 cable.
With the Z 8’s Hi-Res Zoom, you can enjoy an extra reach of up to 2× zoom during 4K UHD and Full HD video recording with the touch of a button, even when using prime lenses. Unlike an ordinary digital zoom, it preserves high resolution when zooming in, as it utilizes up to 8K resolution in real time. You can also select a zooming speed from three options.
* Available in 10-bit ProRes 422 HQ or H.265 4K UHD/30p/25p/24p, and 8-bit H.265/H.264 Full HD with FX format in all frame rates. AF-area mode is fixed at wide-area AF (L), and the focus point will not be indicated.
A constant, seamless connection to your subject through the viewfinder is key to capturing decisive moments you would otherwise have missed. The Z 8’s Real-Live Viewfinder prevents blackout or repeats of certain frames, even during intermittent continuous shooting, ensuring you see every single moment. A 120-fps refresh rate can be selected when you want to follow fast-moving subjects even more smoothly.
The Z 8 records pristine 12-bit ProRes RAW HQ, Nikon’s proprietary N-RAW video, or 10-bit ProRes 422 HQ internally — no external device required. Full HD proxy files are simultaneously created in-camera when shooting in ProRes RAW and N-RAW, which makes editing the footage a smoother process. Furthermore, you can shoot in N-Log for any of the 12-bit and 10-bit in-camera codecs to get more control over the look of your final footage.
Nikon’s groundbreaking N-RAW* video format packs all the depth and detail of 12-bit RAW into a file that is half the size of ProRes RAW HQ files. You can work with 8.3K/60p, 5.4K/60p (DX format), 4.1K/120p, or 4K UHD/120p (2.3x crop) footage in compatible editing software to create 8K or 4K video outputs in both DCI and UHD formats. Furthermore, 8K footage gives you the freedom to crop, zoom, and track in post, while still being able to output your finished video in 4K.
* Compatible with Blackmagic Design DaVinci Resolve ver.17.4.6 or later, and Grass Valley EDIUS X ver.10.32 or later.
The Z 8 lets you record 4.1K/60p in 12-bit ProRes RAW HQ, also in-camera. ProRes RAW HQ is a go-to codec for professionals, so it’s practical to use when you are editing videos with footage taken by multiple different cameras and recorders which support the format. You can take advantage of the flexibility in post, including for green-screen chroma key compositing and other digital effects.
The Z 8 lets you shoot in 10-bit video files that pack rich depth and detail but are easy to grade and edit on your laptop on the go. ProRes 422 HQ, regarded as an industry standard, is a video format that is compatible with a wide variety of editing software. You can shoot up to 4K UHD/60p and Full HD/120p in 4:2:2 color sampling with ALL-I intraframe compression to achieve high image quality. You also have the option to shoot in H.265, which supports up to 4K UHD/120p without cropping.
You can select the tone mode when recording video from SDR, N-Log, and HLG. Nikon’s original N-Log utilizes extensive color depth and 12-stop 1,300% dynamic range to record rich tones in both the highlights and shadows. You can also take advantage of Nikon’s 3D LUT*2 to help speed up your grading in post.
*1 N-Log is not supported in 8-bit.
*2 Can be downloaded from the Nikon website
Sharpness matters, especially on larger monitors. With the Z 8, you can record high-definition 4K UHD/60p, 50p*1 30p, 25p, and 24p oversampled*2 from 8K in 10-bit and 8-bit. Combining this with high-resolution NIKKOR Z lenses creates overwhelmingly immersive 4K videos.
*1 Oversampling expansion is available when the FX-based video format is selected.
*2 For 60p and 50p, [ON] must be selected for [Extended oversampling].
The Z 8 lets you record high-quality audio in 24-bit/48 kHz linear PCM* when shooting video. With uncompressed linear audio, you can record sound clearly with a wider dynamic range.
*H.264 only supports 16-bit AAC 48kHz
The Z 8 is designed to let you go further and faster with your creativity. With the first-rate performance and functionality of the Z 9 condensed into a well-balanced, compact body, this is an agile camera allowing for a more flexible shooting experience and more space in your camera bag. With less weight yet assuring durability, you can tackle even the toughest mountain climbs, lengthy bird shoots, or demanding all-day weddings. The sturdy grip and the robust, well-balanced body are engineered to be comfortable in your hands with a wide range of NIKKOR Z lenses, from ultrawide-angle to super-telephoto, making the camera more stable in various different still and video shooting conditions.
The Z 8’s 4-axis horizontally and vertically tilting image monitor gives you the confidence to shoot from more perspectives that would be otherwise difficult, letting you try new, creative camera angles intuitively — whether it’s still or video shooting.
The compact yet well-balanced body of the Z 8 gives you the confidence and freedom to shoot video, as well as stills, handheld. It supports not only in-camera VR but also Synchro VR, a function in which in-camera VR and the VR of compatible NIKKOR Z lenses*1 work together to enhance the stabilization, giving you a VR effect equivalent to a shutter speed of 6.0 stops*2 faster. In addition, you can apply the powerful electronic VR*3 to facilitate recording while walking. It also helps correct trapezoid distortion, something usually common with wide-angle lenses.
*1 As of May 10, 2023, the following lenses are compatible with Synchro VR: NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S, NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S, NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S, NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S, NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S, NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S, and NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S.
*2 Based on CIPA Standards. When using the telephoto end of the NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S with NORMAL mode.
*3 With electronic VR, the angle of view becomes equivalent to 1.25× the focal length of the lens in use. Not compatible with 120p/100p, 8K UHD, or RAW.
A perching kingfisher suddenly takes flight — some action happens too quickly to react in time. The Z 8’s Pre-Release Capture lets you nail such a fleeting millisecond that you would have missed before. Simply hold the shutter-release button half down to start buffering, and the camera captures images up to 1 second before — as well as up to 4 seconds after — the button is fully pressed. At 60 fps (C60), the image area is in DX format, which brings your subject larger into the frame with a 1.5× crop factor. In combination with the Z 8’s powerful AF performance, Pre-Release Capture* helps turn fast-moving instants into stunning tack-sharp images.
* JPEG normal image quality only; selectable between 30 fps, 60 fps, and 120 fps. At 60 fps, the image area becomes approx. 19 megapixels only in DX format; at 120fps, approx. 11 megapixels only in FX format. Use of a recommended card is advised.
The Z 8 allows you to shoot in more locations. Its body and the EN-EL15c Rechargeable Li-ion Batteries are designed to work in freezing conditions down to -10°C/14°F. The front cover of the Z 8’s body is made from magnesium alloy to ensure mount rigidity when using super-telephoto lenses, to secure the image sensor with high precision, and to ensure heat dissipation. The back and top covers are made of a Sereebo® P series material, a new material from Teijin, a world-renowned Japanese material manufacturer. By using the lightweight Sereebo® P series material, the Z 8 realizes as strong a body as with magnesium alloy, providing high impact resistance for the entire camera. With its excellent dust- and drip-resistant performance achieved with thorough sealing applied across the entire system, including lenses, the Z 8 can withstand a wide range of extreme conditions.
The Z 8 features thorough sensor protection to minimize the risk of foreign matter collecting on the image sensor. The camera incorporates the same cutting-edge double-coating process as the Z 9 on the optical filter in front of its image sensor. The first layer is an electro-conductive coating that repels dust, and the second is a fluorine coating that makes it easy to wipe off more stubborn dust. Furthermore, the camera is equipped with a sensor shield that is closed when the camera is turned off, which blocks out dust, and accidental touches when you change lenses. When the camera is turned off, the in-camera VR lock mechanism holds the sensor securely in place. This prevents it from being damaged if the Z 8 is accidentally jolted or shaken during transportation.
The optional dust- and drip-resistant MB-N12 Power Battery Pack increases the battery life by approx. 1.8 times compared to the included EN-EL15c batteries. The MB-N12 enables hot swapping, so you can continue shooting when one of the two batteries is removed. In addition, because the Z 8 offers two USB terminals — one for communication and the other for power charge/supply — this enables power charge/supply via a mobile battery or V-mount battery while the camera is communicating with other devices.