Agile Content Recorder
With the Nikon Z8, it is hard to miss a shot
There is a sense of familiarity when using the Nikon Z series mirrorless digital camera with many of the buttons similar to the DSLR range, yet it is radically redesigned from the inside. The Nikon Z8 takes another step away from the legacy when it removes the mechanical shutter completely. The Nikon Z 8 has the heart of a video camera but retains the body of a still camera.
Despite being a completely digital camera, the Nikon Z8 is very nimble in performance. The live viewfinder offers zero blackout shooting experience when capturing stills, which feels unnatural for a conventional photographer who is so used to getting the snapping response from the shutter that acknowledges the successful capture of an image.
The focus ring on the lens offers sensitive adjustment while the viewfinder is sharp enough to let the user visually determine the focus. I like the ability to configure the numerous buttons on the Nikon Z8, like setting the L-Fn shortcut button on the lens to trigger a digital zoom preview.
With the Nikon Z8, there is practically no excuse not to capture the right moment. Besides offering pre-release capture, it can also shoot at an astounding 120 frames per second. Combining thousands of frames for the best shot becomes a new challenge instead of taking the best shot. For my shooting style, I find the 30 FPS setting more than adequate, and it also lets you capture at the full 45.7MP resolution while shooting at 120 FPS limits to 11MP image size.
Videographers should be elated with the professional features like 12-bit N-RAW and ProRes RAW, 10-bit Apple ProRes 422 HQ and 8-bit H.265 SRD in-camera recording, capturing in 4K high-definition oversampled from 8K. The Nikon Z 8 comes with two USB terminals so that users can get power charging and data communication at the same time without worrying about disconnections.
Battery life remains a challenge for mirrorless as it is hard to match the DSLR, so getting extra batteries is a must to ensure your shooting does not get interrupted. The good news is that if you are an existing Nikon DSLR owner using the EN‑EL15 battery series, they also work with the Nikon Z8.
Rating: 4.5
We Say: With the Nikon Z8, the imaging community is one step closer to abandoning the DSLR format.
S$5,999 (body only)
www.nikon.com.sg
Technical Specifications
Image Processor EXPEED 7
Image Sensor 45.7MP CMOS
Effective ISO 64 – 25,600
Continuous Shooting 120fps, 20fps at full resolution
Max Shutter Speed 1/32,000 sec
Movie Up to 8K UHD 30p
Recording Media CFexpress (Type B) or XQD Card Slot, SD Card Slot (XQD, SD, SDHC, SDXC)
Dimensions 144 x 118.5 x 83 mm
Weight 910g (includes battery and memory cards)
