The Nikon Z7 II was first introduced on October 13, 2020 as a brand new flagship 35mm full-frame mirrorless digital camera. Quick ahead practically three years and the brand new Nikon Z8 has arrived, which sits simply above the Z7 II within the Nikon pecking order.
Now that we all know all the pieces concerning the Z8 and Z7 II cameras, it is clear that they really various similarities on the subject of their core specs and options, so which one do you have to decide?
We’re bringing you this in-depth Nikon Z8 vs Nikon Z7 II head-to-head comparability that will help you select between these two full-frame mirrorless cameras.
You may as well learn our detailed Nikon Z7 II evaluation to search out out precisely what we consider it.
Sensor
Each the Nikon Z8 and Nikon Z7 II provide the identical variety of megapixels, 45.7 to be exact, however the kind of sensor that they use is totally different.
The brand new Z8 makes use of precisely the identical 45.7 megapixel stacked BSI CMOS picture sensor because the flagship Z9, whereas the Z9 II doesn’t use a stacked sensor.
A stacked sensor improves the picture high quality with greater pixel numbers in comparison with a standard CMOS sensor, will increase the imaging pace for sooner burst capturing, and improves the low-light-imaging functionality.
Processor
The brand new Z8 makes use of Nikon’s strongest EXPEED 7 processor, identical to the flagship Z9.
The Z7 II makes use of not one, however two EXPEED 6 processors, one of many largest upgrades in comparison with the unique Z7.
Regardless of having two processors, although, the cutting-edge EXPEED 7 processor makes the Z8 even sooner and extra succesful than the Z7 II, supporting 8K video, sooner burst charges and a bigger buffer, amongst different benefits.
ISO Vary
The native ISO vary of each the Nikon Z8 and the Z7 II is 64 to 25,600, which might be expanded right down to ISO 32 and as much as 102,400 on every digital camera.
Video Recording
The brand new Z8 is the second ever Nikon digital camera to supply 8K recording – UHD 8K 60p/30p/24p video might be recorded with no crop – following the lead of the flagship Z9.
When you’re primarily taken with 4K UHD, the Z8 presents quite a lot of body charges as much as 120p, once more utilizing the whole thing of the body with no crop issue.
Inside recording with 10-bit colour and 4:2:2 sampling is supported by way of the ProRes 422 HQ and H.265 codecs.
The Z8 can file 8K/30p for 90 minutes and 4K/60p for over 2 hours with out overheating.
The Z7 II helps as much as to 4K/60p recording, up from 4K/30p on the unique mannequin, with a slight 1.08x crop utilized.
Sadly, it is nonetheless solely 8-bit inner, with
10-bit colour solely accessible to an exterior recorder over HDMI.
Uncooked video might be enabled by way of a firmware replace, however it is just accessible as a paid service (dubbed the RAW Video Output Replace).
Burst Capturing
The continual capturing functionality is one space the place the Nikon Z8 has a really clear benefit over its older sibling.
The Z8 presents 120fps burst capturing – sure, 120fps – however solely at 11 megapixel decision.
When you select to shoot full-resolution 45 megapixel JPEGs, the speed drops to a nonetheless spectacular 30fps, after which down once more to 20fps for full-resolution 45 megapixel Uncooked recordsdata.
In contrast, the Z7 II solely achieves 10fps at its quickest setting within the Steady H (prolonged) burst capturing mode (steady AF however with publicity locked on the first body).
Autofocus
The brand new Z8 has precisely the identical 493-point Part-detect AF system because the Z7 II, which incorporates 405 auto-area AF factors with 100% body protection, so each cameras provide the identical snappy efficiency, having the ability to concentrate on all kinds of topics with the minimal of fuss.
The Z7 II can focus all the way in which right down to -4EV when paired with an f/2 lens within the particular Low Gentle AF mode. Much more impressively, the Nikon Z8 can focus in gentle ranges as little as -9EV when used within the Starlight mode.
AI-powered topic monitoring on the Z8 works for people, canines, cats and birds, the latter even in flight. plus autos, together with planes, trains, bicycles, motorbikes and plane, while the Z7 II solely recognises people, canines and cats.
Physique and Design
The Z8 is considerably bigger than the Z7 II which now sits beneath it within the vary, and at 910g it weighs much more too – virtually 300g in whole.
It is a larger, heavier digital camera than the Z7II with extra exterior controls that extra intently resembles the flagship Z9, simply with out the built-in vertical grip.
The Z8 additionally presents one thing that no different Nikon digital camera presently has, particularly not one however two USB terminals.
There’s the standard USB-C charging terminal plus a brand new super-speed USB communication terminal which makes the Z8 the primary Nikon digital camera to function USB-C to ethernet connectivity by way of an adapter (not equipped).
Viewfinder
The Z8 and Z7 II share precisely the identical 3.6m-dot digital viewfinder, which presents 100% horizontal and vertical protection, 0.80x magnification and 21mm eyepoint.
The important thing distinction between them is that the Z8’s EVF refreshes at 120fps, whereas the Z7 II is restricted to 60fps.
So trying by means of the viewfinder of each cameras will provide virtually, however not fairly, the identical expertise.
LCD Display
The Z7 II has a 3.2-inch touchscreen LCD on the rear that may be usefully tilted by means of 170 levels, with 2.1-million dot decision.
The Z8 has a reasonably extra advanced four-axis vertically and horizontally tilting display that is the identical dimension and backbone because the one on the Z7 II.
While not fairly as versatile as a completely articulating, vari-angle LCD display, each screens work very properly for each portrait or landscape-orientation capturing.
You may tilt it upwards to face you in both mode, while nonetheless being centrally situated which make it simpler to compose with than a display that flips out to the aspect.
Reminiscence Playing cards
Each cameras have one UHS-II SD card slot and one ultra-high pace CFexpress Kind B slot to raised help their superior video and burst capturing modes.
Battery Life
Each the older Z7 II and the brand new Z8 use the most recent Nikon battery, referred to as the EN-EL 15C.
This enables both digital camera to be powered by USB while you might be utilizing it, which is very helpful for timelapse pictures or video and for journey pictures when carrying a strong powerbank.
It gives a CIPA-approved lifespan of 310 stills or 85 minutes of video when utilizing the EVF.
Word that the Z7 II and Z8 can even use the older EN-EL 15B variant, however as you’d count on, you will not get USB charging then.
Battery Grip
Optionally available battery grip can be found for each cameras, full with vertical controls and the flexibility to hot-swap batteries with out dropping energy, permitting you to emulate the scale and really feel of the flagship Z9 dual-grip digital camera.
Worth
The Z7 II was priced at £2,999 / $2,995 physique solely when it was launched two years in the past, and it nonetheless prices that a lot even in the present day.
The brand new Z8 is reasonably aggressively priced at £3,999 / $3,999 physique solely, neatly splitting the distinction between the Z7 II and the Z9.
Conclusion
The brand new Z8 seamlessly slots into the Nikon vary between the cheaper, smaller Z7 II and the dearer, bigger Z9. It presents virtually all the efficiency of the Z9 in an analogous, extra standard form-factor to the Z7 II.
So what do you assume? Would you select the brand new Nikon Z8 or the Nikon Z7 II, and why? Depart a remark beneath!
