The Nikon Z9 was first introduced on October 28, 2023 as a brand new flagship 35mm full-frame mirrorless digicam. Quick ahead 18 months and the brand new Nikon Z8 has arrived, which sits just under the Z9 within the Nikon pecking order.
Now that we all know all the pieces in regards to the Z8 and Z9 cameras, it is clear that they really share a variety of similarities on the subject of their core specs and options, so which one do you have to choose?
We’re bringing you this in-depth Nikon Z8 vs Nikon Z9 head-to-head comparability that will help you select between these two full-frame mirrorless cameras.
You too can learn our detailed Nikon Z9 assessment to search out out precisely what we consider it.
Sensor and Processor
Each the Nikon Z8 and Nikon Z9 use precisely the identical 45.7 megapixel stacked BSI CMOS picture sensor and EXPEED 7 processor, so they provide precisely the identical picture high quality as one another.
A stacked sensor improves the picture high quality with greater pixel numbers in comparison with a traditional CMOS sensor, will increase the imaging pace for quicker burst taking pictures, and improves the low-light-imaging functionality.
ISO Vary
The native ISO vary of each the Nikon Z8 and the Nikon Z9 is 64 to 25,600, which may be expanded right down to ISO 32 and as much as 102,400.
Video Recording
The Z9 was the primary ever Nikon digicam to supply 8K recording – UHD 8K 60p/30p/24p video may be recorded with no crop – and the brand new Z8 follows swimsuit by changing into the second Nikon digicam to help 8K.
In the event you’re primarily excited by 4K UHD, each cameras supply quite a lot of body charges as much as 120p, once more utilizing the whole thing of the body with no crop issue, and 4K UHD video oversampled from 8K is feasible when recording within the 30p/25p/24p modes for even higher sharpness and element.
Inside recording with 10-bit colour and 4:2:2 sampling is supported by way of the ProRes 422 HQ and H.265 codecs, and you’ll extract high-resolution nonetheless frames from 8K footage and save them as particular person 33 megapixel JPEG recordsdata.
There may be one key video distinction between the 2 cameras – the Z9 helps limitless recording in any mode, whereas the Z8 is proscribed to recording 8K/30p for 90 minutes and 4K/60p for over 2 hours with out overheating.
Burst Taking pictures
The Nikon Z8 And Z9 supply precisely the identical burst taking pictures charges, which fluctuate from 120fps to 20fps relying on the file format.
Each cameras supply 120fps burst taking pictures – sure, 120fps – however solely at 11 megapixel decision.
In the event 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.
Autofocus
Each the Z8 and Z9 function Nikon’s most superior auto-focusing system.
They’ve a 493-point phase-detection AF system which incorporates 405 auto-area AF factors, with 100% body protection.
Impressively the Nikon Z8 and Z9 can focus in mild ranges as little as -9EV when used within the Starlight mode.
Due to the Expeed 7 processor, each cameras gives the identical vary of deep-learning synthetic intelligence based mostly AF monitoring modes.
Topic monitoring works for people, canines, cats and birds, the latter even in flight, plus automobiles, together with planes, trains, bicycles and motorbikes.
What’s extra, if the motive force is sporting a helmet, the AF system will lock on to that, making certain that an important topic is in focus.
The brand new Z8 moderately surprisingly moreover recognises plane as a topic – both the entire physique, entrance or the cockpit.
We anticipate this new function to make it onto the Z9 by way of a firmware improve, however for now the Z8 is the one Nikon digicam to supply it.
Physique and Design
That is by far the largest distinction between the brand new Nikon Z8 and 2022’s Nikon Z9.
The Nikon Z9 takes a markedly completely different strategy to the brand new Z8 by that includes an built-in grip with duplicated vertical controls.
It carefully mimics its DSLR counterpart, the Nikon D6, in a bid to be immediately acquainted to these comparable customers who wish to change over to mirrorless.
The Z9 is subsequently considerably bigger than the Z8 which now sits under it within the vary, as the brand new mannequin doesn’t have a dual-grip design.
As you’d anticipate, this makes the brand new Z8 so much smaller and lighter than the Z9 – formally, it is 30% smaller and 430g lighter than the Z9.
In comparison with the D850 DSLR, which Nikon are straight evaluating the Z8 to, the brand new digicam is 15% smaller and 95g lighter.
The Nikon Z8 can nonetheless be used with an elective battery grip (the MB-N12), as an alternative of getting one built-in into the physique, if you happen to’d choose to have a bigger physique with portrait controls and prolonged battery life.
As a direct consequence of the twin/single grip design, the Z9 naturally gives a higher variety of programmable buttons, giving it the sting on the subject of setting it up to fit your explicit manner of working.
The Nikon Z8 does supply one thing that even the Z9 would not function, although, particularly not one however two USB terminals.
There’s the same old USB-C charging terminal plus a brand new super-speed USB communication terminal which makes the Z8 the primary Nikon digicam to function USB-C to ethernet connectivity by way of an adapter (not equipped).
Climate Resistance
Each the Nikon Z8 and Z9 have a magnesium alloy physique that’s each dust- and weather-resistant, identical to the D6 DSLR, with all three cameras providing the identical stage of weather-proofing as one another.
IBIS
Each cameras have the identical wonderful in-body five-axis picture stabilisation system which offers as much as 6 stops of compensation when paired with sure Z-series lenses that even have their very own built-in Vibration Discount (VR) system.
Each the Z9 and Z8 can even stabilise older, non-VR lenses together with any F-mount lens that’s mounted on it by way of the Nikon FTZ mount adapter.
The stabilisation system can even work with lenses from different producers – you simply have to enter the focal size into the digicam’s menu system.
Viewfinder
Each the Z8 and Z9 use the identical black-out free, 3690k-dot, 0.8x-magnification OLED digital viewfinder that refreshes at 120fps, excellent for monitoring your topic while taking pictures at as much as 30fps.
LCD Display
Each cameras share a four-axis vertically and horizontally tilting 3.2-inch, 2,100K-dot touch-screen LCD display.
While not fairly as versatile as a totally articulating, vari-angle LCD display, the Z9’s display works very properly for each portrait or landscape-orientation taking pictures.
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
The Nikon Z8 has one UHS-II SD card slot and one ultra-high pace CFexpress Kind B slot, so it would not comply with the lead of the Z9 which has two CFexpress slots.
The reminiscence card format is a vital a part of utilizing the Z8 and Z9, supporting the 8K video recording, burst taking pictures and speedy efficiency, so that you ideally want to make use of a CFexpress card that helps in extra of 1500Mbps write speeds to get the most effective out of them.
Battery Life
This is likely one of the few key variations between the 2 cameras, aside from their measurement.
The Z9 makes use of a EN-EL18d battery, with a CIPA-rated 700 photographs most achievable from a full cost.
The brand new Z8 makes use of the a lot smaller capability EN-EL15C battery that is additionally utilized by the Z7 II, Z6 II and Z5 cameras, offering a CIPA-rated 300 photographs most achievable from a full cost.
Value
The value of the brand new Nikon Z8 is shocking, fortunately in a great way – Nikon have aggressively priced it at £3,999 / $3,999 physique solely.
This considerably undercuts the Nikon Z9, which retails for round £5,299 / $5,499 physique solely.
Conclusion
The brand new Nikon Z8 takes nearly all the pieces that we liked in regards to the flagship Z9 and squeezes it right into a a lot smaller, lighter and crucially considerably cheaper physique.
So what do you assume? Would you select the brand new Nikon Z8 or the Nikon Z9, and why? Depart a remark under!