📷Nikon Z8 real-life review: autofocus, electronic shutter, ibis, high iso tested

Download some of the Nikon Z8 raw photos here:
bit.ly/nikonz8raw
Check out my video for Nikon Z camera tips / tricks:
• Must know TRICKS for N...
0:00 Intro
01:02 Nikon Z8 body
01:28 Nikon Z8 main specs
02:09 Electronic shutter
02:41 Is there banding?
02:57 Shutter speeds: extra fats / slow
03:28 Shutter sounds
03:41 Z8 grip
04:12 LCD display
04:52 Electronic viewfinder
05:04 Virtual horizon
05:21 Annoying intelligent rotation of display
06:18 Memory cards and battery
06:53 Protection from dirt: sensor shield
07:57 Top of Z8 body
08:33 Ports
08:51 AF settings
09:34 Eye AF
09:59 Accuracy of Eye AF
10:14 Animal Eye AF
10:49 Shooting a running dog
11:35 120 fps shooting with dog
12:19 Customizing AF
12:44 Yoga shooting with 28-75 mm F/2.8 lens
13:28 IBIS test
14:57 85mm F/1.2 S lens image quality
15:48 Focus accuracy with 85mm F/1.2
16:58 High ISO test
17:43 RAW format setup
18:13 Dynamic range test
18:55 Video options
20:03 My personal take on Nikon Z8
Night photography tours in Budapest, Hungary:
hungaryphototours.com

[@miklosmayerphoto]

Download some of the Nikon Z8 raw photos here: bit.ly/nikonz8raw

[@psoon04286]

Nikon does not disappoint with any of their releases. They don’t feel like prototypes rushed to market. Very satisfied👍👍

[@Acadien56]

I absolutely love the look of the images produced by the Z8. I did a Mini Session with it today and had no missed shots. Beautiful images! This is a terrific camera.

[@miklosmayerphoto]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@michaellohr706]

Just bought mine! Your review was a huge influence in that decision! I can’t wait for it to arrive! Thank you!

[@miklosmayerphoto]

Wow, that's such a great feedback for me, thank you!

[@E.FrankSmith]

Wonderful review. Thank you for what you do.

[@KBFM2564]

Really great job with this video. You covered everything I was interested in and in a way that I found enjoyable.

[@miklosmayerphoto]

Thank you, glad you liked it!

[@johneast7987]

Very interesting and informative Miklós, thank you

[@miklosmayerphoto]

Thank you John!

[@JohanTalk]

Great review!

[@miklosmayerphoto]

thank you :)

[@gregcorker2193]

Fantastic review.

[@miklosmayerphoto]

Thank you! 🙏

[@filetdelumiere5037]

Very good review ! 🙂

[@miklosmayerphoto]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@csc-photo]

Super review, fantastic camera. Bonus points for the cool Border Collie! 😎👏🏻

[@miklosmayerphoto]

Glad you enjoyed it 🐶 😁

[@lilloc2094]

I just Ordered The Z8 I was using The Z6ii for about 3 years so im Excited To See What The Z8 Does especially The AF

[@miklosmayerphoto]

I'm sure you'll love it!

[@jzsanchez]

I just ordered mine. I was using the Z6 that i accidently dropped in Greece and broke, but I cant wait to try the Z8:)

[@MichaelSeneschal]

Fantastic 🎉

[@miklosmayerphoto]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@musiqueetmontagne]

Well done Miklós, nice video. Yes the Z8 is a great camera, but mostly if you need better autofocus for sports and wildlife shooting. Gives you 8k video too, if you need that. For solely landscape photography the Z7/7ii will give just as good results. It does lack a few other things compared to the Z9, no GPS module etc.. It is a fabulous piece of tech though, enjoy. 😊

[@miklosmayerphoto]

Thank you so much! I agree 100%: for landscape the Nikon Z7 II is a smarter choice.

[@domenicoavizzano8841]

Are there problems the flash? I've heard it.. D.

[@black-boy520]

good!!!!!!!!!!

[@eser_tekin]

2:02 still struggle when focusing on iris

[@smkunder1]

Great video, one of the better Z8 videos. Well done, I just subbed. Now I need similar on my ZF for setting up.

[@miklosmayerphoto]

Thanks for the sub! :)

[@poikatiikeri]

Are there custom quide lines for shooting with Nikon Z8? I take a lot of photos that need to be A4 for competitions and sony don’t have guides for that aspect ratio

[@miklosmayerphoto]

I don't know if the Z8 has that custom grid type. But A4 is very close to the 3:2 aspect ratio, so I would just leave a bit of extra space for cropping later (always a good idea btw)

[@titoclasicasbmw]

Hello from south of Spain, Mr Ricci, sorry to bother you, Just one question on Z8 buffer (and Z9 slightly bigger, yes). On m y Z8, using a Lexar Diamond series 1900/1700 or just a XQD Sony 440/440, my Z8 buffer will stop always at 180 shots, with single card, NEF High Efficiency. How can you shot 1.000 ??. Thanks for your reply or any member of this thread.

[@miklosmayerphoto]

Hey there, I have no idea on this one

[@RichardoBrit]

Only challenge I have with this camera … are the size of the lenses. I love the compact 70-200 2.8 Canon or the lightweight and compact Sony lenses

[@miklosmayerphoto]

I don't understand either why Nikon couldn't make a smaller 70-200, like Canon... But at least they have really good longer tele lenses.

[@felixlechat1780]

you should go to the gym to work out more often. it's a professional camera not a toy

[@RichardoBrit]

@@felixlechat1780 haha. No issues with lifting weight. I’m talking size. You know - like throwing in a backpack.

[@felixlechat1780]

@@RichardoBrit I understand your point of view, I like that it's big, thieves can't run very fast with it 😉

[@RichardoBrit]

@@felixlechat1780 good point. Whatever it takes these days

[@castieldiallo2945]

A good review, guvnor.

[@miklosmayerphoto]

Thank you!

[@nickwilliams7867]

Only downside to Nikon for me is the lack of f1.4 lenses like a 24 35 50 85. The Nikon f1.2 85 is twice the weight of the Sigma f1.4 Art. Yes they have the f1.8's but for me, they do not give that different of an image to good f2.8 zooms. For me the f1.4 is perfect. I'm still thinking of getting a z8 and using my Sony FE Primes with an adaptor, which I tried with great success with the Z7II.

[@johneast7987]

I have 24 and 85mm 1.8's that's only a 1/4 stop from 1.4!

[@nickwilliams7867]

@@johneast7987it’s 2/3 stop not 1/4. I also find the look of a 1.8 is not vastly different from a 2.8 zoom so for me at weddings and events I find f1.4 to be the sweet spot between aperture and weight

[@laranitasantana]

Nikon please, we would like on next firmware version 3.0, when we turn the top Control Panel display ON, to be a little brighter and with more contrast

[@miklosmayerphoto]

Good point. Though for me it was alright

[@steviem8466]

Miklos, enjoyed your take on the Z8. A more human approach review than others I have seen. Your Girlfriend's not bad either😉

[@miklosmayerphoto]

Thank you for your positive feedback, glad you enjoyed it! 😉

[@Brownwhale7]

Your high iso test is interesting because I've heard mediocre things about it in other reviews. It has actually put me off getting the Z8 because I'm used to how clean Z6ii images are.

[@miklosmayerphoto]

Of course the Z6 looks cleaner on pixel level than the Z8 - it has the twice the resolution, hence the pixels are smaller. But looking at the whole image, it should be the same clean. More noise will only be seen if you pixel-peep (magnify them to 100%).

[@poikatiikeri]

Nikon should have given a flip out screen like sony a7r5

[@miklosmayerphoto]

Photographers don't like that design, believe me. This design is much easier to use if you're behind the camera.

[@FlameHunter666]

Flip-out is a nightmare on tripods

[@bishfrie]

I think the nikon z8 has raw video

[@miklosmayerphoto]

It has, I say it in the video

[@vanlee0831]

My Z8 is kept in my dry box , I won’t use it until Nikon adds the shutter sounds like Z9 . The sound now sucks.

[@miklosmayerphoto]

I have no idea what the Z9's sound sounds like, but until you start using your Nikon z8, you can send it over to me, I'll use it for sure! :)) Because the one in the video, I had to give it back to Nikon...

[@hasithalakshan7338]

I think z8 is investment.

[@miklosmayerphoto]

With this price, it is definitely an investment

[@intrinsicimagery]

This review was really a disproportionately attractive girlfriend flex. 😂

[@miklosmayerphoto]

Haha, I love this comment :) Just to clarify, there are two different women in the video, and one of them is my girlfriend, the other is her yoga teacher :)

[@martzallmedia]

When I have subject tracking turned off in video, so I’m not trying to track a subject, I just want to point the camera at anything, a flower, and then a tree for example, the camera won’t focus until I press rhe af on button or half press the shutter. It’s like it waiting for me to tell it to focus rather than just focusing automatically at what I point it at. Again this is in video and I can’t find the setting to make this thing focus automatically on what I’m pointing it at. Shooting in afc wide area. Please help

[@miklosmayerphoto]

Good question, I don't have a Nikon Z8 in my hands to check it. On the Nikon Z50, in video, you have to switch to AF-F for full-time AF that doesn't require any shutter pressing. But maybe on the Z8 there's no option for that.

[@miklosmayerphoto]

Maybe I would turn back the subject tracking.