Nikon ZF vs Nikon Z8 Video Quality (Sharpness, Color, Noise)

[@cinematools]

00:14 - 4k 24 detail 00:40 - 4k 60 detail 01:04 - color 01:31 - noise

[@relaxwithme3266]

ZF looks amazing

[@apostraffstudio]

24 mpx old sensor vs 45 mpx new sensor - are not bad results at all for Nikon Z F. And yes, I didn’t notice any significant difference between the cameras in terms of noise level. Thanks for the video!

[@Insert-art]

Extremely well done thank you for this video.

[@cinematools]

Thank you for watching.

[@theclifbar]

Excellent video as usual! Would be awesome if you had an 8K N-RAW Z8 clip vs best ZF format just to show the difference possible.

[@cinematools]

Thank you. We might come back to the ZF in the future.

[@school_n_stuff]

There isn't much to configure codec wise on the ZF. 4k 10 bit 420 is your best and obly sensible choice. It löoks gorgeous and organic right out of camera. Files are small, but it is a lot less sharp than many down sampled higher res cameras and you have less room to mangle the footage. Then again, you don't need to an I find that extremely refreshing. BTW the stabilization is excellent.

[@joshkiddfilms1295]

It's wild to me how much the Zf shot pops off the screen by comparison to the Z8 on the shot of the girl. Micron size matters I guess?

[@cinematools]

There might be a slight difference in mid-tone contrast but it's not super noticeable.

[@cottonbomb8272]

Should've tested the dual ISO. I think Nikon never talked about that but it is a thing for Z FX system except Z5

[@jpdj2715]

I guess you mean 'fixed ISO' with two amplification levels in the sensor. There's a website called something like photons to electrons that tests noise levels and reveals the effect of this principle. The way I understand it, is that the Bayer sensor - analogue and colour-blind - has photocells (diodes) connected to an electronic circuit that builds a charge during exposure and when the sensor is read, the Voltage of the charge is measured. This can be amplified in line with ISO, but as subject contrast decreases with lower light levels, you need less contrast envelope (the dynamic range available to the single shot/frame). So why complicate an amplification that keeps up with ISO? This will work as long as you do not defeat it. If I am right then you should be able to visualise this in extremely bright light where you reduce light level with a, say, 10x ND filter. For the 45MP Z 7ii, Z 8, and Z 9 sensors, you will see that the noise level runs up with ISO until almost 400 ISO and then at 400 falls back to ISO 100 again. So at 1600 ISO you have comparable to that almost 400 noise level. The problem with noise is though that 90% of the noise we see in renditions of our images follows from inadequate deBayerisation in the raw processing software we use. And the Bayer noise is a bigger challenge for that software in the case of cameras without OLPF. Nikon started about 10 years ago with cameras that no longer had an OLPF (D800E), but Adobe only last year gave us "AI Denoise" that does the deBayerisation better but still gives too many digital artefacts (or you can say it retrieves details i sufficiently). For a couple years, Topaz and DxO (PhotoLab and PureRAW) did much better than Adobe Camera Raw (ACR - does all the raw processing in LrC and Ps).

[@solandio92]

😮I didn't expect the Zf to have great video quality. Maybe it's my next hybrid camera.❤

[@doriangray8007]

What lenses did you use? I especially like the cityscape and the portrait. Thanks

[@cinematools]

Thanks. NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8

[@apostraffstudio]

@@cinematools You obviously didn't use the best lens for testing.

[@apostraffstudio]

I didn't do any tests, you responded to the wrong post

[@truthkeeperfilms]

Goodness.. that Z8 is a beast in that case, even in low light at 3200 IS0

[@roblee2968]

Z8 so sharp

[@cinematools]

Yes. 8K sensor

[@Telly26]

What lens is being used for the two cameras?

[@cinematools]

28-75 2.8 zoom

[@Telly26]

@@cinematools Thank you! And great job with the comparison! The Nikon Z f has been on my wish list. I’m hoping to pair that with the Z 24-120mm.

[@ThanhVõhùng]

Does Zf have internal Nlog video or still require external like the other?

[@cinematools]

It has internal Nlog.

[@RaphaelMatto]

I've come back to this video lots & decided not to get the Zf b/c it was so blurry compared to the Z8. How do you think the Z6iii would fair against the Z8, now that it's been released? Do you think there would be any improvement in h265 UHD?

[@cinematools]

I wouldn't call ZF soft but compared to Z8 it's definitely not as sharp. We're getting Z6III soon and the video should be available next month.

[@RaphaelMatto]

@@cinematools fantastic-looking forward to it!

[@photoventureselp]

@@cinematools And what about a comparison between Z6 III and Zf, even though it's apples and oranges.

[@cinematools]

@@photoventureselp maybe next year.

[@fireman7036]

Why don't have a test with 4000 ISO in Log?

[@cinematools]

We don't go over 3200 ISO when filming.

[@YuriiRay]

@@cinematools 4000iso second basic iso and less noise than 3200. read manual

[@herry.with.an.e]

@@cinematools 4000 is when the dual gain ISO would've kicked in and cleaned up the image.

[@cinematools]

@@herry.with.an.e wasn't aware of it.

[@torstenw5168]

very good sound track

[@CINENIMUS]

No dual gain?

[@LimitEdit]

Little bit of a missed chance. Dual gain starts at 4000 iso at the Z8 would have been nice to see ;)

[@AdamCasada]

Don't know if you realized this or not but this video is uploaded in 24fps. You'd have to do two separate videos at corresponding frame rates to show the difference.

[@cinematools]

The test shows the difference in sharpness/details. The frame rate is irrelevant.

[@Star-fl6lw]

Where the girl is seen, the z8 wins in color separation in both the skin and the sweater.

[@TK421-53]

i thought it was the other way around, preferring the Zf

[@dotdashdotdash]

I also prefer the Zf for the portrait