Sony User Tries a Nikon Z8 (Time to Switch?)

The Nikon Z8 is touted as a beast of a camera, but I want to test it against my Sony A7R5 to see what I really think.
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Gear I use:
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Cameras:
- Nikon Z8: geni.us/NikonZ8Camera
- Sony A7R5: geni.us/sonya7r5camera
- DJI Pocket 3: geni.us/DJI-Pocket3
- Lumix S5IIX: geni.us/PanasonicS5IIX
Lenses:
- Sony 16-35mm GM: geni.us/Sony16-35mm
- Sony 24-105mm G: geni.us/Sony24-105mm
- Lumix 50mm 1.8: geni.us/Lumix50mm
- Lumix 18mm 1.8: geni.us/Lumix18mm
Microphone:
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- Wandrd PRVKE 31L: geni.us/Wandrd31l
Media:
- Samsung T9 SSD: geni.us/SamsungT9SSD
- AngelBird SDs: geni.us/AngelBirdSD
00:00 - Let's Talk Specs
00:26 - 8K Video
00:57 - Data hungry
01:37 - 5 Axis Image Stabilization
01:57 - No Mechanical Shutter?
02:40 - Cade's Cove
02:59 - Nikon Footage Test
03:15 - Photography Test
03:37 - Feels like a DSLR
05:13 - My Issues with the Z8
07:20 - Autofocus Comparison
07:48 - Sony or Nikon?

[@sloppy-1-1]

Honestly, the viewfinder is one of the best parts of the Z8, it is consistent and doesn't change at all when focusing or shooting bursts, even at 120fps, and, most importantly, it has ZERO lag. I actually prefer it to any higher res viewfinder I've tried (A1, R5).

[@connormccaskill]

Fair enough, I was discussing that point with someone else actually. Definitely something worth considering.

[@Mr09260]

Great Facts here and exactly my experience too

[@alivarasteh]

its great

[@user-oe5jl2br6u]

Nikon cameras are super comforty for the hands, worst are the Sonys.

[@connormccaskill]

Honestly agree

[@apocryphal_man]

Disagree. The A IV handles very nice and is to me a lot better gripwise than the alledgedly comfy Panasonics S5/S5II. Doesnt mean the Z8 isnt comfy. But its also fat and heavy. And id you dislike even the A IV / AR V grip, you will actively hate the Nikon Z f.

[@boostedmaniac]

Agree. I used an a7r4 for a day and the balance and ergonomics of it really dug into my middle finger trying to hold it up with a heavy lens on front. And because the zoom ring on the 100-400 Sony is closer to the body, I can’t stabilize and support the weight as much. I almost switched to Sony and glad I stuck with Nikon. My Z9 with the same combo is weigh heavier, but it just feels more comfortable.

[@amermeleitor]

But, for me, nothing matches the best ergonomics of all, the Canon R5 and R6II. It just perfect. Sony is the worst of all

[@UnconventionalReasoning]

Everyone's hands are different.

[@anfalshams]

Sony viewfinder drops resolution massively during autofocus…

[@creamynessification]

yeah do the zf. had it for two weeks and it's been awesome for my work

[@connormccaskill]

Ok good to hear! My buddy Cam seems to really love it as well. I’m looking forward to trying it out

[@Kiywii]

The EVF is a tricky subject IMO. While it is lower res than the competition, it never loses its frame rate and it’s one of the brightest EVFs I’ve ever used. I find that I’m only bothered by the resolution when I’m in playback.

[@connormccaskill]

Oh yeah, that’s definitely a fair point to consider. I think the resolution of the Sony is just very impressive so I get blinded by that a bit. But you are correct frame rates and brightness does matter.

[@ufukkiblat]

@@connormccaskill for EVF (basically small screen), frame rates matter more than resolution. Human eyes can only see so much from a tiny screen.

[@2424rocket]

I’m a Sony user… Waiting for the a7S4… but once red technology trickles into Nikon, I would have no problem switching over to Nikon. Or as I like to call it.Red-Kon.

[@connormccaskill]

Haha yeah technically now it’s a RED

[@bishopchilton5736]

I'm really excited to see what they do with RED

[@lucinadubai1772]

Hello there, do you know if Nikon Z8 has any problems with overheating whilst filming weddings ? X

[@adrianvanleeuwen]

What is coming by April is announcement of Nikon Z6iii which will have a vari-angle screen like ZF and this is the one I am looking for, and updates to ZF specs plus more. Sized between current Z6ii and Z8 so bit bigger for good handling. 24.5 MP is enough for my needs so files are more manageable for photos. This Z6iii is going to appeal to loads of Nikon shooters!

[@princekhandelwal8069]

Now that Nikon just bought RED, wait for it and its going to be legendary...

[@Chopper153]

Their video focussed cameras will only become more hyped and expensive.

[@kylelowe]

Nikon’s 8K60fps is tempting!

[@p.o.4339]

No disrespect, but what for? Where and how will you use it?

[@hopeforthefuturesg]

@@p.o.4339for cropping

[@stanspb763]

I don't buy Sony products because of their policy of churning sales by limiting parts availability after a model goes out of production which forces users to replace cameras rather than repair. One of the weakest points on the camera is the tiny lens flange which is thin casing so thin that you can break it with bare hands which means dropping the camera with a lens mounted usually totals the camera and is not covered by warranty. Nikon and Panasonic/Lumix are the best is repair stocking parks for decades. I was not aware of the corporate wide policy of making parts availability very expensive when a model ends production and parts cut fully a few months later. That policy has been a profit center for decades. By in 1985 Sony introduced a 24 track digital large format tape recorder, My recording studio had 2 Studer analog tape decks in each of 3 studios.Digital was new for 24 track decks so I wanted to test one to see if they were the path foreword. In listening tests almost everyone preferred the analog version when the same signals were fed to both analog and digital. A few years earlier 3M, another brand of analog tape decks approached me to test their newly developed digital recorder, the first one. I agreed for the test, their first test in a real recording studio and we concluded it as not ready for general recording. We fed the console fed to both the Studer analog and the 3M machine and recorded a full album over 2 months and we concluded the analog as better but the label released the digital test album which surprised us since the digital version as brittle sounding, an album by Ry Cooder named Bop Til You Drop which was a major hit. So I was interested in hearing what the Sony could do. The deck was $156,000 plus required a $23,000 remote controller. A BB512 Ferrari at the factory was $64,000 and a 3 bedroom house averaged $39,000 so it was a big gamble. The Sony did work better, it was 6 years since the 3M so was more polished. Being mechancial with motors, bearing and guides there was a regular maintenance schedule and a few wear parts such as tape guides and roller were to be replaced based on run time. We used it for 6 months before the guides and rollers were to be replaced in routine daily maintenance and I was shocked to learn that the parts were no longer available but a new model was just introduced and we could trade in the first one for a $30,000 credit on the new model that was $199,000 plus $32,000 controller. That was outrageous and investigated and found out the corporate wide policy of forcing people to buy new instead of repairing. I later has side business of repair and service of professional sound equipment and musician electronics and found Sony maintained that policy up to present. We were the larges pro audio shop and warranty authorized on 58 brands and 64,000 models. The number of angry customers who found their just of out production DAT recorders were no longer repairable unless a shop had stocked a lot of parts inventory. Later I found that camera repairmen advised against Sony due to the market churning by forcing people to upgrade cameras when their warranty ran out. Techs hate Sony because they are more fragile and until recently had poor weather sealing so a lot of cameras were bricked by moisture when the a7 was out, the last time I talked to a Sony warranty repairman, he showed me a pile of dead cameras due to water damage well before the warranty expired but the owner had to buy a new one. Camera Techs I have talked to had the same complaints I had years before in pro audio. General concensus suggests Nikon and Panasonic/Lumix are preferred in support and old parts inventory. Then Canon and last of the major brands is Sony With my pro audio repair shop DAT digital tape decks were very common and Panasonic was the preferred brand then Tascam and way behind in reliability and longevity was the very flimsy Sony models that actually were more expensive and cheaply made. So that is why I do not even consider Sony after being a Nikon shooter since Digital became practical and Canon in the film era. The color, build quality and layout and ruggedness. Now with mirrorless the S lenses are reason enough to stay with Nikon

[@Madoka-cl6lz]

If the z8 only have e shutter, what about the flickering on artificial light?

[@jakilahmoulien9070]

I suggest u wait for the Z6III instead of eyeing on the ZF

[@connormccaskill]

Fair, but I think I just like the retro appeal

[@stkuj]

The Z8/Z9 is pretty awesome. I've been looking at making a change to the Z8 (or maybe Z6iii) this year, from the A7RV. I have gotten pretty used to the nice custom memory top dial (Nikon does have custom memory, but saves to card. So, when you format your card all settings are lost). BTW, wearing the Kando T-shirt while holding a Z8 is a nice touch 😂.

[@connormccaskill]

Haha I wasn’t sure anyone would notice the shirt 😅

[@michaelmalodrums9674]

you just save your customs settings to a separate SD card and load them back in once you format your main cards, easy peasy ;)

[@grosado]

Thanks for sharing, after many years shooting with Sony (A7RII, A7III and the A1) I ot an Z8 a couple of months ago and love it! 99% of my work is weddings and I do love its colors way better than the files on my A1. Now at night, I think the A1 autofocus performs better than the Z8 but I have them side by side and use them equally. For the Nikon I have the 50mm 1.2 , the 135 1.8 Plena and the Tamron 35mm-150mm 2.0-2.8, all great lenses that render beautiful colors!

[@AbhinavYadav-zm7ut]

I am a Nikon shooter and tbh, I like Nikon and Sony menus the best (sometimes I shoot with a friend's Sony). My wife has a Canon and mostly it's good but god the video settings are horrible to switch. The way Canon does it feel very unintuitive compared to Sony and Nikon.

[@connormccaskill]

Fair enough, Canon menus are definitely not perfect either

[@joelelhadj6993]

First time i hear someone praising Sony menus, i often use Sony cameras and feel like suing them for torture every single time 😅

[@AbhinavYadav-zm7ut]

@@joelelhadj6993 haha as a Nikon user it felt more similar than Canon's.

[@FramesTM]

Great video. Put a 70 to 200 on and hang the Z8 by holding the screen. The repeat the same on your A7RV. We will talk afterwards

[@connormccaskill]

That’s a risky test sir ha

[@donodom3]

Meaning that you think the Nikon screen will break or the Sony?

[@Chopper153]

​@@donodom3Definitely the Sony has a far higher chance of breaking than Z8. Nikon pro bodies are tough and overbuilt, the exact opposite of a Sony.

[@FramesTM]

@@donodom3 Nikon is usually sturdy

[@laranitasantana]

I visited Cades Cove in Fall 2023 with my new Nikon Z8 and I really enjoyed

[@connormccaskill]

Sounds like we had similar experiences

[@sweatyshutter]

We were using the Nikon before it was cool with the original Z6!!! Nikon is great. Their biggest issue is lack of adoption, but these types of cameras will maybe change that! Hope they put a screen on it like the a7rV

[@connormccaskill]

Haha true and I agreed! I hope Nikon continues making solid improvements so that they are another great choice for consumers

[@user-oe5jl2br6u]

After Sony A1 firmware debacle, sold all Sony gear and switched to … NIKON!!!

[@leonardotonin6201]

This Nikon z8 can work in -10 C and having no schutter can be beneficial.

[@connormccaskill]

Ah that is an interesting point. I guess I haven’t had to film in -10 C conditions myself ha. Still valid though

[@mazzith]

I love my Z8. The electronic shutter is crazy good. I didn’t realize how much my z7ii shutter shook the camera until I used it again after using my z8 for half a year. I wish the door for the cards had a lock.

[@philipbloom]

Very interesting Connor. Thanks.

[@connormccaskill]

Hey! Thanks for coming by the channel man. Hope all is well

[@Mr09260]

I changed to Nikon in 1971 from Minolta >> Best decision I ever Made >> I have just bought my LAST camera the Z8 >> camera of the year 2023

[@amermeleitor]

Nikon seems a great option. I'm currently deciding to go mirrorless, I'm waiting for the market to settle. I would go with Canon but the lack of cheap third party lenses is a big problem for me. I don't like Sony ergonomics. Panasonic isn't in my country anymore, sadly because the S5II in kit with three lenses is a terrific deal. So that leaves Nikon and Fuji, if Fuji had full frame i would go with Fuji, but it's only APSC and big cameras big price MF; Nikon controls don't convince me, the lack of a third wheel is annoying when go fully manual and entry level and midrange Nikon cameras are lacking normal features. So I'll wait a year. Maybe Canon open the RF mount (I Don't think so), maybe Nikon launch entry-level and midrange cameras that compete with R8, XS20, S5II, etc, maybe Fuji launch a low megapixel cheap fast GFX camera, maybe DJI enter the mirrorless market, and so on... It will be a great year for the market, A7SIV, Z6III, S1HII, R5II, R1, Z50II, etc

[@Eric.Estrada]

I guarantee that Nikon screen wont break. As for m FX3, the screen suffered the dreaded sony screen jiggle / sag. But yes, I wish Nikon would have a flip around screen for self shooting. They tried on the Z50 with the flip down screen but it's too awkward to work.

[@izziereal2010]

I would like to see a video of yours using the Zf. It's a great camera to use. It's an unusual camera compared to the modern style cameras, but it is fun to shoot with. You may need a grip attachment for it. Make sure you get one from smallrig or another company that sells for the Zf before your review of it.

[@connormccaskill]

Thanks for the advice

[@GG-zv9ku]

EVF on Z8 after turning high FPS on in setting > than having more resolution for me. Is the best EVF I’ve used in my opinion

[@Ben_Stewart]

Lucky for you Sony lenses adapt to Nikon Z mount body's. I've never heard anyone complain about the menu system on a Nikon. Usually people praise it compared to Sony.

[@joelelhadj6993]

I think one would prefer anything to the Sony menu, i like the Nikon menu but being a blackmagic user, I’m spoiled and thinks everyone should just use something similar to that.😅

[@pauldhoff]

Having a higher pixel screen means less CPU time for taking pictures at a faster rate.

[@boundaryscience]

Bit of a zombie bump, but as a Sony shooter and now a Sony/ Nikon shooter, I think the Megadap is (I hate to say it) an actual game-changer. You should definitely try out a Zf and a Megadap. I'm using an a7RIV and a Nikon Zf professionally and it's fantastic. Other than upgrading the RIV and possibly adding a Z6iii in the future, I can't think of a better, higher value, combo.

[@VioletGOKU]

At 7:48 why is the bokeh at f3.5 on Sony better than bokeh at f3.5 on Nikon?

[@connormccaskill]

Oh yeah, I see that, I might have messed up the aperture a bit on that one. Hopefully you can still see that the autofocus works pretty good on both cameras though.

[@jerseybagger9336]

Would you rather use the lumix s5iix or the z8 for video work?

[@connormccaskill]

Oof hard choice. They are in different price brackets. If you are filming yourself, I’d go with the Lumix, but if you are filming other things, I’d go with the Nikon.

[@ilpoheikkila4773]

Great video!

[@connormccaskill]

Thank you!

[@Not-A-Woke-Liberal]

Leica has the best menu system I have both Leica and Nikon cameras

[@bobbullethalf]

Come over to the Nikon side.

[@connormccaskill]

Tempted 😅

[@OkwyUgonweze]

I have both cameras and the A7RV is now in the shelf. The nikon is better in every way including the af after the firmware 2.0 update. The single advantage the Sony has in customizability the nikon levelled up with the new firmware.

[@connormccaskill]

Fair enough. I’m glad you’re digging the Nikon! I was surprised by it for sure. Just can’t get past the screen

[@cammackey]

The flow of this video was sick dude!!!!

[@connormccaskill]

Hey thanks man!! Always appreciate your support

[@foothills1008]

I fully switched to Nikon after using the Z9 slowly sold all my sony gear. My fav 50mm 1.4 GM lens just sold few months ago..... Only thing with Nikon Lens are submarines compared to Sony and they lack some cheaper 1.4 options

[@northofbrandon]

Great video! Imo Nikon is not Data Hungry; thanks to pico compressions you can shoot RAW 45mp photos at 12mb per photo, and the 10 bit 422 that you talk about has H265, making the 4k on Z8/Z9 much much smaller than even the z6ii 4k, canon r6ii 4k in 264. PRORES is huge, but that's always been the case. Menus have been more or less the same for 20 years. It's not a surprise you don't love menus you don't work with imo - but do love how Canon handles it.

[@connormccaskill]

Thanks for your comment! Yeah, I probably should have been more clear and just said that ProRes specifically is what eats up data.

[@northofbrandon]

@@connormccaskill Word! With Z log being so usable and having Low 1 (iso400) and Low2 (iso200), who needs pro res anyways :P

[@philipbloom]

@@northofbrandon curious of the connection between those logs and ProRes. 🤔

[@northofbrandon]

@bloommost most videos are recorded in sRGB rec 709 curve, which is a compression just like .jpg. LOG is a different curve, just like log and linear are different mathematical concepts, so are linear and log histogram curves. When you shoot LOG, the preview image tends to look boring and drab, flat, no color, because you are shooting at a higher noise level and keeping as much data as possible. You then interpolate the LOG data to sRGB with a LUT from the manufacturer in post (nikon in this case). Kind of like a recipe for that sensor to figure out its higher data capture. From there you have a lot more expression of color and dynamic range. PRORES is another thing all together, 12 bit, more range, and more possible codecs you can export to if you have International Films as your goal.

[@philipbloom]

@@northofbrandon I guess you are replying to me. I guess you don't realise but I am incredibly knowledgeable about log and codecs. My point was you were talking about two different things. Had you said that the H265 codec was all you needed then that's fine, but you said you don't Prores because of the two base ISOs in log. That makes no sense.

[@LMActionsports]

When I switch from the Nikon Z6 and Z5 to the Sony a7riv. I was a little shocked on how small the camera was for Sony. I do miss the great feel of the Nikon but the auto focus was not that great on the z6 compared to to the a7riv. But the colors that came out of the Nikon were more natural but I feel Sony does have the better lens choices. But Nikon has come along way with their autofocus and their professional lenses and I wouldn't hesitate buying into the Nikon mirrorless cameras if I was starting all over again

[@connormccaskill]

Yeah it’s cool to see how much Nikon has been improving! I think they are a great competitor these days

[@chloescanlon1107]

I thought you used a lumix s5iix???

[@connormccaskill]

I do! I just try to use as many brands as possible. That said, I currently own the S5IIX and the A7RV.

[@j_cooks]

@@connormccaskill How would you rate the Z8 against the S5IIX? Which one would you grab first for a video gig? Why?

[@lewcehjitl3282]

If only Nikon had actual AutoFocus battery life and a flip screen with original Z6 colors I’d make the switch. Z6iii? 😅

[@_jbflickz]

whats next after nikon...

[@connormccaskill]

Next will be Kodak 😅

[@BryanElliott_]

I’m thinking about switching

[@ianplattphotography]

Just brought out RED ❤ ⭐️⭐️⭐️🎉

[@connormccaskill]

I saw! 👀

[@nikinik7503]

I am confused. What happened with Panasonic S5IIx?

[@Mr09260]

Great Video

[@connormccaskill]

Appreciate it!

[@reynaldohernandez1425]

I shoot weddings with Sony A7iv and Z6ii. Sony as tool is better since I don’t have to think a lot, it just does the job. Nikon is more enjoyable. A good things about the two mounts is that I can use my GM lenses on z mount with the megadapt with no problem and without adding those tube size adapters. You can’t even tell the adapter is there. I’m waiting for the z6iii.

[@davey_gravy]

What’s hotter? The Z8 or East Tennessee?!

[@connormccaskill]

Tough. Imma go with East TN ha

[@goodfriendscreations]

So ur not switching to Nikon because of that screen issue?

[@connormccaskill]

Well that was just one of my main headaches. I have a few other reasons why I personally don’t want to switch to Nikon rn. Doesn’t mean it’s not a great camera.

[@goodfriendscreations]

@@connormccaskill ok which would you suggest me to buy for film making process and video quality Nikon z8 or Sony a7r5 or canon r5

[@connormccaskill]

That’s a hard choice. Honestly if you are filmmaking specifically, and don’t intend to shoot many photos, I’d consider the FX3

[@mondobytes]

Nikon bringing out the big guns

[@connormccaskill]

Oh yeah man, Nikon definitely stepped up their game from when we last used them ha

[@jessejayphotography]

Every damn camera should have the tilt and flip screen.

[@connormccaskill]

Preach 👏

[@chloescanlon1107]

And no camera should have damn side hinged flippy flappy screen alone. Canon, take note… I hate you.

[@connormccaskill]

Haha

[@JjackVideo]

I'm in love with the Nikon lenses. 600 and 800mm f6.3 are just a pure dream for wildlife, and Sony has nothing that compares.

[@poikatiikeri]

would have bought it if it had flip screen

[@robbiyoung85]

this video was perfectly timed

[@naeemalmalek3925]

Nikon Create Good Camera ❤

[@petrub27]

nothing wrong w the camera. problem is you need to change the lenses

[@alivarasteh]

Nikon z8 is a amazing camera

[@PaulFeinberg]

Team sony all the way....but cool that Nikon is trying. Great video

[@connormccaskill]

Totally agree

[@StuffYouMightLike]

Shooting in ProRes is data hungry for any camera that's capable of shooting it. ProRes contains a lot of data.

[@dieseldavey]

I'm a current Z8 and sony a7cii user. I have been a nikon user for around 30 years but sorry the sony is much more reliable regards focusing. 😢

[@dwanelkemprai4983]

Looks like Nikon is coming back after they bought RED

[@connormccaskill]

True

[@UnconventionalReasoning]

The Z8 menus are consistent with the menus from every top Nikon camera over the past 15 years. Firmware updates are unlikely to change it.

[@castielvargastv7931]

After all you speak english and in english language z is spelled zett not cee like c.. just saying.

[@connormccaskill]

“Z” is spelled “Z”, because it’s a letter. The English language has many different ways of writing the same thing depending on where you are from. In the UK they say “Zed” in the US we say “Zee”.

[@castielvargastv7931]

@@connormccaskill u wpeak Englisch, it does notagically change in usa. U may spell it that way but its wrong. Spelling a z like a c is dumb.

[@connormccaskill]

Agree to disagree. Language is fluid, it changes from location to location. Not just English either, but Spanish, Chinese, etc.

[@castielvargastv7931]

@@connormccaskill you are right but spelling something wrong and.natural changes are not the same. Its only usa where people speak it wrong in the english world it is like it always was. The reason usa people spell so much words wrong is because usa is a migrant country and many people did.not learn english properly Its the same in my country germany We have too many migrants and.they.have their own slang. Its a dumbed.down version With wrong grammar and fantasy words. It sounds horrible for native speakers. Thats why there are organisations who who keep the language clean and protect it against changes that make no sense. Schools in all german speaking countries teach the language like it is meant to be.

[@AllCarsUnited]

​@@castielvargastv7931 you should be more worried about your Grammar and punctuation. What's your excuse? 😂