Big test
PERFORMANCE: EXPOSURE LATITUDE
HOLD FAST The handling of the Z 8 is truly top-notch, with ergonomic button placements on the front and back of the body
so you have to hope the insect took off in the plane of focus. This means multiple attempts are necessary and that’s a lot of frames to wade through. A fast image browser app and a high- spec computer are strongly advised. Nikon’s specification indicates the EN-EL15c lithium-ion battery is good
for 340 exposures. During my test period when it was generally warm, I got many more frames. On one shoot, I got 2925 frames plus movie footage and still had 37% charge left in the battery. I always have a power bank in the bag just in case, but not once did I need it for the Z 8. PN
Final word
I shot several exposure brackets using the Z 8’s auto-bracketing mode in a wide range of lighting situations. This contrasty scene of Fountains Abbey was bracketed +/-3EV in 1EV steps at ISO 100 with the correct exposure metered at 1/100sec at f/11. The resulting Raw files were exposure corrected in Adobe Lightroom. The Z 8 turned in a really impressive performance – even with Raw files overexposed by 3EV, they were recovered well in editing. The +3EV shot needed more work on the highlights to make it fully acceptable, but a quick edit still gives a good result. As for underexposure, there are absolutely no issues at all, with the -3EV frame recovering incredibly well with barely any digital noise on show – it looked almost identical to the correct exposure.
Verdict I have been testing film and digital cameras almost all my working life and many have impressed me. Hand on heart, the Nikon Z 8 is right up there with the very best. I’m a conservative reviewer, but the Z 8 is a truly exceptional camera, delivering on so many levels. It’s robust, works brilliantly with great ergonomics, delivers really excellent images even at super-high ISOs and is totally inspiring to use. To me, it’s an instant classic and the sort of product that in future will be considered era-defining. For my photography needs, the Z 8 is perfect – and while £4K body only is a great deal of money, it’s worth every penny. For those uncommitted to a system, it’s arguably a better buy than the Canon EOS R5 and Sony A7R V. For those already on a waiting list for a Z 8, don’t worry – your patience will be rewarded. 24 /25 FEATURES High megapixel count, fast continuous shooting, deep-learning AF and a rich movie feature set
-3EV
-2EV
0EV
+2EV
25 /25 HANDLING
-1EV
+1EV
+3EV
A solid body, responsive controls, excellent ergonomics and plenty of customising potential
24 /25 PERFORMANCE
Great sensor, ably supported by excellent AF, exposure and white-balance systems.
23 /25 VALUE FOR MONEY
Costing £4k body only, it isn’t cheap. You get a lot of camera for your money; if you have the budget, it’s worth every penny
96 /100 OVERALL
The Z 8 is awesome and massively capable with very few negatives – a milestone camera
THERE’S NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME TO MAKE GOOD USE
PROS Image quality, ISO performance, impeccable handling, AF system, continuous shooting speeds, pre-capture, lovely EVF, battery life much better than expected, video features, fast still/movies changeover CONS Monitor can’t face forward, pre-capture is JPEG only, no high-res mode, no in-camera focus stacking
Where will your kit go next? Inspire others, earn some extra cash and make a difference. Sell your used kit and let someone else love it as much as you have. Make good use of your used gear. Sell yours today at mpb.com/sell
Issue 109 | Photography News 17
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