Nikon Z8 for Wildlife: Is It REALLY That Good?
I'm excited to dive deep into my experiences with the Nikon Z8, particularly from the perspective of a nature and wildlife photographer.
Since getting my hands on this camera, I can honestly say it has boosted my confidence and transformed the way I approach photography. It's a whole new level of creative possibilities.
First Impressions: Size, Weight, and Feel
One of the initial things that drew me to the Z8 was its size and weight. It's noticeably more compact than Z9, which makes a significant difference during long shooting sessions. Lugging heavy gear through the wilderness can be exhausting, so the Z8's manageable size is a huge plus.
The ergonomics are also exceptional. Nikon has clearly put a lot of thought into the camera's design. The grip is perfectly contoured, curving inward to provide a secure and comfortable hold. This is crucial when you're hand-holding the camera for extended periods, especially in challenging conditions. The grip is so reliable that it allows for quick reactions to fleeting moments without worrying about dropping the camera.
Button Layout and Customization
Coming from another Nikon model (Z6 II), the extra buttons on the Z8 was immediately appreciated. Having quick access to essential settings is a game-changer in the field. The ability to customize these buttons further enhances the shooting experience, allowing for tailoring the camera to specific needs and shooting style.
Weather Sealing: Ready for Anything
As a wildlife photographer, unpredictable and challenging environments are often encountered. The elements can take a toll on gear, so the Z8's robust weather sealing is an absolute must for wildlife photography. Using it in the rain without any issues provides confidence to keep shooting, even when the weather turns against you.
The sensor shield is another thoughtful addition. This protective barrier automatically covers the sensor when you switch lenses, preventing dust and moisture from entering the camera. It's a simple but effective feature that can save you from costly repairs and ensure your images remain clean and sharp.
Megapixels: Capturing Every Detail
The Nikon Z8 boasts a 46-megapixel sensor, which is a significant upgrade for capturing intricate details in wildlife photography. This high resolution allows for extensive cropping, which is incredibly useful when photographing distant or small subjects, such as squirrels.
With 46 megapixels, cropping in without sacrificing image quality too much is possible. The ability to extract smaller portions of the image while retaining sharpness and clarity opens up possibilities for creative composition and post-processing enhancements.
Autofocus Performance: A Game-Changer
The autofocus system on the Nikon Z8 is one of its most impressive features. It's fast, accurate, and incredibly responsive, making it a game-changer for wildlife photography. Consistently delivering sharp, well-focused images is possible, whether tracking a bird in flight or capturing a fleeting moment of a mammal in motion.
Nikon Z8 + 400mm f/4.5
Using the camera in the field for the first time can create a sense of improved photographic skill because it helps nail shots of flying birds that weren't possible before. Even using an older Tamron lens, the autofocus is phenomenal.
Customization is another key aspect of the Z8's autofocus system. Fine-tuning the settings to match specific shooting needs is possible. Setting custom focus areas to prioritize certain parts of the frame and subject tracking are also highly customizable. Telling the camera to look for mammals or birds can make subject tracking faster.
Pre-Capture: Never Miss a Moment
The pre-capture feature on the Nikon Z8 is an innovative tool that can help capture decisive moments. When activated, the camera starts recording images in the background as soon as the shutter button is half-pressed. When the trigger button is pressed, it records images in the background, saving them fully after the trigger button is fully pressed, capturing about 1 second before pressing the trigger. This gives a better chance of getting the decisive moment.
However, the pre-capture feature is only available when shooting in JPEG format. This limitation is a bit disappointing, as many photographers prefer to shoot in RAW format to retain maximum image quality and flexibility. It would be nice to have a firmware upgrade to enable RAW capture, but this feature might be saved for a future model.
Noise Handling: A Minor Drawback
While the Nikon Z8 excels in many areas, one minor drawback is its noise handling. While slightly better than some older models, there's a bit more noise in the images. The native ISOs, ISO 64 and 500, mean that the second native ISO is reached a little earlier than on the Nikon Z6 II, which have native ISOs of ISO 100 and ISO 800. This resulting in slightly more noise in photos from the Nikon Z8. However, this is something you would expect because of the higher number of megapixels in the Z8.
Video Capabilities: 8K Raw and More
The Nikon Z8 is a highly capable video camera, offering a range of features and options. It captures 8K RAW video. However, the file sizes are huge, especially when recording in slow motion. While 8K is impressive, 4K is often sufficient.
When capturing video in N-Log, the base ISO is 800, and the second native ISO is 4,000. This is great for capturing low light footage.
Nikon Z8 + 400mm f/4.5
Battery Life and Card Slots
The Nikon Z8 does eat up batteries fairly quickly, so bringing a spare is recommended. It has both SD card and CF Express type B card slots. The CF Express type B cards are preferred because they are considerably faster.
Macro and Landscape Photography
Despite a couple of minor annoyances, like the ISO and custom button limitations, the Nikon Z8 is a fantastic camera. The autofocus is amazing. It's also great for macro and landscape photography. The low base ISO is perfect for landscapes.
Overall, the Nikon Z8 is well-suited for photographers who want high image quality, lots of pixels, and phenomenal autofocus.
