The Ultimate Hybrid Camera
Powerful performance. Professional build. Compact,
lightweight handling. A dream camera for videos and stills.
Firmware Update 2.0: Powerful New Features Added
[Bird] Mode, Improved Autofocus, Auto Capture, Pixel Shift, Picture Controls, New Lo 2.0 in N-Log and more. Learn more about Firmware 2.0.
Compact follow-up to Z 9.
True successor to D850.
30%
Smaller
Than Z 9
15%
Smaller
Than D850
Compare to Z 9 and D850
Packed with Z 9
flagship technology.
Captivating.
45.7MP stills with beautiful colors.
All in one.
Unrivaled in-camera 8K UHD video capabilities.
Fast.
Burst speeds up to 120 fps for stills.
Powerful.
Our most advanced image processing engine.
Unmatched.
All-electronic shutter with the world’s least rolling shutter distortion1.
Intelligent.
Autofocus with subject detection developed from deep learning.
Advanced.
Real-Live Viewfinder with zero blackout.
See it to believe it.
Play Z 8: Are you ready? Play Z 8: Product Tour
A powerhouse for video.
Internal 8K/60p and
4K/120p video.
Up to 8K/60p and 4K/120p
All the depth and detail of 12-bit RAW in a file half the size of ProRes RAW HQ files.
Take a look for yourself. See how Nikon’s N-RAW files perform.
Up to 4K/60p
A professional go-to for its flexibility, consistency and practicality when editing footage taken by different types of cameras all using this codec.
Up to 4K/60p
An industry standard for its rich depth and detail, easy grading and flexibility to edit on-the-go from a laptop.
Simultaneously created in-camera when shooting in ProRes RAW and N-RAW, making editing footage a quicker and smoother process.
Utilizes extensive color depth and dynamic range to give more control over the look of your final footage.
Agile. Modular.
Hold the camera more comfortably and move around more smoothly. Take advantage of a lighter camera system when shooting on a gimbal, with fewer cables and less setup time.
Capture 24 bit linear PCM sound right to the memory card alongside your footage. Compatible with professional XLR microphones using Tascam’s digital adapter CA-XLR2d-AN (sold separately).
Nikon proudly partners with leading innovative brands to minimize the gear you need for a shoot and bring the best experience to the Z 8.
“The compact form factor lets this camera become
part of me and how I flow as a filmmaker.”
– Rodney Lucas, Filmmaker
Fully loaded.
Video Brochure
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Red REC Border
Focus Peaking
Zebra Stripes
Waveform Monitor
ISO Fine Tune
(1/6 EV Steps)
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Linear Focus
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Video Info Display
Custom AF Speed
and Tracking
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Audio Attenuator
Timecode Syncing
Slow Shutter Speeds
(to 1/4 sec)
RAW Proxy Files
Hi-Res Zoom
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Oversampled 4K
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33MP Still Frame Export
Custom Wide-AF
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Shot on Z 8.
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See Z 8 in action.
Landscape
Mike Mezeul II
Fashion
Dixie Dixon
Wedding Filmmaking
Sharrone Calafiore
Sports
Rod Mar
Wedding
Jide Alakija
Storytelling
Jerry Ghionis
Wildlife
Kristi Odom
Fine Art
Malike Sidibe
A dream for photography.
45.7MP stills,
more flexible than ever.
Capture the full dynamic range, color and image information captured by the Z 8’s exceptional 45.7MP full-frame sensor.
Retain the outstanding image quality of traditional RAW with approximately 1/3 smaller file size.
Richer tonal gradation than JPEG with increased luminance at a comparable file size. Great for stills and creating 8K HLG time-lapse videos in-camera.
Applies all of the camera settings to the file for smaller file sizes and quick, easy use.
Blazing fast frame rates.
With unrivaled burst speeds and a seemingly bottomless buffer the
Z 8 gives you the edge when photographing birds, sports, weddings
and once-in-a-lifetime moments.
20 fps
RAW and JPEG
30 fps
JPEG Fine
60 fps
JPEG Normal
DX Crop Mode
120 fps
11MP JPEG
All-electronic shutter with no moving parts.
Performs at lighting-fast speeds with no vibration, noise or wear and tear and virtually no rolling shutter distortion.
Recover the shots you missed with Pre-Release Capture.
The Z 8 can record the moments before and after you actually press the shutter release button, saving shots that would otherwise have been missed.
See how it works
Beautiful portraits
made easy.
Easily make skin look its best while keeping eyes and hair tack-sharp. Works for up to 3 subjects in a shot.
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Simple, precise control over the hues and brightness, all optimized for skin tones.
Manual adjustments are faster and more intuitive, and Auto WB has been optimized for human subjects.
Taking a shot in the
dark is no longer a shot
in the dark.
Major buttons are softly illuminated for easier operation in the dark.
Easily confirm your composition with a thin line indicating the image frame.
Optimize the brightness of the EVF with Lo1 or Lo2 to reduce eye strain.
Preserve your night vision with warm red menu tones and reduced brightness.
AF detection range expands to -9.0 EV* and display optimizes for confirming of point light sources.
*In photo mode, AF-S, ISO 100, f/1.2 lens, 20°C/68°F
Creativity, built right in.
Creative Picture Controls
Motion Blend
Interval Shooting
900-sec. Long Exposure
Focus Shift Photography
Multiple Exposure Mode
Shot on Z 8.
Fast, accurate autofocus.
Nikon’s most advanced
autofocus system.
Developed using deep learning technology.
Focus all the way down to -9.0 EV2.
Follows the fastest, most erratic subjects.
Detects and tracks more
subjects than any other
mirrorless system.
People, cats, dogs, birds, airplanes, motorbikes, vehicles, bicycles and trains.
Fast. Accurate.
Lock on to the eyes of people, pets and birds, even when they’re small in the frame, covered by hair, glasses or goggles, right-side up or upside down.
Wide-area AF offers 20 custom options for defining your focus area.* Ensure the bride and groom are in sharp focus, even when wedding guests are in the foreground.
*12 Wide-area AF C1/C2 options in video mode
Subject detection and AF work all the way down to -6.5 EV. Activate Starlight Mode, and focus all the way down to -9 EV.
Backed by a brilliant
lens system.
Ultra-Wide-Angle
Exotic Primes
f/2.8 Zooms
Super Telephoto
Macro
Compact Lenses
Z mount:
Bigger. Better.
With more light reaching the sensor, fine details and textures are captured faithfully across the entire frame, from corner to corner.
Nikkor Z lenses transform out-of-focus areas into a smooth, beautiful blur that makes subjects stand out.
With the largest full-frame mount of any mirrorless system, Z series lenses have larger rear elements that deliver more light to the sensor.
Many Nikkor Z lenses all but eliminate focus breathing, maintaining a consistent viewing angle while pulling focus in videos.
The wide diameter of the Z mount accommodates more communication points, enabling larger amounts of metering and autofocus data to be shared between the lens and camera.
Use DSLR lenses with no loss of image quality.
Attach the FTZ II Mount Adapter (sold separately) and use over approximately 360 Nikon F-Mount lenses with no loss of image quality and all the benefits of the Z 8’s extraordinary sensor, image processing and in-body image stabilization.
In-body stabilization means every lens has VR.
The Z 8 has 5.5 stops of 5-axis image stabilization built right into its body (6.0 stops3 when using a Nikkor Z lens that supports Synchro VR4). That means even prime lenses get the benefits of VR for steadier video footage, more low-light capabilities and sharper results overall.
Pro build and operation.
Eco-friendly Seerebo® Carbon Fiber
Magnesium Alloy
Sensor Shield
Premium Weather Sealing
Real-Live Viewfinder
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Dual Card Slots
4-Axis Tilting Touchscreen
MB-N12 Battery Grip
(Sold separately)
Fast, convenient
connectivity.
Wirelessly transfer images to your smartphone, computer or even an FTP server.
Remotely control the Z 8 from a smartphone, sync timecodes among compatible devices and more.
Output clean, full resolution footage straight to an external monitor or capture device.
Pro workflow.
One USB data connector (SuperSpeed USB) for file transfers and connecting accessories, another dedicated for charging and providing constant power.
Dedicated tab giving you quick access to key settings.
The USB Type C data connector port supports IEEE 802.3ab gigabit Ethernet with a compatible adapter.
Upload images to a secure FTP server straight from the camera.
Expand your connectivity.
SnapBridge
Instant wireless
mobile uploads.
NX MobileAir
Fast mobile-to-FTP uploads.
Synchronized multiple remote shooting.
NX Tether
Streamlined workflow for you, your team
and clients.
Wireless Transmitter Utility
Connect to networks via wired or wireless.
Want even more?
See All Specs
Compare to Z 8
Close Comparison Chart
| Specification |  D850 |  Z 8 |  Z 9 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Image Sensor | 45.7 MP Backside-Illuminated CMOS Sensor | Same as Z 9 | 45.7 MP Stacked CMOS Sensor |
| Processing Engine | Expeed 5 | Same as Z 9 | Expeed 7 |
| Highest Video Resolution | 4K UHD 30/25/24p | Same as Z 9 | 8.3K 60p N-RAW |
| Video Formats | H.264/MPEG-4 | Same as Z 9 | N-RAW, ProRes RAW HQ, ProRes 422 HQ, H.265/HEVC, H.264/AVC |
| Autofocus System | 153-point AF with 3D tracking | Same as Z 9 | 493 point AF with 3D tracking and subject detection built from deep learning |
| Continuous Shooting | 7 fps RAW | Same as Z 9 | 20 fps RAW/120 fps JPG |
| Maximum Internal Video Record Time | 29 minutes, 59 seconds | 2 hours and 5 minutes in 4K UHD Up to 90 minutes in 8K UHD | 2 hours and 5 minutes |
| Shutter Type | Mechanical/Electronic | Same as Z 9 | Electronic |
| Fastest Shutter Speed | 1/8000 second | Same as Z 9 | 1/32000 second |
| Viewfinder | Optical | Same as Z 9 | Blackout-free Real Live Electronic Viewfinder with up to 120 fps refresh rate |
| Display | Tilting Touchscreen | Same as Z 9 | 4-Axis Tilting Touchscreen |
| Lens Compatibility | F-Mount Nikkor | Same as Z 9 | Nikkor Z F-Mount Nikkor with FTZ or FTZ II Mount Adapters |
| Battery | EN-EL15 series | EN-EL15 series | EN-EL18 series |
| Power Delivery | No | Yes (Dedicated PD port) | Yes |
| Storage Media | CFexpress Type B/XQD + SD | CFexpress Type B/XQD + SD | 2 CFexpress Type B slots |
| Size (W x H x D) | 5.8 in. x 4.9 in. x 3.1 in. | 5.7 in. x 4.7 in. x 3.3 in. | 5.9 in. x 5.9 in. x 3.6 in. |
