Whether you go DSLR or mirrorless, the whole Nikon ecosystem is very attractive right now because of the amazing deals out there on quality F mount glass for people first getting started who need to build a basic kit. I'm shooting a Z7II and have a handful of Z lenses but I still recently picked up a used (flawless to my eyes) AF-S 85mm f/1.8 lens on KEH for a mere $300. Someday I'll pick up the equivalent $800 Z lens, but as a hobby shooter I'm blown away by the value for money from adapting inexpensive last gen lenses to the new bodies and getting the benefits of IBIS, autofocus, etc. This has let me have a wider variety of lenses to play with and learn with while I save up to upgrade to nicer Z lenses over time.
Yeah... invested in the Z system, but still hang on to my D800 and D7200 for the lens experience. I go for a walk, and the old gear speaks to me. End result... I dare you to see the difference. Nikon quality. Every day.
If you put it on "high efficiency *", and only shoot to the fast card, I think you can get nearly unlimited buffer and you wouldn't notice a difference in quality. For wildlife photography I'd recommend that as the way to go.
Love the video, but for us with full frame cameras and the collection of lenses that work with it, the expense is a LOT more than swapping out a $2K camera for a $4k Z#. The Z looks awesome, but I am not sure I am ready to take 20-30 cents on the dollar for every lens and camera that I currently have. When the gap in performance is wider, I will consider it. But for now it isn't wide enough to take that loss. Love the mirrorless systems though. Also, I just checked that source to sell and was offered about $850 for a few pieces of gear that cost me over $5k. If I were being paid for my shots, I would probably consider making the leap though, but as a hobbyist, I am just not there yet..
I bought a 14-24 nikon lens from KEH and the lens was faulty and obviously NOT! tested, I sent it back and they gave me a refund but I have not been able to get the duty back. I would never buy from KEH again try MPB as I am, I am going to trade all my F mount equipment in. So word to the wise stay away from KEH
Love the way you demonstrated everything.. I own a D850 & I don't want to switch to mirrorless for now. As D850 is still the best dslr & I only shoot wedding & Portraits photography. I think D850 is best for portrait.
The D850 is amazing value for those who are unable to spend the money for a Z8. But my Z8 and Z9 are incredible cameras. Z glass…mwah! Firmware 4.0 for the Z9 with features to trickle down to the Z8…fist pump. And for the first time, Tony and Chelsea genuinely seem excited about shooting Nikon for the first time in a long time.
Not interested in Z8 if it’s only 45 Mpix so I got a new D850. If Nikon don’t produce a Z8x with 55-60 Mpix I will go to Fuji GFX 100S system for landscape and use my F-system for wild life
It woud be cool to have a complete side-by-side comparison (dynamic range, autofocus tracking, high ISO in stills AND video, rolling shutter, buffering, hit rate in bursts, 8K, etc) with the R5, the A7V and the A1 :) Thanks ! :)
@@TonyAndChelsea I think that will be key, we know Sony and Canon are all over AF but its not until you have them side by side and calculate keeper rate can you be sure. I really want to give Nikon a go as sharpness for me is one of the most important characteristics when shooting wildlife. However they have been in a bad place for so long and having never used them it feels like a risk. I also don't really know what their Macro lens line up looks like the other half of the equation for me.
If you sell your good DSLR for a mirrorless then you are wasting your money I think. I have a Nikon D810 36MP with sharp lenses and bought all of it used. UA-camrs rely on convincing you to buy the latest gear which keeps their channel afloat and sponsors happy.
It's funny to me how much Nikon owners especially get their panties in a bunch whenever anybody dare suggests there may be better cameras out there.. There's features on these newer mirrorless cameras that, for example - hybrid shooters truly need that the old dslrs cannot provide. For astro work, having real time ability to fully see a composition in the dark is incredible. And many more examples. So get off your high horse dude and realize that there's pros and cons to both systems. It's narcissistic to think what works for you hands down works for the entire world. Folks got to get over themselves.
I have a D810, but the z8 is definitely better and will likely convince me to switch to mirrorless. I was going to buy a D850 but I honestly don’t have a real reason to do that. It’s mostly just a “last in its line” type thing. I’ll probably buy a Z8 then get a used D850 at some point. As far as “need” I can still use my FM3A to get great pics but it doesn’t mean I want to just continue to use it lol
As a DSLR hater, you're spot on man. Mirrorless is great, and it has it's benefits no doubt, but a lot of the tactics they use to push you towards it aren't consumer friendly at all. Why get rid of the F mount? Literally just for sales. Because imagine how much more fun the ZF or ZFC would be if they were F mount native? That would make me buy a nikon forsure.
Mirrorless cameras are amazing, but I do feel they became mainstream before the viewfinders were up to the job. I still prefer a DSLR view of the world, but it's only a matter of time before EVFs become comparable with your actual eyesight (i.e. at maximum zoom they still have full resolution indistinguishable from the 'zoomed out' view)
I love these Casio style TN displays. They are crystal clear in bright sunlight and gives a perfect retro futuristic vibe. Much better than the top display on my R5 in my opinion.
The Casio style displays stay on even when the camera is off. It tells the number of frames remaining on the card, which was always useful. Now it's turn on the camera, see the frames remaining counter, turn the camera off, take the card out, put in a different card, turn the camera on, see the frames remaining in the new card.
Also, the old school "Casio style" LCD without backlight (unless turned on when needed) has negligible power consumption, unlike the modern ones which require permanent and more power hungry backlight (or active (O)LED display) for you to even see anything. This is why they are preferred for status display on DSLRs and it's part of why DSLRs are able to run for so long without charging. (On mirrorless with its EVF, it doesn't matter that much.) It's kind of sad that Tony Northrup keeps making fun of "Casio LCD" without ever mentioning this important detail.
@@michalkubecek It is part of the UA-cam Photography Influencer contract. Find the items you're known for complaining about and hold onto it for dear life... Or at least dear views!
100% agree on the effectiveness of the “Casio readout.” The top readout on my Z8 is impossible to see with polarized sunglasses. A major limitation but otherwise I LOVE the Z8.
Yeah that seems pointless... That screen doesn't need the flexibility of an RGB OLED panel, and it's not worth all the drawbacks: - Much high power consumption - Poor visibility to see in bright sun - Degradation and burn in (especially when at high brightness or exposed to UV) - Invisible with polarized sunglasses - Cost Just seems like new for the sake of new. That screen is for quickly and easily seeing your settings - once it becomes difficult to see or require adjusting brightness or anything, you might as well not have it at all.
Love the video. Suggestion for another video: the recent Z9 4.0 Firmware update touts a number of AF improvements, particularly addressing subject tracking in distant low contrast scenarios. This was an issue you two pointed out in a previous video, saying that Nikon lags behind Canon and Sony in these situations. I saw one video that tested the general improvement to 3D tracking in 4.0, but I've seen no tests (as of this writing) on whether or not Nikon is now on par or inching closer to other brands regarding AF in these difficult tracking situations.
Love the camera. In my opinion a huge upgrade from the D850, which I loved! My first time out and locking focus on eyes of birds, people running at me !! Quiet, I love it all so much. Like I say huge update to me. I put my 500pf on it wow!
The difference between these cameras is obvious but the D850 will always be a personal favorite. I shoot with the Sony A1 , 600mm f/4 and yet still adore Nikons color science. Would love to test drive the z8 and z9 with z lens.
@@TonyAndChelsea There is also the general need for UA-cam photography influencers to emphasize the 3-5% where cameras are different. It's in the YT contract for gear reviews, in any industry, as a means of getting good placement in each viewer's "Recommended Videos". [sarcasm... sort of...]
I would really like to know how the vibration reduction works with F Mount Nikon Lens. Does both lens and sensor contribute to the stabilization? If lens VR is ON how does the Z8 use or not use both VR? What if you turn VR off on the lens? Do 3rd party lens cause the Z8 to react differently when VR is on? Lots of conflicting info on UA-cam.
I'm not a video shooter, and after almost 2 years with mirrorless, I've gone completely back to DSLR, mostly for the optical VF, especially in bright light. To each their own.
Your a weird person! Not sure what u want people to say to such a strange comment. The mirrorless cameras are better in almost every way. The viewfinders are amazing! An Oled viewfinder is near perfect
Lovely video. Just got myself a Pentax 67. This baby produces brilliant pictures, blimey, just for the sake of oldtimey vs moveon discussion. BTW I have got a D850 and ain't changing it for anything else. Got a load of good glass for the F mount. There's nothing that would justify the switch, it's already 100 times better than my skills deserve. I would guess that's the case for many. Thanks for the content guys, you're doing nice stuff, one of the very few I still follow..
The D500 is still a better camera for wildlife than either. I have both the D500 and the D850. I never use the D850 for wildlife anymore. I just use the D850 for landscapes.
I'm still rocking the D850 and will continue with such a great camera. Though I'm on the fence until the Z9 gets the Z8's skin softening feature when I go mirrorless.
I think my reason to get a z8 would be to use my dslr lenses because at this point if I sell them I would get enough to get just one lens and that math is not in my favor. But since I like to use my camera with a grip the z9 seems like the better option for me.
I went from a D850 to a Z9. The $6k plus $2k for memory cards was a very good investment for as much as I use it. I went from 10 pics a month with a D850 to two hundred pics every month because I love the Z9 so much.
Also, my favorite thing about an optical viewfinder is shooting sunsets and being blinded by the sun. I was out shooting for my first time on mirrorless and it was so amazing photographing a sunset directly from my viewfinder and seeing the results without moving my eye
Since when is that a thing? Also, If the sun is somehow bright enough to blind you through the viewfinder, it's probably enough to damage the sensor which is constantly exposed with mirrorless, and at sunrise/set that probably means a boring, hazy, flat photo anyways... If anything, mirrorless is worse because of the limited dynamic range and resolution
Yes Tony, the D850 was perhaps the greatest "DSLR" of all time... although I think the D3 and D300s might also compete for that title. But really, whether you get the Z8, D850, or even a D3 or D300s (despite the D3/D300s being older) you're getting a good camera regardless. In one sense, though, I think the Z8 has a slight edge, not just including the newer technology, but the fact that it can take both the older F-mount lenses (via the FTZ) and the newer Z lenses (which some are greatly improved over their F-mount counterparts). Can't do that with any of the DSLRs. But as far as a modernized camera (one made within the past 5-6 years) you really can't go wrong with either one, but if you are buying new the Z8 might make more sense, despite being $1500 more (it will have a longer shelf life and will receive more updates -- the D850 is pretty much at the end of its life in terms of support, so no feature updates or bug fixes for the D850, and in some cases, some of the issues with the D850 were improved or fixed on the Z8). I wouldn't necessarily say the Z8 can kick the D850's butt, although it probably can, but more importantly, Nikon Z shooters now have a viable option that can be used for things like sports/wildlife photography (that doesn't have the extra bulk of the Z9, and it's cheaper). So I think that is the big takeaway here, not that the D850 is better/worse than the Z8, because the Z8 is really just a modernized D850 that can do 8k video and has some refinements over the D850 but it's not like it's worlds better necessarily). Unfortunately the Z7 and Z6 fell short in terms of sports and wildlife photography (not that it can't be done, but it usually lead to a much lower keeper rate than what people were getting with the competition). Now the Z8 allows people to compete on the same level as the A7R IV/V, and the R5 AND it keeps Nikon in the game and helps stop the bleeding from those who perhaps switched when the Z II's came out and they got fed up and went to Sony or Canon. Personally I'm glad I held out and stuck with Nikon (as the cost to switch was too high anyway, but I figured they left a gap in the line-up for a reason and that it would be filled in sooner than later, it was only a matter of time).
Had a D800 for 11 years now, and with over 200,000 shutter actuations, it has been well used. My D850 is almost 3 years old and had only 15,000 actuations, but I still love shooting both cameras. My Z8 should arrive next week, along with a "cheap" Nikon Z mount 24-70 f4 lens, and I hope to use it at the Bathurst 1000 car races that weekend. Having still got probably $30k in F mount lenses, I'll be keeping the D850 (Wife is getting the D800 as an upgrade from her Nikon D3200), but buying an adapter to use them on the Z mount as well. I have played with a few mirrorless cameras, and the Z8 & Z9 are the only ones that really felt "right" in my hands, and thats all that matters to me besides image quality. Also did anyone else shudder at all the footage with no lens or blank on the camera body?
Well done devils advocate production. I feel better now about not being able to afford going mirrorless. I will keep my 2 D850s and full range of landscape and wildlife lenses. As an underfunded retiree it is torture not have the latest and greatest any longer.
Yesssss... I'm right there with Tony at 3:04; I did trade in for a Z8, but that one little dial has been a constant part of my workflow and situational awareness for five years, and though I feel silly complaining about something so little, I do really miss it.
The flipping mirror of an SLR or DSLR is therapeutic in still photography experience. In some mirror less, especially the ones with no black out, you don't feel and don't know when the picture is taken.
Any festival / nightlife photographers that switched from a D850 to a Z8? How is the low-light performace/AF on the Z8 compared to the D850? I'm asking because my Z6II seems to be struggling more than my D750. And I'm torn between getting the D850 and Z8. I also do video so Z8 seems to be the better choice.
Tony & Chelsea, patients is a virtue! I was planning to upgrade from my D7200 with the Z9, then a used D850 to save money, and now the Z8. You two have sold me as a wildlife landscape photographer. One day you two will enjoy a restaurant gift certificate from me. Thanks again for the comparison of Nikon's flagship cameras .😊
A famous pastor in Atlanta died recently, it is my understanding that he actually helped KEH get started years ago. A few months before he died he bought a Leica M10 and five lens, it cost him over $40,000. The owner of KEH called his daughter and offered her $10,000. For it all, not knowing better she took it! I won’t spend a dime with my business owner that would do that, to a friend, no less!
Fryday, June 16th, 2023, I was Born to be a Bachelor, and a Professional Photographer. Mona is a Professional Model that I met on the 4th floor of DAYS INN in Livonia, Michigan on my "Happy Birthday Neal Fry" Enjoying Dinner and Drinks at Supernatural Brewing and Spirits. Vick my Buddy and Army Brother in Arms from Fort Hood, Texas prepared Korean Meat Balls and Drinks from The United States Marine Corp Stationed in Iraq. I'll Always remember June 14TH, '23 Forever... I'll Always Love my Paradise Pictures a Division of Fry's Enterprise Worldwide.
I've been selling the D850 since it came out. Many people were hesitant to switch to Z since the D850 held the standard so high. The Z8 is the true successor the D850, if you're still on the fence about the Z mirrorless system- there's never been a better time to hop into the Z system.
There has never been a better time to go mirror as well. You can buy used dslr camera bodies with all accessories and lens collection for a fraction nowadays.
I have both the Z 9 and Z 8 and my family owns the Sony A 1 (and Black Magic and RED) the Z 9 and Z 8 are about the BEST. The battery life is very good with both top of the line Z cameras. The fact that Tony does know that the D850 is pretty outdated. IF I went back to D series NEW I'd get the D 7500 and a Nikon 200-500 f 5.6 which is a great deal. I turn down the Z 9 and Z 8 the camera sound to 1.
Tired of 90% of the videos about the z8 being about wildlife reviews. I'm sure the majority of people buying this camera will be for portraits and landscape. Let's get a real review with a model and nighttime landscape comparison vs the d850.
That makes no sense. The z8 is a fast camera for sports and wildlife lol. The z7ii is nikon landscape camera, has better dynamic range as well. The fact that you are sick of something doesnt make the z8 not a wildlife/sports camera
I think if it can perform well in a wildlife setting, there's no reason it wouldn't be able to handle portraiture. Wildlife is pretty much the most technologically demanding type of photography.
This video felt like watching this channel in 2014/2015 when I fell in love with it. Something just feels right about you guys praising Nikon, shooting Ospreys and talking about new cameras you're excited for! We need photo critiques back!
I use the D850 for wildlife photography. You overlooked the fact that the battery grip not only gives you 9 fps but it does make your AF far more responsive. I will not part with my OVF D850 simply because the IQ is absolutely stunning. Plus, as most people are rushing out to buy mirrorless, the market is lush with the best Nikon F fixed focal glass. Photography, to me, remains an optical experience; electronics come in second to help optimize sensor capture. If you’re leaning towards an artistic approach with the best possible IQ, the D850 will never disappoint. If you are more into nailing perfect postures or BIF shots, then go for the Z8. In the end, younger generations will have no qualms working with EVFs but for older generations +65 who spend some 30 years professional years straining their eyes in dual screens, the Optical viewfinder is quite a relief.
Personally I feel it is time to move on. Nikon had said they won’t be putting their resources into DSLR and much as I love all my DSLRs, I went ahead with the Z cameras. Bought a Z6II first and then now the Z8 and never looked back. I have since retired all my DSLRs and lenses and moved on.
Haha love watching you guys! Still own a 8008S...D200, D700, D850, Z6ii, and a Z8...and toooooo many F mount lenses! Plus a few Z lenses...I like them all!!! (GAS)
Still nothing nice to say about Nikon. For a minute, I thought you were trying to get into their “good-graces”, but alas I was mistaken. Looks like Nikon has also given up on you too, especially since three or four years ago you were predicting their demise. Well they’re back with a vengeance. The Z9 is probably the best flagship mirrorless at a really competitive price, and I’m sure the Z8 is going to sell extremely well.
I'm trying to decide between a d7500 (far better af, not as good for video) and the z50, I'm a little more leaned towards investing on the z system hopping to see a z80 or z90 capable of the same af performances as the z8/9 someday.
Looking through the viewfinder made my mind up not to go mirror-less. I can live without all the other bells and whistles, most of the stuff I will never use. Most of the time I don't even use the auto-focus. I was brought up with cameras in the 60s and if one missed a shot, one missed it! The one thing I don't really miss is all those chemical fumes in the darkroom.
indeed, for a low priced full frame it's a really good camera with very few compromise if what you are looking for is mostly an everyday camera to take mostly photo. You can even get pretty good 1080p video since nikon 1080p is really nice and it's AF seems to be even better than the upgraded Z6. And unlike canon "cheap" full frame you still get IBIS, weather sealing and a truly great battery ! Oh yeah, and nikon's Z lenses are truly great too :) i truly hope people will finaly stop the nikon bashing.
I have a Z8, Z7II and a Z5. Each is loaded with a lens in my normal carry and I agree. The Z5 is brilliant. The fact it still gets regular use despite me having a 7ii and an 8 in literally the same bag speaks volumes for it.
So what would everyone recommend? I have a D750 and looking to upgrade. I can buy a used D850 for about $1700 or a new Z8 for $3600… what makes the most sense? Is the Z8 worth that much more?? I don’t shoot video.
Lol.. FINALLY time... such snobs you are. I've been using my mirrorless camera for many many years and laugh regularly at folks lugging their heavy DSLR's around... come one man... this is old news.
Lol, love your vids guys. DSLR noise ? Come on. I do not shoot wildlife! .... or funerals lol. Come on. This whole shutter noise is a joke. Think about people , who was taking all the kick ass photos from 1953 to DSLR. National geographic, hello ! . And many other situations where shutter noise doesn't mean shit. I'm shooting a D800 with low shutter count. Beautiful. I bought a new Fujifilm xt30 several years back just to give this mirrorless thing a go. I lasted 1 year 3 months. To small, to fussy finding buttons, it's a great camera for little hands & traveling. It takes great photos but so not me. Nikon shooter 100% . Love you guys, Chelsea & Tony. 😁📷🌷🇨🇦
My biggest concerns with switching to Mirrorless has been how small the camera is, compatibility of my F mount lenses that took me quite a while to collect. I mean I know the FTZ adapter I know is supposed to help but I can not manually focus as fast as the camera can. I bought a D7000 to upgrade from my D2x and it was so small. I find myself shooting with the D2x more often. It actually was one of the reasons that led me to take step away from photography for a while. I'm back at it again now and have been considering the D780 with a vertical grip as I'm pretty sure all my lenses are compatible with it but then I'm like should I get the D850 instead? The Z8 has my interests peaked but I'm still not so sure about my old F Mount lenses and being functional with it...
d780 has the same sensor PDAF as the z6. I just got the z8, it is like a d750 size. D850 are for big hand people, which most mirrorless except for the z9 are just smaller. Ihave 10 f mount lenses and just 3 z lenses. I still use the f mount on the ftz. I still own the d750 and DF. I go the z8 and z30 also. It is just what I feel like shooting. Big heavy dslr DF (I got a pinky extender). In rain i pull out the d750, if it gets wets I don't care. Z8 for most other things, and z30 for video and walkaround since it is mall and cheap.
@@xophaser I had a Z6II in my hands and it was tight for my hands kinda like the D7000. The D610 feels much better with the vertical grip, more like my D100 with a grip, D2x. So all of your old lenses work just as they would on a F Mount Body?
@@justplanefred yes all the f mount af-s does. I can't tell the differences. I have 1 af-d and it is the screwdriver AF, and it doesn't AF. I used the battery grip for the z7ii, but sold both of it to fund the z8.
I use my D850 primarily for landscape and architecture. Is the image quality of the Z8 with Z pro glass THAT much better than the D850? Or do you have to pixel peep to see the difference?
I own a Nikon D850 with Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 FX AF-S G ED and Nikon Z7ii also have the NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S - The Z series S line is better. Noticeably when backlit and some other ways Tony described as far as sharpness. But that all depends on what your final output is. All of these are excellent choices in bodies and optics. But if you appreciate the differences, then it has value. There isn’t a wrong decision.
I’d love to upgrade to mirror less but unfortunately I’ve not got an extra 4k lying around plus full frame lenses lol, guess I’m sticking with the d500 for now
Having a Nikon D500 and added a D850 a month ago. I think there is more to this than just the ticket price of the body. I waited for the Z8 to come out, but to use that 20 FPS you need CFexpress cards and a reader, you just added on £500. Then Do you really want a top-of-the-line Z8 and use an FTZ converter?. I decided to go with a D850 with a shutter count of 6100 a Tamron 24-70mm 2.8 G2 and a Tamron 70-200mm 2.8 G2 both amazing value second hand. Total cost all like brand new £3000. A Z8 with Nikon Z lens 24-70 2.8 and 70-200 2.8 Total as it's all got to be new with mem cards over £9000. To me, the Z8 is not worth it and I only shot stills. Not interested in Vidio at all. Also thanks to you both I went for the 2 Tamrons Lens, they are amazing on the D850 with the 5 stops of VR both lenses have. A huge bonus is the 70-200 on the D500, 105-300 2.8 with the VR, very cool.
Please check out the Z8 & Z 400mm f4.5 lens. Its a really lightweight combo that can get you upto 600mm f4.5 exposure at 20MP (DX photo mode). With a 1.4 Tc you can get upto 840mm at f6.3 exposure in DX photo Mode. In video 4K120p DX video mode you can get upto 920mm & with a 1.4 Tc, upto 1288mm. Its crazy reach for a 1.2Kg lens, due to the 2.3x crop factor in DX mode for 4k120p. I think there is a 2x High Res Zoom without loss of quality in 4k24p in FX mode. That is equivalent to 800mm f4.5 FX video reach and 1120mm f6.3 FX video reach with a 1.4 Tc. Its looks insane for such a lightweight combo.
Hey guys .... who's gonna clean both of those camera's sensors?!!!??? On the Z8, you can bring the sensor shield down by removing the battery w/ cam on.
There are adapters to put a Nikon F-mount lens on Nikon-Z, Canon-RF, and Sony-FE mounts. The main thing is whether the lens is at least "AI-S", and is not an "E" lens like the 105mm f/1.4E.
Hm, like fringing and noise, editing software could come up with a pushbutton fix for that Borg-like grid flare that totally does create a distracting, unnatural artifact. And I LIKE noise, sensor dust, flares, leaks, and blurs. (for Street photography).
optical view finder is kind to your eyes lets see in 10 years time what your eye site is like looking at an oled that is very close to your eye ive got the z9 d850 among other cameras and the d850 build quality in my opinion is far better
A D850 is totally worth it still if you don't need it for video. If you can afford it, then a Z8 might be for you. The new Z8 looks like a winner with some advanced technology, good for upgrading. The Z8 seems like a worthy successor to D850. (unless you prefer optical viewfinders).
Just got my hands on a used D850, and it's an incredible upgrade from Micro Loser Thirds regarding dynamic range and just a popping feel to the images. No doubt the Z8/Z9 looks amazing, and I'll probably get on in 5-6 years when the prices come down to a reasonable level for us filthy amateurs.
Great video and thanks. I have the D850 and just hate to spend all of the extra money for the Z8. I guess these are good problems to have. Again, thanks.
Let's establish something here: Sony invented the mirrorless FF camera, with absolutely no regard for ergonomics, sacrificing everything (including image quality!!!) for the sake of a light body. They *dragged* Canon and Nikon (two companies who actually have a history with stills cameras) into this new paradigm because consumer photographers are babies and think that the weight of the camera is some kind of huge issue so they bought up the A7 series like crazy. And for what?? So my hand would be cramped at the end of a long shoot from squishing my fingers together to grip it? The DSLR/Z8 size is and has always been the ideal size for a professional camera, we shouldn't let a non-camera company like Sony dictate the needs of pros!
Also the benefits of EVF's are really only beneficial for amateurs and hobbyists. If you're a an actually skilled photographer, you don't need the screen to show you what your pic is gonna look like before you take it, you should already know based on your settings and looking at your environment! We talk about the resolution of EVFs as if OVFs don't provide instantly maximum "resolution" and no lag whatsoever.
Sorry Nikon, while I still have a deep affection for your nostalgic advertising music-"welcome home," I continue to cherish and possess your classic cameras such as the F, F3 limited, F5 limited, and D850. However, your latest camera z8 fails to captivate my excitement, but I will come home one day.
Chelsea doesn't get that everyone doesn't have $4,000 to blow on a camera body only. Some of us want an outstanding full frame camera for stills. A D850 is a great camera. If you have a $8000-10000 + budget for body and a few lenses, by all means, buy the Z8, but I'm sure there are less and less people in the high end camera marketplace as a result. Pro photographers only will be the motto of camera makers of the future.
I downloaded raw images from mirrorless cameras including Z series and happy to report D810 is still better than them. If you know how to take better pictures. Will be buying D850 or D900\D950 next time. If you want machine to all the work, why not iPhone 16 Pro?
Can you test the Nikon F mount holy trinity lenses on the Z8 vs the D810/D850? Could you also test third party Nikon F mount lenses on the Z8 with the FTZ II adapter (e.g. a Tamron or Sigma F mount lens on the Z8 camera)? Major thanks for keeping up with the honest reviews and content!
Hi. Check our Nikon Lens review playlist on our channel for our reviews of the 24-70 and 70-200. They were done on the Z7 and D850 which have the same IQ as th eD850. Honestly we were never particularly happy with how third-party lenses focused on F-mount bodies so we stopped recommending them at some point.
@@TonyAndChelsea Thanks! I will review that video again. I must've forgot that part! I have had decent success with Tamron on my Nikon D810. Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro 1:1 VC USD and a Tamron 100-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD. Nikon never made a first party 100-400mm focal range which I think is a stellar landscape and light duty wildlife lens that is "light" enough to go hiking. I was very happy to see that Nikon announced a 100-400mm lens for the Z mount. When I can afford the platform that will definitely be a buy!
@@PJ-om2wq I have been running a Nikon D810 and the Tamron 100-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD and really like it! Its one of my favorite lenses and goes with me everywhere. I would definitely buy the lens again if the unit broke.
I have a D810, I'd like to have a D850, I like the OVF so I can see the scene with my real eyes. It is really hard to beat the D850. However if someone would give me a Z8 I might get over all of that. Oh yeah and I've personally had good resuilts buying from KEH so I would certainly do that again. I've had the same experience with my D810- the first photo is the bird perched, the second photo is only the tailfeathers as the bird flies away. I'm going to try to settle for just a Z6.
If you can’t make a decent photo on a D850 a Z8 isn’t going to help you. Take up knitting or origami instead.
Whether you go DSLR or mirrorless, the whole Nikon ecosystem is very attractive right now because of the amazing deals out there on quality F mount glass for people first getting started who need to build a basic kit. I'm shooting a Z7II and have a handful of Z lenses but I still recently picked up a used (flawless to my eyes) AF-S 85mm f/1.8 lens on KEH for a mere $300. Someday I'll pick up the equivalent $800 Z lens, but as a hobby shooter I'm blown away by the value for money from adapting inexpensive last gen lenses to the new bodies and getting the benefits of IBIS, autofocus, etc. This has let me have a wider variety of lenses to play with and learn with while I save up to upgrade to nicer Z lenses over time.
Yeah... invested in the Z system, but still hang on to my D800 and D7200 for the lens experience. I go for a walk, and the old gear speaks to me. End result... I dare you to see the difference. Nikon quality. Every day.
If you put it on "high efficiency *", and only shoot to the fast card, I think you can get nearly unlimited buffer and you wouldn't notice a difference in quality. For wildlife photography I'd recommend that as the way to go.
Love the video, but for us with full frame cameras and the collection of lenses that work with it, the expense is a LOT more than swapping out a $2K camera for a $4k Z#. The Z looks awesome, but I am not sure I am ready to take 20-30 cents on the dollar for every lens and camera that I currently have. When the gap in performance is wider, I will consider it. But for now it isn't wide enough to take that loss. Love the mirrorless systems though. Also, I just checked that source to sell and was offered about $850 for a few pieces of gear that cost me over $5k. If I were being paid for my shots, I would probably consider making the leap though, but as a hobbyist, I am just not there yet..
I bought a 14-24 nikon lens from KEH and the lens was faulty and obviously NOT! tested, I sent it back and they gave me a refund but I have not been able to get the duty back. I would never buy from KEH again try MPB as I am, I am going to trade all my F mount equipment in. So word to the wise stay away from KEH
Z8 incoming. And the auto capture feature they just brought out for the Z9 is a KILLER! Due to come to the z8
Just got my 850 today. Yet to try it. I'm excited.
pro or hobbyist photography?
@@mwangimoses4105 pro
An outstanding camera!
You will love it!
My mom used it since 2017 and it still rocks
Love the way you demonstrated everything.. I own a D850 & I don't want to switch to mirrorless for now.
As D850 is still the best dslr & I only shoot wedding & Portraits photography. I think D850 is best for portrait.
It's honestly even better for Landscapes and Architecture.
The D850 is amazing value for those who are unable to spend the money for a Z8. But my Z8 and Z9 are incredible cameras. Z glass…mwah! Firmware 4.0 for the Z9 with features to trickle down to the Z8…fist pump.
And for the first time, Tony and Chelsea genuinely seem excited about shooting Nikon for the first time in a long time.
Very good
Not interested in Z8 if it’s only 45 Mpix so I got a new D850. If Nikon don’t produce a Z8x with 55-60 Mpix I will go to Fuji GFX 100S system for landscape and use my F-system for wild life
It’s been 5 years and I love my D850 ❤
It woud be cool to have a complete side-by-side comparison (dynamic range, autofocus tracking, high ISO in stills AND video, rolling shutter, buffering, hit rate in bursts, 8K, etc) with the R5, the A7V and the A1 :) Thanks ! :)
Coming soon!
@@TonyAndChelsea I think that will be key, we know Sony and Canon are all over AF but its not until you have them side by side and calculate keeper rate can you be sure. I really want to give Nikon a go as sharpness for me is one of the most important characteristics when shooting wildlife. However they have been in a bad place for so long and having never used them it feels like a risk. I also don't really know what their Macro lens line up looks like the other half of the equation for me.
For me also… Also to see side by side print results. Print is the final result for me and if doesn’t improve it’s not an upgrade but more an update
@@TonyAndChelsea Wait for that promised Z8 AF firmware update expected soon.
If you sell your good DSLR for a mirrorless then you are wasting your money I think. I have a Nikon D810 36MP with sharp lenses and bought all of it used. UA-camrs rely on convincing you to buy the latest gear which keeps their channel afloat and sponsors happy.
It's funny to me how much Nikon owners especially get their panties in a bunch whenever anybody dare suggests there may be better cameras out there.. There's features on these newer mirrorless cameras that, for example - hybrid shooters truly need that the old dslrs cannot provide. For astro work, having real time ability to fully see a composition in the dark is incredible. And many more examples. So get off your high horse dude and realize that there's pros and cons to both systems. It's narcissistic to think what works for you hands down works for the entire world. Folks got to get over themselves.
You have contradicted yourself in that comment you wrote, the question is will you spot it.
I have a D810, but the z8 is definitely better and will likely convince me to switch to mirrorless. I was going to buy a D850 but I honestly don’t have a real reason to do that. It’s mostly just a “last in its line” type thing. I’ll probably buy a Z8 then get a used D850 at some point.
As far as “need” I can still use my FM3A to get great pics but it doesn’t mean I want to just continue to use it lol
As a DSLR hater, you're spot on man. Mirrorless is great, and it has it's benefits no doubt, but a lot of the tactics they use to push you towards it aren't consumer friendly at all. Why get rid of the F mount? Literally just for sales. Because imagine how much more fun the ZF or ZFC would be if they were F mount native? That would make me buy a nikon forsure.
@@ShakurTheAshier the Z mount allows for more compact lenses because it doesn’t have to factor in the mirror. It makes sense to switch.
Great video. Thanks. Very informative and entertaining as well. I plan to keep my D850, and I’m quite happy with the Z7ii.
Mirrorless cameras are amazing, but I do feel they became mainstream before the viewfinders were up to the job. I still prefer a DSLR view of the world, but it's only a matter of time before EVFs become comparable with your actual eyesight (i.e. at maximum zoom they still have full resolution indistinguishable from the 'zoomed out' view)
I love these Casio style TN displays. They are crystal clear in bright sunlight and gives a perfect retro futuristic vibe. Much better than the top display on my R5 in my opinion.
The Casio style displays stay on even when the camera is off. It tells the number of frames remaining on the card, which was always useful. Now it's turn on the camera, see the frames remaining counter, turn the camera off, take the card out, put in a different card, turn the camera on, see the frames remaining in the new card.
Also, the old school "Casio style" LCD without backlight (unless turned on when needed) has negligible power consumption, unlike the modern ones which require permanent and more power hungry backlight (or active (O)LED display) for you to even see anything. This is why they are preferred for status display on DSLRs and it's part of why DSLRs are able to run for so long without charging. (On mirrorless with its EVF, it doesn't matter that much.) It's kind of sad that Tony Northrup keeps making fun of "Casio LCD" without ever mentioning this important detail.
@@michalkubecek It is part of the UA-cam Photography Influencer contract. Find the items you're known for complaining about and hold onto it for dear life... Or at least dear views!
100% agree on the effectiveness of the “Casio readout.” The top readout on my Z8 is impossible to see with polarized sunglasses. A major limitation but otherwise I LOVE the Z8.
Yeah that seems pointless... That screen doesn't need the flexibility of an RGB OLED panel, and it's not worth all the drawbacks:
- Much high power consumption
- Poor visibility to see in bright sun
- Degradation and burn in (especially when at high brightness or exposed to UV)
- Invisible with polarized sunglasses
- Cost
Just seems like new for the sake of new. That screen is for quickly and easily seeing your settings - once it becomes difficult to see or require adjusting brightness or anything, you might as well not have it at all.
Is it just me or is anyone else cringing at them sitting casually with those open sensors ⚰️⚰️⚰️
Love the video. Suggestion for another video: the recent Z9 4.0 Firmware update touts a number of AF improvements, particularly addressing subject tracking in distant low contrast scenarios. This was an issue you two pointed out in a previous video, saying that Nikon lags behind Canon and Sony in these situations. I saw one video that tested the general improvement to 3D tracking in 4.0, but I've seen no tests (as of this writing) on whether or not Nikon is now on par or inching closer to other brands regarding AF in these difficult tracking situations.
Love the camera. In my opinion a huge upgrade from the D850, which I loved! My first time out and locking focus on eyes of birds, people running at me !! Quiet, I love it all so much. Like I say huge update to me. I put my 500pf on it wow!
Not everyone do wildlife ...... Besides, spraying the shutter, and hoping for one good shot, is that good photography?
The D500 is what the better photographers use for wildlife. Same pixel density as the D850.
Agree
The difference between these cameras is obvious but the D850 will always be a personal favorite. I shoot with the Sony A1 , 600mm f/4 and yet still adore Nikons color science. Would love to test drive the z8 and z9 with z lens.
Wow, you guys are finally saying positive things about Nikon cameras, after years of disparaging reviews.
Nikon has made a great deal of progress.
@@TonyAndChelsea There is also the general need for UA-cam photography influencers to emphasize the 3-5% where cameras are different. It's in the YT contract for gear reviews, in any industry, as a means of getting good placement in each viewer's "Recommended Videos". [sarcasm... sort of...]
Crazy, Nikon makes a good camera and it gets a positive review. Shocking.
It’s not them that change it’s the product quality. Finally Nikon introduce something worth investing.
@@Chrisjonovi The idea that prior Nikon products were not worth investing in is absurd.
I would really like to know how the vibration reduction works with F Mount Nikon Lens. Does both lens and sensor contribute to the stabilization? If lens VR is ON how does the Z8 use or not use both VR? What if you turn VR off on the lens? Do 3rd party lens cause the Z8 to react differently when VR is on? Lots of conflicting info on UA-cam.
I'm not a video shooter, and after almost 2 years with mirrorless, I've gone completely back to DSLR, mostly for the optical VF, especially in bright light.
To each their own.
I shoot both f mount and z mount, depends on the situation
Your a weird person! Not sure what u want people to say to such a strange comment. The mirrorless cameras are better in almost every way. The viewfinders are amazing! An Oled viewfinder is near perfect
Very good very good
Tony I agree with you my brother! The DSLR is not dead, plus the D850 is still a beast of a camera. But I can't knock the Z8.
Almost nobody handles there camera's this way without a lens on the body... dust every
where
Oompa Loompas clean their sensors before every shoot
Lovely video. Just got myself a Pentax 67. This baby produces brilliant pictures, blimey, just for the sake of oldtimey vs moveon discussion. BTW I have got a D850 and ain't changing it for anything else. Got a load of good glass for the F mount. There's nothing that would justify the switch, it's already 100 times better than my skills deserve. I would guess that's the case for many. Thanks for the content guys, you're doing nice stuff, one of the very few I still follow..
I love your content. You are both awesome. Thank you for all of the great info on UA-cam and in SDP. I really appreciate it.
The D500 is still a better camera for wildlife than either. I have both the D500 and the D850. I never use the D850 for wildlife anymore. I just use the D850 for landscapes.
I'm still rocking the D850 and will continue with such a great camera. Though I'm on the fence until the Z9 gets the Z8's skin softening feature when I go mirrorless.
I think my reason to get a z8 would be to use my dslr lenses because at this point if I sell them I would get enough to get just one lens and that math is not in my favor. But since I like to use my camera with a grip the z9 seems like the better option for me.
I went from a D850 to a Z9. The $6k plus $2k for memory cards was a very good investment for as much as I use it. I went from 10 pics a month with a D850 to two hundred pics every month because I love the Z9 so much.
Wow
10 pics a month?
@@MarcelloBranca All I was doing with a D850. The Z9 though, I'm thousands of pictures behind.
Also, my favorite thing about an optical viewfinder is shooting sunsets and being blinded by the sun.
I was out shooting for my first time on mirrorless and it was so amazing photographing a sunset directly from my viewfinder and seeing the results without moving my eye
Optical viewfinders are like driving an Edsel
@@stevep927 one that explodes when your turn the ignition over. Honestly, I don’t know how Chelsea can still tolerate a guy who uses an OVF. gross!
@@Moriningland I was one of the first to go digital and I can still remember the "veterans" saying it would never replace film.
Since when is that a thing?
Also, If the sun is somehow bright enough to blind you through the viewfinder, it's probably enough to damage the sensor which is constantly exposed with mirrorless, and at sunrise/set that probably means a boring, hazy, flat photo anyways...
If anything, mirrorless is worse because of the limited dynamic range and resolution
@@bugostare never realized that. Guess I’m going to have to stop doing time lapses
Yes Tony, the D850 was perhaps the greatest "DSLR" of all time... although I think the D3 and D300s might also compete for that title. But really, whether you get the Z8, D850, or even a D3 or D300s (despite the D3/D300s being older) you're getting a good camera regardless. In one sense, though, I think the Z8 has a slight edge, not just including the newer technology, but the fact that it can take both the older F-mount lenses (via the FTZ) and the newer Z lenses (which some are greatly improved over their F-mount counterparts). Can't do that with any of the DSLRs.
But as far as a modernized camera (one made within the past 5-6 years) you really can't go wrong with either one, but if you are buying new the Z8 might make more sense, despite being $1500 more (it will have a longer shelf life and will receive more updates -- the D850 is pretty much at the end of its life in terms of support, so no feature updates or bug fixes for the D850, and in some cases, some of the issues with the D850 were improved or fixed on the Z8).
I wouldn't necessarily say the Z8 can kick the D850's butt, although it probably can, but more importantly, Nikon Z shooters now have a viable option that can be used for things like sports/wildlife photography (that doesn't have the extra bulk of the Z9, and it's cheaper). So I think that is the big takeaway here, not that the D850 is better/worse than the Z8, because the Z8 is really just a modernized D850 that can do 8k video and has some refinements over the D850 but it's not like it's worlds better necessarily). Unfortunately the Z7 and Z6 fell short in terms of sports and wildlife photography (not that it can't be done, but it usually lead to a much lower keeper rate than what people were getting with the competition). Now the Z8 allows people to compete on the same level as the A7R IV/V, and the R5 AND it keeps Nikon in the game and helps stop the bleeding from those who perhaps switched when the Z II's came out and they got fed up and went to Sony or Canon. Personally I'm glad I held out and stuck with Nikon (as the cost to switch was too high anyway, but I figured they left a gap in the line-up for a reason and that it would be filled in sooner than later, it was only a matter of time).
Without forgetting the legendary D700
Both of you leaving the mirror open is not smart… 🤦♀️🤦♀️
Had a D800 for 11 years now, and with over 200,000 shutter actuations, it has been well used. My D850 is almost 3 years old and had only 15,000 actuations, but I still love shooting both cameras. My Z8 should arrive next week, along with a "cheap" Nikon Z mount 24-70 f4 lens, and I hope to use it at the Bathurst 1000 car races that weekend. Having still got probably $30k in F mount lenses, I'll be keeping the D850 (Wife is getting the D800 as an upgrade from her Nikon D3200), but buying an adapter to use them on the Z mount as well. I have played with a few mirrorless cameras, and the Z8 & Z9 are the only ones that really felt "right" in my hands, and thats all that matters to me besides image quality.
Also did anyone else shudder at all the footage with no lens or blank on the camera body?
Sold my D850 after my Z9 arrived. I’m keeping my D4S as a backup until the Z9ii is released.
Well done devils advocate production. I feel better now about not being able to afford going mirrorless. I will keep my 2 D850s and full range of landscape and wildlife lenses. As an underfunded retiree it is torture not have the latest and greatest any longer.
Yesssss... I'm right there with Tony at 3:04; I did trade in for a Z8, but that one little dial has been a constant part of my workflow and situational awareness for five years, and though I feel silly complaining about something so little, I do really miss it.
The flipping mirror of an SLR or DSLR is therapeutic in still photography experience. In some mirror less, especially the ones with no black out, you don't feel and don't know when the picture is taken.
yeah why I turn on the sound for the z8. Why I also still have the DF, for that feel.
Any festival / nightlife photographers that switched from a D850 to a Z8? How is the low-light performace/AF on the Z8 compared to the D850? I'm asking because my Z6II seems to be struggling more than my D750. And I'm torn between getting the D850 and Z8. I also do video so Z8 seems to be the better choice.
Tony & Chelsea, patients is a virtue!
I was planning to upgrade from my D7200 with the Z9, then a used D850 to save money, and now the Z8.
You two have sold me as a wildlife landscape photographer.
One day you two will enjoy a restaurant gift certificate from me.
Thanks again for the comparison of Nikon's flagship cameras .😊
A famous pastor in Atlanta died recently, it is my understanding that he actually helped KEH get started years ago. A few months before he died he bought a Leica M10 and five lens, it cost him over $40,000. The owner of KEH called his daughter and offered her $10,000. For it all, not knowing better she took it!
I won’t spend a dime with my business owner that would do that, to a friend, no less!
Chelsea: Sometimes that D850 mirror slaps
Tony: according to the kids today, that's a GOOD thing 😆😂
Fryday, June 16th, 2023,
I was Born to be a Bachelor,
and a Professional Photographer.
Mona is a Professional Model that I met on the 4th floor of DAYS INN in Livonia, Michigan on my
"Happy Birthday Neal Fry"
Enjoying Dinner and Drinks at
Supernatural Brewing and Spirits.
Vick my Buddy and Army Brother in
Arms from Fort Hood, Texas prepared Korean Meat Balls and Drinks from The United States Marine Corp Stationed in Iraq.
I'll Always remember June 14TH, '23 Forever...
I'll Always Love my Paradise Pictures a Division of Fry's Enterprise Worldwide.
I've been selling the D850 since it came out. Many people were hesitant to switch to Z since the D850 held the standard so high. The Z8 is the true successor the D850, if you're still on the fence about the Z mirrorless system- there's never been a better time to hop into the Z system.
There has never been a better time to go mirror as well. You can buy used dslr camera bodies with all accessories and lens collection for a fraction nowadays.
Yes if you have $4k to spare 😂
Going back to dslr is like watching tv on an old school crt set.
@@youssefhamidi8152 people seem to forget that point. If the z8 was truly a d850 replacement it would've been priced similarly.
@@youssefhamidi8152 Don't be absurd.
I have both the Z 9 and Z 8 and my family owns the Sony A 1 (and Black Magic and RED) the Z 9 and Z 8 are about the BEST. The battery life is very good with both top of the line Z cameras. The fact that Tony does know that the D850 is pretty outdated. IF I went back to D series NEW I'd get the D 7500 and a Nikon 200-500 f 5.6 which is a great deal. I turn down the Z 9 and Z 8 the camera sound to 1.
Tired of 90% of the videos about the z8 being about wildlife reviews. I'm sure the majority of people buying this camera will be for portraits and landscape. Let's get a real review with a model and nighttime landscape comparison vs the d850.
The Z7 line is aimed at portraiture and landscape. The Z8 is aimed at sports and wildlife photographers.
@@Kayakphotography exactly, you’d have to have some real deep pockets to buy a Z8 over a Z7 for landscape.
That makes no sense. The z8 is a fast camera for sports and wildlife lol. The z7ii is nikon landscape camera, has better dynamic range as well. The fact that you are sick of something doesnt make the z8 not a wildlife/sports camera
I think if it can perform well in a wildlife setting, there's no reason it wouldn't be able to handle portraiture. Wildlife is pretty much the most technologically demanding type of photography.
@@ThatNorma the z7 for portraits/wedding is not ideal. The z8 and z9 is pretty much the only Nikon camera that is reliable for weddings
Can't justify buying a camera with a top-screen instead of as many dials as possible.
This video felt like watching this channel in 2014/2015 when I fell in love with it. Something just feels right about you guys praising Nikon, shooting Ospreys and talking about new cameras you're excited for! We need photo critiques back!
I use the D850 for wildlife photography. You overlooked the fact that the battery grip not only gives you 9 fps but it does make your AF far more responsive. I will not part with my OVF D850 simply because the IQ is absolutely stunning. Plus, as most people are rushing out to buy mirrorless, the market is lush with the best Nikon F fixed focal glass. Photography, to me, remains an optical experience; electronics come in second to help optimize sensor capture. If you’re leaning towards an artistic approach with the best possible IQ, the D850 will never disappoint. If you are more into nailing perfect postures or BIF shots, then go for the Z8. In the end, younger generations will have no qualms working with EVFs but for older generations +65 who spend some 30 years professional years straining their eyes in dual screens, the Optical viewfinder is quite a relief.
Currently using a z8 and z9. Favorite of the flagship cameras.
Personally I feel it is time to move on. Nikon had said they won’t be putting their resources into DSLR and much as I love all my DSLRs, I went ahead with the Z cameras. Bought a Z6II first and then now the Z8 and never looked back. I have since retired all my DSLRs and lenses and moved on.
Haha love watching you guys! Still own a 8008S...D200, D700, D850, Z6ii, and a Z8...and toooooo many F mount lenses! Plus a few Z lenses...I like them all!!! (GAS)
Save $3000usd guys and buy a canon R8. It has 40fps also canons dual pixel af ii.
Top screen on the Nikon Z8 needs more brightness and contrast. Hopefully Firmware Upgrade 3.0 will fix that issue
Still nothing nice to say about Nikon. For a minute, I thought you were trying to get into their “good-graces”, but alas I was mistaken. Looks like Nikon has also given up on you too, especially since three or four years ago you were predicting their demise. Well they’re back with a vengeance. The Z9 is probably the best flagship mirrorless at a really competitive price, and I’m sure the Z8 is going to sell extremely well.
Literally the entire video is Nikon praise. We predicted the opposite of demise; we concluded Nikon would be fine.
This is one video where I am 100% with Tony!
I'm trying to decide between a d7500 (far better af, not as good for video) and the z50, I'm a little more leaned towards investing on the z system hopping to see a z80 or z90 capable of the same af performances as the z8/9 someday.
z50 you might find on sell so it is a good deal if you do. Z lenses are more expensive, but can still use f mount with the ftz adapter
You are one dramatic man 😂 Chelsea on form today
Looking through the viewfinder made my mind up not to go mirror-less. I can live without all the other bells and whistles, most of the stuff I will never use. Most of the time I don't even use the auto-focus. I was brought up with cameras in the 60s and if one missed a shot, one missed it! The one thing I don't really miss is all those chemical fumes in the darkroom.
I love my Casio watch! 🙂
The Z5 is underrated - probably my favorite camera I have ever owned and I am a hoarder.
I’m also a hoarder (former) and best camera I’ve had is the Fujifilm X-T3 hands down.
indeed, for a low priced full frame it's a really good camera with very few compromise if what you are looking for is mostly an everyday camera to take mostly photo.
You can even get pretty good 1080p video since nikon 1080p is really nice and it's AF seems to be even better than the upgraded Z6.
And unlike canon "cheap" full frame you still get IBIS, weather sealing and a truly great battery !
Oh yeah, and nikon's Z lenses are truly great too :) i truly hope people will finaly stop the nikon bashing.
I have a Z8, Z7II and a Z5. Each is loaded with a lens in my normal carry and I agree. The Z5 is brilliant. The fact it still gets regular use despite me having a 7ii and an 8 in literally the same bag speaks volumes for it.
So what would everyone recommend? I have a D750 and looking to upgrade. I can buy a used D850 for about $1700 or a new Z8 for $3600… what makes the most sense? Is the Z8 worth that much more?? I don’t shoot video.
I switched to a Canon R5 two years ago but I still prefer the Nikon ergonomics. If the Z8 had been available, I would have stuck with Nikon.
Lol.. FINALLY time... such snobs you are. I've been using my mirrorless camera for many many years and laugh regularly at folks lugging their heavy DSLR's around... come one man... this is old news.
5:00 couple talk haha
Z8. The Goldilocks camera. Not too big, not too small, just right
Lol, love your vids guys. DSLR noise ? Come on. I do not shoot wildlife! .... or funerals lol. Come on.
This whole shutter noise is a joke. Think about people , who was taking all the kick ass photos from 1953 to DSLR.
National geographic, hello ! . And many other situations where shutter noise doesn't mean shit. I'm shooting a D800 with low shutter count. Beautiful. I bought a new Fujifilm xt30 several years back just to give this mirrorless thing a go. I lasted 1 year 3 months. To small, to fussy finding buttons, it's a great camera for little hands & traveling.
It takes great photos but so not me. Nikon shooter 100% . Love you guys, Chelsea & Tony. 😁📷🌷🇨🇦
My biggest concerns with switching to Mirrorless has been how small the camera is, compatibility of my F mount lenses that took me quite a while to collect. I mean I know the FTZ adapter I know is supposed to help but I can not manually focus as fast as the camera can. I bought a D7000 to upgrade from my D2x and it was so small. I find myself shooting with the D2x more often. It actually was one of the reasons that led me to take step away from photography for a while. I'm back at it again now and have been considering the D780 with a vertical grip as I'm pretty sure all my lenses are compatible with it but then I'm like should I get the D850 instead? The Z8 has my interests peaked but I'm still not so sure about my old F Mount lenses and being functional with it...
d780 has the same sensor PDAF as the z6. I just got the z8, it is like a d750 size. D850 are for big hand people, which most mirrorless except for the z9 are just smaller. Ihave 10 f mount lenses and just 3 z lenses. I still use the f mount on the ftz. I still own the d750 and DF. I go the z8 and z30 also. It is just what I feel like shooting. Big heavy dslr DF (I got a pinky extender). In rain i pull out the d750, if it gets wets I don't care. Z8 for most other things, and z30 for video and walkaround since it is mall and cheap.
@@xophaser I had a Z6II in my hands and it was tight for my hands kinda like the D7000. The D610 feels much better with the vertical grip, more like my D100 with a grip, D2x. So all of your old lenses work just as they would on a F Mount Body?
@@justplanefred yes all the f mount af-s does. I can't tell the differences. I have 1 af-d and it is the screwdriver AF, and it doesn't AF. I used the battery grip for the z7ii, but sold both of it to fund the z8.
I use my D850 primarily for landscape and architecture. Is the image quality of the Z8 with Z pro glass THAT much better than the D850? Or do you have to pixel peep to see the difference?
I own a Nikon D850 with Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 FX AF-S G ED and Nikon Z7ii also have the NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S - The Z series S line is better. Noticeably when backlit and some other ways Tony described as far as sharpness. But that all depends on what your final output is. All of these are excellent choices in bodies and optics. But if you appreciate the differences, then it has value. There isn’t a wrong decision.
@@saarin0tsorry thanks!
And already prepared for the next video: How sensor cleaning works on the Z8 compared to the D850.
I’d love to upgrade to mirror less but unfortunately I’ve not got an extra 4k lying around plus full frame lenses lol, guess I’m sticking with the d500 for now
You can buy a D850 and 28mm 1.4E for half the price of the Z8 body, and produce better images than anything the Z8 produces.
Having a Nikon D500 and added a D850 a month ago. I think there is more to this than just the ticket price of the body. I waited for the Z8 to come out, but to use that 20 FPS you need CFexpress cards and a reader, you just added on £500. Then Do you really want a top-of-the-line Z8 and use an FTZ converter?. I decided to go with a D850 with a shutter count of 6100 a Tamron 24-70mm 2.8 G2 and a Tamron 70-200mm 2.8 G2 both amazing value second hand. Total cost all like brand new £3000. A Z8 with Nikon Z lens 24-70 2.8 and 70-200 2.8 Total as it's all got to be new with mem cards over £9000. To me, the Z8 is not worth it and I only shot stills. Not interested in Vidio at all. Also thanks to you both I went for the 2 Tamrons Lens, they are amazing on the D850 with the 5 stops of VR both lenses have. A huge bonus is the 70-200 on the D500, 105-300 2.8 with the VR, very cool.
Please check out the Z8 & Z 400mm f4.5 lens. Its a really lightweight combo that can get you upto 600mm f4.5 exposure at 20MP (DX photo mode). With a 1.4 Tc you can get upto 840mm at f6.3 exposure in DX photo Mode. In video 4K120p DX video mode you can get upto 920mm & with a 1.4 Tc, upto 1288mm. Its crazy reach for a 1.2Kg lens, due to the 2.3x crop factor in DX mode for 4k120p. I think there is a 2x High Res Zoom without loss of quality in 4k24p in FX mode. That is equivalent to 800mm f4.5 FX video reach and 1120mm f6.3 FX video reach with a 1.4 Tc. Its looks insane for such a lightweight combo.
Finally some thoughts about the Z8 from you guys , happy to see that 😊
You two had a good day. I wish you all the best.
Hey guys .... who's gonna clean both of those camera's sensors?!!!??? On the Z8, you can bring the sensor shield down by removing the battery w/ cam on.
I am a Canon/Sony user who loves vintage Nikon lenses. I would LOVE to own a D850. Such a camera.
There are adapters to put a Nikon F-mount lens on Nikon-Z, Canon-RF, and Sony-FE mounts. The main thing is whether the lens is at least "AI-S", and is not an "E" lens like the 105mm f/1.4E.
@@UnconventionalReasoning I have those adapters. Great things and any Nikon lens works on them perfectly, even Non-AI. Great vintage lenses for sure.
I was waiting for you initial acknowledgment of the Z8.
I value your opinions, so thank you for taking the time.
"Ship it to me baby" was a good one Chelsea.
Hm, like fringing and noise, editing software could come up with a pushbutton fix for that Borg-like grid flare that totally does create a distracting, unnatural artifact. And I LIKE noise, sensor dust, flares, leaks, and blurs. (for Street photography).
optical view finder is kind to your eyes lets see in 10 years time what your eye site is like looking at an oled that is very close to your eye ive got the z9 d850 among other cameras and the d850 build quality in my opinion is far better
A D850 is totally worth it still if you don't need it for video. If you can afford it, then a Z8 might be for you. The new Z8 looks like a winner with some advanced technology, good for upgrading. The Z8 seems like a worthy successor to D850. (unless you prefer optical viewfinders).
Just got my hands on a used D850, and it's an incredible upgrade from Micro Loser Thirds regarding dynamic range and just a popping feel to the images.
No doubt the Z8/Z9 looks amazing, and I'll probably get on in 5-6 years when the prices come down to a reasonable level for us filthy amateurs.
Great initial review! Looking forward to more.
Now the Z9 has version 4 firmware, would love if someone did a wildlife AF review!
I will be purchasing a d850.
Bought a D850 a few months back myself. Stunning image quality.
Great video and thanks. I have the D850 and just hate to spend all of the extra money for the Z8. I guess these are good problems to have. Again, thanks.
Hey - is Nikon worth switching too?
D850 Live view can shot silent....
Finally time? Mirrorless cameras have been outpacing DSLR for at least 4 years now, maybe longer
Ok not gonna give up on my D850! So much to love about it! And I don't have the budget for the Z9. I, however am considering buying another D850
Let's establish something here: Sony invented the mirrorless FF camera, with absolutely no regard for ergonomics, sacrificing everything (including image quality!!!) for the sake of a light body. They *dragged* Canon and Nikon (two companies who actually have a history with stills cameras) into this new paradigm because consumer photographers are babies and think that the weight of the camera is some kind of huge issue so they bought up the A7 series like crazy. And for what?? So my hand would be cramped at the end of a long shoot from squishing my fingers together to grip it? The DSLR/Z8 size is and has always been the ideal size for a professional camera, we shouldn't let a non-camera company like Sony dictate the needs of pros!
Also the benefits of EVF's are really only beneficial for amateurs and hobbyists. If you're a an actually skilled photographer, you don't need the screen to show you what your pic is gonna look like before you take it, you should already know based on your settings and looking at your environment! We talk about the resolution of EVFs as if OVFs don't provide instantly maximum "resolution" and no lag whatsoever.
Sorry Nikon, while I still have a deep affection for your nostalgic advertising music-"welcome home," I continue to cherish and possess your classic cameras such as the F, F3 limited, F5 limited, and D850. However, your latest camera z8 fails to captivate my excitement, but I will come home one day.
Which is the best camera ever made?
ChatGPT: Nikon D850
Chelsea doesn't get that everyone doesn't have $4,000 to blow on a camera body only. Some of us want an outstanding full frame camera for stills. A D850 is a great camera. If you have a $8000-10000 + budget for body and a few lenses, by all means, buy the Z8, but I'm sure there are less and less people in the high end camera marketplace as a result. Pro photographers only will be the motto of camera makers of the future.
I downloaded raw images from mirrorless cameras including Z series and happy to report D810 is still better than them. If you know how to take better pictures. Will be buying D850 or D900\D950 next time. If you want machine to all the work, why not iPhone 16 Pro?
Can you test the Nikon F mount holy trinity lenses on the Z8 vs the D810/D850?
Could you also test third party Nikon F mount lenses on the Z8 with the FTZ II adapter (e.g. a Tamron or Sigma F mount lens on the Z8 camera)?
Major thanks for keeping up with the honest reviews and content!
Hi. Check our Nikon Lens review playlist on our channel for our reviews of the 24-70 and 70-200. They were done on the Z7 and D850 which have the same IQ as th eD850.
Honestly we were never particularly happy with how third-party lenses focused on F-mount bodies so we stopped recommending them at some point.
@@TonyAndChelsea Thanks! I will review that video again. I must've forgot that part!
I have had decent success with Tamron on my Nikon D810. Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro 1:1 VC USD and a Tamron 100-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD. Nikon never made a first party 100-400mm focal range which I think is a stellar landscape and light duty wildlife lens that is "light" enough to go hiking.
I was very happy to see that Nikon announced a 100-400mm lens for the Z mount. When I can afford the platform that will definitely be a buy!
@@TonyAndChelsea would buying an F mount Tamron 100-400 be a mistake then?
@@PJ-om2wq I have been running a Nikon D810 and the Tamron 100-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD and really like it! Its one of my favorite lenses and goes with me everywhere. I would definitely buy the lens again if the unit broke.
@@NPzed The z100-400mm is favorite lens for hiking and wildlife duty. I have used it mostly with my Z6ii. I will be using it with the Z8 soon.
The Z8 is not good enough to replace my D850. Z8 has some better features but it would be a waste of money to replace the D850 for the Z8.
I have a D810, I'd like to have a D850, I like the OVF so I can see the scene with my real eyes. It is really hard to beat the D850. However if someone would give me a Z8 I might get over all of that.
Oh yeah and I've personally had good resuilts buying from KEH so I would certainly do that again.
I've had the same experience with my D810- the first photo is the bird perched, the second photo is only the tailfeathers as the bird flies away.
I'm going to try to settle for just a Z6.