I think the stark contrast between the D850 and the z9/8 is that the D850 was absolutely the best of the best across the board; there was no except for the …. Z9/8 can’t say that - they are compromised in one of the most important areas - AF. If Canon and Sony had crappy AF, then z9/8 could take the crown from the D850, but they don’t, so they can’t. I am not spending that kind of coin for kit that has compromised functionality. Back to sleep, waiting on the Z”next”.
@@matsudakodo As in not top notch, best in class AF. I am not going to get into a debate of how good is good enough. I have zero experience with anything Z, so not talking from experience. While I am sure the Z’s have AF 10x better than my current camera, most “influencers” seem to conclude they are not quite up to the same level of performance as a good Sony or Canon. So, not paying top $ for less than top AF. My current camera still spits out stunning image quality with the aid of “RI” focussing, so I’m good for now. Next gen Z is when I may bite.
I think DSLR’s in general still have a better look to them. Cant really explain it but closest I can get to is the mirrorless images just feel way more ‘digital’
Could you check the performance of the buffer with RAW + jpg sending the jpg to the SD? I saw Steve Perry's live stream and he find the performance goes to crawl, but he did RAW+RAW backup. Thanks, I know you don't have the camera any longer, but I will not order the camera before your complete review plus a buffer for bugs.
If you have a canon 5dmk4 or a d850 whats the point in upgrading? If you need great video for a shoot just rent a REAL video camera for the work it's needed for.
It's funny how when the D850 came out everyone raved over it and continued to for years after. Now, suddenly, it seems to be impossible to take a good photo with it. It also makes you wonder how it is that Ansel Adams' photos still look great as well as the photos of many talented portrait photographers over the years. You would think their photos would look like trash now. The truth is that if you were taking lousy photos with the D850, you will continue to take lousy photos with the Z8, Z9 or whatever. If you are a good photographer, you can use a Nikon F series with some black and white film and good vintage Nikon glass and take some wonderful photos.
Ansel Adams was a master in the darkroom, his main skill, that made his plates stand out even today. He spent much more time developing than shooting. Many still use his Zone system.
What’re you talking about - ‘impossible to take a good photo with it’? Nonsense. People trot out this same tired analogy every camera release. Yes. We ALL know it’s as good today as it was on release. But the market has moved on. Horse and buggy is still viable - why don’t you take it to go shopping anymore?
@@mattgranger You just made my point. If someone's 5 year old car is maintained and in great condition, you can use it to go shopping just fine. Your car doesn't become a 'horse and buggy' just because the new car has the latest tech. The fact is that the camera being used is quite far down on the list in determining whether a photo is going to be something special or not for the vast majority of camera users. If someone is not happy with their photography, buying a Z8 to replace their D850 (assuming it is functioning properly) is not going to fix that. If money is no object, then there is nothing wrong with going out buying the latest gear. It is interesting. Very few people though are really pushing their gear to the point where it will actually make much of a difference. Top level wildlife photographers get the most benefit from the advanced technology IMO.
no worries. But lets be clear - you saying "It's funny how when the D850 came out everyone raved over it and continued to for years after. Now, suddenly, it seems to be impossible to take a good photo with it" is hyperbolic nonsense. I didnt suggest that at all.
Great video. D810 and the D850 feel so much like a digital film camera. I just picked up a d810 and it’s so satisfying to shoot with it. My main is a gfx 50r but man the d810 is a beast
Health comes first so hope you're feeling better. Watched this and while the D850 was a solid camera and a workhorse when it came out almost 6 years ago, it's clear the Z8 is definitely the way. Also glad they didn't try chasing the megapixel wars and went with what works. Good video and illustration on how far these two are apart.
Having been a photojournalist for 52 years, I have pretty much used Nikon exclusively. From Nikon FTN to the current D850. there have been some fantastic upgrades by the company through the years. I really don't want to get into boring technical debates. The most important thing about photography is not how fast the eye is tracked by a sensor or how you can recover from a screwed up exposure. It's about the final image. Does it remind you of a long-lost lover? A favorite song? A special time in your life? does the picture stay with you for hours, days, and years? Though the Z8 is a technical marvel, the D850, in my opinion, looks more analog and organic than the lean, overly sharpened Z8. Yes, you have to work harder with the D850, but the final outcome (in my opinion) is worth it. Some of the greatest pictures in history were not very sharp, so younger photographers ... remember that.
@stardust193019561989: Hear hear! Personally for me you folks are talking FX/full-frame, I am a DX/crop sensor person. I am getting too old to carry around huge FX lenses. And as a side benefit, the lenses are also a bit less expensive. My Nikon D7500 and D500 are more than adequate for most of my photographic needs.
I still.ise the d800 and even the d850 looks not so nice and magic like the d800 imo. I tested the z-series and was astonished how good they handle low light. But the look you get from these are not so nice and special like the d800. Maybe I need another workflow but so far I am not convinced
12:43 I like the colors of the D850 better, but they are close. (I know colors are a preference and you can work them, but if I wanted to fight colors I will have changed brands already) and 12:50 The colors of the Z8 are way off. Is this an anomaly?
the communication here reminds me of a UK photography magazine many years ago (even though I am Belgian) this magazine was called Practical Photography and there was once a great contest, where they asked participants what they would to with a big amount of money to spend on photographic gear. while most of them suggested high end expensive gear with amazing specs, there was one guy who said he would buy a practica camera (very cheap analog camera back then) and he would spend the remaining money on film and development stating that when he used all of this, he would know exactly how his camera works and he would have learned most to get the results he wanted........ he won the competition :-) aside this story, I am using a Nikon D700 :-)
Am I the only one who still prefers the look of the D850 images?! They look easier on the eye and more natural. They have the smooth shadows and color transitions. I don't know man, whatever dark magic Nikon put into the D850 sensor is just incomparable still to this day. The Z8 images are sharper but D850 images just look smoother, more natural and overall better... I don't know what it is, they just look more natural and easier on the eyes to look at.
No, you are right. I have both the Z9 and D850 and the images from te D850 have beter color and feeling. And it doesn’t matter if you use native z lenses or use FX with the adapter. The image from the D850 have a more “MF” feeling
I have been using Nikon for wedding for years. After post processing it does not matter how the photo looks in raw. Unless you want to shoot jpg, but then you can always set up the camera the way you like. To me, auto focus , accuracy, speed, weight, and consistency is more important. I do also agree with you, somehow I also like the d850 better for straight out of camera photos in this video
7:03 It's true that with mirrorless cameras, all AF points are equally powerful. But that's not because they're all cross-type; they're actually all line-type.
From everything I have seen, I would love a Z8. As someone who has a d850 just now, with a d750 as backup/second camera, the cost of switching and gradually upgrading all the glass is just unjustifiable for me at present.
Exactly the same gear and lots of expensive lenses while not a professional photographer. Only reason for me to „upgrade“ is lots of botched shots when it comes to sharp eyes but I think I need to work on my shooting before even thinking to spend a tremendous amount of money to become mirrorless.
@@jean-marcducommun8185 I found the Z9 focuses very well with AFS lenses. It does so much better at focusing on the eyes with the same lenses as opposed to the D4 and D800. I'm tempted to get a Z lens, but not today.
Everyone is quick to discard their current camera model for the latest on the market.But the truth is if you can't get the job done with what you have then you probably don't know what you are doing. I shoot everyday average people not models and they have skin issues and weight problems and I don't want the ultra high resolution camera.A older Nikon DSLR works great.
Great. Enjoy it. It isn’t ‘everyone’, as you put it. Some people have just bought, some are happy with what they have, and others have been waiting and saving up to upgrade. They’re the ones watching most likely.
12:24 he essentially said the sensor isn’t any better then the 850. I think the only real benefit of mirrorless is the ability to get a more accurate preview of the resulting image. In reality, you’re still going to take a test shot of every new pose anyway -just like you would with the d850. Of course mirrorless cameras will eventually replace the DSLRs out there, but since you’re only getting slight improvement on ease of use…..I’m not going to spend $2500 just to get a camera with a slightly better preview. When QUALITY mirrorless cameras come under $500, then we’ll see a shift.
11:54 just use liveview on the D850 then :). Yes it's slow with focusing but perfectly fine for portraits. I never found the mirrorless nikons to have pleasing colors. Much more prefer the D850's skin tones. But I love the look of the Z8 body though! Wish they put in a higher res EVF. Thanks for the comparison! Was fun!
I’m really excited about the pre shutter release buffer and ibis. Taking underwater and sports photography, getting that extra edge to get the shot is a difference ..
Nice video Matt! I'm a Nikon user for 3 decades. The D850 was a great camera which shook the photo world with its abilities and build quality. It was a machine which stood out of the bunch! The Z8 doesn't do it. It is a downscaled Z9. Nothing special in its category concerning also the competition. I have 2 D850's plus some other full frame bodies. I was expecting a new sensor at least and a higher resolution, but no... A professional photographer will go for a Z9 straight because it is a dealbreaker also. The Z8 is a camera that for sure it is going to be used by pros but (Nikon) have in mind that the D850 was bought by a huge portion of highly skilled amateurs or pros who do fine art, landscape and other genres. It is hard for all of us to switch system if the camera hasn't anything special to offer. The Z8 also comes at a very high price. 1000 more than the D850 with a simpler design (no mirror and shutter) based on software development with cheaper manufacturing costs. (This applies to all brands). So they better be serious in the future... With 4000 thousand euros I would prefer to go for a GFX 50SII to get the benefits of a larger sensor. Powerful Autofocus is not the first thing for all the users. The only sirious camera in the mirrorless line of Nikon is the Z9. It is the Z8 also but it hasn't got 'star' to bring the people 'in'... I was waiting for the Z8 all this time but I wasn't impressed at all. If I would upgrade I would go for the Z9. The rest of the bunch is 'one more'.....
Great to see this comparison Matt! I still have a brand new D850, (never even shot it) that I've been debating keeping as a second body to the Z9, but I'm becoming more & more convinced to go fully with the mirrorless system & get the Z8. I just need to sell the D850 first. Hope you're kickin' covid! Thanks again for the video!
Hello Matt, Thanks for a great comparison video. I have a friend who uses his D850 and I know he like my Z9, so I think this Z8 look amazing and I am looking forwards to getting my hands on one at some point. Keep well, keep safe and enjoy life.
Having grown up on Nikon starting with a F80 then D70, D700 I switched to Sony A7iv at the end of 2022 and now this Z8 really has me drooling. I went to Tin Cheung Camera today and they said it's not in yet and HK prices are not published, they reckon it might be close to the Z9 pricing.
Great video! Hope you are feeling better. This is the camera I have been waiting for. Bought a few Z lenses late last year when they were on sale as they are again now as I expected this but thought it would have come in February once the Z9 stock issue was no longer. My D850 will go on the shelf. Help me understand the reason why there is a desire for larger MP like 60 or 80? There is so many options to upscale an image if you really need it. The additional size of the image is another consideration also. I know I will have to get used to the view finder but technically it is far superior. Excited to get it and start using it!
Sometime in the future I'm picking up a FX DSLR. What I'm debating now is D850 vs D780. According to reviews and videos it looks like the D780 is a bit of a hybrid machine with Lice View focusing taking a lot of tech from the Z series. Your thoughts?
Is the difference in price between a decent used D850, especially if you already have many F mount glass, and a new Z8 and the fact that you have to buy new, expensive glass, worth it? I believe unless you are a pro working in the harshest conditions and making a lot of money at it, you'd be a fool to from a D 750, D 810 or D850 to mirrorless. What do you think will be better when you do street photography or potrait? Some people really want me to believe that those "old" DSLR simply can't lock focus on one eye or will not be able to get the shot done. Really?
I think for portrait photography especially of females a softer look is more flattering. Check out Matt Osborn’s photos. Amongst the many lenses he uses, really old film camera lenses, 3rd part lenses and some cheap lenses produce lovely character. So you don’t have to change cameras for character images, just experiment with different lenses.
Been shooting mirrorless for a few years now, but recently shot with family member's d500--wow is that shutter loud. Also picked up a d610 for a few min--geez the AF point area is tiny. Mirrorless has some significant advantages
Two points of contention, 1) silent shooting in live mode is achievable and B) I follow plenty of UA-cam channels that use the d850, so you are nowhere near being the last to move over to mirrorless. I knew from the start of your video what direction it would take. Anyone who knows the story of John Henry and the steam hammer knows that new technology wins out over old.
I still find D850 colour tone on the skin much natural and vignette is much darker then Mirrorless Cameras. Z series have warm yellowish tone or flat tone.
I own a Z8 and its good. But not long ago I saw and hold a D850 for the first time in my life. And yes. IT has something 😌 The whole debate DSLR vs mirrorless is pointless. I see People using D4's for pro work and live from that camera. Just buy what you prefer. Nobody Will tell the difference between your shoots if you own a Z8 or D850.
I've heard that the Nikon Z8 doesn't handle sigma F mount lenses consistently i.e., locks up and you need to turn off the camera and back on and it locks up again after a few images. Any feedback on this? Thank you.
4:23 It was very interesting to see an old USSR schoolbook in your video =)) For me it's a bit nostalgic. I'm also have D850 and thinking about buying Z8 :)
I dont get why you used different lenses across the bodies. what you did was a comprison of eco-systems, not of Z8 versus D850. The issue was to use a 200mm f2 or a 105 1.4 in both bodies and compare.
Probably the most useful Z8 video iIve seen yet - it's making the comparison that a huge number of potential Z8 buyers are likely making in their heads. Well done - thanks. Hope you get better soon! I hated my Covid experience. 😞
Absolutely agree that this is the very best Z8/D850 comparison!! My Covid experience in February was bad, but the worst part was know knowing if I would live through it.
@@kennethraysealsphotography3513 Sorry to hear that - must have been terrible. I hope you're back to 100 % or close (many people aren't). Because of pre-existing health issues, my Covid experience was bad, though not life-threatening. But I still have curious lingering symptoms months later.
Matt has done a few great videos on the Z9 with those top F-mount lenses. Check them out, they're very useful and revealing. (And other lazy UA-camrs don't bother with this kind of quality content!)
they will produce the same image. The comparison though is not fair because the lenses are different. Another difference is the advantage of the WYSIWYG approach of the Z8 in term of exposure
Sounds a little too much like an ad for the Z8. Sure, I get it - new tech and all…but the difficulties with OVFs have existed since the beginning of time and photographers have learned the skills to overcome them. I don’t mean to undervalue the Z8 but the D850 in skilled hands is still a beast of a workhorse.
The build quality of the Z8 is poor compared to that of the Z9; unlike the Z9 which is made entirely of Magnesium-Alloy; only the Z8's front is Magnesium-Alloy, the rest is carbon fibre and plastic; another utterly stupid decision by Nikon, they might as well had employed dunces to work for them instead of university graduates.
I would Zeiss manual focus lenses anyway I don’t like Nikon lenses. The build quality on the D850 is better and made in Japan. The new mirrorless camera feel cheaper made.
The advantages of the EVF, AF coverage and IBIS have been quite clear since long before the Z8 came along. I was rather hoping for seeing as well a comparison of IQ using the same lens on both cameras - particularly, I'd like to see top-notch F-mount primes such as the 105mm f/1.4E and the 28mm f/1.4E in such a test, since the 50mm f/1.4G is nowhere near those, let alone a state-of-the-art Z-mount 50mm f/1.2S. Even the 58mm f/1.4G is a lens full of character, but not exactly known for its sharpness. I understand your remark that your goal was to compare both systems, but USD 4000 is still quite an investment and many people will probably keep using the Z8 with F-mount glass they still have for a while - especially lenses such as the ones I've mentioned above, which have no Z-mount analog -, so in retrospect I still feel something is missing in this shootout.
Well, the thing is that the sensor is identical to the Z9's, and Matt has done a ton of work with F-mount lenses on the Z9. I think you'd be interested in those other videos of his. Bottom line: he says the Z9 brings the best F-mount glass to new levels, even with AF.
@@gyozakeynsianism true, I saw these videos as well and I expect it to be the case based on IBIS alone, but how each AF system interacts with the lens is also important and a direct shootout comparison between the Z9 and the D850 using the same F-mount glass on both hasn't been done there either, as far as I remember. That would be useful to D850 owners (like me) who might be considering the jump to Z8 in the near future but for which the USD 4000 figure (about 50-60% more than that here in Brazil, btw) also bears a critical weight in the decision. Personally, as it stands I'd still wait for a cheaper, lighter, Expeed 7-equipped Z6 III to go mirrorless and keep the D850 I still love, also because the latter should drop in price considerably in the next weeks/months and I'm not sure that selling it will make up for the price difference by then.
In percentage terms, how much better is the Z8 to the Z7ii for Eye AF? As a portrait photographer only, is the Eye AF far better or marginally better between the two? I'm not interested in any of the other AF modes. I'm shooting with the D850 and love the camera, but I really want Eye AF. I don't want to pay $6000 CDN for a camera when I can get a Z7ii for far less. Any comparisons would be great.
AF on eyes or faces is going to be better than DSLR, and closer only in the less convenient Live View mode on the DSLR. I primarily shoot people: actors, headshots, ballet, and opera singers in the studio or on location, commercially. If I am shooting, say, one of the masterclasses we host for 2-3 days twice a month that includes headshots, video introductions, and sample 1-2 pages of dialog, for 20 to 60 stage actors in each class(for experience stage actors who want to transition to the cinema), the keeper rate from my little Z6 is far better, as expected than my D850 or D800. I find that those who have problems with a poorer focus on a Z6 or 7 have not learned it. Getting out-of-focus images is much more likely with a moving mirror than mirrorless. More than 2 frames out of focus for 3 days of constant shooting per 500 frames would be very rare with the entry-level Z6(version 1). I shoot ballet rehearsals for a world-class leading ballet company and can shoot all day and not have a missed focus shot with the Z body and never could with my D850 or D800. I keep them around for backup but their noise alone is enough to keep them from use now. Z glass in general is better corner to corner, faster focusing, and lighter. An 8-hour session with a gripped D850 is tiring while the light Z body is a breeze. Eventually, I will add a Z8 but 24mpx is enough resolving power for portraits.
@@stanspb763 Thanks so much for your information. I've had great success with my D850 but I really want to see if the Z7ii makes focusing easier without breaking the bank
@@paulspatafora8793 Z7ii is awful with af, terrible in low light and terrible eye af. I had a z7ii until 3 weeks ago, I sold it, because of how bad it was for the price. Just get a z7, cheap and the same camera. You need to get a z8/9 for useable af in afraid
@@mattgranger Hi Matt, thank you for your reply. Currently, another camera is a want and definitely not a need. I'm transiting to mainly studio portraits and some on-location work. No one is running at me, nor am I doing sports. My plan was to get a Z7ii so that I could have Eye AF. I can pick up a new low-mileage unit, along with an FTZ adapter, for under $3000 CDN by the end of the year. The Z8 and adapter will cost me $6500 CDN. Is the Z8 worth double the price compared to the Z7ii in terms of Eye Af for portraits? I love your channel and have been following you for a long time. I hope you're feeling well soon.
When new cameras come out everyone is like, this is the sharpest ever!!! nothing beats this AF! and the older cameras somehow are talked about as if they are now basically a pain to work with. Come on man! both can do a great job. There is not much difference and if you miss a shot with either its not the camera.
@1:37 Matt ....shooting with that Nikon lens is nowhere near approaching the capability of the D850 sensor...you've seen the DXO results? Why are you not shooting with a Sigma Art? You're comparing resolution or just overall image quality ? You say it's unfair but then why are you not matching resolution capability? Or try both a generic Nikon lens from 10 years ago and a newer Sigma Art because you are just not going to see the resolution of the D850 sensor with that lens
Matt, thanks as always for your thorough videos. Question for you. You said we can use our F-Mount lenses with the Z8. I’m a D850 with all the pro lenses. In an ideal world I’d replace the D850 and lenses with the Z line but if budget is an issue would you said it’s still a good move to upgrade to the Z8 and use my F-mount lenses or will I only really see a big benefit by replacing everything?
@@mattgranger Is having 16bit files a physical limitation because of the sensor or is that just something camera manufacturers prefer not to release? I agree with the previous comment about wanting that instead of more MP.
I am particularly excited with the Nikon come back… Z9 compressed into a smaller affordable body is great… But it is equally exciting to watch Nikon finally catch up on the marketing front… counter for launch date, product already distributed to influencers in the community, simultaneous release of influencer videos globally with the product release… If Nikon keeps this up, they will grab significant market share from Canon and Sony… and with a Zf from Fuji 😂
I am in my mid 60's and have no plans to switch to mirrorless. Heck, I am still shooting a Nikon F5 along side my D850. If I were younger, I would jump on the Z camera's in a heartbeat.
Resolution is WAY overrated. I was debating getting the R5 (45 MP) or R6 II (24 MP) last fall. I've been shooting as a pro for 18 years mostly with the 1D Mark III (10 MP) and then got the 5D Mark IV and EOS R (30 MP). I wasn't too happy about going down to 24 MP but wondered if it mattered. I did a comparison with the R6 II and R5 by upscaling the R6 II files to 45 MP using Adobe Camera Raw (most people don't realize you can do this). I then overlayed the files in PS and did a "blind" comparison of the layers at 100% zoom on a 5K monitor. I mostly couldn't tell which was which (was about 50/50). This was using Canons best RF primes and zooms for portraits and landscapes. Then I used the Adobe Camera Raw/LR "Enhance Super Resolution" feature on the R6 II files, and output to 45 MP. Again I did a "blind" comparison in PS at 100% zoom and guess what. 9/10 I picked the R6 II files as being sharper and more detailed. I sent these comparisons to a designer friend without telling him which was which layer and he too picked the R6 II files as being sharper and more detailed 9/10 times. We both have about 30 years between us in photo and design. I've done the same with R6 vs A7IV files (20 vs 33 MP) and got the same results. The lens and AF sharpness is more important than advertised resolution. And btw, I've had billboard prints for advertising printed on city buses that came from an 8 MP (1D Mark IIN) camera and they looked PHENOMENAL. Things like dynamic range and AF reliability are way more important than resolution (which is why I love the R6 Mark II because it's the best in it's class for these things, arguably the best all around for AF).
Thanks for the video mate. I’ve just changed d850 to z8. I agree the af is a vast improvement with eye af. I don’t like that you can’t lock the multi selector as you could on the d850. I’m slowly getting used to the minuscule click the z8 makes compared to that satisfying click of the 850. By the way, the harnes/strap your wearing, what brand please. Looks good.
Thanks Matt.. Would love to keep my 850, but when the time comes to go ML....I still kinda like the Z9.. watching all the Z8 vids... might change my mind... who knows..
Thank you Matt not to be too judgy but I've been following you since the Nikon guy and even though you still pronounce Nikon wrong ;) I have really really really found a lot of respect for you over the last few videos and I know the Shibari course is just gonna blow me away. While I won't be getting the Z8, I have tried the Z7ii side by side with the D750, and aside from the very obvious clarity difference the ability to see your exposure real time the full frame focus is where its at. I will be getting the Z7ii for sure and can't wait to evolve into the Z glass. So sad my 300, and 500 are both AF-S. Thank you for a great review
@@mattgrangerOnly if one uses the EVF; but for those who compose their subjects using the rear LCD the battery life is crap. It's so much easier and quicker to compose using the LCD as the subject appears considerably larger on a LCD thus making it easier to notice and correct errors before making a exposure, especially when using wide-angle lenses.
I am dreaming of an hybrid between the d780 and the d850 with a gps. It will be outstanding to have an OVF which can become a EVF. Liveview-> EVF. OVF in DSLR mode. The cherry on top will be a gps to geotag the pictures.
the eVF is great, but your argument was not convincing. you could have checked in the back of the screen afters shooting in the d850 and take again. you dont need to wait for post to fix the problem.
Thank you Matt! Since the z9 and z8 are not quite ready and are not really better than the D850's ability to focus for wildlife other than FPS and I have a z6 and a z7II is there really a valid reason to spend 4500 on a Z8 when it is still not up to par with Canon and Sony?
@@mattgranger lol, no.. you can shoot me down and tell me I am an idiot.. I will still love you man... I am wrong all the time. just ask my girlfriend :-D
(Advice aimed at wildlife stills) You pretty much gave the only reasons yourself. The higher frame rate stills shooting and the newest Nikon AF will give you a bump over the Z6ii/Z7ii. Other than that, image quality compared to the Z7ii will pretty much be the same as you can use the same Z lenses, which make up a bulk of how it eventually will look. Compared to Canon / Sony you also only gain the higher frame rates, especially the 120fps option for 11MP JPG. You miss out on their superb AF systems, but Nikon's is good enough that if you learn to use it, it might suit you better as it's up to how well you can and how much you like to use the camera of your choice. A better Sony won't make you happier if you don't enjoy it otherwise. You might also miss out on a slightly better battery life from the other two, as far as CIPA ratings go, and E-Mount is still the king of budget and options when it comes to lenses (looking at those 3 systems only). Nikon then gives you the advantage of the Z8 "only" being around 4k for what it delivers, but a lot of that falls more into the area of video features and other improvements. It still lacks other software features like sensor-shift modes or anamorphic record options (afaik), but those are of no use for your usecase anyway. The competition are still the A1 and R5, but out of those, the R5 is now cheaper and the A1 still more expensive. The A7rV is also slightly cheaper, but it's FPS cannot hold up with the 20 from the Z8, but it's AF is, as far as I've been able to tell from a short hands on, quite the deal. Overall, buying a Z8 is only "worth" it, when already having a Z6 & Z7ii, if you decide to sell one / make it your backup. But at the same time, to buy into a whole second system just for the AF is a waste of money as well. So if you want the better AF and use Nikon, the Z8 is great. If you want the best AF, it's questionable if it's worth carrying two very competent systems or if you'd even want to make a full swap over to Sony / Canon. Simply said: the Z8 is a great addition to the Nikon lineup and if you need better AF, consider it first before you buy into a whole second system that you then also would have to learn ground up.
Man there’s some tough customers in this comments section. I shot with the D850 for 5 years and I loved that camera more than anything. I got the Z9 and several Z lenses. You can get amazing images with the D850 but the Z9/Z8 and Z lenses are way better in ease of use, speed, accuracy and image quality. Just in terms of image quality, the Z cams and lenses are sharper, little to no purple/green fringing and way less color noise in the higher ISO ranges.
I actually find the evf the major disadvantage of the mirrorless. The main complaint is the limited dynamic range. It is essentially an 8bit screen. Especially for landscape, I have to increase the exposure condensation just to compose before dialing it back. It is a shame that you need to give up things.
Truly a legendary camera the D850.
D850 does everything I need still. I'll be sitting this generation out.
Brilliant video as always.
I think the stark contrast between the D850 and the z9/8 is that the D850 was absolutely the best of the best across the board; there was no except for the ….
Z9/8 can’t say that - they are compromised in one of the most important areas - AF. If Canon and Sony had crappy AF, then z9/8 could take the crown from the D850, but they don’t, so they can’t. I am not spending that kind of coin for kit that has compromised functionality. Back to sleep, waiting on the Z”next”.
One day i will buy a Z8 the D850 is better than me
@@WilliamBarrow compromised functionality? In what way?
@@matsudakodo As in not top notch, best in class AF. I am not going to get into a debate of how good is good enough. I have zero experience with anything Z, so not talking from experience. While I am sure the Z’s have AF 10x better than my current camera, most “influencers” seem to conclude they are not quite up to the same level of performance as a good Sony or Canon. So, not paying top $ for less than top AF. My current camera still spits out stunning image quality with the aid of “RI” focussing, so I’m good for now. Next gen Z is when I may bite.
I think DSLR’s in general still have a better look to them. Cant really explain it but closest I can get to is the mirrorless images just feel way more ‘digital’
Nikon Z Setup Guide: learn.mattgranger.com/courses/zsetup
ORDER THE Z8 at B&H: geni.us/Z8BH Amazon: geni.us/NikonZ8
Adorama: geni.us/Z8adorama
Could you check the performance of the buffer with RAW + jpg sending the jpg to the SD? I saw Steve Perry's live stream and he find the performance goes to crawl, but he did RAW+RAW backup. Thanks, I know you don't have the camera any longer, but I will not order the camera before your complete review plus a buffer for bugs.
Well done, Matt. Why did you use Honey to shoot a Japanese theme? She clearly looks Chinese. 😮
Because I am in Hong Kong, and I need reliable models when on a tight timeframe. I wasn't making a documentary, I was testing backlight af..
coming soon - probably within 24 hours
@@mattgranger i know. i am just busting your chops, cobba.
This just make me realize that the D850 Is still a GREAT and AWESOME camera
If you have a canon 5dmk4 or a d850 whats the point in upgrading? If you need great video for a shoot just rent a REAL video camera for the work it's needed for.
It's funny how when the D850 came out everyone raved over it and continued to for years after. Now, suddenly, it seems to be impossible to take a good photo with it. It also makes you wonder how it is that Ansel Adams' photos still look great as well as the photos of many talented portrait photographers over the years. You would think their photos would look like trash now. The truth is that if you were taking lousy photos with the D850, you will continue to take lousy photos with the Z8, Z9 or whatever. If you are a good photographer, you can use a Nikon F series with some black and white film and good vintage Nikon glass and take some wonderful photos.
Ansel Adams was a master in the darkroom, his main skill, that made his plates stand out even today. He spent much more time developing than shooting. Many still use his Zone system.
What’re you talking about - ‘impossible to take a good photo with it’? Nonsense.
People trot out this same tired analogy every camera release. Yes. We ALL know it’s as good today as it was on release. But the market has moved on. Horse and buggy is still viable - why don’t you take it to go shopping anymore?
@@mattgranger You just made my point. If someone's 5 year old car is maintained and in great condition, you can use it to go shopping just fine. Your car doesn't become a 'horse and buggy' just because the new car has the latest tech. The fact is that the camera being used is quite far down on the list in determining whether a photo is going to be something special or not for the vast majority of camera users. If someone is not happy with their photography, buying a Z8 to replace their D850 (assuming it is functioning properly) is not going to fix that. If money is no object, then there is nothing wrong with going out buying the latest gear. It is interesting. Very few people though are really pushing their gear to the point where it will actually make much of a difference. Top level wildlife photographers get the most benefit from the advanced technology IMO.
BTW - I appreciate you taking the time to respond.
no worries. But lets be clear - you saying "It's funny how when the D850 came out everyone raved over it and continued to for years after. Now, suddenly, it seems to be impossible to take a good photo with it" is hyperbolic nonsense. I didnt suggest that at all.
Great video. D810 and the D850 feel so much like a digital film camera. I just picked up a d810 and it’s so satisfying to shoot with it. My main is a gfx 50r but man the d810 is a beast
I traded my Sony A7Rii for a D810 because it shoots better so I know what yo mean. I'm gonna love it
My D810 has been my all time favorite camera to shoot with. I just purchased the Z8 so I would have a second camera that I can to use for video.
@@sharonwallacephotonice
Health comes first so hope you're feeling better. Watched this and while the D850 was a solid camera and a workhorse when it came out almost 6 years ago, it's clear the Z8 is definitely the way. Also glad they didn't try chasing the megapixel wars and went with what works. Good video and illustration on how far these two are apart.
Agree about megapixels. 60 vs 45 is also just not that big of a difference, though maybe 80 would have been.
@@gyozakeynsianism I don't think so. Even the sensor of the D800 is so much for today
@@bobamarmstrong For me? 36 is easily enough. But high mp and high crop flexibility are important for some photographers.
Agreed on the megapixel wars. Literally there is zero need for more in this consumer segment. If you want 100mp, then phase one delivers.
Having been a photojournalist for 52 years, I have pretty much used Nikon exclusively. From Nikon FTN to the current D850. there have been some fantastic upgrades by the company through the years. I really don't want to get into boring technical debates. The most important thing about photography is not how fast the eye is tracked by a sensor or how you can recover from a screwed up exposure. It's about the final image. Does it remind you of a long-lost lover? A favorite song? A special time in your life? does the picture stay with you for hours, days, and years? Though the Z8 is a technical marvel, the D850, in my opinion, looks more analog and organic than the lean, overly sharpened Z8. Yes, you have to work harder with the D850, but the final outcome (in my opinion) is worth it. Some of the greatest pictures in history were not very sharp, so younger photographers ... remember that.
I love this comment so much.
@stardust193019561989: Hear hear! Personally for me you folks are talking FX/full-frame, I am a DX/crop sensor person. I am getting too old to carry around huge FX lenses. And as a side benefit, the lenses are also a bit less expensive. My Nikon D7500 and D500 are more than adequate for most of my photographic needs.
I still.ise the d800 and even the d850 looks not so nice and magic like the d800 imo. I tested the z-series and was astonished how good they handle low light. But the look you get from these are not so nice and special like the d800. Maybe I need another workflow but so far I am not convinced
@@rehab4everybody....thank you....the Nikon D810 for me....the D800/D810 have more dynamic range than the D850...imo
She’s beautiful and has a lovely voice! That was a really nice treat for those of us who watched the video until the end☹️
Cheers. We do that in every video Katy appears in.
12:43 I like the colors of the D850 better, but they are close. (I know colors are a preference and you can work them, but if I wanted to fight colors I will have changed brands already) and 12:50 The colors of the Z8 are way off. Is this an anomaly?
the communication here reminds me of a UK photography magazine many years ago (even though I am Belgian) this magazine was called Practical Photography and there was once a great contest, where they asked participants what they would to with a big amount of money to spend on photographic gear. while most of them suggested high end expensive gear with amazing specs, there was one guy who said he would buy a practica camera (very cheap analog camera back then) and he would spend the remaining money on film and development stating that when he used all of this, he would know exactly how his camera works and he would have learned most to get the results he wanted........ he won the competition :-) aside this story, I am using a Nikon D700 :-)
Am I the only one who still prefers the look of the D850 images?! They look easier on the eye and more natural. They have the smooth shadows and color transitions. I don't know man, whatever dark magic Nikon put into the D850 sensor is just incomparable still to this day. The Z8 images are sharper but D850 images just look smoother, more natural and overall better... I don't know what it is, they just look more natural and easier on the eyes to look at.
Could be that you prefer softer lenses
No, you are right. I have both the Z9 and D850 and the images from te D850 have beter color and feeling. And it doesn’t matter if you use native z lenses or use FX with the adapter. The image from the D850 have a more “MF” feeling
Mirrorless = soulless
I have been using Nikon for wedding for years. After post processing it does not matter how the photo looks in raw. Unless you want to shoot jpg, but then you can always set up the camera the way you like. To me, auto focus , accuracy, speed, weight, and consistency is more important. I do also agree with you, somehow I also like the d850 better for straight out of camera photos in this video
You are not alone😢
7:03 It's true that with mirrorless cameras, all AF points are equally powerful. But that's not because they're all cross-type; they're actually all line-type.
I’ve had 2 D850’s for 3 years. Images still knock me out. And the greatest lens range in history
From everything I have seen, I would love a Z8. As someone who has a d850 just now, with a d750 as backup/second camera, the cost of switching and gradually upgrading all the glass is just unjustifiable for me at present.
Exactly the same gear and lots of expensive lenses while not a professional photographer. Only reason for me to „upgrade“ is lots of botched shots when it comes to sharp eyes but I think I need to work on my shooting before even thinking to spend a tremendous amount of money to become mirrorless.
@@jean-marcducommun8185 I found the Z9 focuses very well with AFS lenses. It does so much better at focusing on the eyes with the same lenses as opposed to the D4 and D800. I'm tempted to get a Z lens, but not today.
12:36 where is the socket in the Z8 picture? 🤔
OMG, you`re right!!! DEFINITELY the Z8 one was heavily processed
Everyone is quick to discard their current camera model for the latest on the market.But the truth is if you can't get the job done with what you have then you probably don't know what you are doing. I shoot everyday average people not models and they have skin issues and weight problems and I don't want the ultra high resolution camera.A older Nikon DSLR works great.
Great. Enjoy it. It isn’t ‘everyone’, as you put it. Some people have just bought, some are happy with what they have, and others have been waiting and saving up to upgrade. They’re the ones watching most likely.
12:24 he essentially said the sensor isn’t any better then the 850. I think the only real benefit of mirrorless is the ability to get a more accurate preview of the resulting image. In reality, you’re still going to take a test shot of every new pose anyway -just like you would with the d850. Of course mirrorless cameras will eventually replace the DSLRs out there, but since you’re only getting slight improvement on ease of use…..I’m not going to spend $2500 just to get a camera with a slightly better preview. When QUALITY mirrorless cameras come under $500, then we’ll see a shift.
11:54 just use liveview on the D850 then :). Yes it's slow with focusing but perfectly fine for portraits. I never found the mirrorless nikons to have pleasing colors. Much more prefer the D850's skin tones. But I love the look of the Z8 body though! Wish they put in a higher res EVF. Thanks for the comparison! Was fun!
Big difference in price between the z8 and d850, at least in Australia. I just upgraded to a d850 from d810. Too much afs glass to chuck it all away.
What is you experience between them both. What are the differences?
I prefer my D810
I’m really excited about the pre shutter release buffer and ibis. Taking underwater and sports photography, getting that extra edge to get the shot is a difference ..
Olympus cameras got this since 2015 lol
@@Makta972 And yet they don't even have full frame.... lol
Nice video Matt! I'm a Nikon user for 3 decades. The D850 was a great camera which shook the photo world with its abilities and build quality. It was a machine which stood out of the bunch! The Z8 doesn't do it. It is a downscaled Z9. Nothing special in its category concerning also the competition. I have 2 D850's plus some other full frame bodies. I was expecting a new sensor at least and a higher resolution, but no... A professional photographer will go for a Z9 straight because it is a dealbreaker also. The Z8 is a camera that for sure it is going to be used by pros but (Nikon) have in mind that the D850 was bought by a huge portion of highly skilled amateurs or pros who do fine art, landscape and other genres. It is hard for all of us to switch system if the camera hasn't anything special to offer. The Z8 also comes at a very high price. 1000 more than the D850 with a simpler design (no mirror and shutter) based on software development with cheaper manufacturing costs. (This applies to all brands). So they better be serious in the future... With 4000 thousand euros I would prefer to go for a GFX 50SII to get the benefits of a larger sensor. Powerful Autofocus is not the first thing for all the users. The only sirious camera in the mirrorless line of Nikon is the Z9. It is the Z8 also but it hasn't got 'star' to bring the people 'in'... I was waiting for the Z8 all this time but I wasn't impressed at all. If I would upgrade I would go for the Z9. The rest of the bunch is 'one more'.....
Money holds people back Matt , and if people aren't professional the D850 gets the job done with no issues. Thanks for the comparison .
🎉I not giving up my Nikon D850, that Z8 is a beast, my clients can not tell the differences between the 2 cameras 😂😊😂 nor the pictures...😮
Thank you you are right
Thank you for doing a portrait review of those 2 cameras! It helped me a lot!
Great to see this comparison Matt! I still have a brand new D850, (never even shot it) that I've been debating keeping as a second body to the Z9, but I'm becoming more & more convinced to go fully with the mirrorless system & get the Z8. I just need to sell the D850 first. Hope you're kickin' covid! Thanks again for the video!
D850 still superior to Z8 in terms of dynamic range (same sensor as the Z9)
i'll buy your d850
@@juliep.Z8 Sensor the same as z9?
Hello Matt, Thanks for a great comparison video. I have a friend who uses his D850 and I know he like my Z9, so I think this Z8 look amazing and I am looking forwards to getting my hands on one at some point. Keep well, keep safe and enjoy life.
I recently upgraded my camera to Nikon D850 to Z8
What is your conclusion so far?
Having grown up on Nikon starting with a F80 then D70, D700 I switched to Sony A7iv at the end of 2022 and now this Z8 really has me drooling. I went to Tin Cheung Camera today and they said it's not in yet and HK prices are not published, they reckon it might be close to the Z9 pricing.
Great video! Hope you are feeling better. This is the camera I have been waiting for. Bought a few Z lenses late last year when they were on sale as they are again now as I expected this but thought it would have come in February once the Z9 stock issue was no longer. My D850 will go on the shelf. Help me understand the reason why there is a desire for larger MP like 60 or 80? There is so many options to upscale an image if you really need it. The additional size of the image is another consideration also. I know I will have to get used to the view finder but technically it is far superior. Excited to get it and start using it!
Sometime in the future I'm picking up a FX DSLR.
What I'm debating now is D850 vs D780. According to reviews and videos it looks like the D780 is a bit of a hybrid machine with Lice View focusing taking a lot of tech from the Z series.
Your thoughts?
D850 is better , love mine
Is the difference in price between a decent used D850, especially if you already have many F mount glass, and a new Z8 and the fact that you have to buy new, expensive glass, worth it? I believe unless you are a pro working in the harshest conditions and making a lot of money at it, you'd be a fool to from a D 750, D 810 or D850 to mirrorless. What do you think will be better when you do street photography or potrait? Some people really want me to believe that those "old" DSLR simply can't lock focus on one eye or will not be able to get the shot done. Really?
I think for portrait photography especially of females a softer look is more flattering. Check out Matt Osborn’s photos. Amongst the many lenses he uses, really old film camera lenses, 3rd part lenses and some cheap lenses produce lovely character. So you don’t have to change cameras for character images, just experiment with different lenses.
8:28 it's a bit annoying that the information overlaps with the frame, why can't it be placed outside?
Been shooting mirrorless for a few years now, but recently shot with family member's d500--wow is that shutter loud. Also picked up a d610 for a few min--geez the AF point area is tiny. Mirrorless has some significant advantages
Thanks for the video. Very informative. I'd be curious to see a comparison between the Z7II and the Z8 for portraits.
The Z7ii easily wins .This is from a person that has Z9,Z7ii and D850.
Introduced the same technology as from October 28, 2021 (Nikon Z9), but in smaller body ? What Nikon was doing all this time ?
Selling z9s 😂
the Z8 in clipping some harsh light in the model face etc more than the d850 i can see....is that correct? thanks!
as always amazing video ... but, why dont save your back and use screen and tilt screen ?
Mobility is important :)
@@mattgranger I agree... and finding myself using it oldfashion way.
Thank you Matt.Excellent and pleasant video.Can you please do the same for landscape photography?Thanks
I wish they put all the aux info outside the frame on the EVF same to DSLR
Two points of contention, 1) silent shooting in live mode is achievable and B) I follow plenty of UA-cam channels that use the d850, so you are nowhere near being the last to move over to mirrorless. I knew from the start of your video what direction it would take. Anyone who knows the story of John Henry and the steam hammer knows that new technology wins out over old.
I still find D850 colour tone on the skin much natural and vignette is much darker then Mirrorless Cameras. Z series have warm yellowish tone or flat tone.
I own a Z8 and its good. But not long ago I saw and hold a D850 for the first time in my life.
And yes. IT has something 😌
The whole debate DSLR vs mirrorless is pointless. I see People using D4's for pro work and live from that camera.
Just buy what you prefer. Nobody Will tell the difference between your shoots if you own a Z8 or D850.
I've heard that the Nikon Z8 doesn't handle sigma F mount lenses consistently i.e., locks up and you need to turn off the camera and back on and it locks up again after a few images. Any feedback on this? Thank you.
Don’t know sorry. I didn’t buy a Z8 and I don’t own sigma lenses.
4:23 It was very interesting to see an old USSR schoolbook in your video =))
For me it's a bit nostalgic.
I'm also have D850 and thinking about buying Z8 :)
I dont get why you used different lenses across the bodies. what you did was a comprison of eco-systems, not of Z8 versus D850. The issue was to use a 200mm f2 or a 105 1.4 in both bodies and compare.
Probably the most useful Z8 video iIve seen yet - it's making the comparison that a huge number of potential Z8 buyers are likely making in their heads. Well done - thanks.
Hope you get better soon! I hated my Covid experience. 😞
Absolutely agree that this is the very best Z8/D850 comparison!! My Covid experience in February was bad, but the worst part was know knowing if I would live through it.
@@kennethraysealsphotography3513 Sorry to hear that - must have been terrible. I hope you're back to 100 % or close (many people aren't).
Because of pre-existing health issues, my Covid experience was bad, though not life-threatening. But I still have curious lingering symptoms months later.
I had some regrets getting rid of a D850 but your video has put that to rest.
Z9 is much better than d850 from my experience. I’d assume you won’t regret with Z8
You won’t regret it, I sold my d850 for z9 and it’s been a complete pleasure.
Which lens is that on the 850? Looks like a 35mm 1.4
Thumbs up for the pirouette. LOL. Made my day. Great singing!
If i have Z9 would you recommend to get Z8 or it no sense?
If you have a z9, I imagine you know what works for you 👍🏼 it’s pretty simple. Are the trade offs worth the size weight and cost saving, for you?
@@mattgranger I was really hoping for Z8 to be a 61mp camera or higher. Would buy it without thinking
I have a Z9 and see no need for the Z8. And I am keeping my D850 for landscape and nature closeup work.
Hey Matt great video. Can you test lenses on the z8 with FTZ adapted lens. 58 1.4 , 105 , etc
Matt has done a few great videos on the Z9 with those top F-mount lenses. Check them out, they're very useful and revealing. (And other lazy UA-camrs don't bother with this kind of quality content!)
Would you up grade to mirror-less and keep a dslr as a back up or would it be to different?
I wouldn’t. Why have two lens systems
But at the start, using lens adapter, then yeah it could work
Why isn't there a side-by-side comparison photo in this video?!!! Is it really the first time you make a comparison?
Not the first no. With UA-cam compression you can’t judge, that’s why I give sample download files.
Maybe it's easier to shoot with the mirrorless camera, but the images look exactly the same between the mirrorless and the DSLR.
they will produce the same image. The comparison though is not fair because the lenses are different. Another difference is the advantage of the WYSIWYG approach of the Z8 in term of exposure
They don’t though. The focus is more accurate and the glass is better. The files are overall better on z8
If I purchase the Z8, will my Flashpoint/Godox flashes(V860ii...AD200...Flashpoint 600)sync with the Z8
Sure.
Great info Matt. Hope you’re feeling better.
Thanks mate. I’m getting there 👍🏼
Sounds a little too much like an ad for the Z8. Sure, I get it - new tech and all…but the difficulties with OVFs have existed since the beginning of time and photographers have learned the skills to overcome them. I don’t mean to undervalue the Z8 but the D850 in skilled hands is still a beast of a workhorse.
Thanks for the vid. I prefer OVF experience and DSLR experience to be honest. EVF on z8 could have been better.
i need a z8 vs z9 compa. Moreover, why buy a 9, apart from the verti?
The build quality of the Z8 is poor compared to that of the Z9; unlike the Z9 which is made entirely of Magnesium-Alloy; only the Z8's front is Magnesium-Alloy, the rest is carbon fibre and plastic; another utterly stupid decision by Nikon, they might as well had employed dunces to work for them instead of university graduates.
I would Zeiss manual focus lenses anyway I don’t like Nikon lenses. The build quality on the D850 is better and made in Japan. The new mirrorless camera feel cheaper made.
Just Nice and Cool to see the sing at the end...its complete the main menu which already superb!....
The advantages of the EVF, AF coverage and IBIS have been quite clear since long before the Z8 came along. I was rather hoping for seeing as well a comparison of IQ using the same lens on both cameras - particularly, I'd like to see top-notch F-mount primes such as the 105mm f/1.4E and the 28mm f/1.4E in such a test, since the 50mm f/1.4G is nowhere near those, let alone a state-of-the-art Z-mount 50mm f/1.2S. Even the 58mm f/1.4G is a lens full of character, but not exactly known for its sharpness. I understand your remark that your goal was to compare both systems, but USD 4000 is still quite an investment and many people will probably keep using the Z8 with F-mount glass they still have for a while - especially lenses such as the ones I've mentioned above, which have no Z-mount analog -, so in retrospect I still feel something is missing in this shootout.
Well, the thing is that the sensor is identical to the Z9's, and Matt has done a ton of work with F-mount lenses on the Z9. I think you'd be interested in those other videos of his. Bottom line: he says the Z9 brings the best F-mount glass to new levels, even with AF.
@@gyozakeynsianism true, I saw these videos as well and I expect it to be the case based on IBIS alone, but how each AF system interacts with the lens is also important and a direct shootout comparison between the Z9 and the D850 using the same F-mount glass on both hasn't been done there either, as far as I remember. That would be useful to D850 owners (like me) who might be considering the jump to Z8 in the near future but for which the USD 4000 figure (about 50-60% more than that here in Brazil, btw) also bears a critical weight in the decision. Personally, as it stands I'd still wait for a cheaper, lighter, Expeed 7-equipped Z6 III to go mirrorless and keep the D850 I still love, also because the latter should drop in price considerably in the next weeks/months and I'm not sure that selling it will make up for the price difference by then.
Excellent Review! You're right about one thing. It's hard to Beat NEW TECH!!! Its about making the Job easier & optimizing the Final Product!
In percentage terms, how much better is the Z8 to the Z7ii for Eye AF? As a portrait photographer only, is the Eye AF far better or marginally better between the two? I'm not interested in any of the other AF modes. I'm shooting with the D850 and love the camera, but I really want Eye AF. I don't want to pay $6000 CDN for a camera when I can get a Z7ii for far less. Any comparisons would be great.
AF on eyes or faces is going to be better than DSLR, and closer only in the less convenient Live View mode on the DSLR. I primarily shoot people: actors, headshots, ballet, and opera singers in the studio or on location, commercially. If I am shooting, say, one of the masterclasses we host for 2-3 days twice a month that includes headshots, video introductions, and sample 1-2 pages of dialog, for 20 to 60 stage actors in each class(for experience stage actors who want to transition to the cinema), the keeper rate from my little Z6 is far better, as expected than my D850 or D800. I find that those who have problems with a poorer focus on a Z6 or 7 have not learned it. Getting out-of-focus images is much more likely with a moving mirror than mirrorless. More than 2 frames out of focus for 3 days of constant shooting per 500 frames would be very rare with the entry-level Z6(version 1). I shoot ballet rehearsals for a world-class leading ballet company and can shoot all day and not have a missed focus shot with the Z body and never could with my D850 or D800. I keep them around for backup but their noise alone is enough to keep them from use now. Z glass in general is better corner to corner, faster focusing, and lighter. An 8-hour session with a gripped D850 is tiring while the light Z body is a breeze. Eventually, I will add a Z8 but 24mpx is enough resolving power for portraits.
@@stanspb763 Thanks so much for your information. I've had great success with my D850 but I really want to see if the Z7ii makes focusing easier without breaking the bank
@@paulspatafora8793 Z7ii is awful with af, terrible in low light and terrible eye af. I had a z7ii until 3 weeks ago, I sold it, because of how bad it was for the price. Just get a z7, cheap and the same camera. You need to get a z8/9 for useable af in afraid
It’s far far better. I’ve showed ttl footage of the z8
@@mattgranger Hi Matt, thank you for your reply. Currently, another camera is a want and definitely not a need. I'm transiting to mainly studio portraits and some on-location work. No one is running at me, nor am I doing sports. My plan was to get a Z7ii so that I could have Eye AF. I can pick up a new low-mileage unit, along with an FTZ adapter, for under $3000 CDN by the end of the year. The Z8 and adapter will cost me $6500 CDN. Is the Z8 worth double the price compared to the Z7ii in terms of Eye Af for portraits? I love your channel and have been following you for a long time. I hope you're feeling well soon.
When new cameras come out everyone is like, this is the sharpest ever!!! nothing beats this AF! and the older cameras somehow are talked about as if they are now basically a pain to work with. Come on man! both can do a great job. There is not much difference and if you miss a shot with either its not the camera.
What would you compare a new camera to, other than its predecessor?
@@mattgranger This was a sell not comparison.
you basically used one of the worst 1.4s in Nikon F mount with one of the best Z primes. Why? just why?
@1:37 Matt ....shooting with that Nikon lens is nowhere near approaching the capability of the D850 sensor...you've seen the DXO results? Why are you not shooting with a Sigma Art? You're comparing resolution or just overall image quality ? You say it's unfair but then why are you not matching resolution capability? Or try both a generic Nikon lens from 10 years ago and a newer Sigma Art because you are just not going to see the resolution of the D850 sensor with that lens
I’m using their native 50s. Lens selection is part of the system you’re comparing with F to Z mount.
Matt, thanks as always for your thorough videos.
Question for you. You said we can use our F-Mount lenses with the Z8. I’m a D850 with all the pro lenses.
In an ideal world I’d replace the D850 and lenses with the Z line but if budget is an issue would you said it’s still a good move to upgrade to the Z8 and use my F-mount lenses or will I only really see a big benefit by replacing everything?
To get around most of this I put it on Live View and touch the screen to focus and take the picture.
To get around most of what?
D850 produces pics with soul.
45 to 60 megapixels isn’t that big of a difference. It’s not deal breaker at all. What I want is 16bit color
Time for medium format then
@@mattgranger Is having 16bit files a physical limitation because of the sensor or is that just something camera manufacturers prefer not to release? I agree with the previous comment about wanting that instead of more MP.
@@mattgranger I have been lusting over the GFX cameras. But the almost $3,000 85 1.2 I just bought says otherwise.
I am particularly excited with the Nikon come back… Z9 compressed into a smaller affordable body is great… But it is equally exciting to watch Nikon finally catch up on the marketing front… counter for launch date, product already distributed to influencers in the community, simultaneous release of influencer videos globally with the product release… If Nikon keeps this up, they will grab significant market share from Canon and Sony… and with a Zf from Fuji 😂
👍🏼 like the specs, their launch strategy also didn’t change since the z9
Well if fuji ever cared to deliver a full frame
I will always love Nikon and dream about the D850. But now I'm on the dark side with Canon R6. Debating on Z8 vs R3. My hearth lean to Nikon.
come...to the Nikon side....we have cookies
@@ts7071 Oh I love cookies. I started with a D5300, ill come back for another cookie.
I am in my mid 60's and have no plans to switch to mirrorless. Heck, I am still shooting a Nikon F5 along side my D850. If I were younger, I would jump on the Z camera's in a heartbeat.
Resolution is WAY overrated. I was debating getting the R5 (45 MP) or R6 II (24 MP) last fall. I've been shooting as a pro for 18 years mostly with the 1D Mark III (10 MP) and then got the 5D Mark IV and EOS R (30 MP). I wasn't too happy about going down to 24 MP but wondered if it mattered. I did a comparison with the R6 II and R5 by upscaling the R6 II files to 45 MP using Adobe Camera Raw (most people don't realize you can do this).
I then overlayed the files in PS and did a "blind" comparison of the layers at 100% zoom on a 5K monitor. I mostly couldn't tell which was which (was about 50/50). This was using Canons best RF primes and zooms for portraits and landscapes.
Then I used the Adobe Camera Raw/LR "Enhance Super Resolution" feature on the R6 II files, and output to 45 MP. Again I did a "blind" comparison in PS at 100% zoom and guess what. 9/10 I picked the R6 II files as being sharper and more detailed. I sent these comparisons to a designer friend without telling him which was which layer and he too picked the R6 II files as being sharper and more detailed 9/10 times. We both have about 30 years between us in photo and design.
I've done the same with R6 vs A7IV files (20 vs 33 MP) and got the same results. The lens and AF sharpness is more important than advertised resolution.
And btw, I've had billboard prints for advertising printed on city buses that came from an 8 MP (1D Mark IIN) camera and they looked PHENOMENAL. Things like dynamic range and AF reliability are way more important than resolution (which is why I love the R6 Mark II because it's the best in it's class for these things, arguably the best all around for AF).
Thanks for the video mate. I’ve just changed d850 to z8. I agree the af is a vast improvement with eye af. I don’t like that you can’t lock the multi selector as you could on the d850. I’m slowly getting used to the minuscule click the z8 makes compared to that satisfying click of the 850.
By the way, the harnes/strap your wearing, what brand please. Looks good.
Cheers. Its BR Breathe strap: geni.us/bNhT
Thanks Matt..
Would love to keep my 850, but when the time comes to go ML....I still kinda like the Z9.. watching all the Z8 vids... might change my mind... who knows..
I keep nostalgically thinking how good the d850 is then this reminded me! Though I still love using the 28, 58 and 105 1.4's on mirrorless
Было бы не плохо показывать и настройки, что за обьектив, какая диафрагма, выдержка и т д
This was very insightful/informative/useful/helpful. Thank you very much.
Get well Matt. Thanks for the video.
Thank you Matt not to be too judgy but I've been following you since the Nikon guy and even though you still pronounce Nikon wrong ;) I have really really really found a lot of respect for you over the last few videos and I know the Shibari course is just gonna blow me away. While I won't be getting the Z8, I have tried the Z7ii side by side with the D750, and aside from the very obvious clarity difference the ability to see your exposure real time the full frame focus is where its at. I will be getting the Z7ii for sure and can't wait to evolve into the Z glass. So sad my 300, and 500 are both AF-S. Thank you for a great review
Haha. Cheers Michael.
Matt pls always give us the raw file to download
That was pre production camera on this video. Can’t share the files.
The battery life of the z8 is a show stopper for me, I will keep the d850.
Z8 battery life is really good!
@@mattgrangerOnly if one uses the EVF; but for those who compose their subjects using the rear LCD the battery life is crap. It's so much easier and quicker to compose using the LCD as the subject appears considerably larger on a LCD thus making it easier to notice and correct errors before making a exposure, especially when using wide-angle lenses.
I am dreaming of an hybrid between the d780 and the d850 with a gps. It will be outstanding to have an OVF which can become a EVF. Liveview-> EVF. OVF in DSLR mode. The cherry on top will be a gps to geotag the pictures.
Sometimes dreams come true. Sadly, I don't think this one will haha. Cheers mate.
great vid, learned much from this one, Z8 looks much more attractive now. thanks Matt!!
the eVF is great, but your argument was not convincing. you could have checked in the back of the screen afters shooting in the d850 and take again. you dont need to wait for post to fix the problem.
Enjoy your DSLRs mate.
@@mattgranger thanks. traded my d850 for Z 50mm 1.2 long time ago.
11:16 I don't think this is appropriate. You don't have an assistant?
raw file is not the same whether that matters anymore THE D850 is almost 2x that of zed 9-8
Thank you Matt! Since the z9 and z8 are not quite ready and are not really better than the D850's ability to focus for wildlife other than FPS and I have a z6 and a z7II is there really a valid reason to spend 4500 on a Z8 when it is still not up to par with Canon and Sony?
Do I have to accept your premise to answer the qn?
@@mattgranger lol, no.. you can shoot me down and tell me I am an idiot.. I will still love you man... I am wrong all the time. just ask my girlfriend :-D
(Advice aimed at wildlife stills)
You pretty much gave the only reasons yourself. The higher frame rate stills shooting and the newest Nikon AF will give you a bump over the Z6ii/Z7ii. Other than that, image quality compared to the Z7ii will pretty much be the same as you can use the same Z lenses, which make up a bulk of how it eventually will look.
Compared to Canon / Sony you also only gain the higher frame rates, especially the 120fps option for 11MP JPG. You miss out on their superb AF systems, but Nikon's is good enough that if you learn to use it, it might suit you better as it's up to how well you can and how much you like to use the camera of your choice. A better Sony won't make you happier if you don't enjoy it otherwise.
You might also miss out on a slightly better battery life from the other two, as far as CIPA ratings go, and E-Mount is still the king of budget and options when it comes to lenses (looking at those 3 systems only).
Nikon then gives you the advantage of the Z8 "only" being around 4k for what it delivers, but a lot of that falls more into the area of video features and other improvements. It still lacks other software features like sensor-shift modes or anamorphic record options (afaik), but those are of no use for your usecase anyway.
The competition are still the A1 and R5, but out of those, the R5 is now cheaper and the A1 still more expensive. The A7rV is also slightly cheaper, but it's FPS cannot hold up with the 20 from the Z8, but it's AF is, as far as I've been able to tell from a short hands on, quite the deal.
Overall, buying a Z8 is only "worth" it, when already having a Z6 & Z7ii, if you decide to sell one / make it your backup. But at the same time, to buy into a whole second system just for the AF is a waste of money as well. So if you want the better AF and use Nikon, the Z8 is great. If you want the best AF, it's questionable if it's worth carrying two very competent systems or if you'd even want to make a full swap over to Sony / Canon.
Simply said: the Z8 is a great addition to the Nikon lineup and if you need better AF, consider it first before you buy into a whole second system that you then also would have to learn ground up.
I'll take it as a statement of opinion, rather than a question then mate.
Thanks for this . The 1st comparison I wanted for sure
Man there’s some tough customers in this comments section. I shot with the D850 for 5 years and I loved that camera more than anything. I got the Z9 and several Z lenses. You can get amazing images with the D850 but the Z9/Z8 and Z lenses are way better in ease of use, speed, accuracy and image quality. Just in terms of image quality, the Z cams and lenses are sharper, little to no purple/green fringing and way less color noise in the higher ISO ranges.
It is just me or the video camera had some crisper images than those two Nikon when shooting faces?
Video camera is z9 in ProRes 👍🏼
They're going to have to do a hell of a lot better for me to replace my D850 and it's 2024!
Could you do the same comparison with wildlife please? c",)
😊very nice shots an far the best Modell for now , oh that voice , wow
Why it black and white
I actually find the evf the major disadvantage of the mirrorless. The main complaint is the limited dynamic range. It is essentially an 8bit screen. Especially for landscape, I have to increase the exposure condensation just to compose before dialing it back. It is a shame that you need to give up things.