I’m sure people will agree, while the cameras I have now are doing the job I need them to do nicely, there’s no harm in waiting to see if Nikon release a pro mirrorless APSC or Z7III this year so I can compare specs. If Nikon haven’t released a pro APSC or Z7III by the end of this year, then I might buy a Z8 on special during the Black Friday sales 🤙📸
Knowing Nikon, I doubt Black Friday deals will be anything spectacular. Probably the old "$300 off" or "24 months 0% APR." But I'm with you: I want to see what rumors pan out this year, and probably get a Z8 by year's end if nothing significant is announced.
I believe that if a version 3 is released, it will probably have the same sensor or one that might capture the file a little faster, max out at 8-10fps with a new processor, better af & video like the ZF but, probably won't be much cheaper than the Z8. I guess $3400.00 US.
Some people have this notion that whatever it is that their into, every one else should be the same. They should mind their own bloody business, and stop questioning other people's decisions. Love your channel, keep it up. From Ireland. 🇨🇮👍
Agree with everything. The only Nikon camera that I would consider would be a good APS-C with the AF of the z8. Wish Nikon would update the z7 with bird AF. In addition, the z8 seems too big and chunky.
I have enjoyed my d500 & d850 respectively since their release. Recently a friend purchased the d850 and I made the jump to the z8. I also look forward to a “pro level” d500 replacement in the z system much like you. Likely will repurpose the d500 when the z system provides the replacement. With that said, my hobby (nature/wildlife/birding/landscape) has taken huge strides with z8. It has better positioned me to explore composition & creative perspectives as the AF, once learned, requires little to no effort when shooting. And increased frame rate has me catching BIF action like never before. Also found my trustworthy F mount Nikon lens convert exceptionally well with the mirrorless system. And lastly the in body stabilization enables much more effective hand held shots to keep me light & quick on my feet with overall gear pack. I too am happy I waited as I had my eyes on the z9 but am so happy I waited for the z8. Best.
I went the other direction....I own the D850 and a Z7 and due to the fact I shoot mostly landscapes they both do everything I need. With one exception....they are both too much to carry for street and vacation photography. Sooooo I added a Z30 with the 16-50 kit lens to my collection, it's a great walking around camera. I remember the old saying " The best camera is the one you have with you" As always a great video, Thank you.
Your photos are already awesome man. I don't think you need another camera to be honest. I think you once said, "it's not the camera, it's the photographer that takes the photo."
Adrian, I agree with you. Nikon needs to introduce a new APSC camera to compete with their competitors (Canon, Sony and yes Fuji), but so fare they don't seem to care. As a Z50 user (great travel camera), I am a bit tired of waiting for Nikon. It may be time to switch brands. It obvious Nikon doesn't care about the APSC camera market.
You made some good points Adrian and like me how much shelf space do you need with every new cameras come out like me with drones! Good idea to wait with any new releases. Many thanks for sharing your reason - another great video - have a great week
Adrian, you pretty much have duplicated my exact thoughts ! My Z7ii with my three Z zooms is a fantastic landscape camera, giving me beautiful images from 14 to 400mm in FX mode. Without the grip, and a 24-120mm, it transforms into an amazing lightweight kit, for travel or hiking. I still use my D850 alot, especially in the harsh,, cold, Canadian winters when battery life can be significantly impacted. I have a Zf for family pics, street, and low light photography. What I want, is a high speed pro DX specific camera at a decent price. A lot of what makes the Z8 as pricey as it is, in my view, is the video capability. That is not my thing. Part of me lusts for the “best” tools (toys), but rational me says no.
Excellent points Adrian & makes a lot of sense. I wonder when the D500 equivalent mirrorless is gonna be released. I think it will be a killer:) cheers
Cheers for watching Peter. I agree a D500 in a mirrorless version would boost Nikon sales through the roof. I think maybe they want their pound of flesh in Z8, Z9 and Zf sales first though. 🙏📸
Hi Adrian, a great video, buddy! I absolutely agree: if the current gear does its job, there is no reason to upgrade, actually. But an upgrade could anyway make sense if the advantages I would get out of using the new gear are bigger than the costs of the upgrade. If the new camera has some functions that help me to save time, for instance, that could be such an advantage. Thank you for the video and nice greetings, Christian
Totally agree Christian. If the camera has the tech you need to make your job more efficient and easier then yes I would upgrade. Thanks for watching buddy, enjoy your week cheers 🍻 🙏
Excellent points. My Z7 covers everything I "need" and there's no reason to spend more. Only when computer upgrades make it and my Zfc obsolete will I buy another.
I would agree with what you have said. Another thing to note is that unlike D850, where you have option to choose the size of RAW file (S/M/L), there is no such option with Z8. The files are always 45mp.
I bought an early Z7 and found that it did not include 3D Focus Tracking. It rests quietly in my work room. I still use what works very well; my D3 & D700.
The most important reason is to get a consistent autofocus camera you really have to go to z8 which is ridiculous. Many retailers are complaining Nikon is doing nothing for the less expensive camera market, which I totally agree.
Thank you for watching. Yes, I would love a more budget friendly like a APSC with bird AF. I think Nikon would sell a lot of cameras in that niche market for those that can't afford things like Z8, Z9.
As a potential buyer of the Z8 you hit all the buttons for me. I’m upgrading from a Z6. As a nature/wildlife shooter I can answer a definite Yes to do I need a Z8. My pullback from taking the jump is not so much the price because it has all the bells and whistles I need but the potential Z6Iii. I could wait another 6 months plus for that camera to land and another 6 months to find one in-stock and it might not meet my needs to start with
Hello Adrian, All valid reasons why you haven't purchased a Z8 (Yet). Here in the USA, in less than 6 months after its release, Nikon reduced the price of the Z8 by $300 USD. These last two months for both Mother's and Father's Day sales, one can purchase the Z8 for $3,199.99 + whatever sales tax one's state charges. Nikon also reduced the price of the D850 to its lowest price point ever since its release in 2017 - as in $2,199.99. I've told people who may be interested in the D850 to buy one now, since the price has never been lower. As always, a well-reasoned response to the naysayers and well delivered information. Thank you.
I get those comments as well...why aren't you shooting a Sony A74 or A75? Those cameras are not going to make my landscape photography better, and there will be no noticeable difference in my images...and most importantly, I love my A7R3. And you are exactly right on your reasonings here in this video. Always smart to wait for a while after a release as well, as you noted here. Great stuff as always Adrian! Have a great weekend mate!
Thanks for watching Paul. I totally agree with you. If I was using a Z8 for landscape only there’d be no difference in image quality using the Z7 or D850. Where the Z8 would come in handy is for video (4K 120) and for faster wildlife shots. I’m in no rush, the Z8 will come down in price as time goes on and it’ll be interesting to see if Nikon launch an APSC or Z7III. Have an awesome weekend mate cheers 🍻 🙏🤙
As usual nice video Adrian. I still shoot with a D810. Waiting on Nikon to update the Z7ii with a camera targeted more for landscapes. I feel the Z8 is more for action photography, plus it is larger than I want in a mirrorless body. I would rather have the Z7ii myself if I had to buy a new camera right now.
I get it, especially the "Yet" part. I owned 2 D750's, a D850, a Z6ii and a Z7ii prior to switching to my Z9 and then acquiring the Z8. We both know that your current stable of the D850, the D750 and the Z7 are capable of shooting marvelous images. If I were only shooting landscape, I might have stuck with the Z7ii instead of trading it for the Z8. I think lighting and technique play a far bigger role in any image resolution differences between those two cameras than their respective technology differences create. I think where you'll really find a huge difference between your current stable and a Z8/Z9 will be in the wildlife and bird shooting part of your use case. I shoot a lot of dog show photos and as you know, the D850 can be rather loud when shooting the maximum fps (especially when I attached the Nikon battery grip to reach about 9 fps). I only got a few complaints from dog owners who's puppies had sensitive ears, but I also received more than a few sideways glances at the machinegun rattle of the D850 at full chat. For a while I shot with the Z9, the D850 and the Z7ii, but the audible noise of the D850 and the EVF blackout of the Z7ii lessened my enjoyment to the point that I made a switch, trading those two for the Z8. Who knows, if Nikon brings out a Z7iii with 46MP, Z8 level autofocus and 10 or 15fps burst, I may pick up a Z7iii as a third camera body. It would make for a wonderful landscape, hiking, travel, and grab-and-go option with a smaller form factor than the Z8/Z9.
Adrian, I follow your logic and agree with most of it. I have a D6 and D850, I shoot mainly sports and wildlife and these two cameras covered almost all situations, or did they... I have had a Z9 now for some considerable time and it was bought to offer the advantages of the other two cameras in one unit, the Z8 obviously does the same. Here is the nubb, what I have discovered is the absolutely most desirable feature of my Z9(or Z8) is the fact that it has silent shooting in all modes and speeds, something that can only be achieved with a shutterless camera coupled to a suitable sensor. I just don't see this combination coming in APSc at the kind of price point you are looking for. Although I still love my D850 and especially my D6 and use both regularly, I am seriously considering another Z9 to give me two units for some of the events I shoot, where both can operate silent. I don't want a Z8 as I have customised the function buttons on my Z9 and could not replicate this identically on a Z8. As a wildlife shooter silent shooting at high frame rate is simply fantastic. Just my 2p but maybe something else to consider, you don't know you are missing something if you have never had it.
Good points on the silent shooting capability. I too have a D850 and D6, shooting predominantly wildlife. I will say that for me, buying the D6 was a tough leap at the time (rumours of the then unreleased Z9 were swirling) but I also love it and think it’s brilliant. To date it’s the only full pro-body I’ve owned. I largely agree with Adrian’s logic. If I didn’t have the D6 I’d have pushed for a Z9 but I just added a Z8 (my first mirrorless camera) a few months ago. My own logic was that it was nicely filling a gap in my arsenal and…finally…getting me entrance into the mirrorless world. I’m thrilled with it and (here in Canada) got it at a decent price during a Nikon promotion.
People need to respect your choices and just enjoy your work. I love my Z7ii & Zf as big guns but wish there was a better apsc than Z50 which needs more bird lenses that don’t weigh a ton.
Thanks for watching. I'm using the money I'm saving towards an apartment overlooking the beach. Eventually my apartment will increase in value, a Z8 would not.
I always wait 6 -8 months before I buy a new camera model in order to allow time fo the problems to be sorted out. I finally traded my D750 in for a Z8 but I am keeping my D850.
All valid reasons and you'd probably need a bigger shelf too! It will be interesting to see how your gear set up evolves in the future. The shots you take are already amazing, so I don't think it matters what camera you have in your hands.
Very true! I will slowly upgrade my gear in the next year or two. I'm a little slow on the tech upgrade merry-go-round. I enjoy my cameras now, that's the main thing. Cheers
Nice video and clear explanation.... So the question is 5 month later do you still use your D850 or you did go for the Z8 ? I need to buy another body... do I stick with D850 or jump to the Z8 ? DIdi my DSLR lense will work great with FTZ II adapter on the z8 ?....
Thanks for watching. I still have and use my D850. I will never sell it. That being said I will be buying a Z8 very soon. So I will have both cameras (one acting as a back up camera). My FTZII adapted lenses work fine on my Z7 so I dare say they would be ok on the Z8 but I do recommend buying dedicated Z lenses though as they are better in many ways.
I'm going to hold out a bit and see if a theoretical Z7 III comes to light. The Z8 is more camera than I need. If there is no announcement by the end of the year I'll probably grab a Z8 on holiday discount.
Hi Adrian, do you still use your D850? If yes, then when and why? I too retained my D850 as my second camera body and bought Z9 in September 2023. I am using Z9 specifically for Wildlife and Bird Photography and I'm using D850 for my professional, commercial photography like, wedding, product, event photography purposes. I'm just curious to know your purpose to retain D850 in spite of having Z7.
Hi - I use my D850 for landscape and birds and wildlife. I use my Z7 the same way (well, kind of). When going on long hikes I take the Z7 instead of D850 as it is lighter. For more fast action bird flying etc, I use the D850. The D850 is so versatile though I can use it for everything realistically.
My reason why I haven’t bought Z8 and Z9 is because is 46mpx sensor. Owning two D850’s I don’t need another high megapixel camera. I would love to see something like Canon R3 in Nikon flagships lineup.
I like to do stills photography and so for me the Nikon Z 7 III would be the best. I don’t need 6K video with a 1,000 RAW shot buffer, pre-release, post release, upside down correction, flicker reduction and amplification, 200 frames a second etc etc blaa blaa. I just need the 45 (60) MP sensor and the more normal diet of features now available on most camera models. I really like my now ageing Z7 but if good fortune should smile upon me and I can afford the Z7 III then that would be a nice upgrade. Cheers
I have bought one myself, but not everyone needs the Z8. For example, a landscape or travel photographer may not see any real benefit of a Z8 over a Z7 or Z6 series body. The people who probably "should" upgrade to a Z8 are sports and wildlife shooters mostly, and videographers as those are it's biggest strengths over the other lower-end cameras (Z5/Zf/Z6/Z7). Now, I don't shoot video and I really don't shoot sports either, but I do dabble with wildlife here and there and do portrait work, but mostly landscape and travel. But the reason I got the Z8 was I wanted a camera that I could carry that I knew was ready for anything, even if it's not a genre I shoot a lot (like wildlife). But if you have no intentions of ever needing such features, then there is no real point in spending $4k on the camera, and rather it may be better to spend money on trips or opportunities, or lenses.
If Z6 iii or z7iii come out with same great af as z8/z9 but slow buffer and not as many shots per second, that kind of camera would be for me as I am not a wildlife or sports shooter but I want to nail the focus everytime when I take a photo.
great take! I am considering to switch to mirrorless for a while now.... Not sure if I should just get a cheap second hand Z7 / Z7 II for now or just save up and get a Z8 straight away... Coming from a D500, the Z7 would be a downgrade in terms of birds in flight I guess... Oh well... Always looking forward to your videos, as always :)
I am like you waiting for a decent priced enthusiasts camera from Nikon, but right now there are some awesome deals on the Z6II and I am so tempted, I know it's a few years old now not sure if I can wait LOL. Thanks for sharing mate.
Thanks for watching John. We certainly are blessed with the amount of choices we have in terms of cameras nowadays. Enjoy the rest of your week mate, cheers 🙏
Always interesting Adrian... updates seem to be a common thing with Nikon these days so any new camera released will have an update or two...I have hung on to my D500 and not moved to mirrorless gear 'yet' ...I will hold back for the moment..... cheers 🦘🦘😃
I agree, if your camera does what you need it to do, the only reason is to get the higher resale value it still has when the the new upgraade model is first released. Now if new or improved features are needed or desired & the ole pockets are deep enough, hey, GO FOR IT! My pockets aren't deep enough. I might get the D850 (move up from D810)in the next year to use with my F-mount lenses but wouldn't mind having something easier to shoot some very short nature & wildlife vid clips once in a while. Nikon DSLR cameras are terrible at it. Or at least Ia am & would need something that the AF would stick a little better & be able to see in the strong sunlight. Hey, at least you got another weekly vid from all the rude viewers you attract!
I bought my D850 (in large part) because of you. I love the camera. I have a z5 as well as D610 (due to D600 recall) and was thinking of the zf to replace the z5. I really like the manual af of the zf over the z5. Your thoughts?
Yeah I like the Zf. Good focusing, good in low light etc. I guess it is completely up to you whether you upgrade or not. You know the type of photography you do best.
The Z8 is no good for low light leds. The electronic shutter has banding issues. So a Z7 iii with a mechanical shutter will be a useful camera in the range for people who don’t need ridiculously high fps for shooting sports and wildlife in a professional capacity.
I remember the oil problem with the D600... and the recalls. Never had one so... I heard about that only. Re the Z7, it won't make any sense to have a 'whole' from Z5, 6, then 8 and 9. Nikon traditionally has a high def camera in their lineup and it looks as if they just moved the high def down a number. The series 8 (800, 800E, 810, 850) used to be the high def.. so we were expecting the Z8 to fall into this steps, but it didn't. What's tragic is a 60MP sensor probably mounted on the Z7 some 3 and a half years AFTER Sony!! That's dreadful Nikon... truly dreadful!
Looking forward to seeing what Canon brings in the next 12 months. 5D Mark II rumors look interesting. At least we got a lot of choices Phil to pick from.
I'm waiting for a DX PRO as well > got a Zf as a temp. solution with good SubRec >>You missed that Z8 doesn't have a fully articulated monitor !! >>>> That's my main reason not to buy it ---YET---- 😂😂
I’m sure people will agree, while the cameras I have now are doing the job I need them to do nicely, there’s no harm in waiting to see if Nikon release a pro mirrorless APSC or Z7III this year so I can compare specs. If Nikon haven’t released a pro APSC or Z7III by the end of this year, then I might buy a Z8 on special during the Black Friday sales 🤙📸
Knowing Nikon, I doubt Black Friday deals will be anything spectacular. Probably the old "$300 off" or "24 months 0% APR." But I'm with you: I want to see what rumors pan out this year, and probably get a Z8 by year's end if nothing significant is announced.
The Z8 replaced the Z7iii (maybe)... but they could potentially put a 61 mp BSI sensor in it
I believe that if a version 3 is released, it will probably have the same sensor or one that might capture the file a little faster, max out at 8-10fps with a new processor, better af & video like the ZF but, probably won't be much cheaper than the Z8. I guess $3400.00 US.
Some people have this notion that whatever it is that their into, every one else should be the same. They should mind their own bloody business, and stop questioning other people's decisions. Love your channel, keep it up. From Ireland. 🇨🇮👍
Thank you for watching. And yes, you pretty much summed up my exact thoughts 🙏
Agree with everything.
The only Nikon camera that I would consider would be a good APS-C with the AF of the z8.
Wish Nikon would update the z7 with bird AF. In addition, the z8 seems too big and chunky.
Thank you for watching. I would like Nikon to update the Z7 with bird AF too, but I doubt we'll ever see it unfortunately 🙏
I have enjoyed my d500 & d850 respectively since their release. Recently a friend purchased the d850 and I made the jump to the z8. I also look forward to a “pro level” d500 replacement in the z system much like you. Likely will repurpose the d500 when the z system provides the replacement. With that said, my hobby (nature/wildlife/birding/landscape) has taken huge strides with z8. It has better positioned me to explore composition & creative perspectives as the AF, once learned, requires little to no effort when shooting. And increased frame rate has me catching BIF action like never before. Also found my trustworthy F mount Nikon lens convert exceptionally well with the mirrorless system. And lastly the in body stabilization enables much more effective hand held shots to keep me light & quick on my feet with overall gear pack. I too am happy I waited as I had my eyes on the z9 but am so happy I waited for the z8. Best.
Thanks for watching 🙏
I went the other direction....I own the D850 and a Z7 and due to the fact I shoot mostly landscapes they both do everything I need. With one exception....they are both too much to carry for street and vacation photography. Sooooo I added a Z30 with the 16-50 kit lens to my collection, it's a great walking around camera. I remember the old saying " The best camera is the one you have with you" As always a great video, Thank you.
Your photos are already awesome man. I don't think you need another camera to be honest. I think you once said, "it's not the camera, it's the photographer that takes the photo."
I appreciate that! Yes, I should've mentioned about the skill level of the photographer. But , you did it for me, thank you. Have a great week ahead 🙏
@@adrianalfordphotography same to you.
Agreed! I'm still using a 5D MKII Canon. Why? Because it works for me!
Adrian, I agree with you. Nikon needs to introduce a new APSC camera to compete with their competitors (Canon, Sony and yes Fuji), but so fare they don't seem to care. As a Z50 user (great travel camera), I am a bit tired of waiting for Nikon. It may be time to switch brands. It obvious Nikon doesn't care about the APSC camera market.
Thank you for watching 🙏
You made some good points Adrian and like me how much shelf space do you need with every new cameras come out like me with drones! Good idea to wait with any new releases. Many thanks for sharing your reason - another great video - have a great week
Thanks for watching Shaun. Glad you liked the video mate. Enjoy the rest of your week ahead, cheers 🙏
Adrian, you pretty much have duplicated my exact thoughts ! My Z7ii with my three Z zooms is a fantastic landscape camera, giving me beautiful images from 14 to 400mm in FX mode. Without the grip, and a 24-120mm, it transforms into an amazing lightweight kit, for travel or hiking. I still use my D850 alot, especially in the harsh,, cold, Canadian winters when battery life can be significantly impacted. I have a Zf for family pics, street, and low light photography. What I want, is a high speed pro DX specific camera at a decent price. A lot of what makes the Z8 as pricey as it is, in my view, is the video capability. That is not my thing. Part of me lusts for the “best” tools (toys), but rational me says no.
Glad to know I am not the only one David. Thanks for watching 🙏
Excellent points Adrian & makes a lot of sense. I wonder when the D500 equivalent mirrorless is gonna be released. I think it will be a killer:) cheers
Cheers for watching Peter. I agree a D500 in a mirrorless version would boost Nikon sales through the roof. I think maybe they want their pound of flesh in Z8, Z9 and Zf sales first though. 🙏📸
Hi Adrian, a great video, buddy! I absolutely agree: if the current gear does its job, there is no reason to upgrade, actually. But an upgrade could anyway make sense if the advantages I would get out of using the new gear are bigger than the costs of the upgrade. If the new camera has some functions that help me to save time, for instance, that could be such an advantage.
Thank you for the video and nice greetings,
Christian
Totally agree Christian. If the camera has the tech you need to make your job more efficient and easier then yes I would upgrade. Thanks for watching buddy, enjoy your week cheers 🍻 🙏
Excellent points. My Z7 covers everything I "need" and there's no reason to spend more. Only when computer upgrades make it and my Zfc obsolete will I buy another.
Thank you for watching 🙏
I would agree with what you have said. Another thing to note is that unlike D850, where you have option to choose the size of RAW file (S/M/L), there is no such option with Z8. The files are always 45mp.
Thanks for watching. I did not realise that re the S/M/L thanks for letting me know 🙏
I bought an early Z7 and found that it did not include 3D Focus Tracking. It rests quietly in my work room.
I still use what works very well; my D3 & D700.
I'm waiting for the d500 mirror-less too.
Shouldn't be far off now.
I have the Z8 but I have been longing for a d500 replacement with Z8/Z9 features and capabilities
The most important reason is to get a consistent autofocus camera you really have to go to z8 which is ridiculous. Many retailers are complaining Nikon is doing nothing for the less expensive camera market, which I totally agree.
Thank you for watching. Yes, I would love a more budget friendly like a APSC with bird AF. I think Nikon would sell a lot of cameras in that niche market for those that can't afford things like Z8, Z9.
As a potential buyer of the Z8 you hit all the buttons for me. I’m upgrading from a Z6. As a nature/wildlife shooter I can answer a definite Yes to do I need a Z8. My pullback from taking the jump is not so much the price because it has all the bells and whistles I need but the potential Z6Iii. I could wait another 6 months plus for that camera to land and another 6 months to find one in-stock and it might not meet my needs to start with
Hello Adrian, All valid reasons why you haven't purchased a Z8 (Yet). Here in the USA, in less than 6 months after its release, Nikon reduced the price of the Z8 by $300 USD. These last two months for both Mother's and Father's Day sales, one can purchase the Z8 for $3,199.99 + whatever sales tax one's state charges.
Nikon also reduced the price of the D850 to its lowest price point ever since its release in 2017 - as in $2,199.99. I've told people who may be interested in the D850 to buy one now, since the price has never been lower.
As always, a well-reasoned response to the naysayers and well delivered information. Thank you.
Thanks for watching Paul 🙏
Mate you are a Rock Start. I love your channel and your content.
I get those comments as well...why aren't you shooting a Sony A74 or A75? Those cameras are not going to make my landscape photography better, and there will be no noticeable difference in my images...and most importantly, I love my A7R3. And you are exactly right on your reasonings here in this video. Always smart to wait for a while after a release as well, as you noted here. Great stuff as always Adrian! Have a great weekend mate!
Thanks for watching Paul. I totally agree with you. If I was using a Z8 for landscape only there’d be no difference in image quality using the Z7 or D850. Where the Z8 would come in handy is for video (4K 120) and for faster wildlife shots. I’m in no rush, the Z8 will come down in price as time goes on and it’ll be interesting to see if Nikon launch an APSC or Z7III. Have an awesome weekend mate cheers 🍻 🙏🤙
As usual nice video Adrian. I still shoot with a D810. Waiting on Nikon to update the Z7ii with a camera targeted more for landscapes. I feel the Z8 is more for action photography, plus it is larger than I want in a mirrorless body. I would rather have the Z7ii myself if I had to buy a new camera right now.
Thanks for watching 🙏
I have also dreamed having Z8. Maybe I buy it in this summer.
"Do I want a Z8? Yes! Do I need one? No!" That'sa self confession I think is valid for so many photographers, professionals and others.
I get it, especially the "Yet" part. I owned 2 D750's, a D850, a Z6ii and a Z7ii prior to switching to my Z9 and then acquiring the Z8. We both know that your current stable of the D850, the D750 and the Z7 are capable of shooting marvelous images. If I were only shooting landscape, I might have stuck with the Z7ii instead of trading it for the Z8. I think lighting and technique play a far bigger role in any image resolution differences between those two cameras than their respective technology differences create. I think where you'll really find a huge difference between your current stable and a Z8/Z9 will be in the wildlife and bird shooting part of your use case. I shoot a lot of dog show photos and as you know, the D850 can be rather loud when shooting the maximum fps (especially when I attached the Nikon battery grip to reach about 9 fps). I only got a few complaints from dog owners who's puppies had sensitive ears, but I also received more than a few sideways glances at the machinegun rattle of the D850 at full chat. For a while I shot with the Z9, the D850 and the Z7ii, but the audible noise of the D850 and the EVF blackout of the Z7ii lessened my enjoyment to the point that I made a switch, trading those two for the Z8. Who knows, if Nikon brings out a Z7iii with 46MP, Z8 level autofocus and 10 or 15fps burst, I may pick up a Z7iii as a third camera body. It would make for a wonderful landscape, hiking, travel, and grab-and-go option with a smaller form factor than the Z8/Z9.
Adrian, I follow your logic and agree with most of it. I have a D6 and D850, I shoot mainly sports and wildlife and these two cameras covered almost all situations, or did they... I have had a Z9 now for some considerable time and it was bought to offer the advantages of the other two cameras in one unit, the Z8 obviously does the same. Here is the nubb, what I have discovered is the absolutely most desirable feature of my Z9(or Z8) is the fact that it has silent shooting in all modes and speeds, something that can only be achieved with a shutterless camera coupled to a suitable sensor. I just don't see this combination coming in APSc at the kind of price point you are looking for. Although I still love my D850 and especially my D6 and use both regularly, I am seriously considering another Z9 to give me two units for some of the events I shoot, where both can operate silent. I don't want a Z8 as I have customised the function buttons on my Z9 and could not replicate this identically on a Z8. As a wildlife shooter silent shooting at high frame rate is simply fantastic. Just my 2p but maybe something else to consider, you don't know you are missing something if you have never had it.
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
Good points on the silent shooting capability. I too have a D850 and D6, shooting predominantly wildlife. I will say that for me, buying the D6 was a tough leap at the time (rumours of the then unreleased Z9 were swirling) but I also love it and think it’s brilliant. To date it’s the only full pro-body I’ve owned. I largely agree with Adrian’s logic. If I didn’t have the D6 I’d have pushed for a Z9 but I just added a Z8 (my first mirrorless camera) a few months ago. My own logic was that it was nicely filling a gap in my arsenal and…finally…getting me entrance into the mirrorless world. I’m thrilled with it and (here in Canada) got it at a decent price during a Nikon promotion.
People need to respect your choices and just enjoy your work. I love my Z7ii & Zf as big guns but wish there was a better apsc than Z50 which needs more bird lenses that don’t weigh a ton.
Thanks for watching and yes totally agree about respect for choices of camera I use or don't use 🙏
Hello Adrian!
I am all with you and your arguments. It's shurely a nice camera but I will uss the money for holidays and tanke some pics then.
Thanks for watching. I'm using the money I'm saving towards an apartment overlooking the beach. Eventually my apartment will increase in value, a Z8 would not.
I always wait 6 -8 months before I buy a new camera model in order to allow time fo the problems to be sorted out. I finally traded my D750 in for a Z8 but I am keeping my D850.
Glad I'm not the only one. Thank you very much for watching 🙏
All valid reasons and you'd probably need a bigger shelf too! It will be interesting to see how your gear set up evolves in the future. The shots you take are already amazing, so I don't think it matters what camera you have in your hands.
Very true! I will slowly upgrade my gear in the next year or two. I'm a little slow on the tech upgrade merry-go-round. I enjoy my cameras now, that's the main thing. Cheers
Nice video and clear explanation.... So the question is 5 month later do you still use your D850 or you did go for the Z8 ? I need to buy another body... do I stick with D850 or jump to the Z8 ? DIdi my DSLR lense will work great with FTZ II adapter on the z8 ?....
Thanks for watching. I still have and use my D850. I will never sell it. That being said I will be buying a Z8 very soon. So I will have both cameras (one acting as a back up camera). My FTZII adapted lenses work fine on my Z7 so I dare say they would be ok on the Z8 but I do recommend buying dedicated Z lenses though as they are better in many ways.
I'm going to hold out a bit and see if a theoretical Z7 III comes to light. The Z8 is more camera than I need. If there is no announcement by the end of the year I'll probably grab a Z8 on holiday discount.
Hi Adrian, do you still use your D850? If yes, then when and why?
I too retained my D850 as my second camera body and bought Z9 in September 2023.
I am using Z9 specifically for Wildlife and Bird Photography and I'm using D850 for my professional, commercial photography like, wedding, product, event photography purposes.
I'm just curious to know your purpose to retain D850 in spite of having Z7.
Hi - I use my D850 for landscape and birds and wildlife. I use my Z7 the same way (well, kind of). When going on long hikes I take the Z7 instead of D850 as it is lighter. For more fast action bird flying etc, I use the D850. The D850 is so versatile though I can use it for everything realistically.
@@adrianalfordphotography That's great 👍❤️
My reason why I haven’t bought Z8 and Z9 is because is 46mpx sensor. Owning two D850’s I don’t need another high megapixel camera. I would love to see something like Canon R3 in Nikon flagships lineup.
I'd wait for the Z8ii
I like to do stills photography and so for me the Nikon Z 7 III would be the best. I don’t need 6K video with a 1,000 RAW shot buffer, pre-release, post release, upside down correction, flicker reduction and amplification, 200 frames a second etc etc blaa blaa. I just need the 45 (60) MP sensor and the more normal diet of features now available on most camera models. I really like my now ageing Z7 but if good fortune should smile upon me and I can afford the Z7 III then that would be a nice upgrade. Cheers
Thanks for watching Brian and sharing your thoughts. Much appreciated 🙏
Ignore the criticism and do your thing. I was criticized because I said the Z8 should have a higher quality viewfinder for a $4K camera.
Thank you for watching and your kind support 🙏
I have bought one myself, but not everyone needs the Z8. For example, a landscape or travel photographer may not see any real benefit of a Z8 over a Z7 or Z6 series body. The people who probably "should" upgrade to a Z8 are sports and wildlife shooters mostly, and videographers as those are it's biggest strengths over the other lower-end cameras (Z5/Zf/Z6/Z7). Now, I don't shoot video and I really don't shoot sports either, but I do dabble with wildlife here and there and do portrait work, but mostly landscape and travel. But the reason I got the Z8 was I wanted a camera that I could carry that I knew was ready for anything, even if it's not a genre I shoot a lot (like wildlife). But if you have no intentions of ever needing such features, then there is no real point in spending $4k on the camera, and rather it may be better to spend money on trips or opportunities, or lenses.
If Z6 iii or z7iii come out with same great af as z8/z9 but slow buffer and not as many shots per second, that kind of camera would be for me as I am not a wildlife or sports shooter but I want to nail the focus everytime when I take a photo.
all good reasons which I share! However, no z7iii by end of year and the launch button may be hit.
great take!
I am considering to switch to mirrorless for a while now....
Not sure if I should just get a cheap second hand Z7 / Z7 II for now or just save up and get a Z8 straight away...
Coming from a D500, the Z7 would be a downgrade in terms of birds in flight I guess... Oh well...
Always looking forward to your videos, as always :)
Many thanks for watching 🙏
I am like you waiting for a decent priced enthusiasts camera from Nikon, but right now there are some awesome deals on the Z6II and I am so tempted, I know it's a few years old now not sure if I can wait LOL. Thanks for sharing mate.
Thanks for watching John. We certainly are blessed with the amount of choices we have in terms of cameras nowadays. Enjoy the rest of your week mate, cheers 🙏
I don't get the whole fx and dx argument. As long as you've got a smile at the end of the day who cares what anyone shoots
Perfect comment. Thank you for watching 🙏
I don't buy Z8 too....enough Z7ii and Z9 I already have 😊😊
That s amazing presents 🙏🙏🙏
Excellent analogy.
Always interesting Adrian... updates seem to be a common thing with Nikon these days so any new camera released will have an update or two...I have hung on to my D500 and not moved to mirrorless gear 'yet' ...I will hold back for the moment..... cheers 🦘🦘😃
Thanks for watching mate 🙏
I agree, if your camera does what you need it to do, the only reason is to get the higher resale value it still has when the the new upgraade model is first released. Now if new or improved features are needed or desired & the ole pockets are deep enough, hey, GO FOR IT! My pockets aren't deep enough. I might get the D850 (move up from D810)in the next year to use with my F-mount lenses but wouldn't mind having something easier to shoot some very short nature & wildlife vid clips once in a while. Nikon DSLR cameras are terrible at it. Or at least Ia am & would need something that the AF would stick a little better & be able to see in the strong sunlight.
Hey, at least you got another weekly vid from all the rude viewers you attract!
I bought my D850 (in large part) because of you. I love the camera. I have a z5 as well as D610 (due to D600 recall) and was thinking of the zf to replace the z5. I really like the manual af of the zf over the z5. Your thoughts?
Yeah I like the Zf. Good focusing, good in low light etc. I guess it is completely up to you whether you upgrade or not. You know the type of photography you do best.
Tell you the truth i'm in a holding pattern .... Z8 or the Z9 replacement?
A new pro APSC would be nice.
I'd love to see one made.
The Z8 is no good for low light leds. The electronic shutter has banding issues. So a Z7 iii with a mechanical shutter will be a useful camera in the range for people who don’t need ridiculously high fps for shooting sports and wildlife in a professional capacity.
I remember the oil problem with the D600... and the recalls. Never had one so... I heard about that only. Re the Z7, it won't make any sense to have a 'whole' from Z5, 6, then 8 and 9. Nikon traditionally has a high def camera in their lineup and it looks as if they just moved the high def down a number. The series 8 (800, 800E, 810, 850) used to be the high def.. so we were expecting the Z8 to fall into this steps, but it didn't. What's tragic is a 60MP sensor probably mounted on the Z7 some 3 and a half years AFTER Sony!! That's dreadful Nikon... truly dreadful!
Thank you for watching 🙏
I'd love to have a Z8, if the Canon R5 Mark II doesn't have a stacked sensor, I might buy one! :)
Looking forward to seeing what Canon brings in the next 12 months. 5D Mark II rumors look interesting. At least we got a lot of choices Phil to pick from.
I'm waiting for a DX PRO as well > got a Zf as a temp. solution with good SubRec
>>You missed that Z8 doesn't have a fully articulated monitor !!
>>>> That's my main reason not to buy it ---YET---- 😂😂
Thank you for watching 🙏
I owned d600 with oil stains
My reason for not getting a Z8 is because I have a Z9.
Fair enough. They're pretty much the same.
I just ordert a nikon d780
I love dslr.
Thanks for your video's, love them.
Greetings fron the netherlands, gary.