Go to squarespace.com/Chelsea & save 10% off your first website or domain with code “Chelsea"
Check out our photography books and videos!: northrup.photo
Tony and Chelsea Northrup review Nikon's history and pinpoint the choice that pushed Nikon from 2nd to 3rd place in camera sales, how they recovered from their struggles, and what the future holds for them.
Want to see more episodes of our podcast? Check out our playlist: kzhead.info/channel/PLwIVS3_dKVpsIirtInIxXGJEE-wX1ecEH.html
auto focus still SUX unless you get z9
Nikon never died they just fell behind , listened , then came back
Z6 & Z7 are still a disaster.
@@bngr_bngrI’m still shooting entire weddings with z6II. Just can’t trust eye autofocus
I absolutely love you guys commentary and reviews. This is an exceptional video about photo history.
@@bngr_bngrI wouldn’t call them a disaster, they still produce fantastic images, in some situations the autofocus doesn’t work as well as we would like but a disaster? Nah.
That falling behind is what they mean by dying 😂
Nikon coming back is a heart warming feeling for me. Started photography with Nikon D3300, then switched to Sony A6400, now it feels like this is the perfect time to get back to Nikon. Z8 is amazing.
I also started on D3300 and moved to a LUMIX which I sold in less than a year and since then I’m still using an original Z6 for professional work and it is enough. I can’t imagine how the upgrade will feel like to move to Z8 but I’m still hoping for a Z6iii 😅
Z8 and now the ZF, most exciting cameras since the D800/D810/D850, or perhaps arguably even the D700.
Last time when Nikon did something revolutionary was D3, which I still own since new. Sometimes I think the release of the Z6 was under the pressure of their marketing department. As a legendary camera maker, how can they not know the proper focus capability is the fundamental of a proper camera? But it seems like Nikon always took a few more years longer to get the hardware together. I almost switched to Canon, twice. It was a little rough watching the 1Ds, MK-ll took over the market and all Nikon had were antiquated D2x. I remember Nikon kept talking about the full frame sensor being invalid (marketing talk, as we all know it) until they dropped the D3. For the last few years, we all sit here watching Sony dominate the mirrorless sector, and take off like a freight train until Nikon did it again with Z9/Z8...5 years later. Perhaps not as revolutionary as D3 but still a pretty big deal regardless...I am still wondering what their product development timeline looks like and love to be the fly on the wall when the nikon 😅designer/engineer and marketing people arguing about the whether or not Z6 should have one or two card slot.
Although you mentioned the read out speed, Tony and Chelsea, you failed to mention the one big related leapfrog Nikon made with the Z9 and now Z8. They are not only mirrorless, but also shutterless. They are the first camera maker to do this on an enthusiast and professional interchangeable lens camera body. Now every other camera maker must follow.
I agree, I love that I don't have to worry about 'shutter count' anymore, especially because I tend to keep cameras for a long time and the very high FPS would chew it up very quickly.
Agreed
There are intermittent sync issues when using Stobes with Z9. (Not HSS)
Agreed! 550k+ shots on my Z9 and not a worry about shutter durability. Huge.
@@baredesigns1 Interesting. Is the flicker reduction on when this happens?
I've been a Nikon person for almost 50 years, owning through the FM series, DSLR and now finally the Z6ii. I do amateur wildlife photography, specifically focused on raptors here in Colorado. The Z6ii is perfect for my needs and I truly appreciate the Nikon history vid as it explains what happened to Nikon. Great work!
I'm not a professional nor do I have a ton of money. I have a good amount of Nikon lenses that I love. I cannot keep changing systems every time one 'leap frogs' the others. I am very glad that the Z8 came out. I traded my Z6 and Z7 for it. I get to stay in their system and have a modern cam that competes well. I almost got a D850 but waited a month+ because I heard something was coming from Nikon. I was rewarded. Thanks Nikon!
Glad to hear you dodged a Bullet, not getting the D850. I had one for 18 months, Worst Camera I ever owned, a real POS
@@pjimmbojimmbo1990 I was going to get it because I had used a friend's D850 while we were on vacation and I loved it. It felt right and me being used to DSLRs, it worked well for me. But yes, I would have been upset if I did buy it then the Z8 came out
@@pjimmbojimmbo1990 worst camera, lol people nowadays are desillusional. The D850 is touted as the best DSLR of all time and it is still relevant today even in the age of mirrorless. A new technology won't render the old non fonctionnal
@@pjimmbojimmbo1990Nonsense. Best dSLR of all time, thousands of users around the World can't be wrong!
@@bobamarmstrong Mine was a POS. It was defective the Day I got it and 2 trips to Nikon didn't fix it, and Nikon just ran the Clock out on the Warranty. Plus they Effed it up when they supposedly Cleaned the Sensor, welding a hunk of Dirt or Snot on it.
Even though I don't use Nikon myself, I'm always happy when I see another company making good cameras. In the end competition is the thing that is going to push all manufacturers to making better gear, and also keeping prices reasonable.
Exactly
I own the Z9 and ❤️ it. As backup I have a Z6II and I don’t feel the need to change it to Z8(but I might do it when the price drops). Yes, I am now proud of Nikon. I trusted them always but I had moments when I wanted to buy a fujifilm gfx and sell all Nikon gear…I was never inclined towards Sony or cannon.
Even the worse camera is better than most photographers. Instead of endlessly upgrading and swaping cameras take time to learn how to use the one you have. I know I just moved from Fuji to Z9 system and yes it is a big improvement over my old T2 but I am still working on getting the best from it.
Agreed, I started with a 3300 and just now “upgrade” to a 7100 maybe in 10 years I’ll get the z8. Going this rout forced me to really understand how all the functions interact with each other. A big part of learning for me was using auto and seeing what settings it chose, and then switch to manual and set the same settings and adjust to desired taste from there. With all the super high frame rates now, I see all sorts of KZheadrs just holding the shutter down and later going frame by frame of what’s basically a video, to pick the best one. No real effort in composition , just spray and pray.
I was a Nikon shooter from film to digital dslr. I loved all the cameras I had including the Nikon 3200, 7100, 610 and before that Nikon F50. Then mirrorless happened and I went to Sony, and now use a A7RIV but unfortunately I feel that they are more tools and not something I desire to use. Now that Nikon Z8 has my longing for another Nikon. I confess I have always enjoyed how Nikon feels in my hand and how the colors come out.
Nearly two weeks into Z8 ownership. I've been using D850 for 3+ years and I agree the Z8 feels like a mirrorless D850. Aircraft tracking is incredible, dynamically switching from nose to cockpit (if it can see it). Knowing there are likely S/W updates to make it even better is exciting. Well done Nikon.
Nikon had a lot invested into the Nikon 1 system. When it died they obviously moved those engineers to the Z, they took a few years to catch back up. The Nikon 1 system had potential but was kneecapped because of its small sensor size. I’m glad they recovered with the Z8.
I still use my Nikon J5 it would be so cool if they would show some love with a firmware update for it
@@12w3hji123456789 They killed this system times ago.
How many engineers did work on this systeem. Think not much as they where selling well and were a total failure.
I still have my V1 camera and still takes very nice pictures even with the 10 MP's
I held onto my D750 for years waiting for Nikon to release a compelling mirrorless option. The Z8 was it and I happily picked one up.
What a leapfrog. I think you did an amazing choice
Well done for holding out so long. True patience!
I think many of us did. Just try buying a FTZ!
My Nikon journey has been Nikkormat FT, F80, D80, D90, D4, Z7, Z9. It's been great. I agree the Z7 focus wasn't the best, but I still got a lot of good photos with that camera, even some wildlife shots, but for landscapes it was great. The Z9 is another level entirely, something I couldn't have dreamed of when I was using the D4. I'm not really a switcher, so generally I'm happy to wait for improvements, even if Nikon is a bit behind. At the moment though, I feel like its at the front of the pack.
I just bought my Z8 last week and already very happy with that. Upgraded from D750, trying to adapt to differences of mirrorless. Yesterday I used it on an outdoor birthday party of my nephews. Way better experience than last year with D750 especially with AF and number of shots that I was able to take. I am excited to see more from Z8. ✌️✌️👌👌
Try some similar Canon and Sony Mirrorless at similar price points and see how good their AF is compared to Nikon
Wish Nikon still made their stuff in Japan instead of China and Thailand.
Based on the cover graphic - I would say if your coming from the D850 and you shoot sports or wildlife, definitely get the Z8 or Z9, if you're doing landscape and little to no sports or wildlife, either one is fine but the Z7 / Z7 II might be a better choice for size and weight reasons, as the Z8 is about 30% heavier and a bit bigger.
Nikon user since…1990?! N series, D series and then I bought a Z6. While I was happy having 4K video my photos were out of focus, video frame rates were slow and 10 bit was external. I limped along with the z6 and then the z6ii thinking it would be better (same problems) until now. I waited after hearing good things about the z9 (more than I wanted to spend, for decades Nikon had a model one under the flagship that worked stellar for me) and then when the z8 came out waited to hear what you’re saying here putting off a jump to Sony….I am loving my new Z8 getting it just now. Fully agree with everything you’re saying here (even if I don’t like the idea that manufacturers need to keep making new bodies) and really appreciate this breakdown. Relived to see Nikon delivering the tools we need to stay and continue creating our best work.
Nikon shooter here; 4 dSLR bodies, 2 SLR bodies (inc my grandfather's Nikkormat EL I still shoot occasionally), and sooo mnay F lens... plus a Z30 for vlogging. I'll be moving to the Z8 & Z9 shortly :)
I'm Nikon shooter and never switched to any other brand, As soon as I saw Z9's specs & aggressive price I said here we gooo. It was quite obvious that Nikon will continue aggressively but slowly expanding Z cameras with high end specs as well, Z lenses are also exceptional. It's great time to be a photographer these days!
Vintage Nikkor F Mount. The most underrated lenses of the modern age of mirrorless. I absolutely love vintage Nikon lenses on my Canon or Sony Mirrorless cameras. Such good glass.
Yeah my favorite lens right now is an old 1970s 35mm f2 nikkor. It might not compete with modern glass in raw sharpness or distortion but it definitely has great character and creates great pictures.
I agree, Vintage Nikkor F mount lens are great, using them with the Leica CL digital.
As a young photographer, I was strictly a hobbyist, and that all started in 1971. At that time Nikon was The camera of professionals, and I dreamed of having one. Fast forward to 2002, after retiring from the military, I went to university and majored in graphic design with a minor in photography. College level photography was majority film, and I purchased a Nikon F4AS, my dream camera that I could afford. I loved that camera. The digital age was upon us and I bought a D100 to begin my digital journey. It’s been one Nikon after another, upgrading with last year’s model for affordability, but always staying consumer grade, and DX sensor, with the D7200 as my last DX camera. When I decided to go FX sensor, I had to buy an older camera, and settled on the D4. I love that camera, and it’s a beast, but I knew I would go mirrorless one day. I have been a high volume school photographer for 16 years and the company I work for used Canons up until Sony made them a deal for firmware that had a crop mask option. I’ve gotten to use the Sony A7IV for about 6 months and it had me almost convinced in getting a Sony as my next personal camera. I had tried out the Z6II, but didn’t really like it. So now here comes the Z8, and hearing your review as well as many others, this is my next camera. I am retiring from the school picture business as I have reached the age where I can begin drawing my SS payment, and plan on doing headshots, family photos, and whatever photos gigs I can get as a supplement. I will invest in the Z8 and some glass as the date of my retirement gets closer. Thanks for your reviews, you tell it like it is. And thank you for rooting for Nikon Chelsea, I am too.
Sjo. I am glad to hear your enthusiasm. I just finished my 1st concert (photography) with a brand new Z8, moving up from the Z6 II that I was used to. The AF system and customisability is just astounding. Absolutely love the camera, even compared to the Sony A1 and Canon R3/5 that I have been able to borrow. The Nikon just hits differently - in a good way :) . My only problem which I need to see if I can figure out, is that with only an electronic shutter, I am getting a lot of banding if my shutter speeds exceed 1/100th of a second. I have activated/deactivated the Flicker detection, as well played with the shutter speed fine tune setting (assigned it to Fn2 for quick recall) and it seems that the LED stage lighting just does not work well with the speed of the sensor read-out. Not sure if anyone here has any tips?
The Nikon Z6 improved so much with the firmwares, it was bad at some point. My next camera will be the Z6 III, I do prefer this size, the Z8 is a beast but I love smaller bodies.
The Z6 and Z7 III will ultimately show where Nikon stands next to the competition in the video arena come 2024.
L'histoire des appareils hybrides débute en 2008 lorsque Panasonic et Olympus adaptent le nouveau format de capteur micro 4/3 sur des boîtiers sans miroir pour les modèles Panasonic Lumix G1 et Olympus PEN E-P1. Un grand merci à Panasonic et Olympus !!! et vive NIKON ! The history of mirrorless cameras began in 2008 when Panasonic and Olympus adapted the new micro 4/3 sensor format to mirrorless bodies for the Panasonic Lumix G1 and Olympus PEN E-P1 models. Many thanks to Panasonic and Olympus !! long live Nikon !!
The Z system has an incredibly seamless video-to-stills switch. I've even used it professionally without fault. Pair that with the Z8's class-leading video specs and the Z mount's versatility it's an absolutely bonkers system. So, to be completely honest, I'm really confused by that last video point. If you're only problem is a flip-out screen then I'm not 100% sure that the Z8 should be written off so quickly. (Otherwise, great summary and really good points)
Yes I agree. There is more to video than a flip forward screen. No mention of 8K or internal raw.
Also people doesnt seem to know that you can use SnapBridge app on your phone to turn it into a monitor, which fixes the no flipping screen for vlogging.
Agree. This is the key flaw in this video! Confusing vlogging screen omission with its overall superior video capabilities! The other flaw is no reference to quality of z lenses and especially telephoto options…
Simply put, the Z8 & Z9 level cameras don’t need a flippy screen, Nikon had more than enough time to decide on that and it’s just not going to happen on their pro bodies and I don’t blame them. We’ll definitely see if it happens on the Z6III, and it won’t hurt my feelings if it doesn’t. To hell with a fllippy screen on a pro body!
I think Nikon, which is a small company, relative to Sony and Canon, will always be playing a bit of catch up. I fully expect Canon and Sony to have blockbuster reactions soon. I care not. I will be using Nikons until I die. I just love them. I still experiment and use Nikons dating back decades, including film cameras. I also own three Z cameras and really enjoy creating with them. I am not a hybrid shooter, which definitely makes this choice easier. I am glad the Z8/9 are helping Nikon’s bottom line, but they are way more than I need to create beautiful images.
At this point, catching up is not an issue for Nikon, they are updating firmware and improving more than Sony and Canon right now. You can check many forums and channels of folk mad at Sony for leaving some of their lineups with no new firmware for years. But it’s all apart of their plan to keep their users buying new, and only have subtle changes. Their marketing is very good and it have some folk thinking they need a new camera only two or three years into what they have…
I've been a long time nikon lover. I'm anxiously awaiting my Z8 to get here.
I went from D850 to Z7 >> couldnt be happier
Thanks for the historic perspective on Nikon and how they got to where they are. I am primarily a video shooter and have been suffering the Z6's deficiencies, mostly in autofocus for several years. I had even budgeted a swap over to SONY (where most of my colleagues are already shooting A7sIII and FX-3 & 30's) at $12 to 15,000 with a 20% professional discount (something Nikon doesn't even come close to). Then came the Z8 just in time to save the day, at least for my budget. I've had it for a couple of weeks and am loving it! Finally I don't have to hide the fact that I'm shooting Nikon within my group of fellow video shooters.
I have been a Nikon shooter for many years and jumped from D850 to Z7 as soon as it was released. And I've owned all the Zs' since then besides from Z9 and Z8. I've tried Sony and Canon for a while during the last years and for the ergonomics and usability I love Nikon more than anything. Sharp images and great files too. But on some areas my Nikon cameras certainly lacked the same capabilities as Sony and Canon, specially on consistent auto focus but also some other areas. However, I came to a decision point where I was to upgrade my glass from Nikon (moving from their 1.8s), which is a huge investment and you need to jump directly to 1.2. And at the time I had waited forever for the Z8 and truly felt the slow innovation from Nikon compared to the other 2 who rapidly launched new cameras and functionality. And I asked myself which brand feels most innovative and then again is the natural brand to put your future money. And for me that is Sony (just my peafowl preference) . So I've sold my Nikon gear for a couple of A7IV and a A7V which I haven't received yet). The result for me is that I get a brand I trust more to be in front on innovation and in which I can invest for the future. A brand which has cheaper native 1.4 mirrorless glass rather than heavy and expensive 1.2. Cameras that are extremely capable in anything I should expect from them. So I'm very confident in my choice even though no camera is perfect. I lost the best brand when it comes to ergonomics, UX and RAW files and got the worst ones (among the top 3) on that area, but the total package of moving to Sony made sense to me. I think it's fantastic that the Z8 seems so great and let's all hope we have at least 3 companies pushing each other on innovation moving forward. Go Nikon 💪
Glad to see Nikon back in the mix. A longtime Nikon shooter still using D850. Always liked Nikon glass. Want to finally go mirrorless with Z8 and use adapter with 500 pf lens. That should be a nice combo.
The two of you took a deep dive into predicting the death of Nikon. Overstated at the time. It isn't a miraculous rebirth. Just hard work in terms of business, design, engineering, and marketing. They were climbing a hill while you were saying they were falling off a cliff. At the time I said you weren't helping the situation. If people think a company is not going to be there in a few years, they're not going to be buying stuff from them. Fortunately you were wrong
Agreed!! It's kind of like they came up with this video to try to make up for all the bad press they gave Nikon over the past 3 years!! Smh..
Japan cosmovision less risk, high confiability and precission.
I started out with a Nikon D7100 and loved that camera! When time came to think about future upgrades to get more into wildlife photography, I was faced with a difficult decision: I always though the D850 would be the greatest next step, but 2 years ago it when mirrorless was the obvious future technology, the next great camera development from Nikon that I hoped for did not happen and was nowhere in sight. I started getting very hesitant to pay the full price for a new camera with older tech and the new z cameras did not convince me. I decided to jump the Nikon ship at this point. Now I’m a happy canon shooter, but if the z8 had been a possibility back then, I definitely would have stayed with Nikon. It took forever to retrain my muscle memory from the Nikon direction of zooming etc. to the canon way. I really hope all the best for Nikons future, we need them around alongside canon and Sony. ❤
the thing about the sensors is that they're made by Sony Semiconductors, which is not to be confused with Sony Imaging. Sony Semiconductors is a big manufacturer or semiconductor components, that could be processors, PCBs, etc, and that includes camera sensors. Think like both Nvidia and AMD have their chips made by TSMC, using TSMC processes. Thing is, TSMC uses designs from either company, so does Sony Semiconductors. Sony Imagine gives Sony Semiconductors schematics for camera sensors, and Sony SemiCon makes them. If they make it available on the market for everyone or not, that's a matter of do you want your competitor to be able to get their hands out your tech by buying it out. And that's why you have cameras like the Sony A6400 and Fujifilm X-T2 that use the same 24MP chip, or why the same 26MP BSI chip takes its place in both Fujifilm X-T3/4 cameras, Sony FX30s and even Pixii cameras. That's because it's a common components that anybody can buy and use in their products. Their best tech, like their stacked 24MP full frame, or their 50MP full frame, it never ends up on the catalogue. Or when it does, then it means that it has a replacement. Looking at Nikon and how they've been dealing with other companies making sensors for them : Nikon really much acts like an AMD would act with a TSMC. They do not use TSMC designs, they use THEIR designs. When Sony was putting out a 43MP sensor, Nikon designed a 45MP one. That was made by Sony SemiCon, but it was a full Nikon design. Same for the 24MP full frame sensor in the Z6, same for the APS-C 20MP sensor in the D500 and Z50. And of course, same for the 45MP stackes sensor in the Z8 and Z9. NONE of the Z cameras so far had a sensor that was a Sony design, they all ended up with a Nikon design. So you say that Sony is not giving them their best tech, I say that it much more a competition between Sony Imaging and Nikon to who's gonna use Sony Semiconductors to the best of their abilities. (also I don't know what you're on about saying that Nikon hasn't touched the high end video market while the Z8 and Z9 have litterally the best video specs on the whole market right now. Like what, it doesn't have a flippy screen so it can't do video? Ridiculous. It even have more video centric features than Canon and Sony hybrid cameras. Nikon doesn't have a video line to protect so they just wen ham on the video specs, that's the thing)
Amazing and detailed observation on Tony's remarks. I'm sure Nikon is fully aware that Canon and Sony are now going to come out swinging after the Z9 & Z8 but at the same time, Nikon is not sitting still. Their profits have improved dramatically and that will be very beneficial for their R&D team. Who knows what are they planning? And as you mentioned, they don't have a video centric line of cameras to protect like the competition, so that plays very well in their favor!!
@@rubendarilov My guess is a Hardware refresh for the Z9 will occur for the Summer Olympics! Z9ii to compete with Canon's R1. Nikon is maximizing the profits and Market share with the Z9/8 Expeed 7 and Sensor platform. When Nikon releases this at the Midrange level the D750/D780 owners that did not go for the Z8 will finally take the Nikon mirrorless plunge.
The sensor in Sony A range is not the same as Fuji.Fuji uses the Xtrans pixel lay-out and not Bayer lay-out.
@@williambuford6136 Exactly, great times for Nikon indeed!
I had build a nikon system , u know plenty of glass of f mount and it was difficult to change to sony or fuji from many prespectives (economically, use of that system , results /colours), so I sticked to nikon and changing slowly my lenses to z ,with a lot of faith to nikon . I had a lot of difficulties i admit with the z6 especially at events! missing shots BUT i found a way to save things and now finally JUSTISE!" I am seeing light" and I am so happy Thank you so much guys for that big News!
Waiting for Nikon Z5II with a BSI-CMOS, Dual Processors, Dual Highest Speed SD Cards, 4K Video, Latest Autofocus Tech. on Still and Video...for a beginner , this kills
Even though I don’t shoot action and wildlife I would love the Z8 because it’s the only high resolution body except for the Z9 to shoot oversampled 4k60p while being significantly cheaper and smaller than the Z9.
Canon R6 and R6ii uses oversampled 4k60. And R5 in crop mode.
@@henakos r5c as well but that is a much more niche camera in all fairness
@@henakos Jon is referring the Nikon Bodies. Canon has nice gear, but they do not feel or handle like Nikon cameras. Enjoying Z lenses and the Z8 here!
@@henakos Yes the R6 and R6II shot oversampled 4k60p but they’re only 20 and 24 megapixels not 45 like the Z8 and Z9. In response to the R5 crop mode can be a pain because you can’t shoot wide angle. It really is a pain when you frequently switch between stills and video.
I started with Canon but quickly switched to Nikon. After many years (40+) of shooting Nikon, in 2015 I tried the early Sony cameras but sold them within the year, (yuch), then went on to try Olympus mirrorless and expanding my small Leica gear set - mostly for Street and Travel. Olympus were small, light and accurate m4/3rds cameras but lacked highlight quality, so I almost gave up on mirrorless. I went back to Nikon for shooting weddings and portraiture and loved my brace of D850s. In desperation for a decent mirrorless camera, I invested in a Leica SL which was fantastic but in desperation for a lightweight Street camera I tried the Nikon Z7. Oh dear. In the end I sold off ALL my Nikon cameras and most of my non telephoto lenses and turned completely to Leica. I upgraded my Z7 to a Z7ii for landscape and street photography but basically gave up on Nikon, expecting nothing would happen to turn their fortunes around as they were still so far behind. BUT - I finally got wind of the Z8 earlier this year and ordered one on launch day and a week later BINGO - Nikon was back. I have to say that my brace of D850s were the finest , most flexible all-purpose cameras I have ever used from Nikon, however this Z8 looks like it is the true mirrorless replacement for that camera model. It has finally restored my faith in Nikon - and the Z lenses are great! Long live Nikon.
I have the R5 and it’s too heavy when I put an L lens on it. I hate that. Same for the z8?
@@trenshaw40 Nah. Still lighter with Z lenses than the equivalent D850 + same F mount lens combo
I shoot with D850 every day and absolutely love it. The Z8 had been rumored for years and I bought it on day 1 of its release. Here's what troubles me about Nikon. The Z8 took forever to hit the market and when it did? A recall! How could Nikon take that long to finally release this beautiful box and not get it right?
Great video Tony and Chelsea, as a low end Nikonn fany since the 1970s I had written you off as camera infleuncers. But I really liek the way you do "history" Eg that cross secton of a DSLR which showed the two sensors - I never even knew that. Also the Canon dual pixel a/f I did not realise it was the game changer. What about the Nikon 90D as the first DSLR with video? And Sony being the brand to go all out on mirrorless! I'm waiting for the Nikon Z6iii as the Z8 is out of my budget (as a retired guy)
When I did the switch to mirrorless I went Nikon -> Sony. And I love Sony. They’re incredible. My only complaint-and it’s a big one-is the lack of firmware updates. I mean their flagship doesn’t even connect to their new app. But Nikon seems to be bouncing back. And I’m happy to see that. Even though I switched, I still have sentimental feelings about Nikon (and also Fuji). The latest Nikon offerings have been catching my attention, as have their ongoing firmware updates. I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if Nikon made a reappearance in my camera bag the way things are going.
Nikon updated the Z9 a couple of time because it was WAY behind the competition and was barely functional. Initially, the Z9 was basically a product in development with a beta software. Nikon needed tester, so they sold the camera at a discount to get more feedback. All their other models didn't receive the same love. To be fair, it's not a bad strategy, it's gonna pay off in the long run because all this new algorithm that they are developing (and funded by said beta tester) is going to trickle down to more consumer oriented product. Stop it with the firmware update non sense, there's not a whole lot of cameras that get substantial upgrade, not even flagship. Generally, company will do it to stay competitive but only if they really HAVE TO, if they are still competitive then, it's a waste of resources/time/effort.
@@JetBen555 You’re right. Firmware updates that add features are not at all common in the industry. In fact, looking at the change logs of various camera models, I see that only cameras made by Nikon, Canon, Fuji, Olympus/OM-D, Hassleblad, Leica, and past Sony models have been kept up to date with firmware updates. It is totally unreasonable to expect Sony to keep up with other companies like, say, themselves and the rest of that small slice of the camera industry. Not to mention the entire rest of the electronics industry. In fact, I regularly chat with my regional sony sales rep about this sort of thing and when I raised the firmware issue with him, his response was quite compelling: “I can’t defend Sony on this one.” Well, if Sony’s own rep can’t defend his company about it, clearly I should recognize that this is compelling reasoning for me to recognize the righteousness of Sony’s position. But here’s the real kicker: some random internet user who knows nothing about the industry and whose claims are easily disproven by looking at firmware change logs from any company in the industry disagrees and wants me to refrain from talking about it. Well. If that’s not compelling, what is?
Hurray for Nikon! I'm still a hardcore DSLR user, nonetheless I want to see Nikon representing the mirrorless world as good as it's done with the mirrored ones! Keep up with always being critical of issues when you see them! Now some joy.
What convinced me to get the Z8 (sold my Z7II) was how many reviews were so Positive towards it, Also when I started to look around at what I should sell my Z7II for, I saw a lot of Z9's for sale and in their comments, many had said that they had Z8's on order, and were replacing their Z9's. Got mine this week, Just love it! It's the Mama-Bear of Mirrorless for me. 🥰My wife said I hope so! LOL!
What would you say is the best Nikon for landscape photography or would you go medium-format or would you go with Cannon Nikon or Sony mirrorless what would you suggest like to get into landscape photography
As a wildlife photographer I absolutely love my Z9. I've been considering purchasing another Z9 as my second body, but I'm now considering the Z8 to fill that slot.
I am still completely hooked on my D850. I never shoot video. But now with the coming of the z8 I might in time be tempted to go to mirrorless. Thank you for your review!
Always preferred Nikon image quality and ergonomics the most. I'm glad they are back! Definitely getting the Z8.
Were the Z7ii & Z6ii a big improvement over the original mark 1i's for focusing? I sold all my Canon kit to move over to Nikon, the R5 and the new f2.8lenses together meant I was priced out of the 45mp mirrorless Canon system.
Nikon did invest into mirrorless though. They have the Nikon 1 series launched in 2011. It's actually a lovely camera system. I felt like it was just the good product in the wrong time.
You have a great history and memories in the photography development. ❤
I’m nearly all in for Nikon. I came close to going to Canon when they came out with the VR tech. It took Nikon several years to catch up on that. Now, I’ve sold my Z7 to help purchase a Z9 which I love and I still have a love affair with my D500 for wildlife but, I recently used the Z9 for an evening shooting Sandhill Cranes with excellent results. I am crazy about my Fuji GFX 100s for Landscapes and I use a Z Fc for travel and snapshots. When I get over my D500 addiction I’ll probably forfeit it for a Z8. In short, Nikon is definitely BACK! Love their new tech and the fact that they are determined to keep moving forward and be #1 or #2 again! Great and fair review and history lesson. But I’m still of the mind that Nikon, with their ongoing Firmware updates is squarely ahead and intends to stay there. We’ll see who comes out with what, next. Thanks!
Nikon has caught up on specs, and with Auto Capture on the Z9 has finally introduced some ideas into the market which don’t have a precedent. It’s good to see a firmware innovation to go along with the impressive hardware. No doubt they will sell a lot more Z9s on this feature alone. Yet with video they’re stuck on 8K RAW internal as their only selling point. I have a Z9 for stills and some long lens video, though when I needed a proper hybrid, my money went into a Lumix S5IIx instead of the Z8 I had on pre-order. Basics like shutter angle, **open gate** (which is not optional for me any more), desqueeze, among a lot of other video centric features, are more important than 8K. Oh and would Nikon please rewrite the firmware so the stills/video switch has precedence over the PASM setting!!! It’s such a pain when switching between shooting modes that I also have to keep track of the last exposure mode I was using. For video I tend to shoot M, for stills I often use A or S, but if I’m shooting video and switch over to stills the M setting follows (necessitating an exposure mode change), and then I have to reverse the process when going back to video. It’s the sort of issue which can easily trip you up when working quickly. Oh and can we please retire the 8 character and 9999 file naming limits?!? MS-DOS made that 8.3 method a thing 40 years ago. It’s very much time to move the file system into the present day.
Excellent video. Really enjoyed the review and analysis. +1 on the history and milestones. Also, +1 on 2013 and Canon autofocus. Overall, excellent video. Thanks for taking the time to pull this together. -1 on video and flip screen analysis concerning Nikon. Generally, there are 2 or more camps on video production. One camp is the casual content creator who will not invest $Ks on capital expenses for video equipment. For these folks, the flippy screen is important. Another camp is the semi-professional or professional who will invest $Ks on hybrid /video equipment. For these folks, the flip screen is not as important because scenes (environments) are larger and equipment spaced widely, larger video monitors needed whether camera is mounted on gimbals, stands or handheld. This camp uses external monitor(s)and external peripheral devices (storage, battery, control, lighting, etc) to develop content and record events. A flip screen is NOT a deal breaker for this camp as investments already include devices like Atomos Ninja, SSDs, etc. Integrity counts and folks (community) would not have hounded you guys if they did not respect the work/effort in the field. Keep pressing forward. Cheers!!
Can’t believe you didn’t mention even once the shutterless revolution Nikon has brought to the industry. They deserve a huge credit to take this massive step. Also, Nikon is not behind in video. They are ahead. Miles ahead. They don’t have a cinema line therefore they can cramp many more features without risking cannibalize higher models. The Z8 video features are above the R5 and the A7S3. So I Honestly don’t think they deserve this “behind” criticism. Also not a word on Nikon image quality which looks better than Sony sooc and sole reasons people still love Nikon.
💯 The video on the Z8 / Z9 is definitely not behind. I have no idea why they think that.
@@mitchellriley1357 I just don't feel it's fair to say Nikon is behind (Video features) and completely ignore the shutterless technology Nikon has brought. Otherwise, it's a good content
It’s the screen that drives KZheadrs nuts and something no one else cares about.
@Elliot_LM Nikon are doing things the big 2 aren't yet, so they are innovative and trying new things. Like you said no mechanical shutter, pre capture, and the new auto shoot in v4 for Z9. Everyone needs to remember they are a much smaller company than Canon and Sony, I could imagine how much the big 2 spend on R&D versus Nikon.
@@mitchellriley1357 great points!
Mirrorless D500 !!!! That will be their next big thing! Z500 or Z90 !! That will be hotcakes ! hope it launches along with 200-600 which will be such an excellent replacement for d500 + 200-500 shooters!! I got impatient and got the z9 and man ive been happier since!
Great Nikon history lesson. I started with and FTn in 1974, then an F2 in 1975. Paul Simon and I shared the same feeling, I loved my Nikon and my Kodachrome, but I needed to make some extra $ so I sold my Nikon body, my 24mm and my 180mm lenses and bought a Bronica ETR and started doing weddings. The Bronica locked up electronically after a few months, under warranty, but I didn't trust it anymore, so I got a 1959 vintage Hasselblad C for weddings and got a Pentax ME for snapshots. After getting out of the wedding business, I got rid of the Hasselblad and looked back at Nikon and got the D50 on which I could use my old AI converted 35mm f/2 and 85mm f1.8, then the D90, but didn't do any weddings again until getting a D7200. I never felt compelled to do FX until the D850. I agree, best DSLR ever made! But for snap shots, I didn't want to lug it around, so got the Z50, and 2 years later Z6ii. I'm not sure I'll get the Z8 just yet. I just use the camera for landscapes and travel photos. My hope is that a small bodied Z6iii or other new small FX model will come out, better suited for someone who travels a lot, and as you can tell from my long history with Nikon, an old guy who doesn't want to lug around heavy stuff on vacation. Are you guys anticipating a smaller form factor upgrade to the Z6 and/or Z7? Keep the content coming!!
I bought the z8 after watching several videos like this, I think it is a slightly more complex camera than a z6ii, I would say that it is not a camera for hobbyists at all. In my case I am a photographer. I had the d850 and then I moved to the z6ii. I bought this one now since I loved the d850 but due to weight I decided to change. Something that no one says, and that if I had known I wouldn't buy it, is that the z8 outputs Raw in 45 megapixels only. It does not allow you to take 20 like the d850 did (it only allows it in JPG). And that really makes it very difficult to work on the photos later if you don't have a very high-performance PC. In my case I use HDr a lot. The camera is incredible, I only needed that and the Delay Mode to be able to use the shooting banks with a timer (I know that the z9 includes it). Greetings!
Can Z8 and/or Z9 shoot 10bit HEIC / HEIF? Is a killer feature for me. No JPG artefacts but no 10GB filesizes. I want to develop inside the camera but still have 10bit headroom.
I started with a D3000, then a D7000, then a D600, then switched to Sony, a6300 for few months, then a7rii for silent photography for classical concerts and video. Then Fuji xt2, loved it but missed the full frame, back to Nikon with a Z6. Such a lovely camera! I'm back at the right time 😊
How do you feel about the movement towards vintage ccd sensor digital cameras:?
Thanks guys for that fair and imformative video! Great stuff. Greets from Zimbabwe!!!
I had the D850 and was thinking of switching to the Sony A1 and their 600mm lens. Luckily I was not able to obtain a copy of the lens and got the Z9 shortly after it came out. Was not thrilled with the 3D tracking compared to Sony and Canyon but it has gotten much better. Just got the z8 last month and sold my D850. Currently in the process of switching out lenses. Seems Nikon has the best options for wildlife lenses but supper long wait times.
I’m very new to photography, bought some equipment and just got my new Z5 and fell in love with this thing! Selling out of my other systems and going Nikon💪🏻.
As many others I was waiting for Z8 to make a big jump from Nikon DX DSLR to mirrorless. As an amateur with a limited budget I cannot change system every so often. Once Nikon - always Nikon. But I need a camera for both landscape/travel and wildlife, and Z8 body is too big for my requirements. I expected Z8 body being similar to Z6/Z7 size wise. So what now? Is Nikon planning to make a "baby Z8" like it made a "baby Z9"? I would be happy to have Z7 III with autofocus capabilities of Z8.
Still getting somewhat lackluster readout speed from these mirrorless sensors except for the R3, Z9, OM-1, and now the Z8. All basically flagship models that mostly are in the hands of pros and budget-wise out of the reach for the average hobbyist. Rolling shutter is warping baseball bats, hocky sticks, flapping wings, and anything else that takes a fast shutter to capture and freeze action. I picked up an R7 last year and haven't had too much of an issue, though I'm aware of it so I switch to mechanical shutter when I know I need un-warped performance. It's an exciting time for sure. Getting a stacked sensor in a hobbyist budget camera can't get here soon enough.. Who knows though... That day may never come if manufacturers band together and deny the masses what should be possible for the sake of profits.
Great Video as always..... I was hoping that Tony you will share your thoughts on the Fujifilm XT5 and the 8mm f3.5. I can't wait to see your review on these two. Much Appreciated!!!
Another period worth discussing regarding a self-inflicted wound, was the Nikon D610 Era. I'm a Nikon shooter and owned a later version of the D610. The earlier versions had an oil spatter problem. Nikon happily fixed it if you had the problem, but publicly refused to acknowledge that it existed. This P'd off a lot of supporters. If they had publicly announced that there was a problem, "send your camera in and we'll fix it", people would have been much happier. As was, they lost a lot of customers. I now shoot the D850, and am excited about looking at the Z8!
Love my Z9! The technology has advanced so much in general, it is unreal what cameras allow us to do. Long live Nikon!
I am not a pro photographer, but an enthusiast. What I'd like is a Z70 version of the D7200: lot's of buttons, dual card slot, weather seal, one or two good non-plasticky DX primes. I don''t need fullframe, 24 mp DX is enough. If they could make one for ~ the price of the current D7500, it would definitely be my next camera and I wouldn't be surprised if it would sell like crazy in gereral.
yes I'm really exited on the Z8. Love your honesty.
Good objective review. The Z8 sounds wonderful. But, what do I stick on it?? I'm still waiting for the lenses I ordered over a year ago for my Z6II. Meanwhile, I jumped ship to Sony with the A1 which I was not especially thrilled with (don't really know why) so I sold it and bought the Sony a7R V which is A++ for what I do, and it works with all the lenses I bought for the A1. I had always shot Nikon for a LONG time, but the problem is once you change brands, it's tough to get me back. It's just too expensive to switch again!
Yes, they didn’t cover the issue that many switchers heavily involved in the new system will not come back anymore.
I get a7rv and use it yesterday . fantastic cam . coming from nikon d750 user for 9 years
Video over stills ? Nooooo! My worst nightmare. I never used my D7000 for video and again I’ve never used either of my D500s for video either. I have always hated the idea that I am paying for video capability on a still camera. Soon I will need to go for a couple of D8s but I wonder what a D8 would cost if it didn’t have all the **** in it that I won’t use. Just my opinion. Love your videos T&C x Quinny
I’ve been a canon shooter for near 20 years and although I love the R6 but hate the rolling shutter and button layout of the r7 so I’ve just sold my r7 I’m now contemplating ditching the r6 and rf 100-500 along with the rf 1.4x and moving over to Nikon for the Z8 get an adapter for my ef L glass Adapt that to the z mount and get a sigma 150-600 for now then update that to the z180-600
my first Nikon was the D40, then upgraded over the years as I got more in to photography. They got amazing lenses and im glad they still around. My new Z8 will be here soon. I never left Nikon. I just keep my Nikon DSLR until now. Its about the amazing Nikon lenses.
Im going for z8 as soon as the hype calms down and availability is improved. Will keep my z7ii as a backup.
I love ur work for years now. I have 2 D 750s and I’m looking to upgrade to mirror less. Should I buy the Zf or spend the money on Z8?
i have the Z6ii, the Z8 does look quite fantastic, but it is larger and heavier...and I am not a professional..."size is everything" almost. I will stay with the Z6ii. Thanks for the video and history.
If the Z9 didn’t come out when it did and at the price point, I would’ve switched to Sony. I’ve been a Nikon shooter since the 90s. I’m glad Nikon is back. Always loved the ergonomics and the brand.
I've stayed with Nikon the whole time, but struggled with the mirrorless bodies until the Z9 and now the Z8. I own both.
I'm pretty invested in the Fujifilm ecosystem so if I'm upgrading my XT3 I'd probably go with the XH2 or XT5 so I can have that in body image stabilisation, however, that Z8 does look pretty sweet!
I wish they would have done it sooner... I loved my Nikon gear. I started with a D80, then D90, then onto a D7200 and held a while. With that in mind, I was switching from DX to full frame, not to mention DSLR to Mirrorless....I needed to buy everything from scratch. A year ago, it really made no sense for me to jump to another Nikon when the R5 existed. (actually, went R6 and quickly moved to R5, whole other story.) Now I've invested in speedlights, lenses, etc... Much much more investment than I ever had in Nikon gear. I wish I could have bought Nikon, but it was different landscape then. For me it was between Canon and Sony, and I feel I chose correctly. Even if Nikon has a game changing camera, It'd be really expensive for me to switch at this point. I don't make money with my images, so it was hard enough justifying the jump the first time. I suspect I'll be with Canon for at least a decade at this point through body upgrades and such. Who knows though.Thinking of it like that, and suspecting I'm not alone... How many others have they lost long term? I held out as long as was comfortable for me.
Now after watching more on this new camera, I honestly can’t say they’re back yet. It’s going the right direction, fast. But it’s not quite where the rest of the industry is. AF isn’t as good. It’s big and bulky. But, they’re pushing the industry forward in other ways like with stacked sensors. I have hope for them. Maybe if Canon doesn’t catch up before their AF improves, more people will move back. Really though, I doubt other camera companies are going to have to catch up much. They have stacked sensors, they’re just avoiding putting them in this level camera until now. And Sony literally sells their sensors to Nikon. So this early lead is only that, an early lead. The gap can be closed very quickly, and when it happens, it’ll take some pep out of Nikons step. They need a unique feature or design. A great UI might just be that. If they can get the zoomers to want one of these, they might just crack open a whole new market.
I think you both bring up some very solid points and as a dedicated Nikon user one thing that does drive me up the wall with Nikon is that their product development team is always behind the eight ball when it comes to adopting new features. They're more followers than trend setters and I think this was best exemplified by the first generation Z6 and Z7. The Z9 ultimately fixed all these mishaps, but I'll be curious to see where things stand say in five to ten years time. The bigger issue with all the major camera producers is to convince a new generation of people to buy into ILCs instead of relying on mainly older users.
Great video guys, I was seriously looking at part exchanging my old 600mm for a Sony A9 and 200-600 before the Z8 was announced, Now I will wait a bit longer to see if this rumoured 200-600 comes out. I would love Nikon to bring out a D500 style mirrorless, with decent body size and higher mega pixel then a cropped Z8/9
I'm a Nikon shooter, I'm happy to see Nikon be competitive. The impression many have of Nikon is they maybe still little behind Canon and Sony overall but they are catching up fast.
Great vid. Am I excited? Yes! But will I get one? No. I was very lucky to borrow a friend's z8 last week and while it is a FANTASTIC camera, I feel comfortable with what I have now. I mainly shoot weddings and portraits. The z II line is what made me unwillingly part with my D850s. My main issue with nikon focus is it still gets "distracted". Water/bubbles, confetti, grass and even someone walking by throw the focus off on my 7II and seems to do the same with the z8. Less so, but still. So while it grabs REAL hard and hangs on better than my 7II that one issue is still there. I would say if anyone doesn't have a II camera that wants a good Nikon or anyone that still doesn't like the focus on the IIs should definitely pick one up. will not disappoint on the AF
I started my interest in photography with a D50 in 2005 and was later a very happy owner of a D300 and shortly after the spectacular D700 with the amazing holy trinity of f/2.8 lenses. But around 2014 or so, I got the mirrorless itch and abandoned the system completely. Went from the 1st generation of Sony APS-C and FF cameras, then Olympus, Fujifilm, stayed a few years with Canon... and now I'm a happy camper with both a Sony A7iii and a Fujifilm X100V - two great cameras for different purposes and I love them for what they do. I never had any desire to try a Z camera until this new Z8. I have good feeling about it, it makes me think about how happy I was with the D700... Maybe one day, we'll never know. I'm liking the Sony system and haven't got any desire to switch systems due to the amount of glass options. But I'm here rooting for Nikon!
Great informative video. I have a new Z8 and can't wait to learn all of its attributes.
I am mostly a Nikon shooter, but I am using and have used many Sony and Canon mirror less as well, but i always keep going back to Nikon. Even when their autofocus wasn't the best, there was so much other functionality and user experience which was much better than the competition. And with Nikon, there were always ways to work around the limitations, once you explore the system a bit more, so i've never felt crippled even with the earlier nikons. i currently have a z6ii and a z5 and a canon r6 and a few older DSLRs and crop sonys, but i have to say the z6ii ends up being used way more than the others. I don't need use of a z8 because I am more comfortable with the lower Megapixels, and overall I'm really happy for Nikon!
I have the Z8 but I still love the z6ii. It has produced some great photos, but the Z lens are definitely better. I have been selingl my F-mount Glass and replacing them with Z mount.
@@williambuford6136 i do have the Z 24-70 F4, 50 1.8 and 35 1.8, but i do have other F glass as well. Also I like the fact that i can adapt my canon glass to the Nikon z with the fringer adapter, so i have a huge collection of lenses for the z mount.
The ergonomics are nice, but what I just cannot overlook is the huge height of this thing right above the lens with the hotshoe. I know it's Nikon's signature thing, but for the love of god they could have modernized it a bit. Canon made it smaller and rounder and Fujifilm made it very low profile and edgy. Just look at the height of this thing 20:08. Aesthetics could be a deal breaker for some, including me.
I've owned many a high-end camera from different brands and for a few years now I have returned to Nikon: that being a D500 DSLR w/ 6 lenses. I did own several mirrorless cameras but could not adjust to the view in the viewfinder, as it did not accurately represent what could be seen w/a DSLR. What is the verdict on the Z8s' viewfinder?
I have still been happily shooting my D810, until recently when I purchased the Z6II. I am happy Nikon is still relevant and competitive. I love the Nikon look and user experience. I've used Canon and Panasonic but prefer the shooting experience I've had with Nikon. I don't keep up with every new release, so the D810 to Z6 II has been an enjoyable transition. Hopefully in 8 years I can make a transition to the Z8 III. Thanks for the video.
The look chelsea gave the camera at 17:45 was hilarious
Can you complain about not being able to move the focus point when looking through the eyelit by using your thumb on the touch screen? I’d love that feature on my z8😊
I am so glad I stayed on the Nikon course and didn't waiver or switch since starting in the film days.
I just got through installing the new firmware v4.10,WOW,it sure has a lot of going on in the NEW version. I really like the Auto Capture where you can shoot either Photo's or Video's and Customize the area where you need the focusing status on where the subject will be working in that area and that needs some attention on where you want the focus to hit....It sure is a hell a lot better and stickier shots and a better tracking capturing variety setups. I still shot all my Nikon F mount mechanical focusing lens as well to and it's as sharp and has that unique film personality touch..Keep reviewing all the different camera Brands for all of use that you have done and waiting for more........
Great review and I’m very tempted to get this to pair up with my new Z8 for my wildlife photography!
While the Nikon Z6 and Z7 mark 1 versions were not the greatest in autofocus, however the next version mark 2, or Z6ii and Z7ii was much better in autofocus (nearly as good as Canon and Sony (much closer) and usable by pros). An even bigger jump in AF is found in the Z9 and Z8. You guys forgot to mention the better AF in the mark 2, Z6ii and Z7ii still selling today, partly due to its dual processor improving speed and autofocus together! Along with updates in software.
Last weekend, my partner upgraded from her beloved D750 to the Z8, at an Australian dollar price (including the Z lens 100-400 and a lens converter and batteries etc) of around $11,000! She was reluctant about spending soooooo much money, but I convinced her, she owed it to her wildlife/bird photography hobby and her creativity. She is impressed with the speed of auto focus and frames per second and the sharpness of images. Plus the weight of the whole set up is so much less than her old camera gear. I think the Z8 will take her photos to a whole new level. I’ll be sticking with my OMD 1 Mark 2 out in the wild on our holidays but can’t wait to see the difference in results using the Z8!
Love that Z8 and z100-400 lens combo for Wildlife and bird photography! Big improvement over the D750!
I'm a pro photographer and have been using the D850 since 2019 and I love it... I love it so much that I'm reluctant to switch to a mirrorless - but.. and a big but... I started shooting video for stock clips and am still in the learning stage for this new medium... using my D850 for it.. The D850 has been working well for vid clips and I'm now providing content for a couple stock companies, however I'm looking now to upgrade. I want to stay with Nikon as I've used them since my film days, but I want a camera better for video as well. I will likely wait a bit now for the next version of the Z8 hoping they make some vid improvements... Thanks so much for your in depth review!