Given all the hype around the upcoming Nikon Z8 (if it will be called that), it’s bound to fly off the shelves once it goes on sale. The Nikon Z9, with its photo and video capabilities, was on backorder for a very long time once it began being sold. But while it’s an excellent flagship model, it probably is overkill for many photographers. And Nikon needs to come up with something to counter the Sony a7r V. Here’s a list of specs and features, as a long-term user of their cameras, that I hope Nikon doesn’t miss out on in the Nikon Z8.
Images used in the article are mockups. We currently do not have any verified images or designs of what the Nikon Z8 looks like.
I know the name ‘Nikon Z8’ has been doing the rounds as the probable name for Nikon’s next big full-frame mirrorless release. And logically, given that they’ve covered all other numbers between 5 and 9 in their other models, this makes sense. But I have a tiny inkling that this might not be the name. I expect it to be called the Nikon Z9x, similar to how the D3x was announced as a high-megapixel companion to the Nikon D3 in 2008. Since the expectation is that the Nikon Z8 might have a very high megapixel count, higher than any existing model from Nikon, I feel that it just might be named the Z9x. Anyhow, it’s just something that I felt a few days ago. If it turns out to be right, that means that Nikon still has another potential full-frame mirrorless model.
What Would I Like To See In The Nikon Z8
It can’t just be a Z9 without the battery grip. In some ways, the Nikon Z8 has to offer a lot more than what the Nikon Z9 does. And this could come at the risk of cannibalizing the Z9 sales. As technically superior to the other Nikon mirrorless bodies as it is, the Z9 is aimed at serious professionals. Sports and wildlife photographers, photojournalists, filmmakers even. You just might get a lot of that performance for much less in the Nikon Z8. Just as the D700 was a mini D3, the Z8 could be a mini Z9.
The Z8 has to clearly outclass, in almost all departments, the performance of the Z6 II and Z7 II without being some sort of middle-ground camera between them. It can’t be a compromise; the Z8 has to be a lot better than both of these cameras. For many of us, it might just be the D850 mirrorless camera we hoped to see in the Z7 II.
Photography Specs
- The global electronic shutter of the Z9, hopefully with a better sensor readout, to improve the banding issues.
- 60+ megapixels
- Low base ISO of 64
- A burst rate that is at least 10fps. Without having to add a battery grip.
- An affordable battery grip that blends in more seamlessly with the form factor of the Z8
- mRAW and sRAW capabilities. Why was this ever not made available in the Z9, especially with it having a high megapixel count sensor?
- At a potentially higher resolution, we will need more than the 6-stops of VR that the Z9 can offer.
- That crazy good eye-AF stickiness that the Z9 has. AF on the other Z bodies just doesn’t cut it.
- In-camera GPS. Landscape photographers will definitely appreciate having this.
- The ability to overwrite most of those hardly used Picture Controls like “Denim,” “Toy,” “Bleached,” and “Binary” with custom ones. I think we deserve more space than just being able to upload 10 custom picture controls.
- Better high ISO noise reduction. This has to be something that is continuously refined with firmware updates.
Videography Specs
- 8K 30fps. Yes, I do think it will match the video specs of the Z9
- In-camera N-RAW (12-bit) recording. I can’t deal with using an external recorder all the time for this.
- Compatibility with the MC-N10 remote grip
Physical Features
- I don’t have large hands, but even I find my pinky finger dangling when holding the Z6 and Z7 series of bodies. I had to purchase an L-bracket specifically to grip my Z6 II more comfortably. I don’t want the Z8 to be chunky, but it could benefit from having more height. I know some photographers still holding on to their Nikon DSLRs because they find Nikon’s non-Z9 bodies too small to hold.
- Consistency in button placement. As a long-term user of Nikon cameras, this has frustrated me to no end. The repeated position changes of key buttons like ISO, frame rate, and white balance have delayed me too often when out in the field when I am juggling between Nikon cameras. At least now, going forward, I hope that the buttons are similarly placed across different models.
- A 3rd Fn button for more custom feature mapping.
- It deserves a battery with more capacity than what the En-EL15 series can offer, what with all the processing power it’ll need for the high-resolution photos and videos it will take
- An Expeed 8 processor for the Z8? It’d be nice, and we wouldn’t need to hear about the need for “dual processors to improve AF” again. But, probably unlikely, given how capable the Expeed 7 already is.
- Improved resolution on the LCD, which can hopefully be as articulating as the one on the Z9
- A sensor shield for people like me who live in cities with dusty and hazy weather conditions.
Wishful Thinking
- Personalized, AI-enhanced autofocus. A feature whereby focus tracking data can be collected (voluntarily) and sent over to Nikon for analysis. Custom firmware can then be installed for AF improvement specific to one’s photography needs.
- Color-specific focus priority tracking. Hear me out. I’ve often wished this was a feature in Nikon cameras. Especially at sporting events, tracking a particular jersey color is valuable when trying to focus on one person in a crowd.
- The ability to choose any color for focus peaking. Why just limit it to red, yellow, white, and blue
- A better mobile app than Snapseed. Or at least overhaul it to fix the phone-to-camera connection issues that pop up every few weeks. This is a massive pain point. Oh, and the ability to send over jpegs to our smartphones that are higher than 2 megapixels in resolution. I’d like to have more than just two file size options.
- Pixel shift mode for super-high-resolution images.
- Some built-in memory. Even if it’s just 1GB, it can save a photography session if someone leaves a memory card behind. Don’t tell me you’ve never left home without a memory card in your camera.
If Nikon could pack most, if not all of this, into a sub-$4500 body, I think I’ll be one of the first in line at the stores on launch day. They blew my mind with the Z9 but priced it slightly out of my reach. I’m still saving up for the Zf, but I would probably trade in my Z6 II for the Z8 if the autofocus is a massive improvement. Be sure to see a lot of Z7 and Z7 II cameras up for sale online once the Z8 is announced. I just hope we don’t have to wait months to actually receive our units once we’ve ordered them. Nikon ought to know by now that this model will be in high demand and hopefully will have their production up to speed.
