When I first heard about the Nikon Z8 at a press briefing, I didn't experience the degree of excitement I'd expected for what will likely be one of the best cameras money can buy. Perhaps that was because the full-frame mirrorless camera could be summarized by Nikon in a few words: “It’s a baby Z9”. In short, this is a camera that I’ve used a lot before – and our camera of the year 2022 – but smaller (and cheaper).
Despite my muted reaction, the Z8 immediately made more sense than the Z9, and I was confident that my feelings about the Z8 would change after I'd spent some time actually using it. Days later, I got the chance to do just that, getting hands-on with a full production sample at the Europe launch of the Z8, which took place during Photo London 2023.
I shot 45.7MP stills and 8K videos in multiple scenarios, from studio portraits to street dancers, and this hands-on review is based on my experience. So am I more excited about the Z8 having used it? Read on to find out.
