At the core of the Nikon Z8 lies a 45.7MP stacked CMOS sensor, identical to the Z9, featuring parallel readout paths—one for image and video capture, the other dedicated to providing a near-lag-free viewfinder feed. This allows the Z8 to match the Z9’s impressive 20fps Raw burst rate, along with 30fps full-frame, 60fps APS-C, and 120fps 11MP JPEG shooting modes.
The camera also supports 10-bit HEIF file capture using the HLG curve, enabling high-quality HDR imaging alongside Raw. For moments that unfold in a blink, the Z8 includes a pre-burst mode that starts recording when the shutter is half-pressed, saving up to one second of frames when the shutter is fully pressed—available in the 30, 60, and 120fps JPEG modes.
The Nikon Z8 records 8K/30p video in ProRes 422 HQ, H.265, or H.264, and 8K/60p in N-RAW. For 4K, it offers up to 120fps (subsampled), or oversampled 4K from 8K footage at up to 60p, delivering high-quality cinematic performance across formats.
Buffer performance mirrors the Z9, capable of capturing over 1000 JPEGs or HE* compressed Raws at 20fps. It can also handle up to 685 HE Raws or 79 losslessly compressed Raw files in a single burst.
Notably, the Z8 lacks a mechanical shutter, relying instead on a swift ~1/280s electronic readout. A built-in shutter shield automatically closes when the camera is powered off, helping to protect the sensor from dust during lens changes
The Nikon Z8 offers an impressive array of high-resolution video formats, catering to both professionals and advanced enthusiasts. It supports 12-bit N-RAW recording at up to 8K/60p, 4.1K/120p (sub-sampled), 5.4K/60p (APS-C), and 4K/120p with a 2.3x crop. This format retains Bayer data and supports SDR and N-Log workflows.
ProRes RAW HQ is also available, providing 12-bit recording at 4.1K/60p (sub-sampled) and 5.4K/30p in APS-C mode, maintaining Bayer data and excellent dynamic range for grading flexibility. For those favoring more widely supported formats, ProRes 422 HQ enables 4K/60p and Full HD 1080/120p recording in 10-bit 4:2:2, perfect for broadcast-ready footage.
The Z8 also supports H.265 at 10-bit or 8-bit, allowing 8K/30p, oversampled 4K/60p from 8K, sub-sampled 4K/120p, and 1080/120p. This codec offers SDR, HDR (HLG), and N-Log options with 4:2:0 chroma subsampling. H.264 is available for basic 1080/60p capture in 8-bit SDR.
While the Z8 matches the Z9 in video specs, it does have a slightly reduced maximum recording time of 90 minutes (versus 125 minutes on the Z9), likely due to thermal management. Despite this, the Z8 remains a versatile and compact video tool with professional-grade capabilities.
