Have the Z9 & Z8; also decided that the Z8 will not get a battery grip as it's job is to be a smaller lighter Z9 - which it can do without the extra bulk of the battery grip. At this point I now use the Z9 when I need long battery life (over 3K agility shots vs 1200-1300 for the smaller battery in the Z6II or Z8). Card door on the Z9 - OK, I can see why they did it that way as it's very secure. At first it was too secure but I've know trained the hands (works best for me if I use two hands - not ideal for sure) to quickly pop it open. Not the problem it used to be. That said, I do get on a lot better with the Z8. I don't do video, but some reviewers have run into over heating problems with the Z8 because it does not have the mass of the Z9. I also tend to leave the SD card in the Z8 and just format it after each shoot. It's just a back up card (or for those times I don't have a CFExpress card reader for the laptop).
I can see why you'd want to keep the Z8 as a lighter camera and I use the grip when I need longer battery life. However, it's rather a relief to carry a lighter camera around sometimes. I do kind of see why they've done the card door like that but I'd have preferred the pro DSLR version, I definitely need both hands to open it succesfully. I've tested both cameras today and ran 4k on both for 45 minutes with no problem, so hopefully it should be ok
Cracking video, it’s great to see an down to earth, real world comparison of the two. And thank you for quoting the real weights - with batteries and cards. Never understood why marketing departments always quote camera weights without batteries?!? You can’t use them like that so would you quote the specs like that 🤦🏻♂️
Oh yes, of course it was. That was a really advanced camera for its time, especially if you think about the top pro camera in 88 - the F3 ! Thank you for reminding me about it.
@@seancameronphotographic3740 The N8008 was released only three months before the F4. Some years later, the N8008 was my first autofocus camera. The F4 was something a friend and I drooled over. The biggest feature for me was the matrix metering with flash. All of a sudden, every image at an event was correctly exposed.
NIce comparison, Sean. I also own both the Z9 and Z8 and have the Nikon battery grip for the Z8. I often shoot thousands of frames in a weekend will different lenses on each camera strapped to me via Peak Design Sling straps. When the battery grip is on the Z8, it's hard for me to discern a different between the two cameras aside for perhaps the Nikon Z 70-200mm f2.8 S on one and the Nikon Z 24-120mm f4 on the other. I find myself using a 512GB card in slot 1 for each camera and seldom find the camera switching to Slot 2. I truly love both of them and wouldn't switch to having both camera bodies being Z9's or Z8's. I'm happy with one of each.
Thank you John, I'm planning on doing a video on the differences I've found after a month or so of using both cameras. I'm hoping I can find some otherwise it's going to be a very boring video. Do you favour which lens goes on which camera? I keep meaning to test the 24-120, it sounds like the perfect lens to use on holiday etc.
Hi Sean. In most cases, it probably doesn't matter which camera body holds which lens. I tend to shoot the burst photos primarily with the Nikon Z 70-200mm f2.8. Because of the amazing battery capacity of the Z9, I usually put the 70-200mm on the Z9. The larger body of the Z9 gets the larger lens, but when I put the battery grip on the Z8, then it's the larger kit, so that reasoning goes out the window, except for the battery capacity of the Z9. I've put the 70-200mm on both bodies and asked my wife which she prefers as a non-regular photography shooter. She doesn't see much difference between the Z9 and the Z8 sans battery grip when outfitted with the 70-200mm. I'm thinking about adding the Nikon Z 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 for added reach in outdoor shoots. I probably don't really need it, but I know you love yours and I see that even pro-landscape shooters like Nigel Danson love the 100-400mm for very different use-cases. I also have thought about getting a Nikon Z 24-70mm f2.8 for the 2nd camera body when shooting dog movement indoors under lousy lighting conditions, which means the 70-200 on one camera and the 24-70 on the other (I now often use my Nikon Z 105mm f2.8 S Macro lens on the 2nd camera body indoors.). I love the Nikon Z 24-120mm f4 so much for everyday shooting and for outdoor dog show movement, but f2.8 would certainly be preferable indoors. Ultimately, I can see why some photographers would just get two Z9 instead of one of each. For me and my aging body, the Z8 is the one I grab most often for everyday shooting, hiking and travel. And, with the battery grip on the Z8 I can usually shoot 5000 frames before battery capacity becomes an issue (I use the EVF and lots of burst shooting to get to 5000 frames.). I really urge you to try the 24-120mm f4. Yes, the Nikon Z 24-70mm f2.8 is the better made lens and better in low light, but the lighter weight, wonderful performance and extra reach of the 24-120mm makes it a great all-rounder. @@seancameronphotographic3740
To me, they are both more or less the same. However, as I am definitely a grip kinda guy, the Z9 it is for me. The price difference between the two bodies in my region is around $780 only, and if you factor in the grip and extra battery, that difference becomes an insignificant $300-$400, so it really makes no sense to get the Z8 for someone like me. I already have a Z7II, but the AF failed me in a couple of scenarios where it shouldn't and I don't find it particularly comfortable to hold, which is why I am considering upgrading. But then Nikon had to release the Z f😅 which is something I've been dreaming of, so I guess the Z9's gotta wait again😩
@@seancameronphotographic3740 we only have the black one in my region. If we had other colours available, I would have been torn between orange, brown, and grey. I guess they made it easier for me; no option😅
Hi Sean question, since you had the z6 which had the same sensor as the z6ii and the z8/9 which has the same sensor so can you tell me if the z8/9 captures more detail than the z6ii or and potentially the z6iii and if so would that be because the z8/9 has no pass filter, or more mp or... thx
That used to be the case where the bigger body had fewer pixels and was faster and vice versa for the smaller body. Now its more about battery life since without the grip the 9 has twice the life and other than that they're identical.
There's a few differences between them but I'm sure that Nikon released the Z8 mainly to grab the upper-mid priced market after the Z9 had made such an impact.
