Is the Nikon Z 8 worth it over the Z 9?

For most shooters, yes. The Z 8 gives you the same sensor, autofocus and 8K RAW video in a smaller body for less money. The Z 9 adds a built-in vertical grip and longer battery life for heavy professional use.

Does the Z 8 have a mechanical shutter?

No. It uses only an electronic shutter, which is silent and vibration-free. That limits flash sync speed and can show rolling shutter with very fast motion, though the stacked sensor keeps it minimal.

The camera body, Nikon EN-EL15c battery, MH-25a charger, UC-E24 USB cable, HDMI/USB cable clip and BS-1 accessory shoe cap. A lens and memory card are not included.

What memory cards does the Z 8 take?

It has two slots: one CFexpress Type B and one SD UHS-II. For 8K RAW and long bursts you need a fast CFexpress card; SD is fine for stills and lighter video.

How is battery life on the Z 8?

Rated around 330 shots with the viewfinder and more with the LCD, it is modest for a pro body. Video and high-speed bursts drain it faster, so most owners carry at least one spare EN-EL15c.

When is the Z 8 cheapest?

Prices dip during major sales events and when Nikon runs rebates, often around the holidays. At $2,649 at Willoughby's Photo Emporium as of November 4, 2026, it is already near the low end of its recent range.

Where is the Nikon Z 8 Mirrorless Digital Camera cheapest?

At Willoughby's Photo Emporium, for $2,649.00, 17% under what the other stores charge, as of our latest check.

Where can I buy the Nikon Z 8 Mirrorless Digital Camera?

16 stores we checked sell it, including Willoughby's Photo Emporium, Phoenix Photo, AVC photo video store, Adorama, B&H Photo-Video-Audio.

Nikon Z 8 Mirrorless Digital Camera

Best price now

$2,649.00at Willoughby's Photo EmporiumObserved at 3:10 PM

17% under what the other stores charge

Compared across 8 stores. Prices are checked against each store and labelled with when.

Visit Willoughby's Photo Emporium

What reviewers say

Owners and reviewers treat the Z 8 as one of the best hybrid cameras available, praising its autofocus, burst speed and internal RAW video at a price below the Z 9. Complaints center on battery life, file sizes and the learning curve rather than image quality.

Pros

Autofocus that tracks people, animals and vehicles reliably
Full-resolution 30 fps bursts and a truly blackout-free finder
Internal 8K RAW video without an external recorder
Build quality and handling close to the Z 9 at a lower price

Cons

Battery drains quickly during video and high-speed bursts
8K RAW files fill cards and drives fast
Menus and customization take time to master
Smaller grip feels cramped with long telephoto lenses

About the Nikon Z 8 Mirrorless Digital Camera

The ultimate hybrid camera. Powerful video and still photography capabilities. Video features include 12-bit 8K/60p and 4K/120p RAW plus 10-bit ProRes 422 HQ internal video recording. Photography features include a 45.7MP stacked CMOS sensor, a silent, vibration-free electronic shutter, 120 fps burst shooting and a blackout-free viewfinder. Fast, accurate AF with subject detection powered by deep learning. Professional build and operation. Smart connectivity. All in a brilliant compact, lightweight modular design.

45.7-megapixel stacked CMOS sensor delivers incredible detail and gorgeous enlargements

Create enlargements all the way up to poster-sized prints, or crop aggressively to frame the perfect shot in glorious detail

ISO 64 - 25,600 (expandable to 102,400) for crisp, clear photos even in ultra low light

Enhances shooting in varied and fast-changing lighting situations, including extremely low light

Never miss a shot with ultrafast 30 fps (frames per second)

Shoots up to 30 fps at full, 45.7-MP resolution, or up to 120 fps at 11-MP, giving you the capability to capture fast-action shots with breathtaking clarity.

493-point autofocus

Subjects are acquired quickly when they enter the frame and tracked throughout the frame, even to the far edges

Capture spectacular movies in 8K Ultra-HD

Shoot in camera 8K/60p and 4K/120p video, recorded 12-bit N-RAW and ProRes RAW.

Optical image stabilizer

Reduces image blur caused by camera shake and vibration via 5-axis sensor shift in boby (IBIS)

Built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to instantly share your pictures

Install Nikon's SnapBridge app on a compatible phone or tablet for instant photo sharing, automatic backups, geotagging, even remote camera triggering, and more.

3.2" Touch & Tilting TFT-LCD

Tilting both veritcally or horozontally, the 2,100k-dot LCD monitor makes it easy to frame the shot and renders bright, crisp images, plus precise Live View and movie shooting,

EXPEED 7 image processor

The Nikon EXPEED 7 processing engine allows for faster image and video processing, superior buffer management, and more overall speed.

OLED viewfinder with color balance and 16-level brightness controls

Bright, high-contrast viewfinder lets you see the results before you shoot, and features 3690K dots for amazing resolution

Intelligent Subject detection AF

Subject detection uses deep learning to automatically detect and track people, cats, dogs, birds, cars, motorcycles, bicycles, trains and planes in still and video with no menu changes.

Enhanced video features