p.23 #1 · Nikon unveils the highly anticipated Z8 camera!
wjmeyer wrote:
So that’s why native 240fps in camera would be better if you want slower video, I understand why slo mo aficionados wish Nikon would have offered that at 1080p. For me, the camera is mainly for stills and I don’t care so much about all the video specs as long as it can do some kind of 4k so I can video some of my kids stuff then we’re good.
I think you are overestimating the importance of shooting in 240p for slowmo for most applications.
Here's a video I threw together shot entirely in 4k/120, which allowed for 2x and 4x slowdowns as necessary.
p.23 #2 · Nikon unveils the highly anticipated Z8 camera!
Apparently the Z8 can be fueled by an external USB battery backup pack. Yes, I typically buy 2-3 extra batteries for my bodies for additional backup. but there have been times that I forget to throw them in smaller packs, etc. May also be nice for extended video sessions and someone doesn't want to purchase the monstrosity called a battery grip that Nikon created for the Z8, maybe a 3rd party will come out with something more streamlined.
p.23 #3 · Nikon unveils the highly anticipated Z8 camera!
RoamingScott wrote:
I think you are overestimating the importance of shooting in 240p for slowmo for most applications.
Here's a video I threw together shot entirely in 4k/120, which allowed for 2x and 4x slowdowns as necessary.
You say 4k/120, but I'm looking at the specs of the Z8 and I see 4k/60 as the highest framerate in 4k mode, only 1080p supports 120. Your video gives inspiration for my own kids sports and stuff, but I was thinking more for animals, specifically birds where higher framerate will help slow the motion a lot better.
p.23 #4 · Nikon unveils the highly anticipated Z8 camera!
wjmeyer wrote:
You say 4k/120, but I'm looking at the specs of the Z8 and I see 4k/60 as the highest framerate in 4k mode, only 1080p supports 120. Your video gives inspiration for my own kids sports and stuff, but I was thinking more for animals, specifically birds where higher framerate will help slow the motion a lot better.
Whatever you're looking at is inaccurate. Z8 can shoot 4k/120 all the way up to 12 bit NRAW.
Slow motion also helps hide small movements when you're shooting handheld.
p.23 #5 · Nikon unveils the highly anticipated Z8 camera!
Good video.
Those little kids playing tackle ball? Our hs varsity doesn't have uniforms that nice. Also, cheerleaders? I haven't seen a cheerleader at a football game in thirty years.
p.23 #6 · Nikon unveils the highly anticipated Z8 camera!
MikeW2 wrote:
Good video.
Those little kids playing tackle ball? Our hs varsity doesn't have uniforms that nice. Also, cheerleaders? I haven't seen a cheerleader at a football game in thirty years.
This is Texas, we take things a little more seriously at a much younger age here These are 3rd and 4th grade, tackle ball starts here in 1st-2nd.
p.23 #8 · Nikon unveils the highly anticipated Z8 camera!
RoamingScott wrote:
Whatever you're looking at is inaccurate. Z8 can shoot 4k/120 all the way up to 12 bit NRAW.
Slow motion also helps hide small movements when you're shooting handheld.
I was looking at the Z8 Master brochure, but realized I was reading the wrong section:
High-definition 4K UHD/60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p oversampled from 8K
Sharpness matters, especially on larger monitors with the Z8, you can record high-definition 4K UHD/60p, 50p*1, 30p, 25p, and 24p oversampled*2 from 8K in 10-bit and 8-bit. Combining this with high-resolution NIKKOR Z lenses creates overwhelmingly immersive 4K videos.
*1 Oversampling expansion is available when the FX-based video format is selected. *2 For 60p and 50p [ON] must be selected for [Extended oversampling].
p.23 #12 · Nikon unveils the highly anticipated Z8 camera!
RoamingScott wrote:
I love a solidly mediocre football team with a great game day atmosphere!
(I’m an Aggie )
I don't know much about it, but one of my sons is heading to VA Tech this fall. I suspect the atmosphere of that place had something to do with selecting that school over others ;-)
p.23 #13 · Nikon unveils the highly anticipated Z8 camera!
Any features in the Z8/Z9 that help make manual focus lenses easier to... focus?
May 22, 2023 at 09:05 AM
Steve Spencer Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: On
p.23 #14 · Nikon unveils the highly anticipated Z8 camera!
wjmeyer wrote:
Any features in the Z8/Z9 that help make manual focus lenses easier to... focus?
Yes, for lenses with contacts, including Sony E mount lenses with the right adapter, you get an indicator that tells you which way to turn the focussing ring to get exact focus at the focus box. It is super accurate and I find it quite helpful.
p.23 #16 · Nikon unveils the highly anticipated Z8 camera!
Originally posted in BCG and written to Steve
"Thanks Steve for the Z8 update to your now titled "The Ultimate Nikon Z8 & Z9 Setup & Shooting Guide for Wildlife Photography"
As an owner of the previous Z9 only version this was a free download for me. Lots of NEW to me stuff in it about the Z8.
It is interesting you note the firmware in the Z8 is already 1.05 -- I had expected it to launch with 1.00
[This was a typo should have read 1.00 = Steve will fix this.]
Nikon is clearly working hard and fast to get planned improvements out. AND can't you state firmware 3.10 for the Z9 rather than 3.01 aren't differences small mainly bug fixes and minor improvements?
When I get my Z8 - I would luv to explore and replicate some of the points in the new section you added on Tone Mode ("just for the Z8 for now") p97 in using HLG -vs- SDR and note your comment "RAW Shooters For RAW shooters, this setting does seem to affect the tone curve of the RAW file - a bit." (and all the associated limitation that come with HLG -vs- JPG). More in the book.
I take it that you tried to set up your Z8 as closely to your Z9 as possible. As you say both appear 95% the same.
The following is my guess on the key differences
Photo Shooting:
-- I would have put the final para on page 90 in BOLD and RED -- don't use backup to the SD slot if you want to use your Z8 for fast long bursts...... technically I understand the way the buffer empties (not fills) is that in back up mode it has to right to both cards simultaneously and then empty the buffer slot allocated to that image before moving on to the next image - hence why it is the write speed of the slowest card that ends up limiting the camera -- but my understanding may be wrong....
-- Image size -- here is hoping that sometime soon we will be able to choose between Large, Medium and Small Full-frame Lossless RAW options (and HE*/HE too)
-- Tone Mode added for the Z8, just applies to JPG/HEIF
-- Subject Detection -- Aviation now added
I am not sure which menu these appear in on the Z8 - I expect it is Photo Shooting:
-- Not wildlife -- Skin softening added, just applies to JPG/HEIF [and vids]
-- Not wildlife -- Portrait Impression Balance mode [ still to understand precisely how this works, working together with Matrix Metering Plus Face Detect and whether it is the same as other models which had it in -- so basically some additional brightness tone and colour/hue balance tools ]
Customs Settings Banks
-- Custom Controls -- a few different buttons
-- Does the Z8 have a mic, is able to record memos and can you assign Audio record to any of the programmable buttons? - the top of the Z8 has a small mic or speaker and there are slits on the sides of the EVF which might be mics?
Settings
-- GPS -- I wonder if theses settings marked as Z9 change for a Z8 when either Snapbridge on a smart phone is paired and lined to a Z8 OR a GPS receiver is plugged in via the 10-pin and active.
-- Battery - presumably something changes when the MB-N12 is attached -- One Nikon rep recently stated that the 2 batteries in the MB-N12 grip "only" equate to 1.8x one EN-EL15C -- there must be losses due to the longer wiring and circuitry if true -- and this support avoiding the grip if possible and just carrying spare batteries. It might be worth exploring Battery Life saving strategies -- mie is always to just turn the camera of when not actually shooting AND to carry spare batteries.
-- Save/load settings - As you state on page 70 -- and CO (Nikon Canada) confirmed -- do not try to load a Z9 settings file into a Z8 - it will not work.
Network
-- Wired LAN (Ethernet) settings are enabled when a suitable ethernet dongle is added and live ethernet cable plugged in.
p.23 #19 · Nikon unveils the highly anticipated Z8 camera!
Steve Spencer wrote:
Yes, for lenses with contacts, including Sony E mount lenses with the right adapter, you get an indicator that tells you which way to turn the focussing ring to get exact focus at the focus box. It is super accurate and I find it quite helpful.
Well that's intriguing... what are your favorite settings for this?
May 22, 2023 at 01:59 PM
Steve Spencer Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: On
p.23 #20 · Nikon unveils the highly anticipated Z8 camera!
wjmeyer wrote:
Well that's intriguing... what are your favorite settings for this?
No settings are needed. If you mount a manual focus lens the focus box is red unless you happen to have perfect focus when you mount the lens. You just move the focus box to where you want to focus. There is an indicator in the lower right that tells you which way you need to turn the lens to get focus under the focus box. You just adjust focus by turning the focus ring in that direction until it turns green. When it turns green you get very accurate focus in my experience. I believe you can use this method with AF lenses too (if you switch on manual focus), but I haven't tried it.
These are 3rd and 4th grade, tackle ball starts here in 1st-2nd.