Nikon's next mirrorless camera has been a long time coming. For more than two years, rumors have been circulating about the Z8, poised to be one of the most exciting cameras of the year. But if you're looking forward to its arrival, the latest rumors sound like good news: According to Nikon Rumors (opens in a new tab), the Nikon Z8 could "arrive in early May."
If so, the latest addition to Nikon's Z series could be rolling off the batch in less than a month. While this is an exciting development for fans of Nikon's Z-mount cameras, it's worth noting that Nikon Rumors also called the statement somewhat uncertain. Rumors are dubious by definition, and the meaning of "arrive in early May" can be interpreted in many ways.
Nikon could be preparing to fully launch the Z8 next month, or at least make an official announcement about its existence, something we haven't seen yet. Likewise, it could mean that Nikon only plans to launch the Z8 marketing campaign in May. Or that next month Nikon will start introducing the camera internally and to dealers.
So while we're quietly expecting the Nikon Z8 to be unveiled in the coming months, we wouldn't necessarily bet on a full May launch. Still, the evidence is increasingly pointing to the new mirrorless model coming this year, which is expected to sit somewhere between the Nikon Z7 II and the Nikon Z9.
Rather than twiddle our thumbs until it does, the latest rumors have got us thinking about what features we want to see on the Nikon Z8. We've put together a detailed Nikon Z8 rundown of what we think you can expect to see from the new mirrorless model, but we've also rounded up some of our top predictions for the Z8's best features below.
Nikon Z8: what we want to see
1. A Z9 with the body of a Z7
There's an obvious gap that needs to be closed between the Z7 II and the Z9 in Nikon's mirrorless lineup. The real question is how it fills, and hopefully the answer is with a combination of the two.
The Z9 is Nikon's most powerful camera, with loads of photographic performance. It is also big, bulky and heavy. While the Z7 II is no slouch, it's also more compact than the Z9, with a fantastic control layout and practical form factor that we praised in our review.
In an ideal world, we'd like the Z8 to borrow some of the Z9's flagship hardware, like its 45,7 MP stacked full-frame sensor, while adopting dimensions closer to the Z7 II. And if the recent rumors turn out to be true, our hopes could be fulfilled.
Nikon Rumors (opens in a new tab) described the Z8 as a "mirror camera between the Z7 and Z9." In a shared model on the site, the Z8 is positioned as a stepping stone between the two. And comparisons to the Nikon D850 can be more than clever: if the suggestions are true, the Z8 could be similar in height and width to its professional predecessor, albeit slimmer due to its mirrorless setup.
2. 8K video at 60 fps
More than one rumor has generated comparisons between the Nikon Z8 and the Sony A7R V, one of the best professional cameras you can buy. If there's one way we'd like to see the Z8 beat rival Sony, it's in the video stakes: the A7R V records 8K, but only at 24fps.
We know Nikon has the technology to shoot full-frame 8K at 60fps, because that's exactly what the Z9 can do. But while its dimensions might match the D850's, it seems unlikely the Z8 will have the power to capture images of this quality, at least without an optional battery grip.
What we hope the Z8 can do, however, is shoot 8K cropped video at 60fps. We also want it to record 8K at 30fps using the full width of the sensor, although there are time limits for heat management issues. Both of these specs would give the Z8 an edge over the A7R V and make it a powerful enough hybrid for enthusiasts.
3. A high resolution electronic viewfinder
For a stellar performing camera, the Nikon Z9 doesn't have the sharpest electronic viewfinder on the market. At 3,69 million dots, it's lower than the 5,76 million-dot viewfinder on the Canon EOS R3 and even shorter than the 9,44 million-dot electronic viewfinder on the A7R V.
In an ideal world, we'd like to see the Nikon Z8 come with an EVF to match: Nikon Rumors' suggested specs include a 9,44 million-dot EVF. This would give the Z8 a cutting-edge viewfinder to help it match the best mirrorless cameras.
The problem with that ambition is that it would give the Z8 a sharper EVF than Nikon's flagship Z9. A more likely scenario is that it will arrive equipped with a 5,76 million-dot EVF. While it's still more megapixels than the Z9, it creates a smaller gap between the two. Either way, it wouldn't be the first time that a "lower" model in Nikon's lineup has outperformed a "higher" model: the Nikon Z6 II, for example, has higher burst shooting speeds than the Nikon Z7 II.
4. Improved autofocus capabilities
The Z9 benefits from Nikon's best-in-class autofocus system, with automatic subject detection and simultaneous 3D tracking. It also has five times as many auto-area AF points as the Nikon Z7 II. Still, if the Nikon Z8 is going to compete with the AI-powered subject recognition offered by the Sony A7R V, it may need to go even further.
Nikon Rumors suggests exactly that, reporting that the Z8 will offer "improved autofocus." It's unclear exactly what this will entail, but we expect to see more focus points - the Z9 has 493 compared to the A693R V's 7. We'd also like to see further advances in 3D tracking and subject detection, which is the ability to track more subjects (the Z9 can track 10) or to recognize other types of subjects.
For one, it seems unlikely that the Z8 will usurp the autofocus capabilities of the Z9. On the other hand, that's exactly what might be needed. Also, a firmware update could allow the Z9 to keep up with all the subject detection improvements introduced with the Z8.
5. A fully articulated touch screen
Both the Nikon Z7 II and the Z9 feature 3,2-inch touchscreens. The former has a panel that tilts vertically, while the latter uses a dual-axis display that can tilt both horizontally and vertically. Both make it easy to shoot from tricky angles, but neither offers the full framing flexibility of a fully articulating touchscreen. That's exactly why we want to see one in the Z8.
Talk of a vari-angle touchscreen might be guesswork at best, but that doesn't mean it's any less attractive as a proposition: many of the best mirrorless cameras feature articulating screens, including the Canon EOS R5, the Fujifilm X-H2S and the Sony A7R V. So a fully articulating touchscreen is another chance for the Z8 to take on Nikon's mirrorless rivals.
It's also one that would make the new model a more versatile all-rounder for photos and videos. We've seen vari-angle touchscreens before on the Nikon Z fc and last year's Nikon Z30, both of which have much smaller bodies than the Z8. So we know Nikon is capable, hoping it delivers.