Ok, I do have some comments on this video. I hope you don't mind: - Regarding stabilisation performance, you're testing with a stabilised lens on the Canon, and a non-stabilised lens on the Nikon. I realise these are both similar lenses in other regards, but then you ascribed the difference in performance to the cameras, which I think is not correct. - You didn't mention what I find to be the single biggest advantage of the Z8's stacked sensor: zero-blackout shooting, at least at higher shutter speeds. Very useful for wildlife for example. - I find it quite surprising that you criticise the Z8's viewfinder so much. Most every other review I've read actually say that while on paper it may seem inferior, "the reality couldn't be more different" (DPReview), and it is a great experience as it is a very bright viewfinder, and it is bigger as well. Also, even the Sony A1 viewfinder drops its resolution to about the same as the Nikon viewfinder while shooting (I think you only get the full res when viewing images). So... yeah, I'm not sure what to think of this. - The screen mechanism of the Z8 might not be the best for shooting with the camera against a wall, but it is faster to manipulate when shooting vertically. So I think that argument is a bit one-sided as well. That's not to say that the R5 isn't a great camera. But I don't think I agree with everything here.
Hey there, absolutely don't mind some comments! - You're right about the stabilisation in the lens, although body only stabilisation I feel should have performed better in a model of this calibre, even if it didn't out perform what the R5 could do (with admittedly an optically stabilised lens). My other slight gripe would be that at a pretty similar price point to the Canon, the Nikon's 24-70mm doesn't have image stabilisation. Next time I have access to both cameras I will try them both with two comparable non-IS lenses and come back to you with my findings. - That is a great advantage very true! I think as we use the Z8 in more circumstances (as we plan to do more with it in the future) that will prove to be something we take advantage of. - We can only give our honest opinions, and for us it was noticeably worse. It made the shooting experience less enjoyable for me than with other models. For some I'm sure it wouldn't be a problem, and if the Z8 is the perfect camera for you, I doubt it would be enough to sway your decision. However, a viewfinder is an important part of the shooting experience for me personally, and both myself and Ian felt that it noticeably lacked, especially in comparison to the R5. Thanks for watching, and for your honest feedback! Amy
@@mpbcom Thank you for responding. I guess I'm a bit triggered because there are still RUclipsrs who claim that Nikon is in a "scary position", even though they've been making very healthy profits for years. With regards to whether the Z8 is the perfect camera for me, that boils down to more than the camera. Firstly I already have Nikon F-mount glass (though I'm not a "boomer" - really getting tired of people saying that) which will work very well with the FTZ adapter. For people who don't own any system yet, they should probably have a look at the offerings from both companies; they are quite different. Though there is one advantage for Nikon, in that they are more permissive for Sigma/Tamron/Viltrox etc to develop lenses for their mount. Which means there is more glass for it. And if you're willing to go adapted, the Z-mount offers the most versatility as well, with for example the Megadap ETZ21 Pro allowing you to mount E-mount glass (and there's a lot of that) with what is apparently near-native AF performance. The viewfinder is important to me, which is actually why I think I'd like the Z8. Again, I've never come across a real-life review where the Nikon viewfinder was criticised. I appreciate that this is your honest opinion, but again, I don't know what to make of it. I think that something must be going on.
@@VIDEOVISTAVIEW2020 I fully agree with the viewfinder concerns. A few settings on the Z8 need to be enabled to get the full benefit of the viewfinder. Higher FPS and the natural view, because I've used both the r5 and the z8, and not having blackout, is a huge advantage. And the brightness doesn't even compare. With the Z8, I can shoot outside on a fully sunny day, and you can keep both eyes open. Meanwhile, the R5 viewfinder is dim in comparison.
@@starbase218 Nikon are making some absolutely fantastic cameras at the moment, including the Z8. We're big fans! The systems are very important to consider when selecting a system, there are a lot of options available now, and Canon are certainly more protective when it comes to their mount. We tried the viewfinder against other models we had in stock and adjusted all the settings, but it just didn't give us everything we wanted unfortunately. It was bright and usable, just personally didn't get us super excited to use it.
We heard! It's always great when manufacturers keep the improvements coming. We're going to be using the Z8 again so we'll give it another go then. Thanks for watching - Amy
Z8 kills R5 (okay that’s hyperbole) for what I shoot. Need that unlimited buffer, blackout free, no lag viewfinder over sharpness. You can test the lag for both by putting a phone timer in front of each and capturing a photo of what the phone shows vs what camera shows. Canon 24-70 also has IS. Nikon 24-70 does not. You guys were very entertaining. Thanks for the review!
that would be a huge difference that should have been accounted for in the testing. Comparing a non-is lens to an is lens, of course the is lens is going to be better stabilized.
I would add that while yes, the R5 does have an electric shutter, the read-out is too slow for anything other than still life. I would also add that the viewfinder settings on your z8 might not be set up correctly because the Nikon's viewfinder, despite the spec sheet, is one of the best in the market. I'm enjoying your Channel, tho. Please test the new 2.0 on the Z8, the 3d tracking is much improved.
R5 only takes RF Lenses that have Trombone extending zooming Slow lenses >> 100-500 F7.1 (Shame) and 200-800 and RF 70-200 >> Nikons Lenses are largely Internal Zooming plus the Z Mount advantage .. Z 70-200, Z 180-600 etc etc
Hey, we will be testing the new firmware, this video was shot a few weeks ago. The viewfinder was setup correctly and we did try out multiple settings. It was bright but unfortunately neither of us really enjoyed it. It does the job, but in our personal opinions it didn't stack up against the R5 during real-world shooting. Really glad you're enjoying the channel and a big thank you for watching and commenting! Amy
Excellent! I'd actually love to see more of these types of videos from MPB. I think one obstacle that other reviewers face is that they only have access to so much gear - MPB doesn't have that problem 😄 You could really provide value in the camera/lens comparison space, help photographers work out what they need!
That's great to hear, we definitely do not have that problem! Let us know if you have any suggestions and we'll bare them in mind for next time! Thanks for tuning in 🙂 Amy
@@mpbcomno probs Amy, I always watch cos you make good vids 👍 Re: ideas, it's almost a case of where to begin 😄 but on a personal level, I like to shoot wildlife and Tele - I wonder whether it could be worth expanding on this video and looking into adapted DSLR Vs native mirrorless lenses? I've caught myself checking out EF teles on MPB with a view to possibly putting them on a future R6 II (which would also probably end up being bought used) Also, perhaps very very niche, but evaluating performance of adapted EF lenses on a Panasonic G9 II, now that it has PDAF 😲
@@ericaceous1652 Thank you very much! The EF to mirrorless would be a good shout, I'll add it to the list. Personally I've done it a few times and the results are really interesting. EF onto Panasonic G9 II is one I might have to try myself just to see what it's like! The R6 II is a great future camera for wildlife, did you have any other considerations or is that the goal? Amy
@@mpbcom Thanks for asking :) Yes, the R6 II would be for wildlife in the main, but also as my travel/family camera. I find that I'm often shooting in poor light, be it dawn/dusk or indoors. I've tried to mitigate this on my original G9 by using very fast glass (an Oly 17 1.2 indoors, for example), but even then I struggle, seeing as I still need a decent shutter speed for moving subjects (animals, nephews etc) Canon, and particularly the R6 II, seems to be extremely well regarded for it's AF, IQ and video features, and has a well stocked lineup of lenses, both RF and EF. Panasonic doesn't seem to have particularly compelling tele options for m43 IMO - that, coupled with the low light issue, has me scouting other systems (and combing the MPB listings 😉)
The Z8 has really upended that part of the market. It's hard to call it a "bargain" considering it's still expensive, but given its features, it's a really good buy. One of its biggest advantages over Canon is a notably better lens ecosystem, particularly for telephoto lenses. I have the Z9 myself and yeah the viewfinder is basically just fine (and at least it's fast), but then I've yet to use a mirrorless camera with a viewfinder that gets anywhere close to a 50 year old SLR viewfinder in terms of a pleasing shooting experience 😅 I haven't tried one of those Sony bodies with the 9+ million dot finders yet though, which I'd be interested in comparing.
I can confirm those 9+ million dot viewfinders are delicious! The lens ecosystem is definitely something that needs to be considered depending on what you're looking to shoot. The glass from both is stunning but it's whether what you need is available. I absolutely adore the Z9, fantastic camera, but I know what you mean about the viewfinder! I see from your channel you do a lot of wildlife, what is your perfect pairing in terms of telephoto lens with the Z9 for you personally? Amy
@@mpbcom Recently swapped over to the new Nikon 180-600mm f/5-6.3, which was a nice upgrade over my adapted Sigma 150-600mm Sport (definitely in terms of weight). So far very pleased with it! I've played with the three big lenses (the 400 f/2.8, 600 f/4, and 800 f/6.3) and those are really, really nice; but quite hard to justify to myself in terms of price when I already get really good birds-in-flight results with the zoom. I thought the 600 f/6.3 was a bit of an odd launch - making that an f/5.6 would have been interesting 🤔 If I had to upgrade I'd be really torn between the 800 f/6.3 for extra reach and the 400 f/2.8 for extra light (which would be a huge benefit here in Wales 🙈). I can definitely see the appeal of the lighter 400 f/4.5 and 600 f/6.3 options too though. ...maybe there's too many options on the Z mount 😅
@@robert_may Haha that is a lot of choice! I think if I was based in Wales and had the megapixel advantage of a Z9 on my side I'd be looking at the 400mm 2.8. 200mm is an easy crop with 50MP but f/2.8 over f/6.3 is a BIG advantage, and not so easy to fix in post. What a setup, I'm edging towards jealousy! 😉
@@mpbcom Now I just need to find someone with a 400 f/2.8 to whom I can sell a handful of magic beans in exchange for it 😆 Oh and I just rewatched the video - one thing to note from my own testing of the IBIS in the Z9 (which I’m assuming is the same), is that it’s weirdly comparable to the Panasonic S5IIX in video. I was actually surprised by how smooth it is, as I was kinda expecting it to be a bit worse. Not that anyone can easily vlog with either the Z9 or Z8 though 🙈 Also worth noting: the Canon RF 24-70 f/2.8 has optical stabilisation and the Nikon Z 24-70 f/2.8 does not, which probably made a reasonable difference. I don’t actually think any of the Nikon standard zooms have it, which is bizarre. The only options I could find were the 24-200 and the Tamron 35-150 🤔
Really useful video, thank you and it was nicely shot too. Having owned both cameras I would say that I much prefer files from the Z8, the colours are very natural and pleasing.
Is the Z8 still focusing on the background, same as the Z6 does sometimes? I can see that in 6:38. I am thinking about upgrading my cameras, but also considering to sell all my nikon gear and go to other brand if they are not capable of solving that autofocus issues. Does the new firmware improve that?
Thanks for the thorough comparison. I much appreciate your ability to buck the usual assumption that a product 3 years newer is necessarily better than the older one. I appreciate your straightforward, frank comments on your shooting experience with both.
Just for future reference it is not a flash sync port on the front of the Z8, but a 10 pin port for remotes/ gps modules etc just like on the older Pro dslr bodies.
Not a fair comparison - Nikon just released Firmware 2.0 for Z8 a couple of days ago, you should have updated FW before you posted this review. BTW, I have both Nikon Z8 & Canon R5 & I love them both.
So Impressed with the z8 that I traded in my other brand camera body and 2 lenes for another z8 (rated like new) from MPB. Got it in the mail and a wow perfect. So, no more trading out lens in the field. One z8 is set up for wildlife, aviation and surfing photography with the Nikkor 180-600mm and the other z8 from MPB is set up with my landscape and portrait lens the Nikkor 24-120mm f4 s lens, which BTW also came from MPB rated like new condition. Future down the road purchases from MPB will be the Nikkor z 20mm f1.8 and the Nikkor z 800mm f6.3 s wildlife lens to complete my kit.
It's amazing what 3 years in technology can do when it comes to cameras. I'm curious to see what the R5 mkII will bring in (supposedly) 2024. Meanwhile I'm over the moon with my R6 which was an upgrade from a Canon 600D from 2011 😊
The difference in technology is huge, and it was really interesting to see how that related to the actual shooting experience. The R6 is a brilliant camera (and the IBIS is absolutely fab! 😉) but can't deny I'm excited for the next iteration of the R5! Thanks for watching! Amy
Probably should’ve used the 70-200 lenses for VR/IS testing since the Canon 24-70 has image stabilization to work with IBIS whereas the Nikon 24-70 has no VR. Not quite the fair comparison.
We went with the standard comparable lenses for a day out shooting, but we're looking at shooting a non IS comparison for accuracies sake. Although I would argue even body only I would have expected the Z8 to have a slightly stronger performance, even if it came nowhere close to outperforming the R5! Also maybe I should have made the point that I think it would be nice Nikon's 24-70mm had some stabilisation for the price point it sits at. But we get your point, I'll try to find this comment again and let you know the results of the non-IS lens test on both bodies. Thanks for watching! Amy
Also I want to say this about the usefulness of the Z8's 120fps 11MP JPEG mode. The default Capture One Instagram export mode limits the horizontal resolution to 1080 pixels. Meaning that even if it's a 1:2 crop, the exported image is barely anything over 2 megapixels. The truth is that resolution-wise, even a Nikon D80 or D90 is still more than good enough for a lot of things, and that includes way more than social media (of course these cameras' sensors do have other limitations). I edit the images from my 24MP D750 on a 32" 4K monitor, and if I view them at 100%, they are way bigger than my monitor. Even a 10MP image would be larger than my monitor (4K is about 8.3MP). If you print, the question of how much resolution is needed depends on not just how big you print, but also how far away the images will be viewed. Still, I probably wouldn't use the 120fps mode because... well, it's just going to chew through my card space, and 20fps is probably more than fast enough for me. This just goes to show how much overkill any of these cameras is, frankly, for the vast majority of people.
This was a great comparison! I'm a canon shooter and thrilled that the R5 still holds it's weight against the latest competition. I have two R5s and just love them to pieces.
Nope this was shot over a month before that firmware was announced, but we'll be doing way more with the Z8 soon and we'll have an updated one for that. Thanks for watching - Amy
The Z8 and R5 are both brilliant cameras that have won multiple awards. Based on the tests we performed in this video, Ian and I preferred the R5 for our style of shooting, but our videographer (who is also a photographer) was a bigger fan of the Z8. Cameras have to fit the photographer, and the Z8 is brilliant for lots of photographers out there. We'll be doing more tests with the Z8 now that the newest firmware is out. Amy
I picked the z8 over the canon is because of the glass available. As far as the EVF I just increased the brightness to Hi 2 and I can live with that. Again, NIKKOR Z glass is incredible, and primes are lighter and more affordable.
Glass is definitely the deciding factor for most people when it comes to choosing the right camera, and I'm glad you're enjoying the camera, Thanks for tuning in! Amy
Let's be real, these are both spectacular cameras that anybody should be grateful to own. If you already own glass for one or the other, it's an easy choice. It's noteworthy, bearing in mind this is an MPB video, after all, that the R5 is available used for much, much less than the Z8. In fact, there's little reason to consider a used Z8, which is barely any less than a new one. Not a small factor for most of us. In the end, if you can't produce great images or video with either of these cameras, you are the problem.
Glass is definitely the biggest deciding factor for most people, but you're totally right, they are both amazing cameras! You can certainly produce professional images and video, with both of these cameras, but currently (and for the next little while) the R5 is certainly a lot lower in price. Thanks for watching! Amy
i ordered a lend from you and i really liked it but i want a new camera now and i really need to see pictures of the sensors to see how they treated the sensor more then anyting. i have seen some cameras with really badly cleaned sensors and that can permanently affect the IQ. Please consider adding these shots to the site.
Hey there, the EVF was setup correctly, and we experimented with the options available, but it just wasn't up to par for us. Nice and bright, but just didn't hold up to the R5 in our opinion. Thanks for watching! Amy
All this really makes me very interested to what the R5 ii brings to the table. At this point canon surely have to give it a BSI stacked sensor. A crying shame my R6 ii doesn’t have the R3 sensor… I’d love to be able to use the ES for everything.
We were thinking this also, but you never know with launches like this! The R1 (if it arrives this year) will also be an interesting one in terms of which tech they decide to implement, especially as it is an Olympics year. The 1DX III certainly didn't disappoint back in 2020! Anything you'd be specifically hoping for apart from the BSI sensor of course? Thanks for watching - Amy
Quite surprised at a lot of the takes here. I owned the r5 for 2 years before switching to a z8/9 setup. The viewfinder experience with the Nikons feels far more natural to me than it did with the Canon. ESP since I can eliminate ALL data overlay for an almost dslr like experience. The image quality to my eye is also far more pleasing than the canon. My r5 gave terrible textures for landscapes, and colors/tonal quality are some of the least pleasing I’ve ever seen from Canon. My Nikons by comparison feel like the perfect blend of modern mirrorless rendering and contrasty, punchy dslr quality. I do agree it is a bit oversharpened but that’s a very simple fix. And the lens selection makes things almost a no brainer especially considering that I currently adapt 2 Sony GM lenses with essentially native performance. Excited for the r5 mark ii however and really hope canon restores some of their former IQ glory.
Really interested to hear your insights. As you can see from other comments, the video has been a little contentious. However, myself and Ian have no affiliation with either brand so these were just our genuine findings when testing the cameras side by side. We will definitely be getting the Z8 back again in the future for more shooting, so maybe our opinions will change! We're also very excited to see what comes from the R5 II, I hope it lives up to the legacy of the original! Thanks for watching - Amy
Hey there, we find it best to pause on them if you want to take a bit of a closer look, but we'll definitely keep this in mind in future! Thanks for watching - Amy
Honestly I don't think that the differences between the two cameras would be enough to make the average person or professional switch brands, it then comes down to would the R5 or Z8 be enough of an upgrade from previous versions to send you to the local photographic retailer. Personally I shoot Canon and for me would the R5 be enough to make me switch from DSLR 5DmkIV or 90d, and the answer would be yes. So I would love to hear from a Nikon DSLR shooter if the Z8 would make them upgrade.
I'd say the Z8 has a much wider choice of resolutions, frame rates and codec combinations if that's what you are looking for. It supports RAW, h.264, h.265 and ProRes in two variants. Thank you for watching! - Jakub
Static Iso comparison are never the same as comparisons with movement in low light. The R5 destroys the X8 if sports or action low light is any concern.
It's an Insult to compare the Puny Toaster of a Camera with camera of the Year 2023 Z8 which gets PROPER Firmware updates that have now surpassed the Z9 in certain areas >> I will recommend a Canon Printer though >> far better than any Nikon Printer
Send me those cameras so I can do the real world corporate event in crappy mixed - low light with one off moments that cant be repeated. Switching from video to photo booth constantly. And then skin tone tests with flash doing some corporate headshots. When can we see these professional real world tests?
@@starbase218 I think they tried, but obviously, they didn't know how to use the Z8 to its full potential. The viewfinder comments told me that right away. The level of brightness you can get from the Z8 is unmatched.
Я ненавижу таких обзорщиков: у вас есть эти камеры в руках, а вы льете воду и говорите ни о чем. Ощущение, что это не фотографы, а клоуны . Мне жаль потраченного времени
Ok, I do have some comments on this video. I hope you don't mind:
- Regarding stabilisation performance, you're testing with a stabilised lens on the Canon, and a non-stabilised lens on the Nikon. I realise these are both similar lenses in other regards, but then you ascribed the difference in performance to the cameras, which I think is not correct.
- You didn't mention what I find to be the single biggest advantage of the Z8's stacked sensor: zero-blackout shooting, at least at higher shutter speeds. Very useful for wildlife for example.
- I find it quite surprising that you criticise the Z8's viewfinder so much. Most every other review I've read actually say that while on paper it may seem inferior, "the reality couldn't be more different" (DPReview), and it is a great experience as it is a very bright viewfinder, and it is bigger as well. Also, even the Sony A1 viewfinder drops its resolution to about the same as the Nikon viewfinder while shooting (I think you only get the full res when viewing images). So... yeah, I'm not sure what to think of this.
- The screen mechanism of the Z8 might not be the best for shooting with the camera against a wall, but it is faster to manipulate when shooting vertically. So I think that argument is a bit one-sided as well.
That's not to say that the R5 isn't a great camera. But I don't think I agree with everything here.
Hey there, absolutely don't mind some comments!
- You're right about the stabilisation in the lens, although body only stabilisation I feel should have performed better in a model of this calibre, even if it didn't out perform what the R5 could do (with admittedly an optically stabilised lens). My other slight gripe would be that at a pretty similar price point to the Canon, the Nikon's 24-70mm doesn't have image stabilisation. Next time I have access to both cameras I will try them both with two comparable non-IS lenses and come back to you with my findings.
- That is a great advantage very true! I think as we use the Z8 in more circumstances (as we plan to do more with it in the future) that will prove to be something we take advantage of.
- We can only give our honest opinions, and for us it was noticeably worse. It made the shooting experience less enjoyable for me than with other models. For some I'm sure it wouldn't be a problem, and if the Z8 is the perfect camera for you, I doubt it would be enough to sway your decision. However, a viewfinder is an important part of the shooting experience for me personally, and both myself and Ian felt that it noticeably lacked, especially in comparison to the R5.
Thanks for watching, and for your honest feedback! Amy
@@mpbcom Thank you for responding. I guess I'm a bit triggered because there are still RUclipsrs who claim that Nikon is in a "scary position", even though they've been making very healthy profits for years.
With regards to whether the Z8 is the perfect camera for me, that boils down to more than the camera. Firstly I already have Nikon F-mount glass (though I'm not a "boomer" - really getting tired of people saying that) which will work very well with the FTZ adapter. For people who don't own any system yet, they should probably have a look at the offerings from both companies; they are quite different. Though there is one advantage for Nikon, in that they are more permissive for Sigma/Tamron/Viltrox etc to develop lenses for their mount. Which means there is more glass for it. And if you're willing to go adapted, the Z-mount offers the most versatility as well, with for example the Megadap ETZ21 Pro allowing you to mount E-mount glass (and there's a lot of that) with what is apparently near-native AF performance.
The viewfinder is important to me, which is actually why I think I'd like the Z8. Again, I've never come across a real-life review where the Nikon viewfinder was criticised. I appreciate that this is your honest opinion, but again, I don't know what to make of it. I think that something must be going on.
@@starbase218 bias people are just that, they highlighted the nikons small imperfections while not mentioning other systems shortcomings
@@VIDEOVISTAVIEW2020 I fully agree with the viewfinder concerns. A few settings on the Z8 need to be enabled to get the full benefit of the viewfinder. Higher FPS and the natural view, because I've used both the r5 and the z8, and not having blackout, is a huge advantage. And the brightness doesn't even compare. With the Z8, I can shoot outside on a fully sunny day, and you can keep both eyes open. Meanwhile, the R5 viewfinder is dim in comparison.
@@starbase218 Nikon are making some absolutely fantastic cameras at the moment, including the Z8. We're big fans! The systems are very important to consider when selecting a system, there are a lot of options available now, and Canon are certainly more protective when it comes to their mount.
We tried the viewfinder against other models we had in stock and adjusted all the settings, but it just didn't give us everything we wanted unfortunately. It was bright and usable, just personally didn't get us super excited to use it.
The new firmware on the Z8 has improved the AF performance and added a high res. sensor shift function.
We heard! It's always great when manufacturers keep the improvements coming. We're going to be using the Z8 again so we'll give it another go then. Thanks for watching - Amy
Z8 kills R5 (okay that’s hyperbole) for what I shoot. Need that unlimited buffer, blackout free, no lag viewfinder over sharpness. You can test the lag for both by putting a phone timer in front of each and capturing a photo of what the phone shows vs what camera shows.
Canon 24-70 also has IS. Nikon 24-70 does not.
You guys were very entertaining. Thanks for the review!
that would be a huge difference that should have been accounted for in the testing. Comparing a non-is lens to an is lens, of course the is lens is going to be better stabilized.
My iPhone 15pro has better autofocus than Nikons whole Mirrorless line up. Facts are facts Nikon sucks is far behind.
@@lewcehjitl3282 nobody takes you serious. 🧌
@@lewcehjitl3282 for what i shoot you need excellent af. That’s what I have with Nikon.
It’s top ‘gear’ of the photographic industry!
Absolutely! Thanks for watching! Amy
I would add that while yes, the R5 does have an electric shutter, the read-out is too slow for anything other than still life.
I would also add that the viewfinder settings on your z8 might not be set up correctly because the Nikon's viewfinder, despite the spec sheet, is one of the best in the market.
I'm enjoying your Channel, tho.
Please test the new 2.0 on the Z8, the 3d tracking is much improved.
R5 only takes RF Lenses that have Trombone extending zooming Slow lenses >> 100-500 F7.1 (Shame) and 200-800 and RF 70-200 >> Nikons Lenses are largely Internal Zooming plus the Z Mount advantage .. Z 70-200, Z 180-600 etc etc
Hey, we will be testing the new firmware, this video was shot a few weeks ago. The viewfinder was setup correctly and we did try out multiple settings. It was bright but unfortunately neither of us really enjoyed it. It does the job, but in our personal opinions it didn't stack up against the R5 during real-world shooting.
Really glad you're enjoying the channel and a big thank you for watching and commenting! Amy
Excellent! I'd actually love to see more of these types of videos from MPB. I think one obstacle that other reviewers face is that they only have access to so much gear - MPB doesn't have that problem 😄
You could really provide value in the camera/lens comparison space, help photographers work out what they need!
That's great to hear, we definitely do not have that problem! Let us know if you have any suggestions and we'll bare them in mind for next time! Thanks for tuning in 🙂 Amy
@@mpbcomno probs Amy, I always watch cos you make good vids 👍
Re: ideas, it's almost a case of where to begin 😄 but on a personal level, I like to shoot wildlife and Tele - I wonder whether it could be worth expanding on this video and looking into adapted DSLR Vs native mirrorless lenses? I've caught myself checking out EF teles on MPB with a view to possibly putting them on a future R6 II (which would also probably end up being bought used)
Also, perhaps very very niche, but evaluating performance of adapted EF lenses on a Panasonic G9 II, now that it has PDAF 😲
@@ericaceous1652 Thank you very much! The EF to mirrorless would be a good shout, I'll add it to the list. Personally I've done it a few times and the results are really interesting. EF onto Panasonic G9 II is one I might have to try myself just to see what it's like!
The R6 II is a great future camera for wildlife, did you have any other considerations or is that the goal? Amy
@@mpbcom Thanks for asking :)
Yes, the R6 II would be for wildlife in the main, but also as my travel/family camera. I find that I'm often shooting in poor light, be it dawn/dusk or indoors. I've tried to mitigate this on my original G9 by using very fast glass (an Oly 17 1.2 indoors, for example), but even then I struggle, seeing as I still need a decent shutter speed for moving subjects (animals, nephews etc)
Canon, and particularly the R6 II, seems to be extremely well regarded for it's AF, IQ and video features, and has a well stocked lineup of lenses, both RF and EF. Panasonic doesn't seem to have particularly compelling tele options for m43 IMO - that, coupled with the low light issue, has me scouting other systems (and combing the MPB listings 😉)
The Z8 has really upended that part of the market. It's hard to call it a "bargain" considering it's still expensive, but given its features, it's a really good buy. One of its biggest advantages over Canon is a notably better lens ecosystem, particularly for telephoto lenses. I have the Z9 myself and yeah the viewfinder is basically just fine (and at least it's fast), but then I've yet to use a mirrorless camera with a viewfinder that gets anywhere close to a 50 year old SLR viewfinder in terms of a pleasing shooting experience 😅 I haven't tried one of those Sony bodies with the 9+ million dot finders yet though, which I'd be interested in comparing.
I can confirm those 9+ million dot viewfinders are delicious! The lens ecosystem is definitely something that needs to be considered depending on what you're looking to shoot. The glass from both is stunning but it's whether what you need is available. I absolutely adore the Z9, fantastic camera, but I know what you mean about the viewfinder!
I see from your channel you do a lot of wildlife, what is your perfect pairing in terms of telephoto lens with the Z9 for you personally? Amy
@@mpbcom Recently swapped over to the new Nikon 180-600mm f/5-6.3, which was a nice upgrade over my adapted Sigma 150-600mm Sport (definitely in terms of weight). So far very pleased with it! I've played with the three big lenses (the 400 f/2.8, 600 f/4, and 800 f/6.3) and those are really, really nice; but quite hard to justify to myself in terms of price when I already get really good birds-in-flight results with the zoom. I thought the 600 f/6.3 was a bit of an odd launch - making that an f/5.6 would have been interesting 🤔 If I had to upgrade I'd be really torn between the 800 f/6.3 for extra reach and the 400 f/2.8 for extra light (which would be a huge benefit here in Wales 🙈). I can definitely see the appeal of the lighter 400 f/4.5 and 600 f/6.3 options too though.
...maybe there's too many options on the Z mount 😅
@@robert_may Haha that is a lot of choice! I think if I was based in Wales and had the megapixel advantage of a Z9 on my side I'd be looking at the 400mm 2.8. 200mm is an easy crop with 50MP but f/2.8 over f/6.3 is a BIG advantage, and not so easy to fix in post. What a setup, I'm edging towards jealousy! 😉
@@mpbcom Now I just need to find someone with a 400 f/2.8 to whom I can sell a handful of magic beans in exchange for it 😆
Oh and I just rewatched the video - one thing to note from my own testing of the IBIS in the Z9 (which I’m assuming is the same), is that it’s weirdly comparable to the Panasonic S5IIX in video. I was actually surprised by how smooth it is, as I was kinda expecting it to be a bit worse. Not that anyone can easily vlog with either the Z9 or Z8 though 🙈
Also worth noting: the Canon RF 24-70 f/2.8 has optical stabilisation and the Nikon Z 24-70 f/2.8 does not, which probably made a reasonable difference. I don’t actually think any of the Nikon standard zooms have it, which is bizarre. The only options I could find were the 24-200 and the Tamron 35-150 🤔
@@robert_may the Tamron 35-150 isn't stabilized either.
Really useful video, thank you and it was nicely shot too. Having owned both cameras I would say that I much prefer files from the Z8, the colours are very natural and pleasing.
Glad you found the video useful! The colours from the Z8 were really nice, and it the RAWs were lovely to edit too! Thanks for watching - Amy
Is the Z8 still focusing on the background, same as the Z6 does sometimes? I can see that in 6:38. I am thinking about upgrading my cameras, but also considering to sell all my nikon gear and go to other brand if they are not capable of solving that autofocus issues. Does the new firmware improve that?
Thanks for the thorough comparison. I much appreciate your ability to buck the usual assumption that a product 3 years newer is necessarily better than the older one. I appreciate your straightforward, frank comments on your shooting experience with both.
Thanks for the feedback and glad you enjoyed the video! Amy
Just for future reference it is not a flash sync port on the front of the Z8, but a 10 pin port for remotes/ gps modules etc just like on the older Pro dslr bodies.
Not a fair comparison - Nikon just released Firmware 2.0 for Z8 a couple of days ago, you should have updated FW before you posted this review.
BTW, I have both Nikon Z8 & Canon R5 & I love them both.
Yep unfair the R5 is way older wait for Mk2
So Impressed with the z8 that I traded in my other brand camera body and 2 lenes for another z8 (rated like new) from MPB. Got it in the mail and a wow perfect. So, no more trading out lens in the field. One z8 is set up for wildlife, aviation and surfing photography with the Nikkor 180-600mm and the other z8 from MPB is set up with my landscape and portrait lens the Nikkor 24-120mm f4 s lens, which BTW also came from MPB rated like new condition. Future down the road purchases from MPB will be the Nikkor z 20mm f1.8 and the Nikkor z 800mm f6.3 s wildlife lens to complete my kit.
1:22 Did you flip the images when you zoomed in? The Nikon was much more turquoise on the full image and then the Canon was on the zoom in
It's amazing what 3 years in technology can do when it comes to cameras.
I'm curious to see what the R5 mkII will bring in (supposedly) 2024.
Meanwhile I'm over the moon with my R6 which was an upgrade from a Canon 600D from 2011 😊
The difference in technology is huge, and it was really interesting to see how that related to the actual shooting experience.
The R6 is a brilliant camera (and the IBIS is absolutely fab! 😉) but can't deny I'm excited for the next iteration of the R5! Thanks for watching! Amy
It should be announced in about 4 weeks, along with the R1… hopefully.
@@stubones HOPEFULLY!! My excitement levels will be hard to contain for that launch!
@@mpbcom I heard the announcement might be made at the Photography Show next month.... I guess we'll we'll see...
Probably should’ve used the 70-200 lenses for VR/IS testing since the Canon 24-70 has image stabilization to work with IBIS whereas the Nikon 24-70 has no VR. Not quite the fair comparison.
We went with the standard comparable lenses for a day out shooting, but we're looking at shooting a non IS comparison for accuracies sake. Although I would argue even body only I would have expected the Z8 to have a slightly stronger performance, even if it came nowhere close to outperforming the R5! Also maybe I should have made the point that I think it would be nice Nikon's 24-70mm had some stabilisation for the price point it sits at. But we get your point, I'll try to find this comment again and let you know the results of the non-IS lens test on both bodies. Thanks for watching! Amy
Also I want to say this about the usefulness of the Z8's 120fps 11MP JPEG mode. The default Capture One Instagram export mode limits the horizontal resolution to 1080 pixels. Meaning that even if it's a 1:2 crop, the exported image is barely anything over 2 megapixels. The truth is that resolution-wise, even a Nikon D80 or D90 is still more than good enough for a lot of things, and that includes way more than social media (of course these cameras' sensors do have other limitations). I edit the images from my 24MP D750 on a 32" 4K monitor, and if I view them at 100%, they are way bigger than my monitor. Even a 10MP image would be larger than my monitor (4K is about 8.3MP).
If you print, the question of how much resolution is needed depends on not just how big you print, but also how far away the images will be viewed.
Still, I probably wouldn't use the 120fps mode because... well, it's just going to chew through my card space, and 20fps is probably more than fast enough for me. This just goes to show how much overkill any of these cameras is, frankly, for the vast majority of people.
This was a great comparison! I'm a canon shooter and thrilled that the R5 still holds it's weight against the latest competition. I have two R5s and just love them to pieces.
Is the Nikon Z8 firmware updated to 2.0? If not, this whole video is outdated.
Very Amateur and unbalanced Video
Nope this was shot over a month before that firmware was announced, but we'll be doing way more with the Z8 soon and we'll have an updated one for that. Thanks for watching - Amy
Both cameras are great, but let me tell you that the display on Nikon cameras are much more useful than the tilt displays
nooo
Z8 has awards on its name, what you on about!
The Z8 and R5 are both brilliant cameras that have won multiple awards. Based on the tests we performed in this video, Ian and I preferred the R5 for our style of shooting, but our videographer (who is also a photographer) was a bigger fan of the Z8. Cameras have to fit the photographer, and the Z8 is brilliant for lots of photographers out there. We'll be doing more tests with the Z8 now that the newest firmware is out. Amy
I picked the z8 over the canon is because of the glass available. As far as the EVF I just increased the brightness to Hi 2 and I can live with that. Again, NIKKOR Z glass is incredible, and primes are lighter and more affordable.
Glass is definitely the deciding factor for most people when it comes to choosing the right camera, and I'm glad you're enjoying the camera, Thanks for tuning in! Amy
Let's be real, these are both spectacular cameras that anybody should be grateful to own. If you already own glass for one or the other, it's an easy choice. It's noteworthy, bearing in mind this is an MPB video, after all, that the R5 is available used for much, much less than the Z8. In fact, there's little reason to consider a used Z8, which is barely any less than a new one. Not a small factor for most of us. In the end, if you can't produce great images or video with either of these cameras, you are the problem.
Glass is definitely the biggest deciding factor for most people, but you're totally right, they are both amazing cameras! You can certainly produce professional images and video, with both of these cameras, but currently (and for the next little while) the R5 is certainly a lot lower in price. Thanks for watching! Amy
i ordered a lend from you and i really liked it but i want a new camera now and i really need to see pictures of the sensors to see how they treated the sensor more then anyting. i have seen some cameras with really badly cleaned sensors and that can permanently affect the IQ.
Please consider adding these shots to the site.
I have R5 and Z8. I don’t understand the EVF comments. Was sometype of setting not right?
Hey there, the EVF was setup correctly, and we experimented with the options available, but it just wasn't up to par for us. Nice and bright, but just didn't hold up to the R5 in our opinion. Thanks for watching! Amy
All this really makes me very interested to what the R5 ii brings to the table. At this point canon surely have to give it a BSI stacked sensor. A crying shame my R6 ii doesn’t have the R3 sensor… I’d love to be able to use the ES for everything.
We were thinking this also, but you never know with launches like this! The R1 (if it arrives this year) will also be an interesting one in terms of which tech they decide to implement, especially as it is an Olympics year. The 1DX III certainly didn't disappoint back in 2020! Anything you'd be specifically hoping for apart from the BSI sensor of course? Thanks for watching - Amy
@@mpbcom You're welcome. Its an Olympics year so its pretty much a certainly a Canon Flagship with be released :)
I don’t think you’ll get a stacked in a R5II because of the R3 & predicted R1.
@@thomastuorto9929 If we get it in the R1 I'll be happy! Amy
@@stubones All my fingers and toes are crossed! Makes photography difficult, but for the R1 I'll make the sacrifice!
This was totally bias!!! Calling 🧢 on these two!!!!!
Quite surprised at a lot of the takes here. I owned the r5 for 2 years before switching to a z8/9 setup. The viewfinder experience with the Nikons feels far more natural to me than it did with the Canon. ESP since I can eliminate ALL data overlay for an almost dslr like experience. The image quality to my eye is also far more pleasing than the canon. My r5 gave terrible textures for landscapes, and colors/tonal quality are some of the least pleasing I’ve ever seen from Canon. My Nikons by comparison feel like the perfect blend of modern mirrorless rendering and contrasty, punchy dslr quality. I do agree it is a bit oversharpened but that’s a very simple fix.
And the lens selection makes things almost a no brainer especially considering that I currently adapt 2 Sony GM lenses with essentially native performance.
Excited for the r5 mark ii however and really hope canon restores some of their former IQ glory.
Really interested to hear your insights. As you can see from other comments, the video has been a little contentious. However, myself and Ian have no affiliation with either brand so these were just our genuine findings when testing the cameras side by side. We will definitely be getting the Z8 back again in the future for more shooting, so maybe our opinions will change! We're also very excited to see what comes from the R5 II, I hope it lives up to the legacy of the original! Thanks for watching - Amy
I wish you could keep the comparison shots up longer. It was impossible to judge. They were up and down too quickly.
Hey there, we find it best to pause on them if you want to take a bit of a closer look, but we'll definitely keep this in mind in future! Thanks for watching - Amy
Honestly I don't think that the differences between the two cameras would be enough to make the average person or professional switch brands, it then comes down to would the R5 or Z8 be enough of an upgrade from previous versions to send you to the local photographic retailer. Personally I shoot Canon and for me would the R5 be enough to make me switch from DSLR 5DmkIV or 90d, and the answer would be yes. So I would love to hear from a Nikon DSLR shooter if the Z8 would make them upgrade.
What about the different movie protocols who has the most selections. That is with the new firmware 2.0 release?
I'd say the Z8 has a much wider choice of resolutions, frame rates and codec combinations if that's what you are looking for. It supports RAW, h.264, h.265 and ProRes in two variants. Thank you for watching! - Jakub
I liked your review. Good info, pacing and humour.
Static Iso comparison are never the same as comparisons with movement in low light. The R5 destroys the X8 if sports or action low light is any concern.
Very interesting I thought the Nikon images were more contrasty and popped.
Sorry!, my Z8 is 100% preferable to my now vacant R5.
It's an Insult to compare the Puny Toaster of a Camera with camera of the Year 2023 Z8 which gets PROPER Firmware updates that have now surpassed the Z9 in certain areas >> I will recommend a Canon Printer though >> far better than any Nikon Printer
Yall are tripping, the viewfinder on the Z8 is 1000 times better, there's literally no delay
Great review.
7:50 Duck : Sound like BS! ... lol 😂
Gonna have to have words with that duck!
Which camera did you used to shoot this RUclips video
It was shot with a Sony FX3. Thank you for watching! - Jakub
Send me those cameras so I can do the real world corporate event in crappy mixed - low light with one off moments that cant be repeated. Switching from video to photo booth constantly. And then skin tone tests with flash doing some corporate headshots. When can we see these professional real world tests?
Nikon Z8 viewfinder is from heaven what are you talking about!? Do you even have Z8?
As far as i know the r5 has almost the same sensor readout as the stacked bsi z8 which is around 14-15s
Definitely not.
R5: 1/60s (17ms)
Z8: 1/270s (3.7ms)
I have both; the R5 electric shutter is only good for still life.
Two canon fanboy when doing nikon review :) totally biased outcome
I'd like to give them the benefit of the doubt. But I do get where you're coming from.
@@starbase218 I think they tried, but obviously, they didn't know how to use the Z8 to its full potential.
The viewfinder comments told me that right away.
The level of brightness you can get from the Z8 is unmatched.
Nikon fanboys are crazy they will defend Nikon hard core 😂. Sony, Canon, Panasonic. The top three best autofocus cameras atm.
Timing was a little out.
You have to learn Photographer 😂😂😂
Я ненавижу таких обзорщиков: у вас есть эти камеры в руках, а вы льете воду и говорите ни о чем. Ощущение, что это не фотографы, а клоуны . Мне жаль потраченного времени
This video was pointless. Nothing but spec reading.
Biased review