Exactly. Not enough difference between them. Honestly I was surprised how close the R5ii is, I would have thought it was a leapfrog by a bit more. It's really similar.
Yep. It is hard for me to see a pragmatic way they would really differentiate themselves. These are pretty amazing cameras! I stayed with my R5 M I as I didn’t see enough to justify the upgrade. We’ll see, but I am a happy Canon photographer. I do occasionally look at those super teles of Nikon with the built in tcs. Otherwise, very few situations the R5 can’t handle.
@@WILDALASKA I do not doubt it. It is interesting. Thanks for being the voice saying what you found, that they are so similar. Many out there try to build off the brand wars. It is appreciated.
Very nice scott, I have the Z9 and R5II and love them both. You are spot on with your findings between both cameras but if the Nikon had RAW pre capture I would probably prefer it more than the Canon.
Brilliant video, exactly what ive been looking for. Currently have the z8 and was thinking of swapping over for the auto focus and pre capture. But think ill wait and hope nikon add raw pre capture in a future update.
Yeah lenses is really going to be the deciding factor here. Precapture on the Canon is great but bodies come and go and I would be shocked if the next Nikon high end bodies don't have it as well (in raw). For me personally the Nikon telephoto lens lineup is currently hard to beat.
A very fair and seemingly unbiased review from someone actually using their equipment. As a Nikon user, i'll never knock on Canon. It's funny you mention you prefer Nikon colors but typically I do prefer the color rendition and sometimes "smooth" look on Canons specifically for portrait photography. I suspect it's because of the AA filter on Canon cameras. What's interesting is that one duck photo both taken with the same exact same settings for both cameras. In that instance, I too, prefer the Nikon. A bummer that Nikon hasn't released a raw precapture through a firmware update but i'm still happy to know that Nikon's AF is keeping up with the competition. Thank you for sharing and really nice photos!
Great video comparing these two incredible cameras Scott. I owned the Z8, R5, R5 Mii, and once again the Z8 in that order. I went back to the Z8 for the lenses as the F mount PF's are super affordable now, but both cameras are really amazing tools.
Oh, I'm coming to Z8 back too, at least I hope to do it on Christmas. Didn't try canon, but lumix and fuji (both x and gfx), but lenses of Nikon, I just can't go away from it.
Thanks for video, I think both are great cameras, and for choosing one of them - first better to decide which lenses you like. Lens line for wildlife of Canon and Nikon vary different. Nikon has middle range price prime lenses and exotics with TC.
Hey mate, great video. Your cool feature on the R5 Mk2 at the end of the video is most likely coming to the z9/z8 as well. Recent event on Asia where a Z9 with firmware 5.01 was spotted and one of the things people could see on the back screen was that it was showcasing the focal lenght on screen. So seems like it is just a matter of time :)
Thanks for the review Scott. Timely for me since I am considering these two cameras. I am a lazy photographer when it comes to post. I therefore just shoot jpegs. I currently have an R7 with the 100-400 L 2 and enjoy it. Leaning towards the z8 and the 160-600. Thanks again!
What about the Sony A7rv vs the Nikon z8, I usually shoot photos but I want to take videos also so for picture details I think the a7rv wins but for video the z8 wins so what's your opinion? What best camera to choose? I want a1 but the budget is lower than this
Z8 all day long on almost every part. Only thing the Sony will have is dynamic range, but get your exposure right and it doesn't matter. Z8 is also superior in video. I have a review on the A7RV on the channel, go watch it. Its a very bad wildlife camera
Thanks Scott, interesting video. I used your set up for my R5 II and it’s been working great. One question, who makes the lens cover on your 200-800mm?
I don't have any issues with AF on birds with the Z8, everything else it could be better for sure. Menus are system and brand comfort really. Nikon folks don't get lost usually. Thanks for sharing and watching
EXCELLENT video. Extremely helpful, clear and concise. Love to see a comparison like this on the Sony a9iii vs Canon R5ii. I was wondering if you tried the Canon's buffer in Craw? Thanks for the great video.
Great review. Couple of questions. Why not PFCU lenses for you vs ? Lens? EVF live exposure view? Is one more accurate than the other, plus EVF adjustment & how it effects the accuracy or you using a histogram in the EVF? Thank you for any replies.
@@WILDALASKA should say PF lenses. Where the PFCU came from, I have no idea. Surely wasn’t what was typed. Why are PF lenses not your lens choice? Wondering about the live exposure view in the EVF. Does adjusting the EVF change the accuracy of the live exposure view? But wondering if the one is more accurate? I still shoot a DSLR and understand the photo exposure is seen live while your taking the photo.
Thanks for this video!!! I have an R7 and had the opportunity to compare to a Z9 while shooting flying puffins with fish/shrimp in their beaks (same magnification). Looking through the R7 EVF, I could not tell even if there was food in the beaks, and certainly could not determine if they were shrimp or fish. The view was much clearer with the Z9--much more life-like. I believe you have used R7 as well as R5m2 and Z8/9. Could you comment on whether the EVF of the R5 MkII has the same feeling of lifelike-ness (ratah than the pixelated quality of the R7)? I have read that the difference is not only dots, but also some intangible quality allowing this better view. (PS--hope you're continuing to heal--take care of yourself!!).
On the R7 crack the brightness up. But the Z9 and R5MKII have incredible EVF. Very detailed. ON the z9 push the brightness yo by +2 and its even better.
Hello, I really like watching your videos. How many cameras do you carry with you when you watch birds and animals? Do you still use R7 or have you switched to new models?
Thanks for the great comparison video! Few people are able to really compare the image quality. That Fringer adapter is fantastic for these kind of tests... Cheers!
I don't shoot either system but I always enjoy your reviews and camera comparisons. Just curious, have you ever tested any of the Fuji cropped sensor cameras?
I would have liked to heard more about the AF. In my experience, the Z8 struggles for BIF against busy backgrounds and for eagles/osprey striking the water. The old R5 performed better. Are you really saying the AF hit rate is similar? Maybe for close perched birds…
@@WILDALASKA I find that interesting and would like to hear more about your experiences with Osprey/Eagles. Last time I was in FL with FW 2.1, The AF lost capture with every strike. It would follow the bird close to the water, lose focus before the strike and for several frames, and then reacquire about a dozen frames later. My old R5 never did this (thought the R7 would).
@@adamrubinstein1479 The most likely reason for that is settings tweaking. One thing that Sony and Canon have nikon AF beaten is how their AF systems just seem like auto systems. They do a great job tracking and thats it. Nikon is able to do this as well but Nikon takes the "pro" approach quite seriously and so you end up with a bunch of settings that you are able to tweak. After I did these tweaks and experimented a bit I never had the issue you described again. Play with the Focus tracking with lock-on setting where you can change the "blocked shot AF response" and you will have better results. Depending on what file formats you are shooting, the metering mode can also impact your AF accuracy.
Very interesting video. One question--on the Nikon, how do you do one-button switching between birds and animals? I ended up creating two shooting banks, one with bird detection and one with animal detection. Once this is set up, one-button switching is easy, but the setup is extremely cumbersome. Have you found a better way?
There is a custom button called "Recall Shooting Functions & Recall Shooting Functions (Hold)". Set it up so that all the settings such as ISO, SS, AP, etc etc don't change but change the subject detection to Birds. And set it up on a button you prefer. Now by just pressing it or holding it you can switch to Birds without taking your eyes off the viewfinder. If you set it to the HOLD option, then just press once it will hold/keep the bird af on until you press it again. If you set it up without HOLD, then you have to keep the button pressed to keep it on bird af. As soon as you leave the button it will go back to the Subject Detection as you are using as default. "Hold" means the camera will hold the settings you told it to. It's not that you have to "Hold" down the button.
You can assign a bank or have it in the quick menus in the EVF and switch there. I usually don't have to do it on the fly so either method works for me.
Cant afford both systems. I sold all my Canon gear including the original R5 and went with the Z9. No regrets whatsoever. I think the lens map of Nikon going forward is far superior and that's half the equation.
Great balanced comparison, Scott. What about differences in how the cameras render green and blue backgrounds, especially in the shadows? Did you find any differences?
I will invest in one of these 2 fantastic bodies soon, since I am some invested in RF gear it is likely I go for the R5 mark ii. Upgrading from Eos R so it will be a nice upgrade, especially shooting birds which is a bit challenge using Eos R.
As a Canon shooter, I very happy Nikon is doing so much better. It seemed bad a few years ago (the mirror-less transition). Competition makes us all better off. As for colors, one can use and tweak picture profiles.
The easy solution for dual back button focus is to remap the display button if you still need to switch your display settings you can assign that to either the flash button or the bracket button on the top of the Nikon. Especially if you don't use those to for your wildlife photography. I remember my display to the bracket button It's easy to keep all of your AF modes map to the back of your camera. I have Auto area on my phone button, 3D to my display button, and my single point is on my sensor press of the joystick. This allows for comfortable selection of any AF mode you might need by your thumb
That's the fun of these cameras, you can go nuts with personal setups. But I did mention its possibly for dual back button but takes some functionality away as the buttons you would steal I use a lot in their current position. I kind of like the af on the back and the single on the front.
@@WILDALASKA my front buttons on my z9 are for toggles only. This way I don't have to play finger gymnastics. I'm also not stealing anything in the sense that no functionality is changed I still have the option to change my display just using the bracket button on the top of the camera. And sure everybody can set it the way they want but you don't have to not have what you want set up
For me, I am going back to my R3. Shooting hummingbirds here and in warm 95-105 degree weather, the R5 MK II either gets to hot almost to hold in stills, or overheats for video - and I dont have the grip. The other is the buffer is KILLING me. I hate it. As a former life long Nikon shooter before the R5 came out, I like the Nikon lenses but prefer the performance even on the lower end camera of the Canon. Would take the R8 over a Z8 or 9 all day long. The buffer for me is huge - I dont use it much, but when I want it.... frustrating. And, of course the heat. Going back to the smaller sensor of the R3 - what I gain far outweighs what I lose!
Funny, as I was reading this comment, I thought to myself "That's what Jonny Pink said over on his RUclips channel." Then I saw who wrote the comment 😀😀. I really like the RAW pre-capture of the R5MII as well as the ability to fire the flash on EACH STEP while using the camera's macro Focus Bracketing capability. I use the EF500mmII and the RF100mm.
It’s bizarre that Nikon hasn’t made precapture in RAW via a firmware update. I can’t imagine with basically an infinite buffer and blackout shooting at 20 fps why this would be a hardware limitation, but who knows.
Im hoping they’re just releasing the updates strategically for sales numbers while at the same time monitoring what other companies are releasing with their features. Right now the Z8 can be found anywhere from $500-$800 less than the R5ii. Nikon seems to be running sales frequently. I'm assuming with the cheaper pricing, they're still making good enough sales numbers and are holding off on the more "crucial" firmware updates once they see their sales numbers dipping?
it is not a hardware limitation. That is the weird part about all this. Looking at the buffer, readout speed and bus pipeline capacity, both the Z8 and z9 should have no hardware limitation to write full sized RAWs on precapture. As for what reason Nikon did not include it, guess we'll never know
This is such a very helpful and useful comparison. To be certain, each of the major companies will leapfrog each other as they release new technologies. The important thing is how well those technologies enhance our abilities as wildlife and nature photographers to creatively capture the world around us. It is clear that there are strengths and weaknesses in each platform, but the deliverables, the images created are so similar. It will be interesting to see what capabilities are added to both platforms through future firmware updates, and the new technologies that will be unveiled in the second generation Z8 and Z9.
Ah, thanks for this one, bud. I’ve been searching YT ever since the R5ii was released for someone to do this comparison for wildlife. I haven’t even watched it yet- I’ve got a visitor 😁 EDIT: Now I’ve watched it and it was everything I hoped. Thanks again
Another excellent commentary on these wonderful devices. Just a small correction regarding Z8 video; assuming it is the same as the Z9 it shoots 12 bit 8.3k/60 raw internal but it does not shoot 10 bit 8k/60 (I wish it did as I feel that is the sweet spot for 8k!). It also shoots uncropped 4k/120 as well as cropped.
I use LR classic and haven't really noticed any changes (major ones) personally. Still running same workflow. I may make a small video on my current workflow.
Awesome video! There is just one thing ( 27:24 ). You said the 8.3K60p N-RAW would only be 10-Bit which is NOT true as far as I know. The Z8 and the R5 Mark II should both be able to shoot 12-Bit RAW video (8K60p) if I’m not mistaken. Maybe you can clear up this confusion. I really appreciated this incredibly detailed comparison. I’m switching from APS-C to full frame and these are my two top contenders. Looks like I’ll be getting a Z8 if the upcoming Sony a1 II doesn’t leapfrog the Z8. I‘m disappointed that Canon still limits 8K oversampled 4K to 30fps whereas Nikon offers 4K60p downsampled from 8.3K!
@@WILDALASKAthanks for the quick response! I only just stumbled across your channel and it’s admittedly one of my best RUclips discoveries of 2024. Very high quality videos and I like the way you present everything in such a straight forward and detailed manner. I also appreciate the comparison pictures because picture quality is sometimes very subjective. I enjoyed every video I’ve seen so far. Keep it up :) greetings from Germany 🇩🇪🇺🇸
z8 has 3.5 ms readout not 4ms and its half of R5 readout and its a big difference,,,also canon has mentioned that it has Colour Sampling (Internal Recording) 8K/ 4K/ 2K/ Full HD - YCbCr4:2:0 or YCbCr4:2:2 8-bit or 10bit not 12 bit, Nikon as 12 bit n raw internal
Z8 and Z9 from everywhere tested keeps coming up @ 4ms. R5 MKII 6.6 and r5 15.5. www.canonrumors.com/forum/threads/canon-eos-r8s-tested-imaging-sensor-readout-speed-is-14-5ms-rolling-shutter.42283/
Nice comparison. As you discuss "pre capture" I have to point to the concept of bandwidth (how much data can be shifted or processed per time). Looking at the Z 8/9 ~unlimited potential for 20 FPS raw shots, the bandwidth associated with that, down to the I/O controller that feeds the memory card, there is incredible bandwidth in there. But that's only a fraction of what's going on in these cameras. The eVF running at 120 FPS means that your camera took 144,000 photos when you shot the Milky Way at night in a 20 minute exposure. My GUESS about the Z 8/9 is that the JPEG you get from pre-capture is the data-compressed frames that got sent to the eVF. It gets siphoned off somewhere in that I/O channel, I think. The question is if in this "architecture" [1] it were possible to do this differently. It may require downright adaptation of the firmware's kernel to get that done. A lot in there is "real time programming" and that's less flexible than your average program. Here, and in the original theory, "real time" means that pieces of code must precisely run in predefined amounts of time. When the job's partially done, it must finish, no matter what. Your desktop PC will drop frames if it cannot do the graphics fast enough. Being able to go on and on with 20FPS for a very ling time - wow. The question then is how ling the R5 can sustain 30FPS. If it almost shuts down after a few seconds at 20 FPS then at 30 FPS it will stop even sooner. A Microsoft kernel (the core "machine" in an operating system) programmer once said that in attempts to get to a stable version of Windows [2] they collected code from around their world and the worst code came from Japan. Different cultures phrase their sentences differently in natural language and people think in a different ways. What the guy from aMeSs meant, was that the code was not very readable to him, I guess. Anyhow, there's a lot going on in these cameras in terms of multitasking and both parallelism and concurrency (two different things). For Nikon, one thing is clear, by now. If they can - because a camera supports it - and need to adapt firmware from a competitive perspective rather than release a new camera that is already in R&D for a few years, then they will do the firmware rather than the new camera release. [1] in IT, architecture is about the - hopefully premeditated - decisions about what to do where, why, how. This is where "re-use" of already existing patterns comes in the picture. This then is followed by realisation, hopefully with a (technical) design step between architecture and coding to prevent JFDI. [2] Leading up to XP and 64 bits.
Ok someone needs to regulate your sugar intake! 😂 Just kidding. Canon and Nikon have always handled that buffer differently. One unloading as the shots are going and other batch offloading.
I suspect the R5 II's flight darker image compared to the Z8/9 may involve the lens. Lenses have "T" values related to how much light they allow, which is very important to cinematography. Cine lenses have T stops as well as F stops. The only way to test for sure would be to use the same lens on both cameras, which is obviously very difficult. Overall I like your very thorough review of both cameras. Thanks for spending your money on multiple systems so the rest of us can settle on one. 😉👍🏿
The Z9 also has dual CF slots. The Z8 does not. I went from Nikon D200 to D800 to D500 to Z6iii. For all of them, I had to buy a grip as the camera was too small for my hand. Some slang term called "pinky slip" or something.
I've read that the canon can also do pre-recording for 3 or 5 seconds? Does that apply in the 8k 60p mode? And it seems the 8k 60p on the canon is half the file size of the nikon (about 1tb an hour vs 2tb comparing the r5 ii manual to petapixels review of the z8). So I can pre-record waiting for a hawk to fly off or something and not waste a lot of space on the expensive cf cards lol
imagequality comprehension test with adobe a bit weird. The Nikon files and I also suspect the Canon colors are so much better in C1. Especially with more saturated, special colors are really awful in adobe. I don't photograph nature, but people and I also use Photoshop and have several licenses for LR .... Bbut it is like having a 10years newer camera when opening raws, seeing skin tones and having a bit more special fabrics ... which might be a bit more like feathers ... I know most people are only used to cotton and cheap plastic fabrics, but it can become really demanding with this and then ACR/Lightroom is a total nightmare.
LR is bad with camera and lens profiles anymore, it's why we use DXO pureraw to get the same camera profiles we are seeing in the canon and Nikon software. Then once importing into LR we are back to good. Wildlife folks are pretty demanding in detail also, just different areas from landscape or portraiture.
@@WILDALASKA means you are doing the whole raw-bitmap file conversion in pure raw? c1 has a lot of tools which more or less a must have since forever and funny as it is, none of the youtube reviewers ever touched or mentioned them. especially the color tools for skin tones are a life saver. Also the co-op tools. As a commercial shooter we are often working in teams, the photographers gives files away to a retoucher and then there is a layouter etc ... all this is a total pain or impossible with lightroom ... Also the concept of sessions and catalogs ... If you are shooting professional catalogs are impossible to use ...
You are not comparing the colors of each camera you are comparing how Lightroom interpreted them. In order to compare the colors you need to use each camera’s native software. My R5 colors are different when using Lightroom to convert than they are when using DPP Adobe gets it close but it’s not perfect
Yes I compared them in their native software and it's also why I use dxo pure raw to match that color before importing into Lightroom. And yes you are correct, if you run them straight into Lightroom, it gets 'fun'
"My R5 colors are different when using Lightroom to convert than they are when using DPP Adobe gets it close but it’s not perfect" Yes and they will never be. Same with Nikon...
@@WILDALASKA no problems at all (at least with the latest LRC). The difference between colors from DxO and LR is minimal and in both cases very close to DPP. I would say that the colors from LR are even more accurate than from DxO, even when the dcp profile from LR is used! It can be clearly seen in how DxO renders neutral tones - there is always a hint of a different color - at least in in case of the old DSLRs. Well, what garbage DxO can produce in the case of skin tones, when you need to pull shadows in a poorly lit scene, or what problems it has with a scene with a high dynamic range, I'd rather keep quiet about that 😂
Hi Scott, another great video pointing out the differences between these 2 cameras, after watching thousands of videos over the years it’s quite apparent that manufacturers don’t seem to take that much notice of what customers require because as yet I’ve not seen a video of the perfect camera regardless of whether it’s Canon, Nikon, Sony whatever? also the opinion on colour differences or other picture qualities in camera aren’t that important as such as approximately 65% of the worlds population wear glasses or contact lenses and almost every photographer on the planet edits every photo they take? I personally feel that there’s way too much expectations now on equipment, I’m now using an r7 with 100-500 lens and after 2 firmware updates it’s working better than ever! our eyesight can only take in so much so 100 megapixels isn’t any good unless you have perfect sight? Cheers Terry
Unfortunately the grip for the Z8 is a monster and makes it larger and heavier than the superior Z9. Also the grip replaces the in camera battery instead of adding to the existing battery so even the D850 has a better grip. The Z8 grip is a poor design like the old days of the D200. The Z9 is smaller, lighter, and more comfortable to use when the Z8 is equally gripped. If you will be using the grip on the Z8, get instead the superior, smaller and lighter Z9. The all day battery life and the GPS alone make it worthwhile. And you don’t need to spend money on a grip, GPS device, and extra batteries, so factor that into your cost comparison. You will be paying for a heavier, larger camera that lacks all the benefits of the Z9. The Z8 is a great backup for the Z9 or even instead of the Z9, until you add the grip … At that point you might as well just get the Z9 and enjoy all the advantages it offers in a smaller, lighter package. If you intend on buying a Z8 to be used with the grip, I would suggest you make sure you hold one in your hands with the grip on and compare it to the Z9. Factor in the advantages the Z9 has over the Z8 … Battery life, GPS, top command dial, programmable buttons, 2 high speed cards, no overheating, locking battery cover, etc. Both are great cameras, just know what you are getting into with that monster grip… whichever camera you have - remember to get out and shoot! The best camera at any time is the one you have with you…
I have used Nikon as well as Canon. I stayed with Canon because of its almost perfect AF, which I think is better than Nikon's. It may be that the Om-1 MK II also has a very good AF, I hear a lot of good criticism about that. The color of Nikon / Canon or OM-System is a personal preference and taste.
18:23 shows one of the weaknesses of the Z8 pretty well, even if the box is on the eye, sometimes it still seems to grab the beak, wing or whatever else is close to the eye. I'm kind of surprised you didn't touch on that, as I encounter this pretty often with my Z8, and while I'm overall very happy with it, this is pretty frustrating sometimes.
I agree. And the beak has an eye on it essentially but I find canon finds the eye better when I shot the R5 and R7. But, the Z8 is not a “weakness” it’s great all around. Just not quite as good. Z8 shoots backlight way better though.
My takeaway...if you are already invested in a brand, there is no reason to switch. Rather, get out there and use your camera!
Exactly. Not enough difference between them. Honestly I was surprised how close the R5ii is, I would have thought it was a leapfrog by a bit more. It's really similar.
Yep. It is hard for me to see a pragmatic way they would really differentiate themselves. These are pretty amazing cameras! I stayed with my R5 M I as I didn’t see enough to justify the upgrade. We’ll see, but I am a happy Canon photographer. I do occasionally look at those super teles of Nikon with the built in tcs. Otherwise, very few situations the R5 can’t handle.
Lens system over body first. But I had a LOT of requests for the comparison.
@@WILDALASKA I do not doubt it. It is interesting. Thanks for being the voice saying what you found, that they are so similar. Many out there try to build off the brand wars. It is appreciated.
@@iscoguy paying another 2+ k for that tele!
I was canon. Not any more went to the D850 for about 6 year's and just today picked up a Z8. 😊 happy photographer here
Thanks for sharing
Congrats!!👍🏼
Very nice scott, I have the Z9 and R5II and love them both. You are spot on with your findings between both cameras but if the Nikon had RAW pre capture I would probably prefer it more than the Canon.
It's a bane Nikon did not add the precaptur in raw in their 4500€ camera :(
Same here
Very happy with my Z8 and 800mm PF.
👍
Ben, How is the live exposure view in the viewfinder? Accurate? Thanks for any replies.
Brilliant video, exactly what ive been looking for. Currently have the z8 and was thinking of swapping over for the auto focus and pre capture. But think ill wait and hope nikon add raw pre capture in a future update.
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Yeah lenses is really going to be the deciding factor here. Precapture on the Canon is great but bodies come and go and I would be shocked if the next Nikon high end bodies don't have it as well (in raw).
For me personally the Nikon telephoto lens lineup is currently hard to beat.
Agree and it was my main point in the conclusion. 😁
Really great comparison, ive never seen anyone compare the color rendition side to side like that. Thanks!
Glad you liked it!
A very fair and seemingly unbiased review from someone actually using their equipment. As a Nikon user, i'll never knock on Canon. It's funny you mention you prefer Nikon colors but typically I do prefer the color rendition and sometimes "smooth" look on Canons specifically for portrait photography. I suspect it's because of the AA filter on Canon cameras. What's interesting is that one duck photo both taken with the same exact same settings for both cameras. In that instance, I too, prefer the Nikon.
A bummer that Nikon hasn't released a raw precapture through a firmware update but i'm still happy to know that Nikon's AF is keeping up with the competition. Thank you for sharing and really nice photos!
Ya they just leapfrog each other always. A1 mkii will come out with something cool, then Nikon will, then back to canon , etc.
Great video comparing these two incredible cameras Scott. I owned the Z8, R5, R5 Mii, and once again the Z8 in that order. I went back to the Z8 for the lenses as the F mount PF's are super affordable now, but both cameras are really amazing tools.
Yes seeing 500 PF lenses for $1500-1700 USD is crazy.
Oh, I'm coming to Z8 back too, at least I hope to do it on Christmas. Didn't try canon, but lumix and fuji (both x and gfx), but lenses of Nikon, I just can't go away from it.
Hello Scott, Thank you for this great comparison!
Glad you liked it!
Thanks for video, I think both are great cameras, and for choosing one of them - first better to decide which lenses you like. Lens line for wildlife of Canon and Nikon vary different. Nikon has middle range price prime lenses and exotics with TC.
Yup. I covered that in the conclusion. Invest in lenses first body second
Hey mate, great video. Your cool feature on the R5 Mk2 at the end of the video is most likely coming to the z9/z8 as well. Recent event on Asia where a Z9 with firmware 5.01 was spotted and one of the things people could see on the back screen was that it was showcasing the focal lenght on screen. So seems like it is just a matter of time :)
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Thanks for the review Scott. Timely for me since I am considering these two cameras. I am a lazy photographer when it comes to post. I therefore just shoot jpegs. I currently have an R7 with the 100-400 L 2 and enjoy it. Leaning towards the z8 and the 160-600. Thanks again!
Thanks for watching
What about the Sony A7rv vs the Nikon z8, I usually shoot photos but I want to take videos also so for picture details I think the a7rv wins but for video the z8 wins so what's your opinion? What best camera to choose? I want a1 but the budget is lower than this
This for wildlife 👆
Z8 all day long on almost every part. Only thing the Sony will have is dynamic range, but get your exposure right and it doesn't matter. Z8 is also superior in video.
I have a review on the A7RV on the channel, go watch it. Its a very bad wildlife camera
Thanks Scott, interesting video. I used your set up for my R5 II and it’s been working great. One question, who makes the lens cover on your 200-800mm?
NEOPRENE COVER amzn.to/4h4bgY6 LENSCOAT FOR 200-800
I tried the R5II and the AI was very helpful and the fast focus was strong.
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A very balanced view. You deserve more subscribers.
I appreciate that!
Thanks for this well balanced shootout Scott !!
Thanks for watching!
The Z8 is good but could be better on the AF. Menu is confusing, on purpose? Nikon color skin tone is so damn accurate and nice
I don't have any issues with AF on birds with the Z8, everything else it could be better for sure. Menus are system and brand comfort really. Nikon folks don't get lost usually.
Thanks for sharing and watching
EXCELLENT video. Extremely helpful, clear and concise. Love to see a comparison like this on the Sony a9iii vs Canon R5ii. I was wondering if you tried the Canon's buffer in Craw? Thanks for the great video.
yes. watch the r5 mkii review as I cover it there.
You mentioned dxo rating for Canon R5 mark 2 is available and out do you have a link? At 23 minute time stamp
www.dxo.com/dxo-pureraw/
Great review. Couple of questions. Why not PFCU lenses for you vs ? Lens? EVF live exposure view? Is one more accurate than the other, plus EVF adjustment & how it effects the accuracy or you using a histogram in the EVF? Thank you for any replies.
Id love to answer, but I don't know what the questions you are asking are. Sorry
@@WILDALASKA should say PF lenses. Where the PFCU came from, I have no idea. Surely wasn’t what was typed. Why are PF lenses not your lens choice? Wondering about the live exposure view in the EVF. Does adjusting the EVF change the accuracy of the live exposure view? But wondering if the one is more accurate? I still shoot a DSLR and understand the photo exposure is seen live while your taking the photo.
Thanks for this video!!! I have an R7 and had the opportunity to compare to a Z9 while shooting flying puffins with fish/shrimp in their beaks (same magnification). Looking through the R7 EVF, I could not tell even if there was food in the beaks, and certainly could not determine if they were shrimp or fish. The view was much clearer with the Z9--much more life-like. I believe you have used R7 as well as R5m2 and Z8/9. Could you comment on whether the EVF of the R5 MkII has the same feeling of lifelike-ness (ratah than the pixelated quality of the R7)? I have read that the difference is not only dots, but also some intangible quality allowing this better view. (PS--hope you're continuing to heal--take care of yourself!!).
On the R7 crack the brightness up. But the Z9 and R5MKII have incredible EVF. Very detailed. ON the z9 push the brightness yo by +2 and its even better.
Hello, I really like watching your videos. How many cameras do you carry with you when you watch birds and animals? Do you still use R7 or have you switched to new models?
I usually have 2 cameras out with me, just in case issues arrive. Which camera I'm using depends on the shooting needs really.
Thanks for the great comparison video!
Few people are able to really compare the image quality. That Fringer adapter is fantastic for these kind of tests... Cheers!
Thanks for watching!
I don't shoot either system but I always enjoy your reviews and camera comparisons. Just curious, have you ever tested any of the Fuji cropped sensor cameras?
Haven't tested Fuji. Probably sticking with reviews of Canon , Nikon, and Sony for now.
I would have liked to heard more about the AF. In my experience, the Z8 struggles for BIF against busy backgrounds and for eagles/osprey striking the water. The old R5 performed better. Are you really saying the AF hit rate is similar? Maybe for close perched birds…
After 2.0 there's not an issue with BIF against busy backgrounds. No more than the R5 mKII.
@@WILDALASKA I find that interesting and would like to hear more about your experiences with Osprey/Eagles. Last time I was in FL with FW 2.1, The AF lost capture with every strike. It would follow the bird close to the water, lose focus before the strike and for several frames, and then reacquire about a dozen frames later. My old R5 never did this (thought the R7 would).
@@adamrubinstein1479 The most likely reason for that is settings tweaking. One thing that Sony and Canon have nikon AF beaten is how their AF systems just seem like auto systems. They do a great job tracking and thats it. Nikon is able to do this as well but Nikon takes the "pro" approach quite seriously and so you end up with a bunch of settings that you are able to tweak. After I did these tweaks and experimented a bit I never had the issue you described again. Play with the Focus tracking with lock-on setting where you can change the "blocked shot AF response" and you will have better results. Depending on what file formats you are shooting, the metering mode can also impact your AF accuracy.
Very nice comparison!!.
Thanks!
Very interesting video. One question--on the Nikon, how do you do one-button switching between birds and animals? I ended up creating two shooting banks, one with bird detection and one with animal detection. Once this is set up, one-button switching is easy, but the setup is extremely cumbersome. Have you found a better way?
There is a custom button called "Recall Shooting Functions & Recall Shooting Functions (Hold)".
Set it up so that all the settings such as ISO, SS, AP, etc etc don't change but change the subject detection to Birds. And set it up on a button you prefer. Now by just pressing it or holding it you can switch to Birds without taking your eyes off the viewfinder.
If you set it to the HOLD option, then just press once it will hold/keep the bird af on until you press it again.
If you set it up without HOLD, then you have to keep the button pressed to keep it on bird af. As soon as you leave the button it will go back to the Subject Detection as you are using as default.
"Hold" means the camera will hold the settings you told it to. It's not that you have to "Hold" down the button.
You can assign a bank or have it in the quick menus in the EVF and switch there. I usually don't have to do it on the fly so either method works for me.
Cant afford both systems. I sold all my Canon gear including the original R5 and went with the Z9. No regrets whatsoever. I think the lens map of Nikon going forward is far superior and that's half the equation.
Can't go wring either way, but the Nikon Lenses are on point right now.
Great balanced comparison, Scott. What about differences in how the cameras render green and blue backgrounds, especially in the shadows? Did you find any differences?
Fairly even across the cameras
I will invest in one of these 2 fantastic bodies soon, since I am some invested in RF gear it is likely I go for the R5 mark ii. Upgrading from Eos R so it will be a nice upgrade, especially shooting birds which is a bit challenge using Eos R.
That a very big upgrade also. Both cameras are awesome. But remember invest where your glass is.
As a Canon shooter, I very happy Nikon is doing so much better. It seemed bad a few years ago (the mirror-less transition). Competition makes us all better off. As for colors, one can use and tweak picture profiles.
The first canon mirrorless for wildlife was pretty dismal also. R and RP.
The easy solution for dual back button focus is to remap the display button if you still need to switch your display settings you can assign that to either the flash button or the bracket button on the top of the Nikon. Especially if you don't use those to for your wildlife photography. I remember my display to the bracket button
It's easy to keep all of your AF modes map to the back of your camera. I have Auto area on my phone button, 3D to my display button, and my single point is on my sensor press of the joystick. This allows for comfortable selection of any AF mode you might need by your thumb
That's the fun of these cameras, you can go nuts with personal setups. But I did mention its possibly for dual back button but takes some functionality away as the buttons you would steal I use a lot in their current position. I kind of like the af on the back and the single on the front.
@@WILDALASKA my front buttons on my z9 are for toggles only. This way I don't have to play finger gymnastics. I'm also not stealing anything in the sense that no functionality is changed I still have the option to change my display just using the bracket button on the top of the camera. And sure everybody can set it the way they want but you don't have to not have what you want set up
Fantastic comparison! Regarding autofocus for non-bird animals, did you happen to test how either body does with insects and other arthropods?
Don't really have any this time of year in Alaska 😁
great vid, thanks!
Glad you liked it.
For me, I am going back to my R3. Shooting hummingbirds here and in warm 95-105 degree weather, the R5 MK II either gets to hot almost to hold in stills, or overheats for video - and I dont have the grip. The other is the buffer is KILLING me. I hate it. As a former life long Nikon shooter before the R5 came out, I like the Nikon lenses but prefer the performance even on the lower end camera of the Canon. Would take the R8 over a Z8 or 9 all day long. The buffer for me is huge - I dont use it much, but when I want it.... frustrating. And, of course the heat. Going back to the smaller sensor of the R3 - what I gain far outweighs what I lose!
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Funny, as I was reading this comment, I thought to myself "That's what Jonny Pink said over on his RUclips channel." Then I saw who wrote the comment 😀😀. I really like the RAW pre-capture of the R5MII as well as the ability to fire the flash on EACH STEP while using the camera's macro Focus Bracketing capability. I use the EF500mmII and the RF100mm.
@@Weldon2004 I LOVE it!!! 🤗💖
Thank you for this informative and interesting comparison. The personal preference is the main factor for choosing on this great cameras.
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Wild Alaska video sequence of events - hit like, press play!
Thanks 🐻
It’s bizarre that Nikon hasn’t made precapture in RAW via a firmware update. I can’t imagine with basically an infinite buffer and blackout shooting at 20 fps why this would be a hardware limitation, but who knows.
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Im hoping they’re just releasing the updates strategically for sales numbers while at the same time monitoring what other companies are releasing with their features. Right now the Z8 can be found anywhere from $500-$800 less than the R5ii. Nikon seems to be running sales frequently. I'm assuming with the cheaper pricing, they're still making good enough sales numbers and are holding off on the more "crucial" firmware updates once they see their sales numbers dipping?
it is not a hardware limitation. That is the weird part about all this. Looking at the buffer, readout speed and bus pipeline capacity, both the Z8 and z9 should have no hardware limitation to write full sized RAWs on precapture. As for what reason Nikon did not include it, guess we'll never know
This is such a very helpful and useful comparison. To be certain, each of the major companies will leapfrog each other as they release new technologies. The important thing is how well those technologies enhance our abilities as wildlife and nature photographers to creatively capture the world around us. It is clear that there are strengths and weaknesses in each platform, but the deliverables, the images created are so similar. It will be interesting to see what capabilities are added to both platforms through future firmware updates, and the new technologies that will be unveiled in the second generation Z8 and Z9.
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Ah, thanks for this one, bud. I’ve been searching YT ever since the R5ii was released for someone to do this comparison for wildlife. I haven’t even watched it yet- I’ve got a visitor 😁 EDIT: Now I’ve watched it and it was everything I hoped. Thanks again
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My raw z8 precapture technique is to use the endless buffer haha ;)
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A very good and fair review.
Thanks
Another excellent commentary on these wonderful devices. Just a small correction regarding Z8 video; assuming it is the same as the Z9 it shoots 12 bit 8.3k/60 raw internal but it does not shoot 10 bit 8k/60 (I wish it did as I feel that is the sweet spot for 8k!). It also shoots uncropped 4k/120 as well as cropped.
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How does the new lightroom and photoshop change your workflow?
I use LR classic and haven't really noticed any changes (major ones) personally. Still running same workflow. I may make a small video on my current workflow.
Awesome video! There is just one thing ( 27:24 ). You said the 8.3K60p N-RAW would only be 10-Bit which is NOT true as far as I know.
The Z8 and the R5 Mark II should both be able to shoot 12-Bit RAW video (8K60p) if I’m not mistaken. Maybe you can clear up this confusion.
I really appreciated this incredibly detailed comparison. I’m switching from APS-C to full frame and these are my two top contenders. Looks like I’ll be getting a Z8 if the upcoming Sony a1 II doesn’t leapfrog the Z8. I‘m disappointed that Canon still limits 8K oversampled 4K to 30fps whereas Nikon offers 4K60p downsampled from 8.3K!
Its 12bit
@@WILDALASKAthanks for the quick response! I only just stumbled across your channel and it’s admittedly one of my best RUclips discoveries of 2024. Very high quality videos and I like the way you present everything in such a straight forward and detailed manner. I also appreciate the comparison pictures because picture quality is sometimes very subjective. I enjoyed every video I’ve seen so far. Keep it up :) greetings from Germany 🇩🇪🇺🇸
@@jonasgillmann glad you enjoyed it.
I got 1700+ shots on 1 battery from my Z8 at my last air show. No slouch.
ok
z8 has 3.5 ms readout not 4ms and its half of R5 readout and its a big difference,,,also canon has mentioned that it has Colour Sampling (Internal Recording)
8K/ 4K/ 2K/ Full HD - YCbCr4:2:0 or YCbCr4:2:2 8-bit or 10bit not 12 bit, Nikon as 12 bit n raw internal
Z8 and Z9 from everywhere tested keeps coming up @ 4ms. R5 MKII 6.6 and r5 15.5.
www.canonrumors.com/forum/threads/canon-eos-r8s-tested-imaging-sensor-readout-speed-is-14-5ms-rolling-shutter.42283/
Did resolve the card door opening problem on the z8?
I still pop it open from time to time. The thumb grip lip piece gets caught at times and pops it open.
no, unfortunately
Nice comparison. As you discuss "pre capture" I have to point to the concept of bandwidth (how much data can be shifted or processed per time). Looking at the Z 8/9 ~unlimited potential for 20 FPS raw shots, the bandwidth associated with that, down to the I/O controller that feeds the memory card, there is incredible bandwidth in there.
But that's only a fraction of what's going on in these cameras. The eVF running at 120 FPS means that your camera took 144,000 photos when you shot the Milky Way at night in a 20 minute exposure. My GUESS about the Z 8/9 is that the JPEG you get from pre-capture is the data-compressed frames that got sent to the eVF. It gets siphoned off somewhere in that I/O channel, I think.
The question is if in this "architecture" [1] it were possible to do this differently.
It may require downright adaptation of the firmware's kernel to get that done.
A lot in there is "real time programming" and that's less flexible than your average program. Here, and in the original theory, "real time" means that pieces of code must precisely run in predefined amounts of time. When the job's partially done, it must finish, no matter what.
Your desktop PC will drop frames if it cannot do the graphics fast enough.
Being able to go on and on with 20FPS for a very ling time - wow. The question then is how ling the R5 can sustain 30FPS. If it almost shuts down after a few seconds at 20 FPS then at 30 FPS it will stop even sooner.
A Microsoft kernel (the core "machine" in an operating system) programmer once said that in attempts to get to a stable version of Windows [2] they collected code from around their world and the worst code came from Japan. Different cultures phrase their sentences differently in natural language and people think in a different ways. What the guy from aMeSs meant, was that the code was not very readable to him, I guess.
Anyhow, there's a lot going on in these cameras in terms of multitasking and both parallelism and concurrency (two different things).
For Nikon, one thing is clear, by now. If they can - because a camera supports it - and need to adapt firmware from a competitive perspective rather than release a new camera that is already in R&D for a few years, then they will do the firmware rather than the new camera release.
[1] in IT, architecture is about the - hopefully premeditated - decisions about what to do where, why, how. This is where "re-use" of already existing patterns comes in the picture. This then is followed by realisation, hopefully with a (technical) design step between architecture and coding to prevent JFDI.
[2] Leading up to XP and 64 bits.
Ok someone needs to regulate your sugar intake! 😂 Just kidding.
Canon and Nikon have always handled that buffer differently. One unloading as the shots are going and other batch offloading.
I suspect the R5 II's flight darker image compared to the Z8/9 may involve the lens. Lenses have "T" values related to how much light they allow, which is very important to cinematography. Cine lenses have T stops as well as F stops. The only way to test for sure would be to use the same lens on both cameras, which is obviously very difficult.
Overall I like your very thorough review of both cameras. Thanks for spending your money on multiple systems so the rest of us can settle on one. 😉👍🏿
It was the same when I used the same lens on both cameras. the mkii was just darker.
The Z9 also has dual CF slots. The Z8 does not. I went from Nikon D200 to D800 to D500 to Z6iii. For all of them, I had to buy a grip as the camera was too small for my hand. Some slang term called "pinky slip" or something.
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I've read that the canon can also do pre-recording for 3 or 5 seconds? Does that apply in the 8k 60p mode? And it seems the 8k 60p on the canon is half the file size of the nikon (about 1tb an hour vs 2tb comparing the r5 ii manual to petapixels review of the z8). So I can pre-record waiting for a hawk to fly off or something and not waste a lot of space on the expensive cf cards lol
Pre-recording is disabled for RAW, so it won’t work for 8k60, which is a raw-lite only mode in the current firmware
You can do pre-record on the canon for video, but there are llinitations.
I'm sure canon has that red dot video recording button within the reach of your right hand without you have to use ur left hand to switch to video?
That's why I stated when I need to use the switch. If you watch the video how-to you will see how and when I use the record button on the R5 MKII.
Plz make and a A1 200-600 vs z8/9 180-600 plz 🤗
Pass. Once the A1 successor comes out we'll look at it. That A1 is very long in the tooth atm.
imagequality comprehension test with adobe a bit weird. The Nikon files and I also suspect the Canon colors are so much better in C1. Especially with more saturated, special colors are really awful in adobe. I don't photograph nature, but people and I also use Photoshop and have several licenses for LR .... Bbut it is like having a 10years newer camera when opening raws, seeing skin tones and having a bit more special fabrics ... which might be a bit more like feathers ... I know most people are only used to cotton and cheap plastic fabrics, but it can become really demanding with this and then ACR/Lightroom is a total nightmare.
LR is bad with camera and lens profiles anymore, it's why we use DXO pureraw to get the same camera profiles we are seeing in the canon and Nikon software. Then once importing into LR we are back to good. Wildlife folks are pretty demanding in detail also, just different areas from landscape or portraiture.
@@WILDALASKA means you are doing the whole raw-bitmap file conversion in pure raw?
c1 has a lot of tools which more or less a must have since forever and funny as it is, none of the youtube reviewers ever touched or mentioned them.
especially the color tools for skin tones are a life saver. Also the co-op tools. As a commercial shooter we are often working in teams, the photographers gives files away to a retoucher and then there is a layouter etc ... all this is a total pain or impossible with lightroom ...
Also the concept of sessions and catalogs ... If you are shooting professional catalogs are impossible to use ...
You are not comparing the colors of each camera you are comparing how Lightroom interpreted them. In order to compare the colors you need to use each camera’s native software. My R5 colors are different when using Lightroom to convert than they are when using DPP Adobe gets it close but it’s not perfect
Yes I compared them in their native software and it's also why I use dxo pure raw to match that color before importing into Lightroom. And yes you are correct, if you run them straight into Lightroom, it gets 'fun'
"My R5 colors are different when using Lightroom to convert than they are when using DPP Adobe gets it close but it’s not perfect"
Yes and they will never be. Same with Nikon...
@@WILDALASKA no problems at all (at least with the latest LRC).
The difference between colors from DxO and LR is minimal and in both cases very close to DPP.
I would say that the colors from LR are even more accurate than from DxO, even when the dcp profile from LR is used! It can be clearly seen in how DxO renders neutral tones - there is always a hint of a different color - at least in in case of the old DSLRs.
Well, what garbage DxO can produce in the case of skin tones, when you need to pull shadows in a poorly lit scene, or what problems it has with a scene with a high dynamic range, I'd rather keep quiet about that 😂
Nikon 8K 60p is incorrect. It will do 12-bit internal NRaw.
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Birds are animals. So are butterflies, frogs, snakes any lots of other things.
yes and we people as well
and your point or question?
Hi Scott, another great video pointing out the differences between these 2 cameras, after watching thousands of videos over the years it’s quite apparent that manufacturers don’t seem to take that much notice of what customers require because as yet I’ve not seen a video of the perfect camera regardless of whether it’s Canon, Nikon, Sony whatever? also the opinion on colour differences or other picture qualities in camera aren’t that important as such as approximately 65% of the worlds population wear glasses or contact lenses and almost every photographer on the planet edits every photo they take? I personally feel that there’s way too much expectations now on equipment, I’m now using an r7 with 100-500 lens and after 2 firmware updates it’s working better than ever! our eyesight can only take in so much so 100 megapixels isn’t any good unless you have perfect sight? Cheers Terry
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Unfortunately the grip for the Z8 is a monster and makes it larger and heavier than the superior Z9. Also the grip replaces the in camera battery instead of adding to the existing battery so even the D850 has a better grip. The Z8 grip is a poor design like the old days of the D200.
The Z9 is smaller, lighter, and more comfortable to use when the Z8 is equally gripped. If you will be using the grip on the Z8, get instead the superior, smaller and lighter Z9. The all day battery life and the GPS alone make it worthwhile. And you don’t need to spend money on a grip, GPS device, and extra batteries, so factor that into your cost comparison. You will be paying for a heavier, larger camera that lacks all the benefits of the Z9.
The Z8 is a great backup for the Z9 or even instead of the Z9, until you add the grip … At that point you might as well just get the Z9 and enjoy all the advantages it offers in a smaller, lighter package.
If you intend on buying a Z8 to be used with the grip, I would suggest you make sure you hold one in your hands with the grip on and compare it to the Z9. Factor in the advantages the Z9 has over the Z8 … Battery life, GPS, top command dial, programmable buttons, 2 high speed cards, no overheating, locking battery cover, etc.
Both are great cameras, just know what you are getting into with that monster grip… whichever camera you have - remember to get out and shoot! The best camera at any time is the one you have with you…
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I almost added which would I suggest to buy over the 2 cameras and the answer was going to be 'buy a Z9 refurbished for $4500 USD" lol
I have used Nikon as well as Canon. I stayed with Canon because of its almost perfect AF, which I think is better than Nikon's. It may be that the Om-1 MK II also has a very good AF, I hear a lot of good criticism about that. The color of Nikon / Canon or OM-System is a personal preference and taste.
I found the opposite, the Nikon had better AF for my work flow along with a better selection of tele lenses
In birds the Nikon edges out on top. Animals Canon comes out on top
@@kevinastley2562 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
@@prokremelskidezolati1426 ???????????
18:23 shows one of the weaknesses of the Z8 pretty well, even if the box is on the eye, sometimes it still seems to grab the beak, wing or whatever else is close to the eye.
I'm kind of surprised you didn't touch on that, as I encounter this pretty often with my Z8, and while I'm overall very happy with it, this is pretty frustrating sometimes.
I agree. And the beak has an eye on it essentially but I find canon finds the eye better when I shot the R5 and R7. But, the Z8 is not a “weakness” it’s great all around. Just not quite as good.
Z8 shoots backlight way better though.
Both cameras do that at the same rate. its usually a graphical thing vs the focus point
@@WILDALASKA Thanks for the reply,. Interesting, I always assumed that Canon would be better in this regard, never actually used one.
one of the weaknesses of the Z8 pretty well, even if the box is on the eye, sometimes it still seems to grab the beak🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
At 7:37 you had me at Z8 only pre-captures in JPG. R5 ii is the winner 😅
Pre-capture in raw or buffer. That's really the main differences in the 2.
Of course the R5 will have better battery life with the grip added than the Z8 that does not.
No. that comparison is not with the grip. Single battery vs single battery
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Sorry to my eyes the nikon is less sharper, look at the water on the beak of the duck... it is so smudgy on the nikon, the canon is sharp
yu mean the out of focus area?? 🫤
@@WILDALASKAlol