Even though I bought a Z9 when it came out sold it for two reasons. One was the size and weight and the second was there was no lighter version for travel and hiking. I went back to Sony where I have an A1 and added an A7RV when it came out. Then along came the Z8. Enjoyed both your two Z8 videos. Thank you and take care.
That's awesome to hear! I'm thrilled that the Z8 is exceeding your expectations. While I certainly like the camera, even the best gear has room for improvement, so I'll still be sharing my thoughts on the few downsides in the next video. Curious to hear how your experiences compare.
I'm right there with you! The Z8 has quickly become one of my all-time favorite cameras. But like all tools, there's some annoyances that really drive me up aa wall. I hope you'll check out my next video for a look at the downsides I've experienced.
Great video thank you! Iv been looking at the z8 for landscape/surf photography. I was waiting for the R5ii to be announced to see if it would be just as good but I feel the z8 has more features I want.
Glad the video was helpful! The Z8 is a fantastic tool for action photography and a pretty darn good one for landscapes too. Let me know if you have any specific questions as you make your decision. And stay tuned for part two (the negatives) coming in a couple days.
Brilliant James, new to the Nikon world with a recent purchase of the D8 (coming from Sony A7RV) and would to see a video on how you set up your customs banks - been playing a while and at times seems daunting....your spreadsheet with the settings look awesome!
Welcome to the Nikon world! I'm glad to hear you're enjoying the Z8. How does it compare to the Sony for what you shoot? A video on my custom banks and settings is coming soon. In the meantime, feel free to reach out if you have specific questions.
@@JamesLPhoto Shooting water-sports, wildlife and landscapes - for action shots I was seeing a load of distortion / rolling shutter while panning and shooting - on the Z8 once I had set up for 3D tracking hand off to the function button on the lens I am having a way better keeper rate in sports and bird photography. Looking forward to your 'banks' video.
Thank You for the review. I was somewhat surprised that You mentioned low light capabilities as a positive side, when there are many discussions that Z8 has noticeable noise on high ISOs. I'm considering a purchase but those reviews made me want to dig a little deeper, since besides birding/wildlife, I'd like to use it for MW and aurora shooting aswell.
I appreciate the interest in a dedicated settings video! I've hesitated to create a dedicated video because settings are so personal. However, due to the high demand, I'm considering making one soon. Stay tuned!
I appreciate the interest in a dedicated settings video! I've hesitated to create a dedicated video because settings are so personal. However, due to the high demand, I'm considering making one soon. Stay tuned!
I appreciate the interest in a dedicated settings video! I've hesitated to create a dedicated video because settings are so personal. However, due to the high demand, I'm considering making one soon. Stay tuned!
Hi James, is the Excel sheet with all the custom settings available for free? I think it would significantly help to setup up a Z8. Thanks for the good video.
I appreciate the interest in a dedicated settings video! I've hesitated to create a dedicated video because settings are so personal. However, due to the high demand, I'm considering making one soon. Stay tuned!
Thanks for the great video. Look forward to part 2. Wood also love a video on your settings and user back settings. A link to the settings spreadsheet you showed would be awesome.
Appreciate the kind words. A video on my custom banks and settings is coming soon. In the meantime, feel free to reach out if you have specific questions.
You're welcome, and thanks for your kind words. A video on my custom banks and settings is coming soon. In the meantime, feel free to reach out if you have specific questions.
I appreciate the interest in a dedicated settings video! I've hesitated to create a dedicated video because settings are so personal. However, due to the high demand, I'm considering making one soon. Stay tuned!
Nice thanks! Memory bank video please 🎉 I much prefer the C1,C2 etc dial on the Z7 etc at the moment. The idea of loading two memory banks every time switches me of...
I appreciate the interest in a dedicated settings video! I've hesitated to create a dedicated video because settings are so personal. However, due to the high demand, I'm considering making one soon. Stay tuned!
I love my z8 but I don't use it all the time. I still use my z6 II for a lot of things. Mostly for street photography here lately. It's smaller and lighter than the z8 and I mostly use zone focus instead of auto focusing on everything. The one thing I haven't used my z8 for is landscape. I've used it for cranes at the wildlife management area, the eclipse, a college baseball game and a high school basketball game. I was shooting sports just to test out the focus tracking and to see how I needed to set it up. I have all of my banks set up too. I have one for planes. I love the banks and wish they could add more of them.
It's great that you have both cameras and use them for different purposes! The Z6 II is so much lighter and more compact! It's a fantastic tool for street photography, and the Z8 definitely shines in those action and landscape scenarios you mentioned. I agree, more custom banks would be fantastic! I'll explore the limitations of the Z8's Custom Shooting Banks and share some workarounds in my upcoming video. Hope you can watch it.
Hi, thanks for the detailed review. Maybe you consider lowering the music volume when you speak, there are (too many) sections where I found it hard to understand you.
@donaldduck6020, you're welcome. Thank you for your feedback. In future videos, I'll pay closer attention to the music levels during dialog. My audio mixing and video editing skills are still "in progress," so I truly appreciate your suggestion.
The specs of the Canon R5 2 are disappointing considering its 3-year wait. Same resolution, some software improvements, and now shoots 30FPS. Guess the manufacturers are resting on their laurels.
Oh, bummer. I'm sorry that the release didn't live up to your expectations. That sounds similar to how I felt when the Z8 was released, and something I go into greater detail in the next video.
Hi James. Thanks for the review. I got myself the Z8 earlier this year and agree with all your takes. I also have to second what @donaldduck6020 said in his post, which is to try limiting the use of your background music. If there is one huge pet peeve I have with many RUclips content creators is that they overuse very bland background music which becomes a huge distraction and makes it very difficult for people like myself to sit thru an entire YT clip. That being said I look forward to your other camera reviews.
Thanks for your feedback! I'm glad you're enjoying the Z8 and found my review helpful. I appreciate your feedback about the background music. I'll definitely take it into consideration for future videos. Finding music that complements the visuals without being distracting is always a balancing act, so I'll experiment with different approaches and see what works best. Thanks for watching, and I look forward to sharing more reviews with you soon!
Even though I bought a Z9 when it came out sold it for two reasons. One was the size and weight and the second was there was no lighter version for travel and hiking. I went back to Sony where I have an A1 and added an A7RV when it came out. Then along came the Z8. Enjoyed both your two Z8 videos. Thank you and take care.
Thanks for sharing your journey! The Z8 definitely fills a gap for those who found the Z9 too bulky.
Z8 Camera of Year and NO negatives for me at all >> Best camera I have ever had and I have had the Best of Nikon since 1971
No need for a Negatives Video >>
That's awesome to hear! I'm thrilled that the Z8 is exceeding your expectations. While I certainly like the camera, even the best gear has room for improvement, so I'll still be sharing my thoughts on the few downsides in the next video. Curious to hear how your experiences compare.
Love to see your settings spreadsheet
I owned this camera since it came out. I am liking it a lot so far, one of the best Nikons I have owned.
I'm right there with you! The Z8 has quickly become one of my all-time favorite cameras. But like all tools, there's some annoyances that really drive me up aa wall. I hope you'll check out my next video for a look at the downsides I've experienced.
Great video thank you! Iv been looking at the z8 for landscape/surf photography. I was waiting for the R5ii to be announced to see if it would be just as good but I feel the z8 has more features I want.
Glad the video was helpful! The Z8 is a fantastic tool for action photography and a pretty darn good one for landscapes too. Let me know if you have any specific questions as you make your decision. And stay tuned for part two (the negatives) coming in a couple days.
Appreciate the work put into this. I'd love to see how you set yours up.
Thank you for the kind words! Stay tuned as I'll be releasing a video on how I setup my Z8 in the coming weeks.
Been on the fence with the Z8. Looking forward to Part 2 on the downsides.
Perfect...please subscribe and turn on notifications so you'll see when I release the second part of this review.
Just the right amount of detail, thanks!
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it.
Muchas gracias por el video. Me encantaría saber como tienes configurada tu Z8.
Thanks for the kind words! I'll definitely consider sharing my detailed Z8 settings and custom banks in a separate video. Keep an eye on my channel.
Brilliant James, new to the Nikon world with a recent purchase of the D8 (coming from Sony A7RV) and would to see a video on how you set up your customs banks - been playing a while and at times seems daunting....your spreadsheet with the settings look awesome!
Welcome to the Nikon world! I'm glad to hear you're enjoying the Z8. How does it compare to the Sony for what you shoot? A video on my custom banks and settings is coming soon. In the meantime, feel free to reach out if you have specific questions.
@@JamesLPhoto Shooting water-sports, wildlife and landscapes - for action shots I was seeing a load of distortion / rolling shutter while panning and shooting - on the Z8 once I had set up for 3D tracking hand off to the function button on the lens I am having a way better keeper rate in sports and bird photography. Looking forward to your 'banks' video.
And actually I dlike to see a tour of your custom programs, best !
Thank You for the review. I was somewhat surprised that You mentioned low light capabilities as a positive side, when there are many discussions that Z8 has noticeable noise on high ISOs. I'm considering a purchase but those reviews made me want to dig a little deeper, since besides birding/wildlife, I'd like to use it for MW and aurora shooting aswell.
I’d love to see what settings you put in the different memory banks. Especially for landscape.
I appreciate the interest in a dedicated settings video! I've hesitated to create a dedicated video because settings are so personal. However, due to the high demand, I'm considering making one soon. Stay tuned!
Yes, please share your custom settings.
I appreciate the interest in a dedicated settings video! I've hesitated to create a dedicated video because settings are so personal. However, due to the high demand, I'm considering making one soon. Stay tuned!
Great video - thanks!
Glad you liked it!
I'd love to see the memory banks and settings sheets!
I appreciate the interest in a dedicated settings video! I've hesitated to create a dedicated video because settings are so personal. However, due to the high demand, I'm considering making one soon. Stay tuned!
I hadn't considered some of the ways you're using your Z8, like for ICM photos. I love my Z8.
It's amazing how versatile the Z8 can be for different types of photography!
Love mine, owned it a year and it is the best I ever shot.
That's fantastic! The Z8 is a beast of a camera. It's great to see how much you're enjoying it.
Hi James, is the Excel sheet with all the custom settings available for free? I think it would significantly help to setup up a Z8. Thanks for the good video.
I appreciate the interest in a dedicated settings video! I've hesitated to create a dedicated video because settings are so personal. However, due to the high demand, I'm considering making one soon. Stay tuned!
Thanks for the great video. Look forward to part 2. Wood also love a video on your settings and user back settings. A link to the settings spreadsheet you showed would be awesome.
Appreciate the kind words. A video on my custom banks and settings is coming soon. In the meantime, feel free to reach out if you have specific questions.
Thanks for the great video. It would be great to see your camera settings. And we will wait for the minuses of the camera :)
You're welcome, and thanks for your kind words. A video on my custom banks and settings is coming soon. In the meantime, feel free to reach out if you have specific questions.
I'd love to see how you set up the memory banks and i menu.
I appreciate the interest in a dedicated settings video! I've hesitated to create a dedicated video because settings are so personal. However, due to the high demand, I'm considering making one soon. Stay tuned!
Subscribed!
Nice thanks! Memory bank video please 🎉 I much prefer the C1,C2 etc dial on the Z7 etc at the moment. The idea of loading two memory banks every time switches me of...
I appreciate the interest in a dedicated settings video! I've hesitated to create a dedicated video because settings are so personal. However, due to the high demand, I'm considering making one soon. Stay tuned!
I love my z8 but I don't use it all the time. I still use my z6 II for a lot of things. Mostly for street photography here lately. It's smaller and lighter than the z8 and I mostly use zone focus instead of auto focusing on everything. The one thing I haven't used my z8 for is landscape. I've used it for cranes at the wildlife management area, the eclipse, a college baseball game and a high school basketball game. I was shooting sports just to test out the focus tracking and to see how I needed to set it up. I have all of my banks set up too. I have one for planes. I love the banks and wish they could add more of them.
It's great that you have both cameras and use them for different purposes! The Z6 II is so much lighter and more compact! It's a fantastic tool for street photography, and the Z8 definitely shines in those action and landscape scenarios you mentioned. I agree, more custom banks would be fantastic! I'll explore the limitations of the Z8's Custom Shooting Banks and share some workarounds in my upcoming video. Hope you can watch it.
@JamesLPhoto I wish they had put the banks in the z6 III but they used the user modes like in the z6.
im waiting for my Z8, have the Z9 but its big and bulky and sometimes i just need a smaller body.
Congrats on your new Z8! It sounds like the perfect solution for your needs. Enjoy the portability without sacrificing too much power.
Thanks!
You're welcome!
Hi, thanks for the detailed review. Maybe you consider lowering the music volume when you speak, there are (too many) sections where I found it hard to understand you.
@donaldduck6020, you're welcome. Thank you for your feedback. In future videos, I'll pay closer attention to the music levels during dialog. My audio mixing and video editing skills are still "in progress," so I truly appreciate your suggestion.
The specs of the Canon R5 2 are disappointing considering its 3-year wait. Same resolution, some software improvements, and now shoots 30FPS. Guess the manufacturers are resting on their laurels.
Oh, bummer. I'm sorry that the release didn't live up to your expectations. That sounds similar to how I felt when the Z8 was released, and something I go into greater detail in the next video.
D850 has 4 custom modes : A, B, C and D. U1 and U2 is not for pro camera...
@@Cedness thanks for catching that. Still no mode dial, unfortunately. And way less integration than the Z8.
Hi James. Thanks for the review. I got myself the Z8 earlier this year and agree with all your takes. I also have to second what @donaldduck6020 said in his post, which is to try limiting the use of your background music. If there is one huge pet peeve I have with many RUclips content creators is that they overuse very bland background music which becomes a huge distraction and makes it very difficult for people like myself to sit thru an entire YT clip. That being said I look forward to your other camera reviews.
Thanks for your feedback! I'm glad you're enjoying the Z8 and found my review helpful.
I appreciate your feedback about the background music. I'll definitely take it into consideration for future videos. Finding music that complements the visuals without being distracting is always a balancing act, so I'll experiment with different approaches and see what works best.
Thanks for watching, and I look forward to sharing more reviews with you soon!