Every new camera tends to produce disgruntled responses about something. Here are the primary ones I’ve been tracking:
- Battery compatibility — Third party batteries are triggering “battery cannot be used” messages. Conspiracy theorists believe that Nikon makes a change periodically to stop third party batteries from being used. While Nikon would strongly prefer you to use their batteries, the thing that really tends to trigger the incompatibility problem is that Nikon tweaks and expects a difference performance range based upon what the camera’s power electronics are expecting. The power changes in the Z8 (which has a a slightly different amperage usage) are likely triggering the third-party battery issues. Nikon designed the Z8 to tightly work within the known performance parameters of the official EN-EL15 batteries. In particular, I note that the in-camera charging draw is different on the Z8 than previous cameras. Nikon wouldn’t worry about breaking third-party battery compatibility, because there is no battery registration program in place to keep the third party companies in line.
- RAW+HEIF — I think Nikon didn’t think this one through quite enough. HEIF uses a different color space than Nikon typically uses (BT.2000 instead of sRGB), plus Nikon’s implementation is straight hybrid log gamma, which is completely different way of placing tonal values in the digital numbers within the file than Nikon uses for JPEG. What’s happening is that programs that seem to understand a Z8 Lossless compressed NEF just fine will suddenly do weird things in some converters if you were recording that raw file using a setting of NEF+HEIF. I and others are still looking into what exactly is causing this, but you may have noticed that the live histogram changes when you move from SDR (JPEG) to HLG (HEIF). There’s a lot going on here that needs further examination. However, technically only NX Studio currently supports the Z8 files. What I think we’re seeing in the “raw support” for the Z8 that currently exists is that the converters simply treat a Z8 raw file as if it were a Z9 one. But that isn’t exactly true because of the possibility of RAW+HEIF.
- No pre-release capture raw support — This has been a common Z9 complaint, and now has spilled over to the Z8. All I can say is that Nikon is looking into whether they can provide High efficiency raw support for pre-release capture in some way.
- The SD slot — Not having two card slots the same is bothering some people, even though that’s been the case for a number of cameras since the D500 seven years ago. I don’t know that Nikon can win with anything they could have done, as you’ll find as many people wanting an SD card slot as ones wanting another CFe slot instead. Look at this way: you can recycle a bunch of small, old SD cards to store different camera settings (one different NCSET012.BIN file per card). I will say this: those asking for twin CFe Type A slots are barking up the wrong tree. The best Type A card is about half as fast at maximum speed as the best Type B card (and the Z8 likes speed), plus it costs more. Moreover, you’d lose compatibility with the D500, D850, D5, D6, Z6, Z6 II, Z7, Z7 II, and Z9. Yeah, Nikon wouldn’t do that.
- The weight — Curiously, few are complaining about the size once they pick up a Z8. After all, it’s basically the same size as a D500, which didn’t trigger size complaints. Yes, the Z7 II is smaller, but if you’re looking for “more camera” than a Z7 II, you probably should expect something to give. Moreover, you don’t get “fingers fall of grip” complaints with the Z8, but you do with the Z6/Z7. However, I’m still hearing weight complaints about the Z8. Compared to the Z6/Z7 models, the Z8 feels “denser” in the hand. Because I use telephoto lenses so often, this really isn’t an issue for me, as it balances the camera/lens stability better to have more weight at the camera end. However, sticking the 26mm f/2.8 pancake on a Z8 and there’s definitely a sense that you’re holding “all camera,” so the weight is more evident. The “once-a-year-neck-hanging” camera users seem to be behind most of the complaints. Serious enthusiasts seem to respect the build quality and feature set triggered a bulk-up from the Z6/Z7.
Finally, one complaint I expected to hear but haven’t really seen yet: the clunk of the sensor-VR sled. Some Z9 users complain about the sound the camera makes when it goes into standby; that’s the VR sled being positioned and locked. Likewise, coming out of standby also makes a clunk on the Z9.
The Z8 sensor-VR mechanism has been completely redesigned, mostly because it has to fit into a tighter space. Unfortunately, it makes a somewhat more dramatic clunk than the Z9 one does. This locking/unlocking sound might be significant to some (e.g. Hollywood set photographer). If VR is active, the clunk is going to be made, even with the camera in Silent mode.
