This is why I still keep my D810. If I get a Z, it will not replace it, it will merely be an addition. Right now during the pandemic it makes no sense for me to buy another camera, as I am mostly stuck at home.
Although I have nothing to back this up, I wonder if the sensor in the Z8 might be larger than full frame, like the sensors in the Fuji medium format cameras. It appears as though a slightly larger sensor might fit in the Z mount. If it happens, that would give Nikon the widest sensor range of any camera manufacturer (correct me if I'm wrong about that). The D850 was a game changer for a lot of folks; a medium format Z8 would continue that legacy.
The Z8 would not be a vlogging camera and should not be - flip out screens make the weather sealing inferior - If you really need to see yourself while shooting - get the Ulanzi UURig Vlog Customized Flip Screen - it fits in the hot-shoe and you can flip your rear screen to a perpendicular position to the ground and then the mirror in the Ulanzi displays the mage forward - works perfectly well for vlogging - for anything more serious in video you need an external monitor anyway. The Ulanzi is very inexpensive $12.95 - it also provides 3 additional cold shoes for mounting microphones or lights since you will be using the camera hot shoe for this device. It works like a charm - a great $13 alternative to lowering the build quality of the camera. With respect to you wishlist, I do not think that Nikon will make a mirrorless camera that uses the same exact layout of the D850 nor do I think they should. There are problems with the D850 layout - it requires two hands to operate many of its functions, which can be done better with mirrorless and one hand. What they should do is include more custom function buttons - for example if the Z8 had 3 custom function buttons on the front instead of 2 and maybe a couple more elsewhere on the body (if all custom buttons had the ability to be programmed to any function) then this would suffice for layout. Also, they should add the back illuminated buttons like on the D850, but that is likely what they will be doing as we already know the Z9 will have that from the images we have seen. Basically, the Z8 needs to be a Z7 with better AF (subject tracking - tech from the upcoming Z9) - the Z9 is claiming to have AF subject tracking that is better than the D6. If this is true then it will have AF that is every bit as good (if not better) than Canon and Sony. The Z8 simply needs to inherit this tech and the lurking AF issue is put to bed forever. I agree that 2 CF Express would be the way to go, back illuminated buttons and more customizable. Additionally, it should be a very high megapixel camera - just like the D850 was when it was introduced. The Z8 should be at a minimum 60 MP but I think the 80MP range would be best - assuming that they have the Medium and Small RAW options where you can shoot the sensor at say 45MP in Medium and 24MP in small - this way we have a choice and event shooters can use the small or medium while hight end portrait and landscape folks can use the 80MP. Additionally, it would be 35.2MP in DX mode making it a very respectable resolution for DX shooting - good for folks that want to attach a DX lens or use a FF lens in DX mode to get more reach. At 35.2MP we are talking basically D810 quality in DX mode - pretty awesome - making this camera the best 'all arounder' in existence - which is exactly what the D850 was when it came out. As far as frame rate goes - I think that 12 FPS is plenty as long as there is full time AF/AE and all points can be used - with NO blackout on the screen and very low latency. I watched an interview with a pro sports shooting recently and he stated that there is NO need for any frame rate above about 16 FPS as any competent photographer can get any shot at that rate for any sport. Anything more than 16 FPS he said was just for marketing purposes and I tend to believe this is true even though I am not generally a high frame rate shooter. If they do at least 12 FPS on the Z8 with no restrictions this should be good enough for this camera as the Z9 is the powerhouse for fast frame shooting, and if the Z8 will be pushing 80MP files 12 FPS is probably plenty. In video it should do 1080 up to 120 - if not 240 - and 4k up to at least 60 using the FULL FRAME - even if there is line skipping thats fine - its the DOF that most videographers want and the quality can suffer a little as this is not the camera you would get as a pro videographer - that would be the Z6II or the subsequent Z6III using Blackmagic RAW - so go ahead and line skip but do NOT crop the frame!!!. Also, 10 bit Nlog should be internal. The video should output to both cards for redundancy and with NO time limit on the recording - this limit is software induced and a relic of the past - Nikon lets move on - please. With all these additions the Z8 will be the best all around camera for Nikon (and really for any brand) and that is exactly where the D850 sat when introduced in 2017. Thus the Z8 - the replacement for the D850. -B
I get your point, but I like the button and dials. What we'll get in a Z8 if we get a Z8 might be more what you suggest or maybe more what I like. In the end, only Nikon knows and so far, Nikon is keeping mum.
This is why I still keep my D810. If I get a Z, it will not replace it, it will merely be an addition. Right now during the pandemic it makes no sense for me to buy another camera, as I am mostly stuck at home.
I do have a D800 which I plan on keeping no matter what. I can see myself at some point acquiring another D850. Time will tell.
Although I have nothing to back this up, I wonder if the sensor in the Z8 might be larger than full frame, like the sensors in the Fuji medium format cameras. It appears as though a slightly larger sensor might fit in the Z mount. If it happens, that would give Nikon the widest sensor range of any camera manufacturer (correct me if I'm wrong about that). The D850 was a game changer for a lot of folks; a medium format Z8 would continue that legacy.
The Z8 would not be a vlogging camera and should not be - flip out screens make the weather sealing inferior - If you really need to see yourself while shooting - get the Ulanzi UURig Vlog Customized Flip Screen - it fits in the hot-shoe and you can flip your rear screen to a perpendicular position to the ground and then the mirror in the Ulanzi displays the mage forward - works perfectly well for vlogging - for anything more serious in video you need an external monitor anyway. The Ulanzi is very inexpensive $12.95 - it also provides 3 additional cold shoes for mounting microphones or lights since you will be using the camera hot shoe for this device. It works like a charm - a great $13 alternative to lowering the build quality of the camera.
With respect to you wishlist, I do not think that Nikon will make a mirrorless camera that uses the same exact layout of the D850 nor do I think they should. There are problems with the D850 layout - it requires two hands to operate many of its functions, which can be done better with mirrorless and one hand. What they should do is include more custom function buttons - for example if the Z8 had 3 custom function buttons on the front instead of 2 and maybe a couple more elsewhere on the body (if all custom buttons had the ability to be programmed to any function) then this would suffice for layout. Also, they should add the back illuminated buttons like on the D850, but that is likely what they will be doing as we already know the Z9 will have that from the images we have seen.
Basically, the Z8 needs to be a Z7 with better AF (subject tracking - tech from the upcoming Z9) - the Z9 is claiming to have AF subject tracking that is better than the D6. If this is true then it will have AF that is every bit as good (if not better) than Canon and Sony. The Z8 simply needs to inherit this tech and the lurking AF issue is put to bed forever. I agree that 2 CF Express would be the way to go, back illuminated buttons and more customizable.
Additionally, it should be a very high megapixel camera - just like the D850 was when it was introduced. The Z8 should be at a minimum 60 MP but I think the 80MP range would be best - assuming that they have the Medium and Small RAW options where you can shoot the sensor at say 45MP in Medium and 24MP in small - this way we have a choice and event shooters can use the small or medium while hight end portrait and landscape folks can use the 80MP. Additionally, it would be 35.2MP in DX mode making it a very respectable resolution for DX shooting - good for folks that want to attach a DX lens or use a FF lens in DX mode to get more reach. At 35.2MP we are talking basically D810 quality in DX mode - pretty awesome - making this camera the best 'all arounder' in existence - which is exactly what the D850 was when it came out.
As far as frame rate goes - I think that 12 FPS is plenty as long as there is full time AF/AE and all points can be used - with NO blackout on the screen and very low latency. I watched an interview with a pro sports shooting recently and he stated that there is NO need for any frame rate above about 16 FPS as any competent photographer can get any shot at that rate for any sport. Anything more than 16 FPS he said was just for marketing purposes and I tend to believe this is true even though I am not generally a high frame rate shooter. If they do at least 12 FPS on the Z8 with no restrictions this should be good enough for this camera as the Z9 is the powerhouse for fast frame shooting, and if the Z8 will be pushing 80MP files 12 FPS is probably plenty.
In video it should do 1080 up to 120 - if not 240 - and 4k up to at least 60 using the FULL FRAME - even if there is line skipping thats fine - its the DOF that most videographers want and the quality can suffer a little as this is not the camera you would get as a pro videographer - that would be the Z6II or the subsequent Z6III using Blackmagic RAW - so go ahead and line skip but do NOT crop the frame!!!. Also, 10 bit Nlog should be internal. The video should output to both cards for redundancy and with NO time limit on the recording - this limit is software induced and a relic of the past - Nikon lets move on - please.
With all these additions the Z8 will be the best all around camera for Nikon (and really for any brand) and that is exactly where the D850 sat when introduced in 2017. Thus the Z8 - the replacement for the D850.
-B
I get your point, but I like the button and dials. What we'll get in a Z8 if we get a Z8 might be more what you suggest or maybe more what I like. In the end, only Nikon knows and so far, Nikon is keeping mum.
2022年一月，看来你的预测正逐步变成事实。尼康已经收缩产品线，只专注于专业用户。而你就是专业用户，你所想就是他们会做的事。
Maybe there will be a Z8, maybe not. Difficult to say what Nikon is doing at this point.