Nikon Z 6II W/Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S Lens Full Frame Mirrorless Camera
The technical details behind this camera The Z 6II provides a solid hybrid solution for multimedia creators. The new Nikon Z 6II, an upgrade of the Z 6 all-rounder, delivers both cinematic video and the very best of still imagery. Harnessing Dual EXPEED 6 image-processing engines, the Z 6II allows continuous shooting up to approx. 14 fps with extended buffer. Eye-Detection and Animal-Detection AF are available in both stills and videos. A variety of video recording options now includes 10-bit HDR (HLG) to meet diverse needs. Whats more, the dual memory card slots supporting CFexpress and UHS-II SD cards slots ensure reliable data backup and speedy workflow. A true multimedia powerhouse Delivering incredible still photographs via its 24.5 megapixels, the Z 6IIs images are clear, sharp and beautiful even under low light. The Full frame FX-format backside illumination CMOS sensor, together with the EXPEED 6 image-processing engine achieves a wide standard sensitivity range of ISO 100-51
The technical details behind this camera The Z 6II provides a solid hybrid solution for multimedia creators. The new Nikon Z 6II, an upgrade of the Z 6 all-rounder, delivers both cinematic video and the very best of still imagery. Harnessing Dual EXPEED 6 image-processing engines, the Z 6II allows continuous shooting up to approx. 14 fps with extended buffer. Eye-Detection and Animal-Detection AF are available in both stills and videos. A variety of video recording options now includes 10-bit HDR (HLG) to meet diverse needs. Whats more, the dual memory card slots supporting CFexpress and UHS-II SD cards slots ensure reliable data backup and speedy workflow. A true multimedia powerhouse Delivering incredible still photographs via its 24.5 megapixels, the Z 6IIs images are clear, sharp and beautiful even under low light. The Full frame FX-format backside illumination CMOS sensor, together with the EXPEED 6 image-processing engine achieves a wide standard sensitivity range of ISO 100-51
The technical details behind this camera The Z 6II provides a solid hybrid solution for multimedia creators. The new Nikon Z 6II, an upgrade of the Z 6 all-rounder, delivers both cinematic video and the very best of still imagery. Harnessing Dual EXPEED 6 image-processing engines, the Z 6II allows continuous shooting up to approx. 14 fps with extended buffer. Eye-Detection and Animal-Detection AF are available in both stills and videos. A variety of video recording options now includes 10-bit HDR (HLG) to meet diverse needs. Whats more, the dual memory card slots supporting CFexpress and UHS-II SD cards slots ensure reliable data backup and speedy workflow. A true multimedia powerhouse Delivering incredible still photographs via its 24.5 megapixels, the Z 6IIs images are clear, sharp and beautiful even under low light. The Full frame FX-format backside illumination CMOS sensor, together with the EXPEED 6 image-processing engine achieves a wide standard sensitivity range of ISO 100-51
The technical details behind this camera The Z 6II provides a solid hybrid solution for multimedia creators. The new Nikon Z 6II, an upgrade of the Z 6 all-rounder, delivers both cinematic video and the very best of still imagery. Harnessing Dual EXPEED 6 image-processing engines, the Z 6II allows continuous shooting up to approx. 14 fps with extended buffer. Eye-Detection and Animal-Detection AF are available in both stills and videos. A variety of video recording options now includes 10-bit HDR (HLG) to meet diverse needs. Whats more, the dual memory card slots supporting CFexpress and UHS-II SD cards slots ensure reliable data backup and speedy workflow. A true multimedia powerhouse Delivering incredible still photographs via its 24.5 megapixels, the Z 6IIs images are clear, sharp and beautiful even under low light. The Full frame FX-format backside illumination CMOS sensor, together with the EXPEED 6 image-processing engine achieves a wide standard sensitivity range of ISO 100-51
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The lowest price for Nikon Z 6II W/Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S Lens Full Frame Mirrorless Camera right now is $225.00 at Camera Electronic, compared across 16 retailers.
The all-time low was $225.00 on 1 June 2026. That's the lowest price we've ever tracked — a great time to buy.
Prices last updated 14 June 2026.
Last updated at 14/06/2026 22:59:23
Nikon Z 6II with Zoom Lens | Versatile Full-Frame mirrorless Stills/Video Hybrid Camera with 24-70mm f/4 Lens | Nikon USA Model
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Nikon Z 6II Mirrorless Camera (Body Only)
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Nikon Z6 II Body (kit box) (no adapter)
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Nikon Z6 II Body
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Nikon Z6 II Kit (24-120 F4 S)
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Nikon Z6II 24.5MP Mirrorless Camera - Black (Body Only)
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Nikon Z6 Ii Body 24.5mp Uhd Mirrorless Digital Camera 1 Year Au Wty
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Nikon Z6 Ii Body (kit Box) (no Adapter) Camera 1 Year Au Warranty
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Nikon Z6 Ii Kit (24-120 F4 S)
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Nikon Z6 Ii + Nikkor Z 24-70mm F/4 S Kit
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originally posted on bestbuy.com
The Z8 is a truly impressive camera. It is far ahead of the Z7II on every front other than size and weight. You also will not get all of its advances in a smaller body anyway. Quite frankly, it mostly is a smaller Z9.Auto focus, pro controls, refined white balance and exposure options, and extremely responsive EVF (among other things) all make for an exceptional experience. I do landscapes and architecture, not wildlife, but as a test, took some shots out of the box of some hummingbirds, and it nailed auto focus and exposure almost every time. There is nothing about using the camera that has left me unimpressed.Here, however, is the problem. As of 6/23/2023, it is also part of a voluntary recall due to a problem with the camera mount. Looking at the advisory ... MoreThe Z8 is a truly impressive camera. It is far ahead of the Z7II on every front other than size and weight. You also will not get all of its advances in a smaller body anyway. Quite frankly, it mostly is a smaller Z9.Auto focus, pro controls, refined white balance and exposure options, and extremely responsive EVF (among other things) all make for an exceptional experience. I do landscapes and architecture, not wildlife, but as a test, took some shots out of the box of some hummingbirds, and it nailed auto focus and exposure almost every time. There is nothing about using the camera that has left me unimpressed.Here, however, is the problem. As of 6/23/2023, it is also part of a voluntary recall due to a problem with the camera mount. Looking at the advisory page, it is also easy enough to figure out the problem potentially affects at least the first 10,000 serial numbers. Unless you want to buy a camera and then immediately send it in for repair, I would suggest waiting at least a month until they cycle in new stock. Mine has already been returned and will be re-purchased at a later date. Again, it is an amazing camera, I just expect something better on the QC front for $4000.
originally posted on bhphotovideo.com
I'm another person who's just made the conversion from a D850 to the Z 8. Had it for about a week now and quite happy--five stars and won't return it. Here are some of my original concerns and thoughts from using it for a week.Before buying the Z 8 I was concerned about how it would feel in my hands, especially my right hand where I have some arthritis in a few fingers. The space between the grip and lens is fine--unlike on some Sony A7 models where it's too tight.Also concerned about switching from an optical viewfinder (I'm old school) to a digital one. Once I realized I never focus through the viewfinder anymore the digital one made sense. I just compose in the viewfinder (other than on a tripod in the studio.) Took a bit to get used to it, like being briefly ... MoreI'm another person who's just made the conversion from a D850 to the Z 8. Had it for about a week now and quite happy--five stars and won't return it. Here are some of my original concerns and thoughts from using it for a week.Before buying the Z 8 I was concerned about how it would feel in my hands, especially my right hand where I have some arthritis in a few fingers. The space between the grip and lens is fine--unlike on some Sony A7 models where it's too tight.Also concerned about switching from an optical viewfinder (I'm old school) to a digital one. Once I realized I never focus through the viewfinder anymore the digital one made sense. I just compose in the viewfinder (other than on a tripod in the studio.) Took a bit to get used to it, like being briefly surprised to see stills in the viewfinder and having the image get a bit washed out in *extremely* bright backlight situations. Not a problem, though. And a minor thing. If you bring the camera to your eye the back panel turns off and the viewfinder turns on. Turns out this will also happen if you're looking at the back panel and a finger gets too close to the viewfinder. Not an issue, just something to get used to (not doing.)I did need some time to convert from D850 controls to Z 8 controls, such as changing exposure (that is, from full frame to center weighted, etc.) and fully exploiting exposure lock (different button.) Ditto with changing to RAW. Not sure what I did but in my first real use I somehow changed from RAW to JPEG for a bit. Must have fumble-fingered something. Otherwise, the overall workflow/look-and-feel of the menu options is fully familiar for a current Nikon user.I continue to use the same SD card I used in the D850. No issues for photo but it couldn't handle higher-quality videos. Ended up getting a CFExpress card. Did learn that some cards run far hotter than others. I ended up with a ProGrade Gold CFExpress card.On to video--I'm *really* impressed! I use BlackMagic video cameras which still have more bit depth but the Z 8 offers a lot and will become a companion to my BM cameras. RAW capture with NLog is great. I can easily color grade with a Color Checker chart. Even ProRes looks good. And I now have a camera that can do autofocus while videoing. And although I generally power video cameras from larger Lithium bricks (like ones used on the backs of larger video cameras) the internal battery lasted quite long during a recent session where the camera was filming for close to an hour. And in 4K RAW. Not a fully accurate test but suggests good utility.The default settings are a bit slim. I did spend a bunch of time turning on features I'm used to in the D850. For example, all the various screens I use when reviewing a photo such as histogram.Finally, I bought the FTZ adapter so I could use my existing F-mount lenses. It works fine with the one Sigma zoom I used with it. But I've learned a lot about the Z 8's fly-by-wire design. As I said above, I hardly ever do manual focus with the lens' focus ring. I did replace my F-mount 70-200mm f/2.8 with the new Z-mount 70-200mm f/2.8 S lens. I can now redefine the lens' focus ring to do other things! I want to see if I can use it to do exposure compensation.Hope this helps. Glad to try to answer questions any other converter has. :)
originally posted on bhphotovideo.com
I'm very pleased with the Z8. I have a D850, which I like very much and, after considerable reading, I became interested in the Z9. When the Z8 became available my motivation turned to the Z8 because the cost was significantly less and the missing features were not important to me. A big plus is the ability to use several expensive FX lens, 24-70, 70-200 and prime 500. Those lens work exactly as they did on my D-850 and ditto for the VR feature. I don't notice any delay with the view finder and the controlling "buttons" are arranged similar to the D-850. A plus for me is the ability to take a much higher rate of frames per second. The only negative I've noticed is a slightly lower battery life compared with other Nikon cameras I've owned. Weight-wise, it is similar ... MoreI'm very pleased with the Z8. I have a D850, which I like very much and, after considerable reading, I became interested in the Z9. When the Z8 became available my motivation turned to the Z8 because the cost was significantly less and the missing features were not important to me. A big plus is the ability to use several expensive FX lens, 24-70, 70-200 and prime 500. Those lens work exactly as they did on my D-850 and ditto for the VR feature. I don't notice any delay with the view finder and the controlling "buttons" are arranged similar to the D-850. A plus for me is the ability to take a much higher rate of frames per second. The only negative I've noticed is a slightly lower battery life compared with other Nikon cameras I've owned. Weight-wise, it is similar to the D-850; I'm an old guy so weight is important to me now. The Z9 would have been noticeably heavier, especially combined with a big lense, i.e., the 500mm. The sensor cover/protector lessens the concern when changing lens when conditions are not ideal! One surprise was that the CFEXPRESS card can't be read by a XQD card reader; the CFEXPRESS card doesn't have a release button but that's not a big deal. You will be pleased with the Z8 camera.
| Megapixel | 24 Megapixels |
| Video Type | 4K Video Recording |
| Image Processor | Dual EXPEED 6 Image Processors |
| Sensor | CMOS Sensor |
| Shutter Speed | 1/8000 to 900 Seconds |
Nikon Z 6II with Zoom Lens | Versatile Full-Frame mirrorless Stills/Video Hybrid Camera with 24-70mm f/4 Lens | Nikon USA Model
Free delivery
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Nikon Z 6II Mirrorless Camera (Body Only)
Delivery $15
Nikon Z6 II Body (kit box) (no adapter)
Free delivery
Nikon Z6 II Body
Free delivery
Nikon Z6 II Kit (24-120 F4 S)
Free delivery
The Z8 is a truly impressive camera. It is far ahead of the Z7II on every front other than size and weight. You also will not get all of its advances in a smaller body anyway. Quite frankly, it mostly is a smaller Z9.Auto focus, pro controls, refined white balance and exposure options, and extremely responsive EVF (among other things) all make for an exceptional experience. I do landscapes and architecture, not wildlife, but as a test, took some shots out of the box of some hummingbirds, and it nailed auto focus and exposure almost every time. There is nothing about using the camera that has left me unimpressed.Here, however, is the problem. As of 6/23/2023, it is also part of a voluntary recall due to a problem with the camera mount. Looking at the advisory ... MoreThe Z8 is a truly impressive camera. It is far ahead of the Z7II on every front other than size and weight. You also will not get all of its advances in a smaller body anyway. Quite frankly, it mostly is a smaller Z9.Auto focus, pro controls, refined white balance and exposure options, and extremely responsive EVF (among other things) all make for an exceptional experience. I do landscapes and architecture, not wildlife, but as a test, took some shots out of the box of some hummingbirds, and it nailed auto focus and exposure almost every time. There is nothing about using the camera that has left me unimpressed.Here, however, is the problem. As of 6/23/2023, it is also part of a voluntary recall due to a problem with the camera mount. Looking at the advisory page, it is also easy enough to figure out the problem potentially affects at least the first 10,000 serial numbers. Unless you want to buy a camera and then immediately send it in for repair, I would suggest waiting at least a month until they cycle in new stock. Mine has already been returned and will be re-purchased at a later date. Again, it is an amazing camera, I just expect something better on the QC front for $4000.
I'm another person who's just made the conversion from a D850 to the Z 8. Had it for about a week now and quite happy--five stars and won't return it. Here are some of my original concerns and thoughts from using it for a week.Before buying the Z 8 I was concerned about how it would feel in my hands, especially my right hand where I have some arthritis in a few fingers. The space between the grip and lens is fine--unlike on some Sony A7 models where it's too tight.Also concerned about switching from an optical viewfinder (I'm old school) to a digital one. Once I realized I never focus through the viewfinder anymore the digital one made sense. I just compose in the viewfinder (other than on a tripod in the studio.) Took a bit to get used to it, like being briefly ... MoreI'm another person who's just made the conversion from a D850 to the Z 8. Had it for about a week now and quite happy--five stars and won't return it. Here are some of my original concerns and thoughts from using it for a week.Before buying the Z 8 I was concerned about how it would feel in my hands, especially my right hand where I have some arthritis in a few fingers. The space between the grip and lens is fine--unlike on some Sony A7 models where it's too tight.Also concerned about switching from an optical viewfinder (I'm old school) to a digital one. Once I realized I never focus through the viewfinder anymore the digital one made sense. I just compose in the viewfinder (other than on a tripod in the studio.) Took a bit to get used to it, like being briefly surprised to see stills in the viewfinder and having the image get a bit washed out in *extremely* bright backlight situations. Not a problem, though. And a minor thing. If you bring the camera to your eye the back panel turns off and the viewfinder turns on. Turns out this will also happen if you're looking at the back panel and a finger gets too close to the viewfinder. Not an issue, just something to get used to (not doing.)I did need some time to convert from D850 controls to Z 8 controls, such as changing exposure (that is, from full frame to center weighted, etc.) and fully exploiting exposure lock (different button.) Ditto with changing to RAW. Not sure what I did but in my first real use I somehow changed from RAW to JPEG for a bit. Must have fumble-fingered something. Otherwise, the overall workflow/look-and-feel of the menu options is fully familiar for a current Nikon user.I continue to use the same SD card I used in the D850. No issues for photo but it couldn't handle higher-quality videos. Ended up getting a CFExpress card. Did learn that some cards run far hotter than others. I ended up with a ProGrade Gold CFExpress card.On to video--I'm *really* impressed! I use BlackMagic video cameras which still have more bit depth but the Z 8 offers a lot and will become a companion to my BM cameras. RAW capture with NLog is great. I can easily color grade with a Color Checker chart. Even ProRes looks good. And I now have a camera that can do autofocus while videoing. And although I generally power video cameras from larger Lithium bricks (like ones used on the backs of larger video cameras) the internal battery lasted quite long during a recent session where the camera was filming for close to an hour. And in 4K RAW. Not a fully accurate test but suggests good utility.The default settings are a bit slim. I did spend a bunch of time turning on features I'm used to in the D850. For example, all the various screens I use when reviewing a photo such as histogram.Finally, I bought the FTZ adapter so I could use my existing F-mount lenses. It works fine with the one Sigma zoom I used with it. But I've learned a lot about the Z 8's fly-by-wire design. As I said above, I hardly ever do manual focus with the lens' focus ring. I did replace my F-mount 70-200mm f/2.8 with the new Z-mount 70-200mm f/2.8 S lens. I can now redefine the lens' focus ring to do other things! I want to see if I can use it to do exposure compensation.Hope this helps. Glad to try to answer questions any other converter has. :)
I'm very pleased with the Z8. I have a D850, which I like very much and, after considerable reading, I became interested in the Z9. When the Z8 became available my motivation turned to the Z8 because the cost was significantly less and the missing features were not important to me. A big plus is the ability to use several expensive FX lens, 24-70, 70-200 and prime 500. Those lens work exactly as they did on my D-850 and ditto for the VR feature. I don't notice any delay with the view finder and the controlling "buttons" are arranged similar to the D-850. A plus for me is the ability to take a much higher rate of frames per second. The only negative I've noticed is a slightly lower battery life compared with other Nikon cameras I've owned. Weight-wise, it is similar ... MoreI'm very pleased with the Z8. I have a D850, which I like very much and, after considerable reading, I became interested in the Z9. When the Z8 became available my motivation turned to the Z8 because the cost was significantly less and the missing features were not important to me. A big plus is the ability to use several expensive FX lens, 24-70, 70-200 and prime 500. Those lens work exactly as they did on my D-850 and ditto for the VR feature. I don't notice any delay with the view finder and the controlling "buttons" are arranged similar to the D-850. A plus for me is the ability to take a much higher rate of frames per second. The only negative I've noticed is a slightly lower battery life compared with other Nikon cameras I've owned. Weight-wise, it is similar to the D-850; I'm an old guy so weight is important to me now. The Z9 would have been noticeably heavier, especially combined with a big lense, i.e., the 500mm. The sensor cover/protector lessens the concern when changing lens when conditions are not ideal! One surprise was that the CFEXPRESS card can't be read by a XQD card reader; the CFEXPRESS card doesn't have a release button but that's not a big deal. You will be pleased with the Z8 camera.
I've owned several Nikon cameras including a D3300, D7100, D750, D850, Z6ii, Z7ii, Z9 and now the Z8 as a companion to the Z9. I shoot a lot of conformation dog shows and a couple weeks ago I took both cameras out for three days of shooting, with over 10,600 frames shot between them. The first real day of shooting the Z8 was over 3400 frames using not quite 50% of the battery. Of course, that was a lot of burst shooting with the camera set at 15 fps (I could shoot at 20fps, but don't feel that I need to.). While I loved the D850, for me the Z8 is an ideal replacement for that camera. The D850 could shoot 9 fps with the Nikon battery grip in place, but it was noisy enough, especially shooting bursts, to bother the occasional sensitive dog which is the last thing a ... MoreI've owned several Nikon cameras including a D3300, D7100, D750, D850, Z6ii, Z7ii, Z9 and now the Z8 as a companion to the Z9. I shoot a lot of conformation dog shows and a couple weeks ago I took both cameras out for three days of shooting, with over 10,600 frames shot between them. The first real day of shooting the Z8 was over 3400 frames using not quite 50% of the battery. Of course, that was a lot of burst shooting with the camera set at 15 fps (I could shoot at 20fps, but don't feel that I need to.). While I loved the D850, for me the Z8 is an ideal replacement for that camera. The D850 could shoot 9 fps with the Nikon battery grip in place, but it was noisy enough, especially shooting bursts, to bother the occasional sensitive dog which is the last thing a ringside photographer wants to do. The jump up to 15 fps almost always garners that perfect movement moment when the handler and dog are midair at the same time, while doing so very quietly. Handling-wise, it's almost identical to the Z9, albeit with less heft. I did buy the Nikon battery grip for the Z8 for those days when I might shoot 8000 frames and don't want to bother with changing batteries. (I often shoot with two camera bodies set up with different lenses covering wide angle and longer reach compositions.I went on a hike this past weekend in a local state park with the Z8 and the Nikon Z 24-120mm f4 lens. When I bought the Z8 I had planned to keep my Z7ii for hiking, travel and landscapes. But when I got the Z8 in my hands, I decided I could part with the Z7ii because while the Z8 in definitely closer to the D850 in size, it only weighs a 1/2 lb. more and is so much more camera. The difference in size and weight didn't really bother my mid-seventies body during the hike. The Z8 will definitely use more battery when using live view and puttering around shooting landscapes. I took about 150 shots using live view and no burst shooting in the garden and on my hike, and I probably would have needed a backup battery at about 450 frames. When the rumors were rampant about the Z8, I personally was hoping for a camera that was sized between the Z9 and Z7ii, with all of the wonderful autofocus and burst shooting capabilities of the Z9. I feel like I got my wish. If I were a heavy video shooter, the Z9 might be the better choice, but occasional videos, especially dialed down to 4k should be fine with the Z8. I'm keeping them both!
I have been using digital cameras for over 20 years, started with Canon point and shoot, but moved to Nikon full time in 2004. My path with Nikon has been D70, D200, D500, Z7ii and now Z8. The Z8 is the most incredible and competent camera I have ever had the pleasure to use. There is nothing it can not do as good as or better than any camera I have ever used, including the film cameras I used for over 20 years before I jumped to digital. The focus system is amazing, a clear level above the Z7ii and D500, and it is really good with exposure too. The low light ability has given me images I never would have got before. Since I got the Z8, I have only used it with the Z400 4.5 and the 500 PF shooting mostly birds and other wildlife. The Z400 4.5 seems a perfect match ... MoreI have been using digital cameras for over 20 years, started with Canon point and shoot, but moved to Nikon full time in 2004. My path with Nikon has been D70, D200, D500, Z7ii and now Z8. The Z8 is the most incredible and competent camera I have ever had the pleasure to use. There is nothing it can not do as good as or better than any camera I have ever used, including the film cameras I used for over 20 years before I jumped to digital. The focus system is amazing, a clear level above the Z7ii and D500, and it is really good with exposure too. The low light ability has given me images I never would have got before. Since I got the Z8, I have only used it with the Z400 4.5 and the 500 PF shooting mostly birds and other wildlife. The Z400 4.5 seems a perfect match for the Z8 for wildlife, they balance very nicely and it is very lightweight and handholdable. The 500 PF is awesome too. I love the no mechanical shutter bit, the 1st image I took was so quiet that I had to view the image to make sure that I took the photo. The sensor guard is great, no more sweating changing lens in the field. I have never had as much fun with photgraphy as I have had with the Z8. I have 4 other Z lens besides the Z400, the 2.8 trinity and the 100 macro and I can not wait to try them all. No regrets on this purchase, highly recommended. The photo of the bear was taken at f7.1 and 1/100 at 7:15 in the evening.
Finally, a mirrorless camera that is a better than me. I haven't felt this way with a camera since my D850 six years ago - but this is better. I enjoyed my D600, D700, D850, Z50, and Z7II. Those are all really good cameras, but this machine is a marvel and a challenge in the best possible ways. Outstanding optics, mechanics, functions and ergonomics. Already travels with me like a familiar friend. After some local basic function testing, I took it to a family beach weekend with my 24-120/4 and 70-200/2.8 and found the focusing system a thrill and a marvel. And the image production with people, animals and stills is 'stop and stare' quality. Outstanding hit rate. Post production work is actually fun. The Z8 has re-inspired my 50 years of amateur photography, and I'll ... MoreFinally, a mirrorless camera that is a better than me. I haven't felt this way with a camera since my D850 six years ago - but this is better. I enjoyed my D600, D700, D850, Z50, and Z7II. Those are all really good cameras, but this machine is a marvel and a challenge in the best possible ways. Outstanding optics, mechanics, functions and ergonomics. Already travels with me like a familiar friend. After some local basic function testing, I took it to a family beach weekend with my 24-120/4 and 70-200/2.8 and found the focusing system a thrill and a marvel. And the image production with people, animals and stills is 'stop and stare' quality. Outstanding hit rate. Post production work is actually fun. The Z8 has re-inspired my 50 years of amateur photography, and I'll enjoy catching up to its capability for a long time. This Nikon product leaves me wondering again - how and what is it that makes a camera so special? *footnote: buy big and fast cards - you'll enjoy getting your money's worth from them!!
I went down to the Phoenix area over the last few days and shot over 3,000 images in all kinds of light. The Z8 worked just as well as my Z9 with no problems. I do like the newer drive mode buttons for selecting my burst mode and fps. I don't have to take my eye off the subject now to hold down a locking button and then turn the dial. I just push the drive button and spin the front or rear dial for the type of drive (S,L,H,T). I think that is a bit easier.Now for the battery life. I started with a full battery in the morning and shot until mid afternoon. My friend was using his Sony A1 along side me. After about 700 shots (single and burst), I was down to 30%. My friend's Sony was down to about 70%. Towards the end of the shoot, my battery was down to 11% so I put ... MoreI went down to the Phoenix area over the last few days and shot over 3,000 images in all kinds of light. The Z8 worked just as well as my Z9 with no problems. I do like the newer drive mode buttons for selecting my burst mode and fps. I don't have to take my eye off the subject now to hold down a locking button and then turn the dial. I just push the drive button and spin the front or rear dial for the type of drive (S,L,H,T). I think that is a bit easier.Now for the battery life. I started with a full battery in the morning and shot until mid afternoon. My friend was using his Sony A1 along side me. After about 700 shots (single and burst), I was down to 30%. My friend's Sony was down to about 70%. Towards the end of the shoot, my battery was down to 11% so I put a fresh one in. The next day, I continued using that battery and when I finished the shoot, I had about 50% less. So I shot right at 3000 images with 1.5 batteries! Not too bad! I did occasionally remember to shut the camera off between shoots which helped a lot. So I would recommend carrying one or two spare batteries with you on a long shoot.I would definitely recommend this wonderful camera! I feel like it is my beloved D50 reincarnated, but with a much younger generation's capabilities. It feels great in my hands and feels so much lighter than the Z9. Battery life isn't as good, but the weight difference easily makes up for that!
I have been waiting to see if Fuji would come out with a true wildlife lens or if an adapter would actually work to adapt good glass - but after some recent disappointment in Fuji's announcements and unsuccessful attempts with numerous adapters I decided it was time to make a change. I don't see a clear winner in the high-end full-frame market - but I have a great distaste for two of the competitors and a 35 year past history with Nikon SLRs and DSLRs - so I decided I'd get a Z9 after borrowing one and trying it out with an adapted 600 f/4. Soooo... I sold my Fuji gear and bought a few Nikon lenses while ordering a Z9. I quickly realized that my time to wait for the Z9 (and the 800 f/6.3 - and for them to release and deliver a 600 f/4) was going to be substantial so ... MoreI have been waiting to see if Fuji would come out with a true wildlife lens or if an adapter would actually work to adapt good glass - but after some recent disappointment in Fuji's announcements and unsuccessful attempts with numerous adapters I decided it was time to make a change. I don't see a clear winner in the high-end full-frame market - but I have a great distaste for two of the competitors and a 35 year past history with Nikon SLRs and DSLRs - so I decided I'd get a Z9 after borrowing one and trying it out with an adapted 600 f/4. Soooo... I sold my Fuji gear and bought a few Nikon lenses while ordering a Z9. I quickly realized that my time to wait for the Z9 (and the 800 f/6.3 - and for them to release and deliver a 600 f/4) was going to be substantial so I decided to invest in a Z6II in the interim so I could at least continue to shoot. I bought an FTZ II and a 500 f/5.6 PF as well as a native Z 24-70 f/2.8 and borrowed a Z 100-400 to get going. What a HUGE disappointment.I had read some serious online tests calling out Nikon's autofocus - but many claimed it was improving. All I can say is I'd hate to see what it was before. My old D850 and D750 gave me 90%+ hit rates for birds in flight and basically never missed when taking pictures of people. My Fuji X-T3 came close and the X-T4 actually matched my old DSLRs without issue. This Z6 II isn't even in the ballpark. Try as I might with a variety of focus techniques it just can't handle anything but the simplest focus situations well. Some cases in point.I took the camera out this weekend with the 500 f/5.6 on it looking for birds. I got some great shots of a Pileated Woodpecker on a tree against a blue sky and then sat across a pond from a juvenile yellow-crowned nigh heron capturing a number of keepers. All is well - right? Well no. When the woodpecker took off I was in the recommended Wide L focus mode and it locked onto the bird until it lost the blue sky background and flew in front of some trees. You know... kind of what ALL birds do and you spend 90% of your time working with when you take pictures of them. Within 2 shots the camera had shifted to the trees in the background and I couldn't get focus back even though I could plainly see the (now blurry) woodpecker was being kept within the focus box in the EVF. I finally cranked the focus ring and started to get it back just as it flew out of site. ARRGGGHHHH!!! NEVER with my X-T4.When I got home I went to look at the shots of the night heron. I did indeed have some keepers because I thought to manually focus a few shots. And thank goodness I did. Note that when I manually focused I was at f/6.3 and the peaking lines were showing up from the tip of the beak to the back of the head. Plenty of depth of field for the distance I was at. When I looked at the autofocus shots the beak was sharp - but by the time you get to the eyes they are just fuzzy enough to be annoying. COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE! Again - something I would never have gotten from a less expensive (though much more fully featured) APS-C camera using a less expensive (though truly underrated) lens.Lest you think it is the lens - think again. I used the borrowed 100-400 in the back yard around my feeders to carry out some tests. I hadn't had time to look at the images until now and wow - major disappointment again. These are stationary birds for the most part and the hit rate doesn't even touch 70%. Many of the images are just barely out of crisp focus which is extra irritating.And guess what - people are no better when using the 24-70. I turn on face/eye detection and the yellow box stays locked onto the eye as I take shots. Surely this must work - right? Wrong. The focus is on the eyelashes most of the time and just misses the eye being tack sharp. I generally use my GFX 100s for portraits and money making photos - so this isn't huge for me, but what if this was your child's birthday party and it is all you have?So maybe I should use the focus adjustment? Not so sure on that. Versus DSLRs that have a separate sensor for focusing - the image sensor on a mirrorless camera is used for focusing as well as capturing the image. Essentially if the peaking lines you see when manually focusing yield a sharp image - the camera should do the same thing. But it doesn't.Then there is the menu system. Whereas I am now used to simple menus that make it easy to find anything you want - these menus border on haphazard. How do I get the camera to stop turning off every 30 seconds? Well I have looked all over and nothing seems to stop it.How about features you would expect on a $1,000 camera from other brands like the ability to have a level in the EVF or to be able to display the level, frame lines, and a histogram at the same time? Not there - or at least I can't find it despite my best attempts. Maybe there is some magical combo of menus and buttons that I need to use while I chant I wish I still had my XT, I wish I still had my XT.Like I said - I bought the Z9 because I used it and liked it. While it still had a couple of autofocus shortcomings compared to the Sony A1 - it was better than my X-T4. Even just firing off 100 or so shots I think I might have missed twice and had some less than stellar results that were still sort of usable another 7-8 times. But here is the thing - I always keep a second body handy. Used to be my old X-T3 (also sold). In the DSLR days before I switched it was my D750 playing backup first to my D810 then later to my D850. What I see with this Z6 II is a sign that if you want a Nikon that works you need to buy the Z9. And if you need a backup - well... buy another Z9. That is a pretty steep price to pay to have a backup body that you trust.I certainly hope all of this nonsense gets sorted out. My guess with autofocus is there isn't enough processing power to ever match the Z9 let alone Sony, Canon, and Fuji. That leaves me little hope that a firmware update will do anything to improve the situation. So what am I to do besides wait on my backorder to be filled? I need a camera to shoot with. I guess it means I go back to manual focus. At some point in the distant past I was able to do it with my FM2 when I started shooting birds in the 80s. Not sure if my eyes are up to it any more, but surely I can do better than this nonsense.Oh... and I won't even talk about the color issues (compared to my old DSLRs), occasional dead pixel in the shots, laggy EVF, noisy images at ISO 3200 and above, and relatively poor ergonomics including the lens release on the OUTSIDE of the lens rather than inside by the grip. That would just be adding insult to injury.If you missed it - I do NOT recommend buying this camera under any circumstances. I make money on my photography and I can't imagine doing so with this camera without having to workaround all of its numerous shortcomings. There are so many good choices on the market that opting for a camera like this just seems to say either brand loyalty is everything or I just didn't bother to try other options. I really love the Z9 and will probably drop this Z6 II heap on eBay once I can get a second Z9 body.
I have always wanted the features found in Nikon's flagship models such as the D5, D6 Z9. But the size and weight of those cameras, let alone the cost, was not to my liking. I tried other Nikon models such as the D850 and D500, but they could not compete when it came to action shots.Finally, Nikon gave us the Z8, a camera with virtually the same specifications of their flagship camera, the Z9.For those of you who have not experienced mirrorless cameras, it may well be time to get your feet wet and get the Z8. I have owned the Z7 for almost five years, and despite some of its flaws, I was convinced that the mirrorless technology was the future of photography.The Z8 shows just how good this new technology is. From the viewfinder that allows me to see what my ... MoreI have always wanted the features found in Nikon's flagship models such as the D5, D6 Z9. But the size and weight of those cameras, let alone the cost, was not to my liking. I tried other Nikon models such as the D850 and D500, but they could not compete when it came to action shots.Finally, Nikon gave us the Z8, a camera with virtually the same specifications of their flagship camera, the Z9.For those of you who have not experienced mirrorless cameras, it may well be time to get your feet wet and get the Z8. I have owned the Z7 for almost five years, and despite some of its flaws, I was convinced that the mirrorless technology was the future of photography.The Z8 shows just how good this new technology is. From the viewfinder that allows me to see what my image looks like before I grab the image (letting me get the proper exposure), and letting me see a bright viewfinder image even when there is marginal lighting, to a remarkable, intelligent focus system that tracks most any subject you choose. For the first time, I can concentrate on framing the image rather than just trying to keep things in focus. Just set the Z8 to 3D tracking and auto on subject detection and be amazed. No DSLR can come close to this kind of tracking and accuracy.Technology is now doing to cameras what it did to computers and cell phones. Today's cameras, such as the Z8, are smart and that trend is only going to continue. The mechanical limitations of the DSLR are history. The Z8 has no moving parts except the protection shutter that only operates when the camera is turned off. Now there is an on board computer that can quickly analyze what the sensor sees. It knows what a person, bird, animal, plane, car etc. looks like and instantly focuses on whatever I pick. If the Z8 finds an eye it focuses on it immediately. If the eye disappears, the Z8 still focuses on the subject till the eye re-appears. It is like magic.There so many other advantages. No more mirror slap, or shutter bounce to mar those long telephoto images. Insane shutter speeds to 1/32,000 second. As in cell phones there is the ability to take images up to 1 second before pushing the shutter. No blanking of the display when taking rapid shots of most any duration and at speeds up to 120 frames per second. Real communication to S lenses for faster focus, better VR, not to mention excellent sharpness. And there will be future software updates that will enhance the camera's ability and function. What's not to like?The DSLR is a bit like a Steam Locomotive. There is a lot of nostalgia and fondness for those mechanical monsters, but there are so many reasons for them not being the choice in today's world.Today, the Z8 is the camera we all have been waiting for. One day, as well, it will be obsolete , that being the nature of the fast advances in computer technology. But today, I am going out and have fun with the Z8 and not look back.
Been a longtime Nikon user and this is the first that I regret buying. After using two Z6ii's for almost a year, I decided I can't deal with them anymore. Despite what the influencers online say, the AF is really horrible for shooting events in darkness (even with AF assist lights). It's low light AF in every mode with any lens is as bad as cameras from 10-15 years ago. No exaggeration. Sensor isn't great either for today's standards - clips highlights easy, colors from raw files are a bit mushy, and sensor also lacks sharpness (probably because of the AA filter). Camera will also overheat while shooting stills when using certain CFe cards such as Lexar (which are even recommended by Nikon!), and it will result in the loss of images because it won't write any files ... MoreBeen a longtime Nikon user and this is the first that I regret buying. After using two Z6ii's for almost a year, I decided I can't deal with them anymore. Despite what the influencers online say, the AF is really horrible for shooting events in darkness (even with AF assist lights). It's low light AF in every mode with any lens is as bad as cameras from 10-15 years ago. No exaggeration. Sensor isn't great either for today's standards - clips highlights easy, colors from raw files are a bit mushy, and sensor also lacks sharpness (probably because of the AA filter). Camera will also overheat while shooting stills when using certain CFe cards such as Lexar (which are even recommended by Nikon!), and it will result in the loss of images because it won't write any files stored in the buffer once it overheats (it won't even write to the backup slot). Poor software design. I lost a buffer full of about 100 wedding images due to this issue. Also, having to use two different memory card types for each slot is annoying (not to mention the CFe's are expensive). I could go on but overall this camera is a liability with poor performance. Body feels nice in hand though.
| Megapixel | 24 Megapixels |
| Video Type | 4K Video Recording |
| Image Processor | Dual EXPEED 6 Image Processors |
| Sensor | CMOS Sensor |
| Shutter Speed | 1/8000 to 900 Seconds |
