BCG Forums
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Z8 and Z9, which do you use the most | Backcountry Gallery Photography Forums
March 5, 2024 - Click to expand... Did you mean to ask, Z9 and Z8? ... Click to expand... Yes, thank you ... For wildlife in motion, I find the Z9 superior because of its larger buffer. It’s also better balanced with long lenses. And, battery life is better.
Fstoppers
fstoppers.com › reviews › choosing-between-nikon-z9-and-z8-wildlife-photography-654849
Choosing Between the Nikon Z9 and Z8 for Wildlife Photography | Fstoppers
January 24, 2024 - On the other hand, the Z8, being lighter and more compact, offers similar features in a more travel-friendly package. This aspect is crucial for photographers who value portability and often embark on lengthy treks to capture wildlife.
Not sure which to buy? Z8? Z9? (Wildlife mainly)
If you are not planning to jump into professional photography, I will recommend sticking to Z8. Z8 trumps over Z9 in terms of form factor. It's smaller and lighter compared to the latter. A key factor for those long wildlife sessions. Z9 trumps Z8 for having longer battery life and faster cards. Rest both are primarily the same camera under the hood. You are best to decide, which suits you more. Edit: Updating thoughts on the current setup. Z7ii - Scores big on 45MP sensor Z50ii - Offers expeed 7 processor I.e. better Autofocus, speed & video capabilities. While, both are good Z8 offers the best of Z50ii & Z7ii in one body. So theoretically one Z8 can replace both other cameras. However, having Z50ii with pancake lenses like 40mm & 28mm can be a fun light weight camera for most travel use cases. More on reddit.com
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April 18, 2025Z8 vs Z9 - bird photo quality: Nikon Z Mirrorless Talk Forum
Dear all, I know.. lots of comparisons before on this... I read them but I can't find the answer. I nearly placed an order for a new Z8 as I see that my D500 and D850 fps are too slow for Bird. But.. on a trip to the local park, a lady with Z9 + 400 2.8 TC, mentioned to me that she got Z8 and... More on dpreview.com
Z8 vs Z9 for the same price
Here is my dilemma: in order to upgrade my d500 for a better af tracking (bif / wildlife) I was looking at the z8. Yet they sell z9 for almost the same price (4.8k vs 4.3), both new, no grey market etc. so I’m not sure what is better. On the one hand the z8 is attractive, a bit smaller and... More on dpreview.com
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June 21, 2023Z8 or Z9 with the 180-600mm lens?
I admit, I'm pretty novice compared to others on this sub, but $2k seems like a lot of money if your only reason for the Z9 is balance. More on reddit.com
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March 18, 2024Videos
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Nikon Z8 vs Z9 | Full Comparison | Why I prefer the Nikon Z8 - YouTube
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Photography Life
photographylife.com › home › comparison › nikon z8 vs nikon z9: which one should you get?
Nikon Z8 vs Nikon Z9: Which One Should You Get?
October 15, 2025 - I have essentially all buttons ... Buy a photo vest and wear your gear. ... The Z8 offers lighter weight, no GPS, one card slot which is not useful when high speeds are needed....
Reddit
reddit.com › r/nikon_zseries › not sure which to buy? z8? z9? (wildlife mainly)
r/nikon_Zseries on Reddit: Not sure which to buy? Z8? Z9? (Wildlife mainly)
April 18, 2025 -
Good morning all, thanks for your help in advance.
I currently have a Z7ii and a Z50ii I use the Z7 more for taking special pictures and wildlife (mostly birds), but the Z50ii which was bought for a smaller carry around camera is fast becoming my favourite because of the extra features (especially bird tracking).
I’m now wondering if it would be a big jump up in features and quality if I went to the Z8 or Z9? Mainly just for the bird tracking without having a crop.
I have the Z mount 180-600 which I love and the F mount 500mm F4 which is my favourite lens for wildlife. They all work incredibly well together even with 1.4 TC and even 2.0TC on occasion.
More than happy to sell some older gear to help pay for the upgrade so money isn’t an issue, with that in mind what would you guys suggest?
Many thanks
(Also open to any other body suggestions too)
Top answer 1 of 5
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If you are not planning to jump into professional photography, I will recommend sticking to Z8. Z8 trumps over Z9 in terms of form factor. It's smaller and lighter compared to the latter. A key factor for those long wildlife sessions. Z9 trumps Z8 for having longer battery life and faster cards. Rest both are primarily the same camera under the hood. You are best to decide, which suits you more. Edit: Updating thoughts on the current setup. Z7ii - Scores big on 45MP sensor Z50ii - Offers expeed 7 processor I.e. better Autofocus, speed & video capabilities. While, both are good Z8 offers the best of Z50ii & Z7ii in one body. So theoretically one Z8 can replace both other cameras. However, having Z50ii with pancake lenses like 40mm & 28mm can be a fun light weight camera for most travel use cases.
2 of 5
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The Z8 hands down, I have that paired with my Z mount 180-600 and the results are phenomenal.
Digital Photography Review
dpreview.com › forums › camera companies › nikon talk › nikon z mirrorless talk
Z8 vs Z9 - bird photo quality: Nikon Z Mirrorless Talk Forum
March 24, 2024 - I have both the Z9 and Z8, and with Firmware 2.0 on the Z8, I can see no meaningful difference between either camera either with respect to AF performance or final output image quality. ... Both are exactly the same. You don't need more camera than these for photographing birds, ever.
Tonywhitehead
tonywhitehead.com › home › blog › nikon z8 better than z9 for bird photography (again)
Nikon Z8 Better than Z9 for Bird Photography (again) - WildLight Photography
July 17, 2025 - On 25 Feb 2024 I wrote on Why the Nikon Z8 is a Better Bird Camera than Z9 (for now) At that stage the Z8 was better than the Z9 as a firmware update had enable a function button to be set to cycle AF area modes and this was a huge step forward ...
Tonywhitehead
tonywhitehead.com › home › blog › why the nikon z8 is a better bird camera than the z9 (for now)
Why the Nikon Z8 is a Better Bird Camera than the Z9 (for now) - WildLight Photography
February 25, 2024 - This makes the Z8 as good as the Z9 at focussing and tracking birds so why do I say it is better? The biggest learing curve I had with the change from the Nikon D500/D850 to the Nikon Z9 was getting to grips with the focus system.
Bcgwebstore
bcgwebstore.com › home › e-books › the ultimate nikon z8 and z9 setup & shooting guide for wildlife photography
The Ultimate Nikon Z8 And Z9 Setup & Shooting Guide For Wildlife Photography – Backcountry Gallery Web Store
The Ultimate Nikon Z8 And Z9 Setup & Shooting Guide For Wildlife Photography
Are you a Nikon Z8/9 shooter addicted to wildlife photography? Do you feel like you can get more from your Z8/9 but aren’t sure how to make it happen? Do you want to learn the best possible combination of settings – and how to use them – for wildlife work? Do you want a killer set of customizations designed to send more keepers to your cards?
If so, I’m about to make your day!
Price $28.97
Digital Photography Review
dpreview.com › forums › camera companies › nikon talk › nikon z mirrorless talk
Z8 vs Z9 for the same price: Nikon Z Mirrorless Talk Forum
June 21, 2023 - Things like battery life can be ... the Z9 you absolutely need, then you already know the answer. Just IMO. ... GPS is pretty nice as a wildlife photographer but if I could do it again I'd go z8....
Oxbow Photography
oxbowphoto.com › articles › nikon-z8-wildlife-review
Nikon Z8 with the 800 Z VR S - a Wildlife Photographer’s Review — Oxbow Photography
November 19, 2023 - While the Z6’s and Z7’s were ... you will understand why. There is no contest. I would buy this over the Z9 if I prioritized having the smaller and lighter body. It’s probably the better choice for a variety of smaller ...
Reddit
reddit.com › r/nikon › z8 or z9 with the 180-600mm lens?
r/Nikon on Reddit: Z8 or Z9 with the 180-600mm lens?
March 18, 2024 -
I'm deciding between the Z8 & Z9 for wildlife photography. I've heard that the Z9 is preferable for balancing long lenses. I'm curious, does this apply to the Nikon 180-600mm lens or is there not much of a difference in balance there?
Top answer 1 of 5
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I admit, I'm pretty novice compared to others on this sub, but $2k seems like a lot of money if your only reason for the Z9 is balance.
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I have the Z8 with the 180-600. Balances perfectly fine for me, both in hand and on a gimbal. Best advice I can give is if you can get to a shop to try then definitely do that, as it can be a personal preference.
Mirrorless Comparison
mirrorlesscomparison.com › home › nikon z8 vs z9 – the 10 main differences
Nikon Z8 vs Z9 - The 10 Main Differences - Mirrorless Comparison
May 15, 2025 - However, the choice between the Z8 and the Z9 ultimately boils down to personal preferences and, of course, your budget. The Z9 is larger and heavier, but it remains remarkably comfortable to use. Its 1.3kg weight didn’t pose any significant ...
Medium
medium.com › @bestoflens.com › nikon-z8-vs-nikon-z9-d52f10df8508
Nikon Z8 vs Nikon Z9. Nikon Z9 vs. Z8: A Tale of Two Titans | by Sharon Advik | Medium
September 9, 2025 - ... Speed & Performance: The Z9 reigns supreme in speed. It boasts a blistering 30 fps continuous shooting rate with full autofocus and auto-exposure, making it a beast for sports and wildlife photography...
Conservation Mag
conservationmag.org › home › photography › reviewing the nikon z8: a bird & wildlife photographer's journey from dslr to mirrorless
Reviewing the Nikon Z8: A Bird & Wildlife Photographer's Journey from DSLR to Mirrorless
December 5, 2025 - Ideally for wildlife and bird enthusiasts and photographers, the Nikon Z8 offers a high-end mirrorless camera with many features and the performance of the flagship Nikon Z9, but in a smaller and more affordable package.
BCG Forums
bcgforums.com › home › discussion forums › general photo discussion
Nikon z9 vs Z8…. Not what I expected… | Backcountry Gallery Photography Forums
November 28, 2024 - As it stands, the Z9 probably has the edge in AF performance... This is assuming its more recent firmware update (v5.0 13-iii-2024) incorporated the latest standard of Deep-Learning training of the subject detection.
Zsentry
zsentry.com › nikon-z9-vs-z8-autofocus-p281
Nikon Z9 vs Z8 for Wildlife & Sports: A Focus on Autofocus - Zsentry
May 8, 2025 - Q: Does the Z8 use the same autofocus sensor as the Z9? A: Yes, both cameras use the same sensor and image processor, ensuring comparable image quality and autofocus capabilities. Q: Which camera is better for wildlife photography?
Fstoppers
fstoppers.com › gear › should-buy-nikon-z8-or-z9-632864
Should You Buy the Nikon Z8 or Z9? | Fstoppers
May 16, 2023 - We spent roughly $1,500 more on our Z9 bodies and then Nikon released this camera with basically the same features for less. And, while I love my Z9, the larger body that I love on set does admittedly start to feel heavy if being used for more casual shooting in the street. Yet, I don’t feel any buyer’s remorse at all for spending more on the Z9. While, at the same time, I absolutely love what they’ve done with the Z8. I almost feel as though the best setup for any photographer would be to own one of each, budget permitting, of course, as the two bodies actually complement each other extremely well.
Camera Decision
cameradecision.com › compare › Nikon-Z8-vs-Nikon-Z9
Nikon Z8 vs Nikon Z9 Detailed Comparison
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon Z8 and Nikon Z9 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.