An apparently leaked picture of a brand new Nikon Z8 full-frame digicam has emerged to excite Nikon followers – however whereas it sadly seems to be like a Photoshopped placeholder, the long-awaited Canon EOS R5 rival does appear more and more prone to launch quickly.

The Nikon Z8 picture in query (beneath) got here from the Twitter account ‘how2fly (opens in new tab)‘, which does not have a protracted observe file of reporting leaks or inside info, nevertheless it was picked up by the dependable Nikon Rumors (opens in new tab).

Nikon Rumors was non-committal in regards to the picture’s validity, and it actually seems to be like a crudely Photoshopped press shot of the Nikon Z9, solely with out its built-on grip. In equity, ‘how2fly’ additionally did not declare the picture to be official, stating that it is “not allowed to share the high-res image but”, suggesting that that is certainly a placeholder.

Nikon Z8 is mainly a Z9 with out the vertical grip,with the identical 45.71 MP stacked sensor and EXPEED 7 processor inside. I’m not allowed to share the excessive res image YET,so… pic.twitter.com/vD796AkVs3July 31, 2022

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So what ought to digicam followers make of the Nikon Z8 rumors? Different rumor websites, together with Canon Watch (opens in new tab), have prompt that the ‘how2fly’ Twitter account is a dependable supply, regardless of its historic lack of Nikon predictions.

However there are different causes to imagine that the rising Nikon Z8 rumors have at the least some substance behind them. To begin with, Nikon Rumors (opens in new tab) revealed in June that the digicam big would launch two new cameras final month – the Nikon Z30, which did certainly land in late June, and an unknown full-frame digicam.

Since then, rumors have grown that this digicam could be a Nikon Z8, moderately than a Nikon Z6 III or Z7 III, and that it may launch as quickly as this month. And on paper, this could make sense – with the principle query mark being round which sensor the full-frame mirrorless digicam might need.

Nikon would not presently have a direct rival to the Canon EOS R5 at that digicam’s $3,899 / £4,199 / AU$6,899 value level. And it additionally nonetheless hasn’t provided a real successor to the Nikon D850, its best-ever DSLR, and a workhorse that many professionals nonetheless depend on.

This explains the latest rumors from the likes of ‘how2fly’ that the Nikon Z8 may have the identical 45.7MP stacked sensor and Expeed 7 processor because the Nikon Z9, the corporate’s flagship mirrorless digicam. The slight downside with the Nikon Z9, even for a lot of professional shooters, is its measurement and $5,499 / £5,299 / AU$8,999 price ticket, so a smaller Nikon Z8 will surely make sense.

The query is the place this leaves the Nikon Z7 II, a digicam that is presently the closest to being a Nikon D850 equal. The reply might be that it will merely stay as a extra reasonably priced possibility for photographers, with the Nikon Z8 providing true hybrid energy for stills and video – however we’ll have to attend for some extra substantial leaks and rumors to make certain.

Evaluation: A Nikon D850 successor-in-waiting? 

Final month, a Nikkei article (opens in new tab) sparked rumors that Nikon would “cease growing single-lens reflex fashions” to “concentrate on mirrorless fashions”. And whereas Nikon stated that it will proceed “the manufacturing, gross sales and repair of digital SLR” cameras, it did not instantly refute the ideas that DSLR improvement was at an finish.

Nobody had realistically anticipated Nikon to launch a Nikon D860 DSLR to succeed the D850, however these rumors – and, extra clearly, the arrival of the Nikon Z9 – add to a rising sense that the corporate is now going full pace forward on mirrorless cameras.

The Nikon Z9 exhibits that the corporate’s mirrorless tech in areas like autofocus, burst capturing and video does now eclipse that of traditional DSLRs just like the Nikon D850 – significantly when it is primarily based on a stacked sensor.

However the Nikon Z9 stays a particularly unique digicam. It is presently out of inventory in most areas, together with the US and UK, and its $5,499 / £5,299 / AU$8,999 price ticket stays prohibitive for nearly everybody past company photographers and well-heeled professionals.

Whereas there nonetheless have not been any Nikon Z8 leaks but, the idea actually does make sense. A smaller digicam primarily based on the Nikon Z9’s stacked sensor, solely with barely curtailed 8K video and burst capturing powers, would make a formidable rival to the favored Canon EOS R5, even when it will possible be pricier than that $3,899 / £4,199 / AU$6,899 digicam.

It will additionally lastly give us a real mirrorless successor to the Nikon D850, a digicam that was forward of its time when it arrived in 2017, however which is now eclipsed by flagship mirrorless cameras in areas like steady capturing. 

However, it will additionally steal a few of the highlight from the Nikon Z9, which was solely introduced in October 2021 – so we’ll merely have to attend for some extra credible rumors earlier than we may be positive of what Nikon has deliberate for its subsequent huge launch.