Nikon’s subsequent mirrorless digital camera has been a very long time coming. Rumors have swirled concerning the Z8 – poised to be one of many yr’s most enjoyable cameras – for greater than two years. However in case you’re eagerly awaiting its arrival, the newest rumors appear like excellent news: in keeping with Nikon Rumors (opens in new tab), the Nikon Z8 might be “coming in early Could”.

If that’s true, the newest addition to Nikon’s Z sequence might break cowl in lower than a month. Whereas that is an thrilling improvement for followers of Nikon’s Z mount cameras, it’s value noting that Nikon Rumors has additionally certified the assertion with some uncertainty. Rumors are uncertain by definition, and the that means of “coming in early Could” may be interpreted in just a few methods.

It might be that Nikon’s gearing as much as totally launch the Z8 subsequent month, or on the very least make an official announcement about its existence – one thing we haven’t but seen. Equally, it would imply that Nikon is just planning to start out the Z8’s advertising marketing campaign in Could. Or that subsequent month is when Nikon will start presenting the digital camera internally and to sellers.

So whereas we’re quietly hopeful that we’ll see the Nikon Z8 unveiled within the subsequent few months, we wouldn’t essentially wager on a full launch taking place in Could. Nonetheless, the proof does more and more level in the direction of the brand new mirrorless mannequin arriving this yr, set to fit in between the Nikon Z7 II and Nikon Z9.

Fairly than twiddling our thumbs till it does, the newest rumors have gotten us desirous about what options we need to see on the Nikon Z8. We’ve put collectively an in-depth Nikon Z8 preview of what we predict you’ll be able to count on to see from the brand new mirrorless mannequin, however we’ve additionally outlined a few of our high predictions concerning the Z8’s greatest options beneath.

Nikon Z8: What we need to see

1. A Z9 with the physique of a Z7

There’s an apparent hole that wants filling between the Z7 II and the Z9 in Nikon’s mirrorless line-up. The actual query is the way it will get stuffed – and we’re hoping the reply is with a mixture of the 2.

The Z9 is Nikon’s strongest digital camera ever, with stacks of photographic efficiency. It’s additionally massive, cumbersome and heavy. Whereas the Z7 II isn’t any slouch, it’s additionally extra compact than the Z9, with a incredible management structure and a useful type issue that we praised in our evaluation.

In an excellent world, we’d like to see the Z8 borrow a number of the Z9’s headline {hardware} – equivalent to its stacked full-frame 45.7MP sensor – whereas adopting dimensions nearer to the Z7 II. And if current rumors show true, our hopes might be fulfilled.

Nikon Rumors (opens in new tab) has described the Z8 as a “hybrid digital camera between the Z7 and the Z9”. In a mockup shared on the positioning, the Z8 is positioned as a stepping stone between the 2. And comparisons to the Nikon D850 might be greater than religious: if solutions are true, the Z8 might be an identical top and width as its pro-grade predecessor, albeit slimmer on account of its mirrorless setup.

2. 8K video at 60fps

A couple of rumor has drawn comparisons between the Nikon Z8 and the Sony A7R V – top-of-the-line skilled cameras you should purchase. If there’s a technique we’d wish to see the Z8 high its Sony rival, it’s within the video stakes: the A7R V shoots 8K, however solely at 24fps.

We all know that Nikon has the tech to report full-frame 8K at 60fps, as a result of that’s precisely what the Z9 can do. However whereas its dimensions would possibly ape these of the D850, it appears unlikely that the Z8 could have the ability to seize footage of that high quality – no less than with out an non-obligatory battery grip.

What we hope the Z8 will be capable to do, although, is shoot cropped 8K video at 60fps. We additionally need it to report 8K at 30fps utilizing the complete width of the sensor, even when there are closing dates for the sake of warmth administration. Each of those specs would give the Z8 the sting over the A7R V – and make it a correctly highly effective hybrid for fans.

3. A high-resolution EVF

For a digital camera with such superlative efficiency, the Nikon Z9 doesn’t have the sharpest EVF in the marketplace. At 3.69m dots, it falls in need of the Canon EOS R3’s 5.76m-dot viewfinder, and shorter nonetheless in comparison with the 9.44m-dot EVF of the A7R V.

In an excellent world, we’d like to see the Nikon Z8 ship with an EVF to match: the specs recommended by Nikon Rumors embrace a 9.44m-dot EVF. This might give the Z8 a class-leading viewfinder to assist it go toe-to-toe with one of the best mirrorless cameras.

The issue with this ambition is that it could give the Z8 a sharper EVF than Nikon’s flagship Z9. A extra probably situation is that it arrives geared up with a 5.76m-dot EVF. Whereas that is nonetheless extra megapixels than the Z9, it creates much less of a gulf between the 2. In any case, it wouldn’t be the primary time {that a} ‘decrease’ mannequin in Nikon’s line-up trumps a ‘increased’ one: the Nikon Z6 II, for instance, has increased burst taking pictures speeds than the Nikon Z7 II.

4. Improved autofocus talents

The Z9 advantages from Nikon’s best-ever autofocus system, with computerized topic detection and simultaneous 3D monitoring. It additionally has 5 instances extra auto-area AF factors than the Nikon Z7 II. But if the Nikon Z8 goes to compete with the AI-powered topic recognition provided by the Sony A7R V, it could have to take issues additional nonetheless.

Nikon Rumors suggests precisely that, reporting that the Z8 will supply “improved autofocus”. What precisely this may entail isn’t clear, however we’d hope to see extra AF factors: the Z9 has 493 to the A7R V’s 693. We’d additionally wish to see additional developments to 3D monitoring and topic detection, whether or not that’s the power to trace extra topics – the Z9 can monitor 10 – or recognise further varieties of topic.

On the one hand, it appears unlikely that the Z8 would usurp the Z9’s headline autofocus talents. On the opposite, that’s precisely what it would have to do. What’s extra, a firmware replace might enable the Z9 to maintain tempo with any subject-detection enhancements launched with the Z8.

5. A completely articulating touchscreen

Each the Nikon Z7 II and Z9 characteristic 3.2-inch touchscreens. The previous has a panel that tilts vertically, whereas the latter makes use of a dual-axis show that may tilt each horizontally and vertically. Each make it simpler to shoot from difficult angles, however neither provides the full framing flexibility of a totally articulating touchscreen. Which is precisely why we need to see one on the Z8.

Discuss of a vari-angle touchscreen is likely to be conjecture at greatest, however that doesn’t imply it’s any much less interesting as a proposition: lots of the greatest hybrid mirrorless cameras characteristic articulating shows, together with the Canon EOS R5, the Fujifilm X-H2S and the Sony A7R V. A completely articulating touchscreen is due to this fact one other alternative for the Z8 to step up towards Nikon’s hybrid mirrorless rivals.

It’s additionally one that may make the brand new mannequin a extra versatile all-rounder for each stills and video shooters. We’ve already seen vari-angle touchscreens on the Nikon Z fc and final yr’s Nikon Z30, each of which have a lot smaller our bodies than the Z8 is predicted to. So we all know that Nikon is succesful – right here’s hoping it delivers.