A seemingly leaked image of a new full-frame Nikon Z8 camera has surfaced to excite Nikon fans – but while it looks like a Photoshop placeholder, the long-awaited rival Canon EOS R5 looks increasingly likely to be released soon.
The image of the Nikon Z8 in question (below) came from the Twitter account’how2fly (opens in new tab)‘, which doesn’t have a long history of reporting leaks or insider information, but was chosen by the trusted Nikon rumors (opens in new tab).
Nikon Rumors hasn’t compromised on the image’s validity, and it certainly looks like a crudely photoshopped press photo of the Nikon Z9, only without its built-in handle. To be fair, ‘how2fly’ has also not claimed that the image is official, stating that it is “not yet allowed to share the high resolution image”, suggesting that this is in fact a placeholder.
The Nikon Z8 is basically a Z9 without the vertical grip, with the same stacked 45.71 MP sensor and EXPEED 7 processor inside. I don’t have permission to share the high resolution image YET so… pic.twitter.com/vD796AkVs3July 31, 2022
So what should camera fans think about the Nikon Z8 rumors? Other rumor sites, including Canon Watch (opens in new tab)suggested that the ‘how2fly’ Twitter account is a reliable source, despite its historical lack of Nikon predictions.
But there are other reasons to believe that the growing rumors about the Nikon Z8 have at least some substance behind them. Start with, Nikon rumors (opens in new tab) revealed in June that the camera giant would release two new cameras last month – the Nikon Z30, which did indeed land in late June, and an unknown full-frame camera.
Rumors have since surfaced that this camera would be a Nikon Z8 rather than a Nikon Z6 III or Z7 III, and that it could launch later this month. And on paper, that would make sense – with the main question mark surrounding which sensor the full-frame mirrorless camera might have.
Nikon currently doesn’t have a direct rival to the Canon EOS R5 in that camera’s $3,899 / £4,199 / AU$6,899 price tag. Nor has it yet offered a true successor to the Nikon D850, its best DSLR ever, and a workhorse that many professionals still trust.
This explains recent ‘how2fly’ rumors that the Nikon Z8 could have the same 45.7MP stacked sensor and Expeed 7 processor as the Nikon Z9, the company’s flagship mirrorless camera. The little problem with the Nikon Z9, even for many professional shooters, is its size and price of $5,499 / £5,299 / AU$8,999, so a smaller Nikon Z8 would certainly make sense.
The question is where that leaves the Nikon Z7 II, a camera that is currently the closest to being a Nikon D850 equivalent. The answer may be that it will simply remain a more affordable option for photographers, with the Nikon Z8 offering true hybrid power for stills and videos – but we’ll have to wait for some more substantial leaks and rumors to be sure.
Review: A successor to the Nikon D850 on hold?
Last month, a Nikkei article (opens in new tab) sparked rumors that Nikon would “stop developing single-lens flare models” to “focus on mirrorless models”. And while Nikon said it would continue “the production, sales and service of digital SLR cameras,” it didn’t directly refute suggestions that DSLR development was at an end.
Nobody realistically expected Nikon to release a Nikon D860 DSLR to succeed the D850, but these rumors – and, more obviously, the arrival of the Nikon Z9 – add to the growing sense that the company is now pushing full speed ahead into mirrorless cameras. .
The Nikon Z9 shows that the company’s mirrorless technology in areas such as autofocus, burst shooting and video now eclipses that of classic DSLRs like the Nikon D850 – particularly when it’s based on a stacked sensor.
But the Nikon Z9 remains an extremely unique camera. It’s currently sold out in most regions, including the US and UK, and its $5,499 / £5,299 / AU$8,999 price tag remains prohibitive for just about everyone apart from agency photographers and affluent professionals.
While there hasn’t been any leaks of the Nikon Z8 yet, the concept certainly makes sense. A smaller camera based on the Nikon Z9’s stacked sensor, with only slightly reduced 8K video and burst shooting powers, would be a formidable rival to the popular Canon EOS R5, even if it was likely more expensive than $3,899 / £4,199 / AU$ 6,899 Camera.
It would also finally give us a true mirrorless successor to the Nikon D850, a camera that was ahead of its time when it arrived in 2017, but which is now eclipsed by leading mirrorless cameras in areas like continuous shooting.
On the other hand, it would also steal some of the spotlight from the Nikon Z9, which was only announced in October 2021 – so we’ll simply have to wait for some more believable rumors before we’re sure what Nikon has planned. your next big release.