The Nikon Z8 Camera Review: From Film to Digital

An Entirely New Ecosystem

I recently enjoyed using a Nikon Z8 and Nikon NIKKOR Z 105mm f/2.8 Macro Lens for an editorial beauty shoot, collaborating with some incredibly talented friends. Among these talented individuals was makeup artist Gabi Alvarez. Gabi created a standout, vibrant, glittery editorial makeup look on our talented model, Lily Soleil.

My idea was to light up the set in a way that would truly bring Gabi’s colorful and edgy makeup look to life. I used 4 continuous lights, each with different colored gels, ensuring the colors Gabi chose for Lily's makeup complemented each other perfectly.

From Canon to Nikon

I’ve been a Canon DSLR user since I started photography. Comparing the Nikon Z8 to a Canon DSLR, the colors and detail captured by the Nikon stood out significantly. The Nikon Z8's color rendering is beautiful, producing vibrant, true-to-life colors. In terms of detail, the Nikon Z8's high-resolution sensor captures these little bits of details of Lily’s makeup, which I loved. Making it great for portrait and beauty photography.

The Nikon Z8 offers a smooth user experience for functionality. Transitioning from a Canon DSLR to the Nikon Z8 was a learning curve due to the user interface and control layout differences. However, once I got the hang of it, using the Nikon Z8 became second nature.

One aspect of the Nikon Z8 that I particularly enjoyed was its speed, especially its rapid autofocus system and high-speed continuous shooting mode. On the flip side, one thing that took some getting used to was the electronic viewfinder of the Nikon Z8, which is a common feature in mirrorless cameras. Unlike the optical viewfinder in a DSLR, an electronic viewfinder displays a digital preview of the scene. While this provides the advantage of seeing the image exactly as it will be captured, it can be challenging for photographers used to optical viewfinders. However, I found this feature beneficial in the long run, allowing me to make real-time adjustments to my shots.

Using the Nikon NIKKOR Z 105mm f/2.8 Macro

The Nikon NIKKOR Z 105mm Macro Lens is a game-changer for close-up beauty photography. The telephoto length allows for a more compressed perspective, emphasizing the subject while minimizing the background. This was handy when taking an extreme close-up photo of Lily’s eye makeup.

It Feels Like Film

As a photographer who favors film for its beautiful colors and creamy tones, I found the Nikon Z8 comparable to film in its impressive color rendering. With little to no color adjustment editing needed in these images, these are the most beautiful colors I’ve ever gotten straight out of a digital camera. For photographers who dislike having to edit too much, this one is for you.

The camera captures a wide dynamic range, allowing it to reproduce colors accurately, even in challenging lighting conditions. This is particularly beneficial when photographing subjects with different skin tones. It beautifully brought out the different hues in Gabi's makeup and the continuous lights with different colored gels overlapping Lily’s face.

Unlike other cameras I have used, including my Canon DSLR experience, the Z8 doesn't over-saturate or under-saturate colors. It captures them as they are, which is particularly important in beauty and portrait photography, where color accuracy can make or break a shot.

I'm Hooked

At the end of the shoot, I was left feeling amazed. I didn’t ever think a camera would be so quick to work with. The transition to using the Nikon Z8 was a bit of a learning curve, but it was an enriching experience for me as a photographer. I definitely recommend other beauty and portrait photographers check out this camera.