Nikon
D780
Last great Nikon DSLR — Z6 sensor with DSLR ergonomics and hybrid live view AF.
$2,299
Released Jan 2020
Nikon
Z8
Z9 internals in a compact body — 45.7MP stacked sensor, 8K 60p, no blackout burst.
$3,999
Released May 2023
Z8 is 3.3 years newer.
Wins
D780
Wins
Z8
1 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- AD780 has higher Burst (mechanical) (7 fps vs 0 fps)
- BZ8 has higher IBIS effectiveness (6 stops vs 0 stops)
- BZ8 has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 12 fps)
- AD780 has higher Battery life (CIPA) (2260 shots vs 340 shots)
- BZ8 has higher 4K max frame rate (120 fps vs 30 fps)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
D780
144 × 116 × 76 mm
755 g (1.66 lb / 26.63 oz)
Z8
144 × 119 × 83 mm
820 g (1.81 lb / 28.92 oz)
D780 is 1mm narrower, 3mm shorter, and 7mm thinner than Z8.
D780 is 65 g lighter than Z8.
Depth (front-to-back): 76mm D780 · 83mm Z8
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
D780
144 × 116 mm
Z8
144 × 119 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
D780
144 × 76 mm
Z8
144 × 83 mm
Sensor size, to scale
D780
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
Z8
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
D780
✓ more lensesNikon F
270+
native lenses available
Z8
Nikon Z
90+
native lenses available
Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.
Use-case scoring
Which one for what?
Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class
Why pick one over the other
Reasons to choose
D780
Burst (mechanical)
7 fps vs 0 fps — higher is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 143.5, 115.5, 76
Battery life (CIPA)
2260 shots vs 340 shots — higher is better
AA filter
Only D780 supports it
ISO max (native)
51,200 vs 25,600 — higher is better
Weight
755 g vs 820 g — lower is better
Reasons to choose
Z8
AF low-light limit
-9 EV vs -3 EV — lower is better
IBIS effectiveness
6 stops vs 0 stops — higher is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 144, 118.5, 83
Burst (electronic)
120 fps vs 12 fps — higher is better
Codecs
Adds N-RAW, ProRes RAW HQ, ProRes 422 HQ…
4K max frame rate
120 fps vs 30 fps — higher is better
Subject recognition
Adds Birds, Cars, Bicycles…
Pre-Capture / Pre-Release
Only Z8 supports it
Both cameras share
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
- ✓Weather sealing — Both support weather sealing
- ✓Card slots — Both 2
- ✓Touchscreen — Both support touchscreen
- ✓Wi-Fi — Both support wi-fi
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
D780
Pros
- ✓Z6 sensor in DSLR
- ✓Dual card slots
- ✓4K video
- ✓OVF + EVF hybrid
Cons
- –DSLR end of era
- –Heavy
- –Limited future lenses
Z8
Pros
- ✓45.7MP stacked CMOS from Z9 — class-leading
- ✓8K 60p N-RAW internal
- ✓No mechanical shutter wear — fully electronic
- ✓20fps at full 45.7MP resolution
Cons
- –EN-EL15c battery life only 340 CIPA shots
- –No built-in grip (unlike Z9)
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for sports, D780 or Z8?
Z8 scores 9.0/10 versus 3.5/10 for D780 — 120fps burst — pro-level action capture.
What's the resolution difference between the D780 and Z8?
D780 is 24.5 MP and Z8 is 45.7 MP, so the Z8 captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the D780 and Z8 have in-body image stabilization?
D780 does not have IBIS, while z8 has 6-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the D780 or the Z8?
D780 reaches 12 fps electronic. Z8 reaches 120 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the D780 and Z8?
D780 weighs 755 g and Z8 weighs 820 g, so the D780 is 65 g lighter.
Do the D780 and Z8 record 4K video?
D780: 4K up to 30p. Z8: 8K UHD (max), 4K up to 120p.
Are the D780 and Z8 weather sealed?
D780: Yes. Z8: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 2,260 shots (CIPA) for the D780 and 340 shots for the Z8, giving the D780 the edge.
How much does each cost?
D780 launched at $2,299 and Z8 at $3,999. The D780 is $1,700 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of Nikon press materials.