Nikon
Z8
Z9 internals in a compact body — 45.7MP stacked sensor, 8K 60p, no blackout burst.
$3,999
Released May 2023
Z8 is 2.8 years newer.
Wins
Z5
Wins
Z8
3 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- AZ5 has higher Burst (mechanical) (4.5 fps vs 0 fps)
- BZ8 has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 4.5 fps)
- BZ8 has higher 4K max frame rate (120 fps vs 30 fps)
- AZ5 has higher ISO max (native) (51,200 vs 25,600)
- BZ8 has higher Resolution (45.7 MP vs 24.3 MP)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
Z5
134 × 101 × 70 mm
590 g (1.30 lb / 20.81 oz)
Z8
144 × 119 × 83 mm
820 g (1.81 lb / 28.92 oz)
Z5 is 10mm narrower, 18mm shorter, and 14mm thinner than Z8.
Z5 is 230 g lighter than Z8.
Depth (front-to-back): 70mm Z5 · 83mm Z8
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
Z5
134 × 101 mm
Z8
144 × 119 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
Z5
134 × 70 mm
Z8
144 × 83 mm
Sensor size, to scale
Z5
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
Z5
✓ more lensesNikon Z
90+
native lenses available
Z8
✓ more lensesNikon 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
Z5
Burst (mechanical)
4.5 fps vs 0 fps — higher is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 134, 100.5, 69.5
AA filter
Only Z5 supports it
ISO max (native)
51,200 vs 25,600 — higher is better
Weight
590 g vs 820 g — lower is better
Battery life (CIPA)
470 shots vs 340 shots — higher is better
Reasons to choose
Z8
AF low-light limit
-9 EV vs -3 EV — lower is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 144, 118.5, 83
Burst (electronic)
120 fps vs 4.5 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
Internal RAW video
Only Z8 supports it
Both cameras share
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
- ✓In-body stabilization — Both support in-body stabilization
- ✓Weather sealing — Both support weather sealing
- ✓Card slots — Both 2
- ✓EVF resolution — Both 3,690,000
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
Z5
Pros
- ✓Dual slots at entry price
- ✓IBIS
- ✓Full-frame
Cons
- –Older AF
- –4K crop
- –Slow burst
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, Z5 or Z8?
Z8 scores 9.0/10 versus 2.5/10 for Z5 — 120fps burst — pro-level action capture.
What's the resolution difference between the Z5 and Z8?
Z5 is 24.3 MP and Z8 is 45.7 MP, so the Z8 captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the Z5 and Z8 have in-body image stabilization?
Z5 has 5-stop in-body image stabilization, while z8 has 6-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the Z5 or the Z8?
Z5 reaches 4.5 fps electronic. Z8 reaches 120 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the Z5 and Z8?
Z5 weighs 590 g and Z8 weighs 820 g, so the Z5 is 230 g lighter.
Do the Z5 and Z8 record 4K video?
Z5: 4K up to 30p. Z8: 8K UHD (max), 4K up to 120p.
Are the Z5 and Z8 weather sealed?
Z5: Yes. Z8: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 470 shots (CIPA) for the Z5 and 340 shots for the Z8, giving the Z5 the edge.
How much does each cost?
Z5 launched at $1,399 and Z8 at $3,999. The Z5 is $2,600 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of Nikon press materials.