Nikon
Z8
Z9 internals in a compact body — 45.7MP stacked sensor, 8K 60p, no blackout burst.
$3,999
Released May 2023
Z8 is 3.6 years newer.
Wins
Z50
Wins
Z8
TL;DR — Key differences
- AZ50 has higher Burst (mechanical) (11 fps vs 0 fps)
- BZ8 has higher IBIS effectiveness (6 stops vs 0 stops)
- BZ8 has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 11 fps)
- BZ8 has higher 4K max frame rate (120 fps vs 30 fps)
- BZ8 has higher AF points / zones (493 vs 209)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
Z50
127 × 94 × 60 mm
395 g (0.87 lb / 13.93 oz)
Z8
144 × 119 × 83 mm
820 g (1.81 lb / 28.92 oz)
Z50 is 18mm narrower, 25mm shorter, and 23mm thinner than Z8.
Z50 is 425 g lighter than Z8.
Depth (front-to-back): 60mm Z50 · 83mm Z8
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
Z50
127 × 94 mm
Z8
144 × 119 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
Z50
127 × 60 mm
Z8
144 × 83 mm
Sensor size, to scale
Z50
23.5 × 15.7 mm · APS-C
369 mm² area
Z8
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
2.3× larger sensor area = shallower depth of field and better low-light performance.
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
Z50
✓ 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
Z50
Burst (mechanical)
11 fps vs 0 fps — higher is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 126.5, 93.5, 60
Card types
Adds SD UHS-I
Weight
395 g vs 820 g — lower is better
AA filter
Only Z50 supports it
ISO max (native)
51,200 vs 25,600 — higher is better
EVF magnification
1.02 × vs 0.8 × — higher is better
Reasons to choose
Z8
AF low-light limit
-9 EV vs -4 EV — lower is better
IBIS effectiveness
6 stops vs 0 stops — higher is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 144, 118.5, 83
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type B / XQD, SD UHS-II
Burst (electronic)
120 fps vs 11 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…
Both cameras share
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
- ✓Touchscreen — Both support touchscreen
- ✓Wi-Fi — Both support wi-fi
- ✓Bluetooth — Both support bluetooth
- ✓Microphone jack (3.5mm) — Both support microphone jack (3.5mm)
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
Z50
Pros
- ✓Affordable Z mount
- ✓Compact
- ✓Good stills
Cons
- –No IBIS
- –Older video
- –Single slot
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 landscape, Z50 or Z8?
Z8 scores 9.5/10 versus 0.0/10 for Z50 — 45.7MP — excellent for prints up to 24×36".
What's the resolution difference between the Z50 and Z8?
Z50 is 20.9 MP and Z8 is 45.7 MP, so the Z8 captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the Z50 and Z8 have in-body image stabilization?
Z50 does not have IBIS, while z8 has 6-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the Z50 or the Z8?
Z50 reaches 11 fps electronic. Z8 reaches 120 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the Z50 and Z8?
Z50 weighs 395 g and Z8 weighs 820 g, so the Z50 is 425 g lighter.
Do the Z50 and Z8 record 4K video?
Z50: 4K up to 30p. Z8: 8K UHD (max), 4K up to 120p.
Are the Z50 and Z8 weather sealed?
Z50: No. Z8: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 300 shots (CIPA) for the Z50 and 340 shots for the Z8, giving the Z8 the edge.
How much does each cost?
Z50 launched at $859 and Z8 at $3,999. The Z50 is $3,140 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of Nikon press materials.