Nikon
Z8
Z9 internals in a compact body — 45.7MP stacked sensor, 8K 60p, no blackout burst.
$3,999
Released May 2023
Nikon
Z fc
Retro APS-C Z camera with dial controls and compact style.
$999
Released Jun 2021
Z8 is 1.8 years newer.
Wins
Z8
Wins
Z fc
TL;DR — Key differences
- BZ fc has higher Burst (mechanical) (11 fps vs 0 fps)
- AZ8 has higher IBIS effectiveness (6 stops vs 0 stops)
- AZ8 has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 11 fps)
- AZ8 has higher 4K max frame rate (120 fps vs 30 fps)
- AZ8 has higher AF points / zones (493 vs 209)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
Z8
144 × 119 × 83 mm
820 g (1.81 lb / 28.92 oz)
Z fc
135 × 94 × 44 mm
390 g (0.86 lb / 13.76 oz)
Z8 is 10mm wider, 25mm taller, and 40mm thicker than Z fc.
Z8 is 430 g heavier than Z fc.
Depth (front-to-back): 83mm Z8 · 44mm Z fc
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
Z8
144 × 119 mm
Z fc
135 × 94 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
Z8
144 × 83 mm
Z fc
135 × 44 mm
Sensor size, to scale
Z8
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
Z fc
23.5 × 15.7 mm · APS-C
369 mm² area
2.3× larger sensor area = shallower depth of field and better low-light performance.
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
Z8
✓ more lensesNikon Z
90+
native lenses available
Z fc
✓ 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
Z8
AF low-light limit
-9 EV vs -4.5 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…
Reasons to choose
Z fc
Burst (mechanical)
11 fps vs 0 fps — higher is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 134.5, 93.5, 43.5
Card types
Adds SD UHS-I
Weight
390 g vs 820 g — lower is better
AA filter
Only Z fc supports it
ISO max (native)
51,200 vs 25,600 — higher is better
EVF magnification
1.02 × vs 0.8 × — higher is better
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.
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)
Z fc
Pros
- ✓Retro design
- ✓Compact
- ✓Good JPEG
Cons
- –No IBIS
- –Older sensor
- –Limited grip
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for landscape, Z8 or Z fc?
Z8 scores 9.5/10 versus 0.0/10 for Z fc — 45.7MP — excellent for prints up to 24×36".
What's the resolution difference between the Z8 and Z fc?
Z8 is 45.7 MP and Z fc is 20.9 MP, so the Z8 captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the Z8 and Z fc have in-body image stabilization?
Z8 has 6-stop in-body image stabilization, while z fc does not have IBIS.
Which shoots faster bursts — the Z8 or the Z fc?
Z8 reaches 120 fps electronic. Z fc reaches 11 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the Z8 and Z fc?
Z8 weighs 820 g and Z fc weighs 390 g, so the Z fc is 430 g lighter.
Do the Z8 and Z fc record 4K video?
Z8: 8K UHD (max), 4K up to 120p. Z fc: 4K up to 30p.
Are the Z8 and Z fc weather sealed?
Z8: Yes. Z fc: No.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 340 shots (CIPA) for the Z8 and 300 shots for the Z fc, giving the Z8 the edge.
How much does each cost?
Z8 launched at $3,999 and Z fc at $999. The Z fc is $3,000 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of Nikon press materials.