Nikon Z8 Black 2023

120fps burst and 8K RAW video make this a speed freak's dream. The EVF and fixed display are the price you pay for all that horsepower.

The burst speed is the story here. 120fps mechanical and electronic puts this in the absolute top tier of anything we've tested, and our database backs that up with a 100th percentile ranking. The 8K video and internal N-RAW and ProRes 422 HQ recording are also best-in-class, landing at the 98th percentile. But here's the surprise: the EVF is mediocre. At the 40th percentile, it's a weak spot on a camera this expensive. You'd expect a flagship viewfinder, and instead you get something that's just okay. The fixed display doesn't help either, especially for vlogging, which scored a rough 43.4 out of 100.

The natural comparison is the Nikon Z9, which shares a lot of DNA with this camera but costs more and adds a built-in vertical grip. The Sony a7R V has a higher resolution sensor and better autofocus, but it can't touch the Z8's burst speed or video capabilities. The Fujifilm X-H2S is a cheaper APS-C option with great speed, but it's not in the same league for full-frame image quality. If you need the absolute fastest full-frame camera under USD 4,000, the Z8 is the pick. If you want better autofocus and don't need 120fps, the Sony a7R V is the smarter buy.

Pricing is all over the place. We're seeing USD 3,594 to USD 4,749 across three US listings, which is a USD 1,155 spread. That's a huge gap for the same bundle. If you're buying, hunt for the lower end of that range. At USD 3,594, this is a serious value for wedding and sports shooters. At USD 4,749, you're paying flagship money and should probably look at the Nikon Z9 instead.

The OTVEE Z Z8 is a monster of a camera hiding behind a weird name. This is essentially a Nikon Z8 bundle with the FTZ II adapter thrown in, and the headline spec is absurd: 120fps burst shooting. That's not a typo. For wedding and event shooters who need to nail the exact moment the bouquet leaves the hands, this thing is a machine gun. The 45.7MP stacked CMOS sensor means you get flagship-level detail without the rolling shutter distortion that plagues most electronic shutters.

If you're a vlogger or someone who shoots a lot of self-facing content, this isn't your camera. The fixed display makes it nearly impossible to frame yourself, and the 1996g weight will tire your arm out fast. Go get a Panasonic Lumix S5 II or a Sony a7R V with a flip screen instead. Also skip this if you're a landscape shooter who wants the absolute highest resolution, the Sony a7R V's 61MP sensor beats the Z8's 45.7MP for pure detail.

The OTVEE Z Z8 is a speed demon with a few annoying compromises. The burst shooting and video specs are genuinely world-class, and the stacked sensor solves the rolling shutter problem that ruins so many electronic shutters. But the mediocre EVF and fixed display feel like corners were cut on a camera this expensive. If you shoot weddings, sports, or wildlife and need to capture split-second moments, this is one of the best tools you can buy. Just make sure you get it at the lower end of that price range.