NIKON Z 8 (02) PDF DOCUMENT

To view or update the camera firmware on your NIKON Z 8, select [Firmware version] in the setup menu. Updates can be performed using a computer or a smart device.

Computer: Check the Nikon Download Center for new versions of the camera firmware. Information on performing updates is available via the firmware download page.

Smart device: If your smart device has been paired with the NIKON Z 8 camera using the SnapBridge app, the app will automatically notify you when updates become available. You can then download the update to the camera memory card via the smart device. For information on performing updates, see the SnapBridge online help. Note that automatic notifications may not be displayed at exactly the same time as the updates are made available on the Nikon Download Center.

With firmware version 3.00, the dimensions of focus areas for [Wide-area AF (C1)] and [Wide-area AF (C2)] on the NIKON Z 8 have been extended:

In photo mode, you can now select from 135 patterns from [1×1] to [29×17], an increase from the previous 20 patterns that ranged up to [19×11].

In video mode, you can now select from 120 patterns from [1×1] to [29×15], an increase from the previous 12 patterns that ranged up to [13×7].

With firmware version 3.00 on the NIKON Z 8, the [AF subject detection options] menu has been renamed to [AF/MF subject detection options]. This change means that the class of subjects you select for priority detection (e.g., People, Animal, Vehicle) will now be given priority not only during autofocus but also during manual focus.

A new [MF subject detection area] item has been added to the photo shooting and video recording menus on the NIKON Z 8. This setting allows you to select the subject detection areas available during manual focus.

[All]: Enables subject detection in all areas of the frame. If more than one subject of the selected type is detected, a gray focus point appears over each, and the initial subject is indicated with ◄ and ► icons. You can position the focus point over other subjects by pressing the selector left or right.

[Wide (L)] or [Wide (S)]: Limits subject detection to the current focus area.

[MF subject detection off]: Disables subject detection during manual focus.

The NIKON Z 8 now supports “Flexible Color” Picture Controls, which allow for a wider variety of adjustments with Color Blender and Color Grading using the NX Studio computer software.

To add them to your camera:

1. In NX Studio, select [Picture Control] > [Flexible Color] to make adjustments and save them as Custom Picture Controls on a memory card. For detailed instructions, refer to the NX Studio online help.

2. Insert the memory card into your NIKON Z 8. The exported Picture Controls will be added to the Picture Control list when you import them via [Manage Picture Control] in the photo shooting or video recording menu.

Note: Custom Picture Controls based on [Flexible Color] cannot be adjusted or renamed on the camera.

The [C15] release mode has been added to your NIKON Z 8, allowing you to shoot with high-speed frame capture + at 15 frames per second.

To use it, hold the release mode button and rotate the main command dial to choose [C15].

Photos can be taken with the following settings:

Shutter speed: 1/32000–1/60 s

[Image area]: [FX (36×24)] or [DX (24×16)]

[Image size]: Fixed at [Large]

Pre-Release Capture is also supported in this mode.

On the NIKON Z 8, the [Image quality] menu item has been renamed to [Image quality settings]. You can now configure image quality for high-speed frame capture + (HSFC) separately from other release modes.

When you change image quality using a custom control or the i menu, the setting for [Image quality (HSFC)] will be changed when in a release mode from [C15] to [C120], and the setting for [Image quality] will be changed in other release modes.

The [High ISO NR mode] item has been added to the photo shooting menu on your NIKON Z 8. This allows you to select the noise reduction processing mode for [High ISO NR].

To view which noise reduction mode was applied to a picture, you can enable [Other shooting data] in the [Playback display options] menu and view it in the photo information display.

The NIKON Z 8 now has a frequency setting mode for high-frequency flicker reduction, allowing you to configure the frequency of a light source to reduce flicker. You can save multiple frequencies and switch between them.

Switching the Frequency:

1. Assign [High-frequency flicker reduction] to a custom control (e.g., Fn1 button) using Custom Setting f2 [Custom controls (shooting)].

2. Press and hold the assigned control to enter frequency setting mode.

3. Rotate the sub-command dial to switch between the preset frequencies [PRE1] through [PRE4], or select [OFF]. The default frequencies are:

[PRE1]: 7680 Hz

[PRE2]: 3840 Hz

[PRE3]: 2880 Hz

[PRE4]: 1920 Hz

4. Press the OK button to exit the setting mode and return to the shooting display.

Note: Even with a configured frequency, flicker effects in the display may differ from the final photograph. It is recommended to take test shots.

If the default frequencies do not reduce flicker, you can adjust the values for [PRE1] through [PRE4] on your NIKON Z 8.

1. Press and hold the control assigned to [High-frequency flicker reduction] to enter frequency setting mode.

2. Select an option from [PRE1] through [PRE4] to adjust.

3. Press the DISP button.

4. Use the multi selector to highlight digits and change their values. The frequency can be set between 30 and 9999 Hz.

5. Press the DISP button to save the frequency and return to frequency setting mode, or press the OK button to save the frequency and exit to the shooting display.

To enable higher resolution shots with focus stacking on your NIKON Z 8, a new [Options] item has been added under [Focus shift shooting] in the photo shooting menu.

1. Go to the Photo Shooting Menu > [Focus shift shooting].

2. Select [Options] > [Pixel shift shooting].

3. After configuring the options, select [Start] in the [Focus shift shooting] menu and press OK. Shooting will start after about 5 seconds.

Cautions:

Photos are taken at the interval set by [Pixel shift shooting], not the main [Focus shift shooting] interval.

The focus mode is fixed at AF-S. If an AF-C only AF-area mode is selected, it will switch to single-point AF.

The NIKON Z 8 has new [Options] and [Starting storage folder] settings for [Pixel shift shooting] in the photo shooting menu.

Options

Highlighting [Options] displays the following:

Starting Storage Folder

Highlight [Starting storage folder] to manage file storage:

With firmware version 3.00 on the NIKON Z 8, several additions and changes have been made to the [Auto capture] function:

Manual Focus Compatibility: You can now focus manually by simply selecting manual focus on the camera, without needing to set the lens focus-mode switch to [M]. The area for subject detection can also be enabled/disabled with [Target area] if [Capture criteria] > [Distance] is deselected in manual focus mode.

Caution for Distance Criteria: When setting the distance in manual focus, pressing the AF-ON button or shutter-release button saves the current focus position. You must first adjust the focus using the focus or control ring on the lens.

New Release Mode: You can now use the new [C15] release mode option for auto capture.

You can now configure a start date and time for an auto capture session on your NIKON Z 8. On the settings confirmation dialog, press the Fn3 button to access the “Start/end time reservation” screen.

When using Auto Capture on the NIKON Z 8, the frames around the shooting display indicate the camera’s status:

A yellow frame will be displayed around the shooting display if the camera does not detect a subject that meets the configured criteria after starting auto capture. This indicates the camera is in standby for auto capture.

A red frame will be displayed around the shooting display while the camera detects and captures a subject.

When recording video to both the NIKON Z 8’s memory card and a compatible Atomos external recorder, the file name from the camera can be included in the name of the file saved on the recorder. This helps link files during editing.

To enable this feature:

1. Ensure a memory card is inserted in the camera.

2. In the video recording menu, set [External rec. cntrl (HDMI)] to [ON].

When you start recording, the file name of the video being saved to the camera’s memory card is transmitted to the external recorder. The file extension is not transmitted.

This feature is supported by specific Atomos external recorders (as of March 2024), such as Ninja (2023 models), Ninja Ultra, Ninja V, Ninja V+, Shogun (2023 models), Shogun Ultra, and Shogun Connect. Some recorders may require an OS upgrade or paid activation. Please refer to the documentation provided with your external recorder for setup instructions.

The [Date] option has been added to [Filtered playback criteria] in the playback menu and the playback i menu on your NIKON Z 8.

1. Open the filtered playback criteria options.

2. Highlight [Date] and press the multi-selector right to select (check) it.

3. Highlight [Select date] and press the multi-selector right to choose a specific date for the filter.

4. To complete the operation, press MENU.

If you select [Date] but do not specify a date using [Select date], the camera will show pictures with the most recent shooting date.

A [Maximum aperture Lv] item has been added to the Custom Settings menu at position a14 on your NIKON Z 8. When set to [On], the shooting display in the viewfinder or monitor is always displayed with the lens’s maximum aperture, providing the brightest possible view. When you press the shutter-release button fully, the aperture adjusts to the configured value before the picture is taken.

Cautions: When “Maximum Aperture Lv” is set to “On”

The lens will always be at maximum aperture regardless of the aperture setting. Avoid pointing the camera at the sun or other powerful light sources, as this could damage the camera’s internal circuitry.

The timing of the shutter release may be slightly delayed. Delays are more likely when [Silent mode] is set to [ON] in the setup menu.

Flickering may appear on the shooting display just before or after the shutter is released, or when pressing a control assigned the role of [Preview].

A [Focus limiter setting] has been added to the Custom Settings menu at position a16 on your NIKON Z 8. This allows you to limit the camera’s focus to a selected range. When enabled, a focus limit icon appears on the shooting display.

Setting the Focus Range:

1. In the custom setting menu, highlight [Limit range] and press OK. The range setting display will appear.

2. To set the minimum distance, place the focus point over a subject at the nearest desired distance and press the AF-ON button. You can fine-tune this distance by rotating the main command dial or the lens focus ring while holding the AF-ON button.

3. To set the maximum distance, place the focus point over a subject at the farthest desired distance and press the shutter-release button halfway. You can fine-tune this distance by rotating the sub-command dial or the lens focus ring while holding the shutter-release button halfway.

4. Press OK to end range setting and return to the shooting display.

Resetting the Focus Range: Press the delete (trash can) button in the range setting display to reset the values for [Nearest] and [Farthest].

Caution: Changing Lenses: Changing to a different lens disables the set focus range. You must reset the [Limit range] setting to use the focus limiter function with the new lens.

For Custom Setting f2 [Custom controls (shooting)] on your NIKON Z 8, the [Release mode button] is now customizable.

The following new roles can be assigned to custom controls:

Additionally, for the [Zoom on/off] role, a magnification option of [400%] has been added.

For Custom Setting f3 [Custom controls (playback)] on your NIKON Z 8, the [Release mode button] is now a customizable control.

The following new roles can be assigned:

You can connect your NIKON Z 8 to a smart device over an existing network (like a home Wi-Fi network) using Wi-Fi station (STA) mode. This allows the smart device to remain connected to the internet.

1. Camera: In the network menu, select [Connect to smart device] > [Wi-Fi connection (STA mode)]. Highlight [Create profile] and press OK.

2. Camera: Name the new profile or proceed with the default name by pressing OK.

3. Camera: Highlight [Search for Wi-Fi network] and press OK. The camera will list available networks.

4. Camera: Choose a network. Highlight a network SSID and press OK. If the network is encrypted (indicated by a lock icon), you will be prompted for the encryption key.

5. Camera: If required, enter the encryption key for the wireless router and press OK to initiate the connection.

6. Camera: Choose how the IP address is obtained. Select [Obtain automatically] if your network provides one, or [Enter manually] to input the details yourself. A “configuration complete” message will be displayed.

7. Camera: Press OK to proceed when the “configuration complete” message is displayed.

8. Camera: When prompted, launch the SnapBridge app on your smart device. The camera name will be displayed.

9. Smart device: Launch the SnapBridge app, open the tab, tap the connection icon, and select [Wi-Fi STA Mode Connection].

10. Smart device: Select the camera name that is displayed on the NIKON Z 8’s screen.

11. Camera/smart device: The connection will be established. When the camera displays a “Pairing complete” dialog, press OK.

The camera and smart device are now connected via Wi-Fi.

You can connect your NIKON Z 8 directly to a smart device using Wi-Fi access point (AP) mode. In this mode, the camera acts as a wireless access point. The smart device cannot connect to the Internet while connected to the camera.

1. Smart device: Launch the SnapBridge app, open the tab, tap the connection icon, and select [Wi-Fi AP Mode Connection].

2. Camera/smart device: Turn the camera on when prompted by the app.

3. Camera: In the network menu, select [Connect to smart device] > [Wi-Fi connection (AP mode)]. Highlight [Establish Wi-Fi connection] and press OK. The camera’s SSID and password will be displayed.

4. Smart device: Follow the on-screen instructions in the app to establish a Wi-Fi connection. You will need to go to your device’s Wi-Fi settings, select the camera’s SSID, and enter the password displayed on the camera screen.

5. Smart device: After adjusting your device’s Wi-Fi settings, return to the SnapBridge app. The connection will be completed.

The camera and smart device are now connected directly via Wi-Fi.

To end a Wi-Fi connection with your NIKON Z 8, tap the Wi-Fi icon in the SnapBridge app tab. After the icon changes, tap it again and select [Disconnect] or [Exit Wi-Fi STA mode].

The NIKON Z 8 can convert captured RAW or JPEG images to HEIF format for upload to an FTP server.

In the network menu, go to [Connect to FTP server] > [Options]. An [Upload in HEIF format] option has been added.

The available options are [High compression], [Medium compression], [Low compression], and [Off]. When a setting other than [Off] is selected, the captured image is converted to HEIF format with the specified compression ratio before being uploaded. These converted HEIF images are not stored on the camera’s memory card.