What are the essential accessories for a Nikon Z8 setup?

Question

What do I actually need to grab for a Z8 to keep it running smooth in the field? Ive been shooting with D850s for a decade so I know my way around a full frame but man this mirrorless transition is eating my batteries way faster than I thought it would. Just picked up the body last week for a wedding gig in Oregon next month and the power draw is stressing me out. I have about 800 bucks left for extras. I know I need CFexpress Type B cards but which ones actually handle the 8k video without overheating? Also need to know if my old EN-EL15b batteries are even worth keeping or if theyll just throttle the burst rate...

laura_ross · Accepted Answer

Late to the party but man you are gonna have an absolute blast with that Z8 in Oregon! It is such an amazing piece of gear. Honestly, I remember the first time I tried pushing 8K N-RAW on a generic card and it basically melted my fingers when I pulled it out... lesson learned the hard way. The secret sauce for 8K is really that sustained write speed, not just the peak speed they plaster on the box. If the speed drops, the camera works way harder and gets toastier. Using something like the Delkin Devices 650GB BLACK CFexpress Type B Memory Card is a game changer cuz it has a guaranteed 1400MB/s minimum sustained write. It is fantastic and hasnt let me down once during long sets. Since you are doing a wedding, definitely grab two more Nikon EN-EL15c Rechargeable Li-ion Battery packs. The 15b ones just wont cut it for the high-speed frame rates or 8K bitrate. Plus you can charge the 'c' versions via USB-C while the camera is off which is such a lifesaver. For fast juice at the hotel, the Satechi 108W USB-C PD Desktop Charger tops everything off fast.

QualifiedQueenie · Answer

To add to the point above: Are you shooting 8K N-RAW or just standard compressed? It changes your write speed needs. I've been very satisfied with this combo:

Angelbird 512GB AV PRO CFexpress B SE for high speed without the heat.

Nikon MB-N12 Power Battery Pack for the Oregon wedding. The grip makes the Z8 handle like your D850 and doubles the runtime. Works well for me, no complaints at all.

DoodleDream · Answer

Congrats on the Z8! Coming from a D850 its a huge jump but yeah, the battery life is a whole different beast. Honestly, those old EN-EL15b batteries are kinda okay for backups, but they wont let you hit the max burst rates and you cant charge them inside the camera via USB. I would suggest picking up two Nikon EN-EL15c Rechargeable Li-ion Battery just to be safe for a long wedding day. For the 8K video stuff, you gotta be really careful with card heat. I personally swear by the ProGrade Digital CFexpress Type B Cobalt 165GB because it handles the write speeds without melting down, tho the Angelbird AV PRO CFexpress B SE 512GB is a bit easier on the wallet. Maybe also look at an Anker 737 Power Bank PowerCore 24K for topping up between sets... it really helps with that power anxiety!