Nikon Z8vs Now Gen 3
Nikon
Nikon Z8 (2023)
Starting from £3999 new
Best for Sports, wildlife & hybrid professionals
View Nikon Z8
VS
Polaroid
Now Gen 3 (2024)
Starting from £120 new
Best for Classic Polaroid fans & square-print lovers
View Now Gen 3
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Sports, Wildlife & Hybrid Professionals — Nikon Z8 (2023): Z9 performance in a compact body — 45MP, 8K/60p RAW, and 20fps burst without the bulk or price of the flagship.
Classic Polaroid Fans & Square-Print Lovers — Now Gen 3 (2024): The definitive modern Polaroid. Autofocus, USB-C, and full-sized square prints — classic Polaroid experience, updated for today.
Who should buy what
Nikon Z8 (2023)
- Professional photographers who want Z9 capability in a smaller body
- Wildlife and sports shooters who want 8K RAW and 120fps burst
- Z6 III or Z7 II owners upgrading to pro-grade performance
- Hybrid professionals who need the best Nikon video and stills in one body
Now Gen 3 (2024)
- Anyone who wants the classic full-sized square Polaroid print experience
- Instax users who prefer Polaroid's dreamy colour palette and white border
- Party hosts and event photographers who want iconic-looking keepsakes
- Previous Polaroid Now owners upgrading to the Gen 3's improved autofocus
Quick take: The now gen 3 is the most affordable; only the nikon z8 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Nikon Z8 (2023) | Now Gen 3 (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £3,999 | £120 |
| Sensor | 45.7MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS | i-Type / 600 Polaroid film (79 × 79mm / image area 62 × 62mm) |
| Resolution | 45.7MP | — |
| Video | 8K/60p RAW, 4K/120p, ProRes RAW | N/A — instant film camera |
| Autofocus | Subject detection AF, 493-point phase-detect | Autofocus (0.4m–2m close; 2m–∞ landscape) |
| Stabilisation | 6-stop IBIS | N/A |
| Burst Rate | 20fps RAW / 120fps JPEG | N/A |
| Battery Life | 330 shots (CIPA) | Rechargeable internal battery (USB-C, ~15 packs) |
| Weight | 910g body only | ~445g |
| Dimensions | 144.0 × 118.5 × 83.0mm | 138.2 × 112.6 × 62.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | 0.5" Quad-VGA OLED EVF, 3.69M dots, 120fps | Real-image optical viewfinder |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen | N/A |
| Mount | Nikon Z-mount | i-Type or 600 film (8 shots per pack) |
| Memory Cards | Dual CFexpress Type B / XQD | N/A — instant film only |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth | USB-C (charging) |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Nikon Z8 | Now Gen 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Travel | ||
| Parties & Events | — | |
| Everyday | — | |
| Low Light | — | |
| Creative | — |
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