Upgrade Guide
Nikon Nikon D780→Nikon Z8
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the Nikon D780. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the Z8
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Resolution46MP vs 25MP (+21MP)
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Burst rate20fps RAW / 120fps JPEG vs 7fps
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Battery life330 shots (CIPA) vs 2,260 shots (CIPA, viewfinder)
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Generation3 years newer (2023 vs 2020)
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | Nikon D780 | Z8 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +1.7 | ||
| Street | +0.4 | ||
| Travel | — | ||
| Wedding & Events | +0.9 | ||
| Filmmaking | +1.6 | ||
| Documentary | +1.2 | ||
| Sports & Action | +2.9 | ||
| Landscape | +1.2 | ||
| Wildlife | +2.7 | ||
| Casual | +0.4 | ||
| Food | +1.6 | ||
| Macro | +1.6 | ||
| Architecture | +1.8 | ||
| Astrophotography | +0.1 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | Nikon D780 | Z8 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,999 | £3,999 | |
| Released | 2020 | 2023 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 24.3MP full-frame BSI CMOS | 45.7MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS | |
| Resolution | 25MP | 46MP | ↑ |
| Video | 4K/30p, 10-bit N-Log via HDMI, 1080p/120p | 8K/60p RAW, 4K/120p, ProRes RAW | |
| Autofocus | 51-point DSLR phase-detect (viewfinder); on-sensor hybrid AF with eye detection (live view/video) | Subject detection AF, 493-point phase-detect | |
| Stabilisation | No stabilisation | 6-stop IBIS | |
| Burst Rate | 7fps | 20fps RAW / 120fps JPEG | ↑ |
| Battery Life | 2,260 shots (CIPA, viewfinder) | 330 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 840g (with battery and card) | 910g (body only) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism, 0.7x magnification, 100% coverage | 0.5" Quad-VGA OLED EVF, 3.69M dots, 120fps | |
| Screen | Tilting touchscreen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen | |
| Mount | Nikon F-mount | Nikon Z-mount | |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD (UHS-II) | CFexpress Type B / XQD + SD UHS-II |
Compare side-by-side
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See Nikon D780 and Z8 next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
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Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the Z8 against your specific genres — not just specs.
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