Manuals for Z8

[whimsicalmike]

The Z8 has been announced and I'm told mine should get to me in the first batch so i had a look but the manual isn't available for download yet. When do they usually become available? Are they not put up until the deliveries start?

I suppose the Z9 will get me started but would be nice to have the correct one.

As there are so many new focus modes I am thinking about getting one of the books from the various writers like Thom Or Steve Perry. I snap at lots of different things like people, architecture, Birds and landscape so which author covers the broad spectrum. I haven't done any fast stuff with Mirror-less so am starting that from scratch.

 

[chambeshi]

Much closer to actual sales. In the case of the Z9 this was a few days prior

Nikon Z9 manuals, reference guide now available online - Nikon Rumors

The Nikon Z9 user’s manual and several other documents are now available for download: You can also access the Nikon Z9 reference guide online: Z9 pre-orders (US): Europe Canada Adorama B&H Amazon Pauls’s Photo Service Photo Calumet (NL) Calumet (DE) Foto Erhardt (DE) Foto Koch (DE) WEX (UK)...

nikonrumors.com

 

[Joshua Chung]

Usually the day it ships.

 

[whimsicalmike]

Much closer to actual sales. In the case of the Z9 this was a few days prior

https://nikonrumors.com/2021/12/22/nikon-z9-manuals-reference-guide-now-available-online.aspx/

That's not very friendly at all is it. Z9 will have to do for now, lucky its basically the same thing.

 

[pcgeekesq]

Both Thom's and Steve's books come highly recommended, and as you note, the Z9 books should work pretty well for the Z8. Many people advise buying both.

And you could email them and see if either will let you buy the Z9 book and upgrade to the Z8 book later for free.

 

[pcgeekesq]

Both Thom's and Steve's books come highly recommended, and as you note, the Z9 books should work pretty well for the Z8. Many people advise buying both.

And you could email them and see if either will let you buy the Z9 book and upgrade to the Z8 book later for free.

With that in mind, I emailed Thom and asked whether his Z8 book will be a combined Z8/Z9 book (like the Z6/Z7 book and the Z6ii/Z7ii book) and whether present or near-future Z9 book buyers can upgrade to a Z8 or Z8/Z9 book.

I'll let people know what he says.

(Since I got his Z50, Z6ii, and Z9 books, I've not needed the official manuals.)

 

[whimsicalmike]

Both Thom's and Steve's books come highly recommended, and as you note, the Z9 books should work pretty well for the Z8. Many people advise buying both.

And you could email them and see if either will let you buy the Z9 book and upgrade to the Z8 book later for free.

With that in mind, I emailed Thom and asked whether his Z8 book will be a combined Z8/Z9 book (like the Z6/Z7 book and the Z6ii/Z7ii book) and whether present or near-future Z9 book buyers can upgrade to a Z8 or Z8/Z9 book.

I'll let people know what he says.

(Since I got his Z50, Z6ii, and Z9 books, I've not needed the official manuals.)

I did the same just after posting my Q. Great minds as the saying goes :-D

 

[Sagittarius]

The Z8 has been announced and I'm told mine should get to me in the first batch so i had a look but the manual isn't available for download yet. When do they usually become available? Are they not put up until the deliveries start?

I suppose the Z9 will get me started but would be nice to have the correct one.

As there are so many new focus modes I am thinking about getting one of the books from the various writers like Thom Or Steve Perry. I snap at lots of different things like people, architecture, Birds and landscape so which author covers the broad spectrum. I haven't done any fast stuff with Mirror-less so am starting that from scratch.

I do not think Z9 manual will be useful for the Z8. As for the books, I have both for Z9. Thom Hogan's book is more in depth on using camera and all it's features. Steve Perry's book is all about focusing.

 

[areallygrumpyoldsod]

The Z8 has been announced and I'm told mine should get to me in the first batch so i had a look but the manual isn't available for download yet. When do they usually become available? Are they not put up until the deliveries start?

I suppose the Z9 will get me started but would be nice to have the correct one.

As there are so many new focus modes I am thinking about getting one of the books from the various writers like Thom Or Steve Perry. I snap at lots of different things like people, architecture, Birds and landscape so which author covers the broad spectrum. I haven't done any fast stuff with Mirror-less so am starting that from scratch.

Both Steve Perry and Thom Hogan have indicated they will provide an update for their Z9 guides to include the Z8.

I have only found a Z8 Product Brochure in Japanese and no other downloads YET. I am sure these exist, but the timing of when they will be available on the Nikon Download site is unclear -- AND YES just down load the UM, RG and Video guides for the Z9 these will be close. Many of us run spreadsheets with our current Z9 settings -- mine can be downloaded from my blog.

--
areallygrumpyoldsod
Nikon and Hasselblad shooter -- wildlife and and -- https://www.andymillerphoto.co.uk/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/ajm057/

 

[whimsicalmike]

The Z8 has been announced and I'm told mine should get to me in the first batch so i had a look but the manual isn't available for download yet. When do they usually become available? Are they not put up until the deliveries start?

I suppose the Z9 will get me started but would be nice to have the correct one.

As there are so many new focus modes I am thinking about getting one of the books from the various writers like Thom Or Steve Perry. I snap at lots of different things like people, architecture, Birds and landscape so which author covers the broad spectrum. I haven't done any fast stuff with Mirror-less so am starting that from scratch.

Both Steve Perry and Thom Hogan have indicated they will provide an update for their Z9 guides to include the Z8.

I have only found a Z8 Product Brochure in Japanese and no other downloads YET. I am sure these exist, but the timing of when they will be available on the Nikon Download site is unclear -- AND YES just down load the UM, RG and Video guides for the Z9 these will be close. Many of us run spreadsheets with our current Z9 settings -- mine can be downloaded from my blog.

Just received an answer from Thom

"No, the Z8 book will be a separate book. As much as the cameras are similar, there's a lot that is different that would just expand the Z9 book beyond usefulness to a Z9 owner."

That's a bummer. I would have thought the few extra bits the Z8 has would find their way into the Z9 firmware. Maybe he knows something that we don't.

I have his D300 and D810 books so will get the Z8 one when it comes out. In the meantime i will just use the manual and maybe Steve's focus book.

 

[whimsicalmike]

Just received an answer from Steve Perry

"Actually, putting the two into one book is exactly what I’m doing (I announced it yesterday). So, no worries, The Z8/9 are so similar that you can get the Z9 book and set up the Z8 without any issue. I’m in the process of adding the Z8 to it now, and that will be a free update for existing users."

So will order that now. Thom Usually takes a while to get a new book out but i will get it when he does.

 

[areallygrumpyoldsod]

The Z8 has been announced and I'm told mine should get to me in the first batch so i had a look but the manual isn't available for download yet. When do they usually become available? Are they not put up until the deliveries start?

I suppose the Z9 will get me started but would be nice to have the correct one.

As there are so many new focus modes I am thinking about getting one of the books from the various writers like Thom Or Steve Perry. I snap at lots of different things like people, architecture, Birds and landscape so which author covers the broad spectrum. I haven't done any fast stuff with Mirror-less so am starting that from scratch.

Both Steve Perry and Thom Hogan have indicated they will provide an update for their Z9 guides to include the Z8.

I have only found a Z8 Product Brochure in Japanese and no other downloads YET. I am sure these exist, but the timing of when they will be available on the Nikon Download site is unclear -- AND YES just down load the UM, RG and Video guides for the Z9 these will be close. Many of us run spreadsheets with our current Z9 settings -- mine can be downloaded from my blog.

Just received an answer from Thom

"No, the Z8 book will be a separate book. As much as the cameras are similar, there's a lot that is different that would just expand the Z9 book beyond usefulness to a Z9 owner."

That's a bummer. I would have thought the few extra bits the Z8 has would find their way into the Z9 firmware. Maybe he knows something that we don't.

I have his D300 and D810 books so will get the Z8 one when it comes out. In the meantime i will just use the manual and maybe Steve's focus book.

Thanks for the clarification - Steve P said precisely on his live stream yesterday that the Z8 and Z9 were so similar that he would provide an update to combine both in the same book. Maybe I dreamt Thom Hogan...... after reading his post: "

[TH] can now reveal that [he] already have a Z8 in [his]possession. Thank you, Nikon.

Besides already working on [his] eventual Complete Guide to the Nikon Z8, [he and so on] can also answer specific questions about the camera. As such questions come in, I’ll add a page in the camera section that answers them, much as I’ve done with previous Z camera introductions.

Disclosure: I’ve not answered a number of recent emails or queries as I was under NDA until the announcement. I can now answer specific questions."

 

[pcgeekesq]

Just received an answer from Thom

"No, the Z8 book will be a separate book. As much as the cameras are similar, there's a lot that is different that would just expand the Z9 book beyond usefulness to a Z9 owner."

That's a bummer. I would have thought the few extra bits the Z8 has would find their way into the Z9 firmware. Maybe he knows something that we don't.

I got the same answer from Thom. And for me, there's no "maybe" about the last bit. ;-)

 

[sirhawkeye64]

The Z8 has been announced and I'm told mine should get to me in the first batch so i had a look but the manual isn't available for download yet. When do they usually become available? Are they not put up until the deliveries start?

I suppose the Z9 will get me started but would be nice to have the correct one.

As there are so many new focus modes I am thinking about getting one of the books from the various writers like Thom Or Steve Perry. I snap at lots of different things like people, architecture, Birds and landscape so which author covers the broad spectrum. I haven't done any fast stuff with Mirror-less so am starting that from scratch.

Probably won't be posted for a few days yet, at least. I too went looking, but couldn't find any. The Z9 manual should be sufficient for general things (AF setup and menus, etc).