The Nikon Z8 features two memory card slots. One slot supports the extremely fast CFexpress Type B cards or you can use the slower XQD cards, whereas the other slot supports UHS-II SD/SDHC/SDXC cards.
Either slot 1 or 2 can be used for overflow or backup storage, for separate storage of NEF (RAW) and JPEG or HEIF pictures, or for storage of duplicate JPEG or HEIF pictures at different sizes and image qualities; pictures can be copied between cards.
Recommended CFexpress Type B Cards for Photographers
For photographers our top 10 recommended CFexpress Type B memory cards for the Nikon Z8 are:
- Delkin Devices BLACK 4.0
- Delkin Devices POWER 4.0
- Lexar Professional DIAMOND Series
- SanDisk PRO-CINEMA
- Nextorage NX-B2 PRO Series
- Delkin Devices POWER G4
- Angelbird AV Pro SE
- Lexar Professional GOLD Series (Nikon Approved)
- Lexar Professional SILVER Series
- ProGrade Digital 4.0 Gold
Recommended UHS-II SDXC Cards for Photographers
Our top 10 recommended UHS-II SDXC cards for photographers are:
- Nextorage NX-F2PRO Series (Nikon Approved)
- Delkin Devices BLACK
- Kingston Canvas React Plus
- OWC Atlas Ultra
- Sony SF-G Tough (Nikon Approved)
- SanDisk Extreme Pro Series (Nikon Approved)
- Sony SF-M Series (Nikon Approved)
- Sony SF-E Series (Nikon Approved)
- Lexar Gold Series (Nikon Approved)
- Lexar Silver Series (Nikon Approved)
Recommended CFexpress Type B Cards for Videographers
If you wish to record video in the most demanding [N-RAW 12-bit (NEV)] or [ProRes RAW HQ 12-bit (MOV)] supported by the Z8 then the following memory cards are recommended:
- Delkin Devices BLACK 4.0 (Tested by Delkin)
- Delkin Devices POWER 4.0 (Tested by Delkin)
- Lexar Professional DIAMOND Series
- SanDisk PRO-CINEMA
- Sony 960GB / 1920GB TOUGH Memory Card
- Nikon 660 GB MC‑CF660G (Nikon Approved)
- Nextorage NX-B2 PRO Series
- ProGrade Digital COBALT 1700R (Nikon Approved)
- Wise CFX-B PRO-series (Nikon Approved)
Is CFexpress 4.0 Supported?
The Nikon Z8 supports the CFexpress 2.0 standard but not the latest 4.0. However you can still use CFexpress 4.0 cards because they are backwards compatible, you just won't see any advantages in-camera. Where you will see an advantage is when copying files from your memory card to your computer, with a 4.0 card this can be up to twice as fast compared to a 2.0 card providing you are using a CFexpress 4.0 compatible reader.
