Capture Philosophy
The Z8 can shoot 20 frames per second. This is a trap. If you hold the shutter for three seconds, you have 60 images. You probably only need one.
I do not spray and pray. I capture intent. I use the high frame rate only for specific moments of peak action. This saves storage. It saves time in post production.
Storage is the Bottleneck
SD cards are dead to me. They are too slow for modern sensors. I use CFExpress Type B cards exclusively. You need write speeds over 1500 MB/s to clear the buffer.
Do not buy cheap cards. A corrupted card is a failed job. I treat storage media like enterprise server drives. They have a lifespan. I replace them before they fail.
The Ingest Protocol
I do not use Lightroom for importing. It is inefficient. I use Photo Mechanic for the initial ingest and cull. It renders RAW previews instantly.
I employ a strict "In or Out" binary selection. There are no maybes. If an image is not sharp, it is deleted. If the composition is weak, it is deleted. I keep less than 5% of what I shoot.
Discipline Over Gear
Owning a Z8 does not make you a photographer. It makes you a camera owner. Your workflow defines your output. Ruthless culling is the most important skill you can learn.