Nikon Z5

    80
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    Highlights

    • 24.3 MP Full Frame CMOS Sensor
    • 100 - 51,200 Native ISO
    • 273 Focus Points
    • 5-Axis Image Stabilization
    • 3.2" 1,040k dot Tilting Screen
    • 0.5" 3,690k dot Electronic (OLED) Viewfinder
    • 4.5 fps Continuous Shooting
    • 3840 x 2160 Video Shooting
    • 30 min Video Recording Limit
    • Built-In Wi-Fi
    • Wheather Sealed Body
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    Disclosure: We earn money from the affiliate links to products associated with content in this article.

    Overview

    Nikon Z5 was announced in 2020 and is a Full Frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm) Mirrorless camera with 24.3 Megapixel CMOS sensor. Its native ISO ranges from 100 to 51,200 and expands to 50 - 102,400 in boosted mode. The camera has a Tilting 3.2" screen with 1,040k dot resolution and built-in 0.5" Electronic (OLED) viewfinder with 3,690k dot resolution. It has a built-in 5-Axis Sensor Shift in body image stabilization.

    Nikon Z5 can capture video up to 3840 x 2160 resolution.


    Here is the Nikon Z series lineup, where you can view and compare the main specifications of the cameras within the same series.

    Nikon Z series lineup
    Model Date Sensor Native ISO Screen Price
    Image cannot be found Nikon Z f September
    2023
    24.4 MP
    Full Frame
    100 - 64,000 Articulated 3.2"
    2,089k dots
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Nikon Z8 May
    2023
    45.7 MP
    Full Frame
    64 - 25,600 Tilting 3.2"
    2,100k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Nikon Z30 June
    2022
    20.9 MP
    APS-C
    100 - 51,200 Articulated 3.0"
    1,040k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Nikon Z9 October
    2021
    45.7 MP
    Full Frame
    64 - 25,600 Tilting 3.2"
    2,100k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Nikon Z fc June
    2021
    20.9 MP
    APS-C
    100 - 51,200 Articulated 3.0"
    1,040k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Nikon Z6 II October
    2020
    24.5 MP
    Full Frame
    100 - 51,200 Tilting 3.2"
    2,100k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Nikon Z7 II October
    2020
    45.7 MP
    Full Frame
    64 - 25,600 Tilting 3.2"
    2,100k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Nikon Z5 July
    2020
    24.3 MP
    Full Frame
    100 - 51,200 Tilting 3.2"
    1,040k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Nikon Z50 October
    2019
    20.9 MP
    APS-C
    100 - 51,200 Tilting 3.2"
    1,040k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Nikon Z6 August
    2018
    24.5 MP
    Full Frame
    100 - 51,200 Tilting 3.2"
    2,100k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Nikon Z7 August
    2018
    45.7 MP
    Full Frame
    64 - 25,600 Tilting 3.2"
    2,100k dot
    Touchscreen

    You can view their side-by-side comparison here: Nikon Z f vs Z8 vs Z30 vs Z9 vs Z fc vs Z6 II.

    Pros and Cons

    In this section we present pros and cons of Nikon Z5.

    PROS

    •   Video Capture
    •   Large Sensor
    •   51,200 Highest Native ISO
    •   273 Focus Points
    •   Touch-to-Focus
    •   Face Detection
    •   Live View Autofocus
    •   Animal Eye Detection
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Touch Screen
    •   Large Screen - 3.2"
    •   Large Viewfinder - 0.5"
    •   High Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/8000 sec
    •   High Video Resolution - 3840 x 2160
    •   Webcam Functionality
    •   High USB Speed
    •   HDMI Output
    •   Built-In Wi-Fi
    •   Built-In Bluetooth
    •   Environmental Sealing
    •   USB Charging
    •   2 Storage Slots
    •   Orientation Sensor

    CONS

    •   3 EV Min AF Detection
    •   Low Video Recording Limit
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   Short Battery Life - 470 shots

    And here are some specifications which fall into average criteria and are neither in PROs nor in CONs category:

    AVERAGE

    •   Price
    •   Sensor Resolution - 24.3 Megapixel
    •   100 Lowest Native ISO
    •   Tilting Screen
    •   Screen Resolution - 1,040k dot
    •   Viewfinder Resolution - 3,690k dot
    •   Max Continuous Shooting - 4.5 fps
    •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/200 sec
    •   Weight - 675 g (1.49 lb / 23.81 oz)

    Screen and Viewfinder

    Tilting Touchscreen

    Nikon Z5 has a 3.2" Tilting touchscreen with 1,040k dot resolution. Tilting screen makes this camera very useful for photography purposes but not so useful for video shooting.

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    Nikon Z5 with Tilting screen


    Electronic (OLED) Viewfinder

    Camera has a built-in 0.5" Electronic (OLED) viewfinder with 3,690k dot resolution. It has a 100% coverage and 0.80x magnification.

    Sensor

    Nikon Z5 features a 24.3 megapixel Full Frame CMOS sensor with dimensions of 35.9 x 23.9 mm and a total area of 858 mm2. Its native ISO range is 100 - 51,200 and expands to 50 - 102,400 in boosted mode.


    Here is a sensor size comparison chart where you can see how Nikon Z5's Full Frame sensor compares with other types of sensors:

    Sensor size chart
    Sensor Dimensions Area Aspect Ratio Crop Factor
    Image cannot be displayedMedium Format44 x 33 mm1452 mm24:30.79x
    Image cannot be displayedFull Frame35.9 x 23.9 mm858 mm23:21x
    Image cannot be displayedAPS-H27 x 18 mm486 mm23:21.3x
    Image cannot be displayedAPS-C23.6 x 15.6 mm368.2 mm23:21.5x
    Image cannot be displayedAPS-C (Canon)22.3 x 14.9 mm332.3 mm23:21.6x
    Image cannot be displayedMicro Four Thirds17.4 x 13 mm226.2 mm24:32x
    Image cannot be displayed1-inch13.2 x 8.8 mm116.2 mm23:22.7x
    Image cannot be displayed1/1.7-inch7.44 x 5.58 mm41.5 mm24:34.7x
    Image cannot be displayed1/2.3-inch6.17 x 4.55 mm28.1 mm24:35.6x

    Photography Features

    Camera is equipped with EXPEED 6 processor and can take pictures up to 6016 x 4016 resolution.


    Lens Mount

    Nikon Z5 has Nikon Z lens mount. Due to Full Frame sensor its crop factor (also called lens multiplier) is 1x. This means that a 35mm equivalent focal length of the mounted lens will be equal to its actual focal length.


    In-Body Image Stabilization

    The camera has a built-in 5-Axis Sensor Shift in-body image stabilization (IBIS) with 5 stops of compensation. This means that you are still getting vibration reduction when camera is paired with non-image stabilizied lenses. It also works with lenses with optical image stabilization and in combination can achieve even better compensation.

    Check out the cameras which are frequently compared to Nikon Z5.

    Connectivity, Battery and Storage

    Built-in Wi-Fi

    Camera has a built-in Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi 5, 802.11ac/b/g/n, 2.4/5 GHz) which allows to easily transfer photos and videos from the camera to other Wi-Fi-enabled devices, such as smartphones, tablets, printers, or computers. This eliminates the need for cables and allows for quick and convenient media sharing and social media integration. It gives you the ability to control your camera remotely using a smartphone or tablet. This is particularly useful for taking self-portraits, group shots, or capturing images in challenging conditions without having to touch the camera. Firmware updates can also be downloaded and installed wirelessly.
      Check out the cameras in our database that have built-in WiFi.


    Bluetooth

    Camera has a built-in Bluetooth (version 4.2) which lets you to connect the camera to a smartphone or a dedicated remote control device. This allows you to remotely trigger the camera, adjust settings and controls remotely through a paired mobile app. While Wi-Fi is generally faster for transferring larger files, Bluetooth can be used for small, selective transfers, it can provide real-time information about your camera's battery status, memory card capacity, and other key settings directly on your paired smartphone or smartwatch.
      Check out the cameras in our database that have built-in Bluetooth.


    USB Input and HDMI Output

    Nikon Z5 has a USB 3.2 Gen 1x1 (5 GBit/sec) Type-C input for data transfer and battery charging. There is a Micro Type C HDMI connector for video signal output.


    Battery

    Nikon Z5 comes with EN-EL15c battery pack with battery life of 470 shots.


    External Storage Slots

    The camera has Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II) card slots.

    Other Features

    Shutter

    Nikon Z5 has Electronic shutter and Mechanical Focal Plane shutter. Shutter speed can go up to 1/8000 sec. Camera can shoot continuously up to 4.5 fps.


    Focusing

    Nikon Z5 has Hybrid phase-detection/contrast AF system with 273 focusing points and from 3 to +19 EV detection range. Touch-to-Focus allows users to select a specific point on the screen where they want the camera to focus. This feature can be helpful for achieving precise focus in both photo and video recording. There is also face detection feature which automatically finds and focuses on faces and additional eye detection further locks the focus on one of the eyes and tracks it down during the motion.


    Exposure

    Camera's exposure metering ranges from -3 to +17 EV and you can set the exposure compensation within the ±5 EV range. You can also do exposure lock, exposure bracketing and manual exposure adjustment.


    Flash

    Nikon Z5 has no built-in flash but an external flash may be connected via Hot Shoe. The fastest flash synchronization speed is 1/200 sec. Flash compensation can be set from -3 to +1 EV with 1/3 or 1/2 EV step increments.

    Physical Parameters

    Nikon Z5 has dimensions of 134 x 101 x 70 mm (5.28 x 3.98 x 2.76"). It weighs 675 g (1.49 lb / 23.81 oz) which is neither heavy nor lightweight.

    134 mm (5.28")

    101 mm (3.98")

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    101 mm (3.98")

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    70 mm (2.76")

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    Nikon Z5 dimensions

    Nikon Z5 for Different Types of Photography

    We give scores to the camera for different type of photography based on its features and specifications. Let us see how Nikon Z5 is suitable for six different types of photography.


    Landscape Photography

    EXCELLENT
    86

    Nikon Z5 gets a score of 86 and is EXCELLENT choice for Landscape photography.

    •   Large Sensor
    •   Touch Screen
    •   Screen Resolution - 1,040k dot
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   Environmental Sealing

    Sports Photography

    GOOD
    79

    Nikon Z5 gets a score of 79 and is GOOD choice for Sports photography.

    •   51,200 Highest Native ISO
    •   273 Focus Points
    •   Touch-to-Focus
    •   Face Detection
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Touch Screen
    •   Screen Resolution - 1,040k dot
    •   Viewfinder Resolution - 3,690k dot
    •   Max Continuous Shooting - 4.5 fps
    •   Short Battery Life - 470 shots
    •   2 Storage Slots
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Wildlife Photography

    GOOD
    79

    Nikon Z5 gets a score of 79 and is GOOD choice for Wildlife photography.

    •   51,200 Highest Native ISO
    •   273 Focus Points
    •   Touch-to-Focus
    •   Animal Eye Detection
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Touch Screen
    •   Screen Resolution - 1,040k dot
    •   Viewfinder Resolution - 3,690k dot
    •   Max Continuous Shooting - 4.5 fps
    •   Environmental Sealing
    •   Short Battery Life - 470 shots
    •   2 Storage Slots
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Portrait Photography

    EXCELLENT
    88

    Nikon Z5 gets a score of 88 and is EXCELLENT choice for Portrait photography.

    •   Large Sensor
    •   273 Focus Points
    •   Touch-to-Focus
    •   Face Detection
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Touch Screen
    •   Large Screen - 3.2"
    •   Screen Resolution - 1,040k dot
    •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/200 sec
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Street Photography

    EXCELLENT
    88

    Nikon Z5 gets a score of 88 and is EXCELLENT choice for Street photography.

    •   Large Sensor
    •   273 Focus Points
    •   Touch-to-Focus
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Tilting Screen
    •   Touch Screen
    •   Screen Resolution - 1,040k dot
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   Environmental Sealing
    •   Weight - 675 g (1.49 lb / 23.81 oz)

    Travel Photography

    GOOD
    84

    Nikon Z5 gets a score of 84 and is GOOD choice for Travel photography.

    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Tilting Screen
    •   Touch Screen
    •   Screen Resolution - 1,040k dot
    •   High Video Resolution - 3840 x 2160
    •   Low Video Recording Limit
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   Environmental Sealing
    •   Weight - 675 g (1.49 lb / 23.81 oz)
    •   Short Battery Life - 470 shots

    Nikon Z5 Evaluation

    We evaluate Nikon Z5 and give score of 80 out of 100. We also give separate scores for 7 different categories according to the available features and specifications some of which are listed below. These evaluations are relative and may change each time a new camera is added to the database.


    OVERALL
    80

    Sensor

    AVERAGE
    68

    We give Nikon Z5 a score of 68 for Sensor parameters.

    •   Large Sensor
    •   Sensor Resolution - 24.3 Megapixel
    •   100 Lowest Native ISO
    •   51,200 Highest Native ISO

    Photo

    GOOD
    81

    We give Nikon Z5 a score of 81 for Photo parameters.

    •   Image Stabilization
    •   High Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/8000 sec
    •   Max Continuous Shooting - 4.5 fps
    •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/200 sec

    Video

    AVERAGE
    64

    We give Nikon Z5 a score of 64 for Video parameters.

    •   Image Stabilization
    •   High Video Resolution - 3840 x 2160
    •   Webcam Functionality
    •   Low Video Recording Limit

    Focusing

    EXCELLENT
    90

    We give Nikon Z5 a score of 90 for Focusing parameters.

    •   3 EV Min AF Detection
    •   273 Focus Points
    •   Touch-to-Focus
    •   Face Detection
    •   Live View Autofocus
    •   Animal Eye Detection

    Screen and Viewfinder

    GOOD
    84

    We give Nikon Z5 a score of 84 for Screen and Viewfinder parameters.

    •   Tilting Screen
    •   Touch Screen
    •   Large Screen - 3.2"
    •   Screen Resolution - 1,040k dot
    •   Large Viewfinder - 0.5"
    •   Viewfinder Resolution - 3,690k dot

    Connectivity

    EXCELLENT
    96

    We give Nikon Z5 a score of 96 for Connectivity parameters.

    •   High USB Speed
    •   HDMI Output
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   Built-In Wi-Fi
    •   Built-In Bluetooth

    Battery, Storage and Physical

    GOOD
    72

    We give Nikon Z5 a score of 72 for Battery, Storage and Physical parameters.

    •   Environmental Sealing
    •   Weight - 675 g (1.49 lb / 23.81 oz)
    •   Short Battery Life - 470 shots
    •   2 Storage Slots


    For a full specification list please go to the specifications page:

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