Nikon Z5 vs Nikon Z7 II: A Deep Dive into Two Full-Frame Mirrorless Contenders

When Nikon’s full-frame mirrorless lineup expands with cameras like the Z5 and the Z7 II, enthusiasts and professionals are naturally drawn to comparing them head-to-head. Both are competent, but how do they stack up beyond specs sheets? After extensive hands-on testing, reviewing image quality, autofocus performance, handling, and feature sets across a broad spectrum of photography disciplines, I’m here to share a comprehensive, practical comparison. Whether you’re a seasoned pro weighing your upgrade options or an enthusiast planning your first full-frame mirrorless body, this article will help clarify which model suits your style, needs, and budget best.

Unboxing the Basics: Size, Build, and Ergonomics

First impressions matter, and the physical feel of a camera can impact your workflow more than you might expect. Both the Nikon Z5 and Z7 II embrace the same SLR-style mirrorless body type Nikon refined for their mirrorless era, but subtle differences influence the handling experience.

The Z5 is slightly lighter at 675g compared to the Z7 II’s 705g, but both share the identical external dimensions (134x101x70 mm). This puts them comfortably in the realm of cameras that balance portability with a solid grip - you won’t feel like you’re lugging a brick around, but they’re substantial enough to inspire confidence when shooting handheld for extended periods.

Looking at the top control layout helps us understand how Nikon manages usability in these bodies.

Both cameras feature a comprehensive arrangement: dedicated dials for shutter speed, exposure compensation, and ISO, along with a customizable function button that seasoned photographers will appreciate. The Z7 II goes a little further with a small monochrome top LCD that reports your settings instantly - a pro-level convenience missing on the Z5. If you're the kind of photographer who likes quick-glance info without diving into menus, that’s a notable benefit for the Z7 II.

Both bodies boast weather sealing, an increasingly expected feature in their categories, providing dust and moisture resistance but not full waterproofing. Testing in real-world misty and dusty environments confirmed the robust construction but keep in mind - these cameras aren’t meant for submersion or extreme conditions without additional protection.

Viewing and Interface: Your Window to the World

Shooting is an intensely visual and tactile experience. What you see on the back screen and in the viewfinder can influence composition and confidence on location.

The Z7 II features a sharper and brighter 3.2-inch touchscreen with a resolution around 2.1 million dots, while the Z5 offers a similar sized but lower-resolution 1.04 million dot display. The difference is noticeable in bright outdoor conditions - the Z7 II’s display makes checking focus and detail easier without relying solely on the viewfinder.

Both cameras have tilting screens, excellent for shooting from tricky angles, though photographers wanting a full articulating display might look elsewhere. The eye-level electronic viewfinders (EVF) are practically identical with 3.69 million dot OLEDs and 0.8x magnification, delivering crisp, lag-free previews that make manual focusing and composition intuitive.

This parity in viewfinder tech should reassure those who spend most of their time shooting through the EVF rather than the rear LCD.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Camera

Here lies one of the clearest divides between the Z5 and Z7 II - their image sensors.

Both cameras use full-frame sensors measuring approximately 35.9x23.9mm with similar physical sensor sizes, but with very different resolutions and underlying technology:

• Nikon Z5: 24.3 MP CMOS sensor with an antialiasing filter, max native ISO 51200.
• Nikon Z7 II: 45.7 MP BSI-CMOS sensor without an antialiasing filter, max native ISO 25600.

The Z7 II’s higher resolution (8256×5504 pixels compared to the Z5’s 6016×4016) means it captures significantly more detail - ideal for landscape, studio, and commercial photographers who demand large prints or extensive cropping options. The backside-illuminated (BSI) design of the Z7 II sensor typically results in improved light gathering efficiency and dynamic range, especially at low ISOs.

In my testing across multiple scenes including high-contrast landscapes and low-light events:

• The Z7 II consistently delivers greater detail retention, superior fine texture rendering, and smoother gradations in shadows and highlights.
• The Z5 still impresses with excellent dynamic range, especially for its class, and its images show pleasing colors and skin tones that make it a fantastic choice for portrait and event shooters on a budget.
• The antialias filter on the Z5 means a tiny edge in moiré suppression but at the expense of some image sharpness. The Z7 II opts for sharper detail capture with software moiré correction.

The difference in ISO sensitivity is interesting. While the Z5 pushes its top native ISO higher (51200 vs. 25600), in practice I found the Z7 II’s BSI sensor produces slightly cleaner images at high ISO settings due to its modern architecture and advanced noise reduction engine.

Autofocus System: Speed, Accuracy & Eye-Detection

An autofocus system can make or break your shooting experience, especially for dynamic subjects like wildlife or sports.

• The Z5 features a 273-point hybrid AF system with phase and contrast detection.
• The Z7 II ups the ante with 493 AF points covering a wider portion of the frame.

Both cameras support face and eye detection AF for humans and animals - a big improvement over Nikon’s earlier mirrorless models. During testing, eye detection was consistently reliable in good lighting and held steady with moving subjects. The Z7 II’s denser AF grid makes tracking fast-moving subjects in complex scenes noticeably better, providing more confidence when shooting wildlife, children, or sports.

Continuous autofocus performance and burst shooting rate also underscore usage differences:

• The Z5 shoots at 4.5fps continuous with AF tracking, which is fine for casual action but starts to feel limiting in fast-paced shooting.
• The Z7 II doubles this with 10fps burst, coupled with improved AF algorithms for better focus retention.

This makes the Z7 II a more versatile choice if you frequently photograph sports, wildlife, or other subjects where precise, speedy AF plus a higher frame buffer is advantageous.

Lens Ecosystem: Compatibility and Future-proofing

Both cameras share the Nikon Z mount, which is a significant advantage if you’re invested in or plan to invest in Nikon’s expanding lens lineup.

Nikon currently offers around 15 native Z-mount lenses suitable for everything from ultra-wide landscapes to telephoto wildlife. Additionally, the FTZ adapter allows the use of F-mount DSLR lenses with autofocus support.

Since both cameras share this mount and lens count, your choice here may come down to available budget and specific lens demands rather than body compatibility.

Battery Life and Storage Flexibility

Battery endurance in mirrorless systems has traditionally lagged behind DSLRs, but Nikon’s designs have progressively improved.

• The Z5’s EN-EL15c battery delivers approximately 470 shots per charge, the best in this comparison, making it particularly travel-friendly or suited for long sessions.
• The Z7 II uses a similar battery but rated for around 420 shots per charge, a small but noticeable difference given its higher-res sensor and more demanding processing.

Both cameras feature dual card slots but with important distinctions:

• The Z5 offers two SD UHS-II slots.
• The Z7 II supports one CFexpress (Type B)/XQD slot and one SD UHS-II slot, which translates to much faster write speeds and more professional workflows.

The Z7 II’s support for CFexpress cards aids high-bitrate 4K video recording and large burst photo series, appealing to pros needing reliable buffer clearing and safe backup options on the fly.

Video Capabilities: For the Hybrid Shooter

As video grows increasingly important, let’s break down the key video features:

• The Z5 records 4K UHD at 30p, offering clean H.264 compression but with a 1.7x crop on 4K.
• The Z7 II improves this with 4K UHD at 60p, full-frame oversampled, no crop, creating smoother motion and wider field of view.
• Both cameras record in MOV format with Linear PCM audio, and both have external mic and headphone jacks for audio monitoring, a pro-level touch.

Neither camera supports advanced video features like 10-bit color depth internally or 4K at 120p slow-motion, placing them below some competitors in purely video-centric specs. But for combined still and video enthusiasts, the Z7 II clearly leads for video quality and flexibility, making it my preference if video is a priority.

Photography Discipline Showdown: Which Camera Excels Where?

Let’s look at how each camera performs in various photography styles, summarized through my hands-on testing and referencing genre-specific performance evaluations.

Portrait Photography

• Z5: Excellent color rendition for skin tones, very usable eye and animal eye AF, and 5-axis sensor stabilization help deliver sharp, attractive portraits with smooth bokeh thanks to the lens choice. The lower resolution is less of an issue here unless you want ultra-large prints.
• Z7 II: Higher resolution means exceptional detail capture, making it ideal for studio and commercial portraits where cropping or large prints are required. Eye AF is quicker and more accurate in tricky lighting.

Landscape Photography

• Z5: Good dynamic range and weather sealing make it a budget-friendly landscape camera, especially paired with Nikon’s wide-angle Z lenses.
• Z7 II: Superior resolution and marginally better dynamic range help capture the finest texture and subtle lighting nuances in landscapes, perfect for pro-level work.

Wildlife Photography

• Z5: Decent AF but limited burst speed restricts its utility for fast-action wildlife shooting.
• Z7 II: Fast 10fps burst, advanced AF tracking, and higher resolution allow capturing fleeting expressions and action reliably.

Sports Photography

• Z5: Challenged by slower burst rate and less dense AF system; best for occasional sports or slower action.
• Z7 II: Better at tracking erratic movement and delivering a higher frame rate, worthy of more serious sports shooters.

Street Photography

• Z5: Slightly smaller, lighter, and more affordable, this model is excellent for everyday street shooting without drawing much attention.
• Z7 II: Heavier but still portable with better image quality; however, often overkill unless detail and cropping flexibility are priorities.

Macro Photography

• Both cameras rely on lens selection and focus accuracy. The Z7 II’s more precise AF points and focus stacking support give it a technical edge, but the Z5’s solid stabilization simplifies handheld macro shooting.

Night & Astro Photography

• The Z7 II’s higher dynamic range and lower noise at base ISOs aid night sky and low-light photography, despite a lower max native ISO.
• The Z5’s higher ISO ceiling is nice, but image noise is more noticeable under scrutiny.

Video Work

• Z7 II takes the crown with 4K60p and no crop vs. the Z5’s cropped 4K30p.
• Both benefit from in-body image stabilization to smooth handheld footage.

Travel Photography

• Battery life, versatility, and weight favor the Z5. It’s a robust, capable all-rounder that fits neatly into a travel kit without demanding the highest resolution.

Professional Workflows

• The Z7 II’s dual card slot with CFexpress support, high-res files, and subtle pro features (top LCD, focus stacking) position it well for studio and commercial photographers.

Price and Value: What Are You Really Paying For?

At launch, the Nikon Z5 had a street price around $1400, making it Nikon’s accessible entry into full-frame mirrorless photography. The Z7 II retails for about $3000, just over double the Z5.

So, does the Z7 II’s significant upgrade in resolution, autofocus capabilities, burst shooting, video quality, and storage options justify the price jump?

• For hobbyists or enthusiasts mostly shooting portraits, landscapes, and travel, the Z5 offers exceptional value, delivering full-frame image quality and features at an approachable price.
• For professionals needing faster performance, higher resolution, and advanced video, or those integrating the camera into demanding commercial workflows, the Z7 II is worth the investment.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations: Which Nikon Mirrorless Should You Choose?

I’ve enjoyed shooting with both these cameras extensively, and each excels in its niche.

Nikon Z5 front Nikon Z5 screen back Nikon Z7 II front Nikon Z7 II screen back

• If you want a reliable, full-frame camera that’s affordable, with solid image quality and user-friendly controls, the Nikon Z5 is a strong contender. It makes full-frame photography accessible without overwhelming you with features you may not need. Ideal for portrait, travel, and casual outdoor photography.

• If you prioritize resolution, professional-level autofocus, faster shooting, and better video, and you can handle the larger price and more demanding file sizes, the Nikon Z7 II steps up impressively. This camera is well-suited for demanding professionals or enthusiasts pushing for image quality, speed, and video capabilities.

Both cameras share great ergonomics, robust build quality, and access to Nikon’s fast-growing Z-mount lens ecosystem. Your decision ultimately depends on how much resolution, speed, and future-proof features you need, balanced against your budget.

This hands-on comparison reflects real-world use, not just specs. If you value methodical, experience-based analysis, I hope this has clarified which mirrorless Nikon camera fits your photography ambitions perfectly.

Happy shooting!

Summary Visual Overview

For a quick summary glance, here is a comparison showing type-specific performance ratings by these cameras to guide your purchase decision based on photography style:

And overall what each camera’s strength zones are, including price-to-performance ratios: