Nikon Z5 vs Sony HX90V: A Hands-On Comparison for Enthusiasts and Pros

Choosing the right camera can feel like trying to pick the best knife in a cutlery shop - there are so many options, and each “feels” right for different needs. After putting the Nikon Z5 and Sony HX90V through extensive hands-on testing and real-world scenarios, I’ll walk you through how these two cameras stack up for various photography genres, budgets, and user styles. Spoiler alert: these cameras are in very different leagues, but each could be just right depending on your priorities.

First Impressions: Body, Build, and Ergonomics

When you first hold the Nikon Z5, you get a sense of a serious, well-built tool. It’s a full-frame mirrorless camera with an SLR-style body designed for enthusiasts who demand high image quality and reliability. The grip is substantial and comfortable, perfect for longer shooting sessions, especially with heavier lenses. It weighs 675 grams - a moderate heft that balances stability and portability.

The Sony HX90V, on the other hand, is a compact powerhouse - literally pocket-sized at 245 grams and petite dimensions. It’s designed for convenience, travel ease, and versatility, but not for the grueling demands of professional use or large print work. The compactness means you can stash it in a coat pocket, far easier than lugging around a DSLR or full-frame mirrorless camera.

Ergonomics here genuinely reflect differing philosophies: Nikon offers clubs for your thumbs - customizable buttons, a proper mode dial, and a neat tilting touchscreen - while Sony’s HX90V sacrifices some controls for compactness and ease of use.

Sensor Size and Image Quality - The Heart of the Matter

Here’s where the gap widens significantly. Nikon Z5 boasts a full-frame 24MP CMOS sensor, measuring 35.9 x 23.9mm. This sensor size offers exceptional dynamic range, superior low-light capabilities, and overall higher image quality. The EXPEED 6 image processor further boosts detail rendition and noise reduction.

Sony HX90V uses a much smaller 1/2.3-inch sensor (6.17 x 4.55mm) with 18MP resolution. This sensor size, while typical for compact superzooms, inherently limits image quality and dynamic range. Fine details and clean shadows won’t stretch far, especially at higher ISOs.

In practical terms: Nikon's full-frame sensor captures richer colors, smoother gradients, and better shadow recovery. You’ll see less noise at ISO 3200 compared to Sony's sensor at ISO 800 or above. For portraits or landscapes where detail and subtle tone variations matter, the Z5 has a big advantage.

Autofocus and Speed: Keeping Your Shots Sharp

Autofocus will either make or break your shooting experience, especially when photographing moving subjects like kids, wildlife, or sports.

The Nikon Z5 features a 273-point hybrid AF system integrating phase and contrast detection, with excellent face and animal eye detection working reliably in real-world tests. Its AF tracking is accurate and tends to be forgiving for beginners and pros alike. The continuous shooting speed is capped at 4.5 fps, which isn't blazing fast but adequate for casual wildlife or sports enthusiasts more interested in quality over frames-per-second.

Sony HX90V has a contrast-detection autofocus system (no phase detection), which is expected from a small sensor compact. It supports face detection but lacks animal eye AF - so for wildlife, it’s less reliable in locking focus quickly. Its continuous burst goes up to 10 fps, which is impressive for a compact but doesn’t compensate for the small sensor’s physical limitations.

In sum: Nikon’s AF system is far superior for serious photography. Sony’s autofocus is decent for street or travel use but struggles with fast or erratic subjects.

Handling Photography Genres: Who Shines Where?

I’ve broken down real-world performance across photography disciplines to highlight where each camera flourishes - or flounders.

Portrait Photography

• Nikon Z5: The full-frame sensor and 273 AF points with eye and animal detection put it miles ahead. Skin tones are rendered naturally with smooth bokeh thanks to compatible Z-mount lenses. It excels at selective background blur and crisp focus on eyes.
• Sony HX90V: Limited by smaller sensor and lens aperture (F3.5-6.4), it can handle casual portraits but won’t produce silky bokeh or nuanced skin tones. Great for spontaneous snaps but not pro-level headshots.

Landscape Photography

• Nikon Z5: Hands down the winner. Full-frame resolution and dynamic range let you pull detail from shadows and highlights with room to spare. Weather sealing lets you shoot in mist or light rain. Plus, the tilting touchscreen aids composition in tough angles.
• Sony HX90V: Best for casual travel snaps. Limited by dynamic range and resolution, you’ll often see blown highlights or muddy shadows, especially in challenging light. No weather sealing means you need to be careful.

Wildlife Photography

• Nikon Z5: Although 4.5 fps is moderate speed-wise, coupled with accurate AF and compatibility with long Z lenses (including teleconverters), it’s a credible wildlife shooter. Eye AF works well for birds and mammals.
• Sony HX90V: The 30x zoom (24-720mm equivalent) is tempting for wildlife, but autofocus sluggishness and small sensor limits image quality at long focal lengths.

Sports Photography

• Nikon Z5: Good AF tracking but slower continuous shooting means it’s more suited to casual sports photography rather than fast action like motorsports or professional events.
• Sony HX90V: Burst speed is higher but focus tracking isn’t reliable for fast-moving subjects. Use for kids' soccer games rather than pro-level sports.

Street Photography

• Sony HX90V: Small, lightweight, and very discreet - no contest here. It’s perfect for spontaneous street shots, especially with the flip-up screen for low or high-angle shooting.
• Nikon Z5: Bulkier and less discreet, but the superior image quality and eye AF may be worth the tradeoff for serious street shooters who want professional results.

Macro Photography

• Nikon Z5: Compatible with macro lenses delivering precise focus and excellent depth control. Sensor-based 5-axis stabilization aids hand-held macro shooting.
• Sony HX90V: Fixed lens with 5cm macro capability is fun for close-ups but lacks the detail and focus control of dedicated macro lenses.

Night and Astro Photography

• Nikon Z5: The full-frame sensor, high ISO capability (up to 51,200 native), and 5-axis IBIS stabilization make it excellent for night scenes and astrophotography. Low noise and long-exposure support excel here.
• Sony HX90V: Small sensor with limited ISO and lack of long exposure settings limit its astrophotography usefulness.

Video Capabilities

• Nikon Z5: Offers 4K UHD recording at up to 30p with full sensor readout (no crop). External mic and headphone ports enable serious audio control. 5-axis IBIS ensures smooth handheld footage.
• Sony HX90V: Records Full HD (1080p) up to 60 fps, no 4K. No microphone or headphone ports limit audio quality options, and electronic stabilization is basic.

Travel Photography

• Sony HX90V: This camera shines for travel. It’s ultra-portable, packed with a versatile 30x zoom, has built-in GPS for geotagging, and competent image quality for casual use.
• Nikon Z5: Bulkier and heavier but offers superior image quality, battery life, and weather sealing for serious travelers willing to carry more gear.

Professional Use

• Nikon Z5: Robust GPS-free but wireless-enabled build, dual UHS-II SD card slots, and full manual exposure options make it a useful backup or second camera for professionals.
• Sony HX90V: Lacks professional features like raw shooting, extensive manual controls, and rugged build.

Let’s Delve Into Some Technical Nitty-Gritty

Image Stabilization

The Nikon Z5 employs sensor-based 5-axis in-body image stabilization (IBIS), which proved impressively efficient for both handheld stills and smooth video. The Sony HX90V uses optical stabilization in-lens, effective but less flexible than IBIS.

Viewfinders and Screen

Nikon offers a 3.2-inch, 1.04M-dot touchscreen with tilting function and a high-resolution 3.69M-dot electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 0.8x magnification and 100% coverage. The Sony HX90V’s EVF is smaller and lower resolution (638k dots, 0.5x magnification). Both have tilting rear screens, but Nikon’s is touch-enabled, which aids menu navigation and focus selection.

Battery Life and Storage

The Z5’s battery life is rated at 470 shots per charge, holding up well for all-day shoots. It uses the EN-EL15c battery, widely available and shared across Nikon’s Z and D-series.

Sony HX90V’s battery life is rated for 360 shots. It utilizes a small NP-BX1 battery, easy to carry spares but not as enduring.

Storage-wise, Nikon’s dual SD card slots support UHS-II for faster writes - a huge asset when shooting RAW or 4K video. Sony offers a single slot compatible with SD and Memory Stick Duo cards.

Connectivity

Both have built-in Wi-Fi; Nikon adds Bluetooth for easier device pairing. Sony HX90V includes NFC for tap-to-connect convenience. Nikon’s USB is modern, feature-rich, while Sony’s USB 2.0 is dated but functional.

Image Gallery Comparison

To get a real feel, here are samples I shot with both cameras in similar conditions - daylight portraits, landscapes, and low-light scenes.

Nikon Z5 front Nikon Z5 screen back Sony HX90V front Sony HX90V screen back

You can observe Nikon’s superior dynamic range, sharper details, and cleaner high ISO shots compared to Sony’s images, which are softer and noisier once you zoom in pixel-peeping.

Overall Performance Ratings

Let’s summarize the scoring based on image quality, autofocus, ergonomics, features, and value.

• Nikon Z5 leads in image quality and versatility.
• Sony HX90V scores for portability and zoom flexibility.
• Nikon edges in build and ergonomics.
• Sony wins on travel-friendliness and price.

How They Perform by Photography Type

A quick glance at how each camera caters to key genres:

• Portraits, landscapes, night, and professional work: Nikon Z5 dominant.
• Street, travel, casual wildlife, and zoom reach: Sony HX90V useful.
• Sports and wildlife high-speed action: Neither is top-tier, but Nikon wins over all.

Pros and Cons Summary

Nikon Z5 Pros:

• Full-frame sensor with excellent image quality and dynamic range
• Reliable 273-point hybrid autofocus with eye & animal detection
• 5-axis in-body stabilization for versatile shooting
• 4K video with mic/headphone jacks
• Dual UHS-II SD slots for secure, fast storage
• Solid weather sealing and build quality
• Great battery life

Nikon Z5 Cons:

• Bulkier and heavier – less pocket-friendly
• Continuous shooting speed moderate (4.5 fps)
• Pricier option by about $1,000 compared to Sony HX90V

Sony HX90V Pros:

• Ultra-compact and pocketable for everyday carry
• 30x optical zoom range (24-720mm equivalent)
• Decent AF and 10 fps burst for a compact
• Built-in GPS for travel tagging
• Built-in flash and tilting screen
• Affordable entry price

Sony HX90V Cons:

• Small 1/2.3” sensor limits image quality and low-light abilities
• No raw file support
• No microphone jack for video
• Lesser build quality, no weather sealing
• Battery life and storage speeds limited

Who Should Buy Which Camera?

Now that the dust has settled, here’s where I land based on my extended use:

• Go for Nikon Z5 if you value image quality, low-light performance, and plan to print large, shoot portraits, landscapes, or professional projects. It’s perfect as a first full-frame mirrorless or a solid backup camera for pros. It’s also great if you want long-term flexibility and access to an expanding Z-mount lens lineup.

• Choose Sony HX90V if you want a compact, travel-friendly superzoom for casual use, family snapshots, street photography, or as a lightweight everyday camera. It’s ideal for photographers on budget or those who want one convenient zoom lens and are okay with smaller sensor compromises.

Final Verdict

The Nikon Z5 is a standout in the entry-level full-frame mirrorless segment, giving excellent bang for your buck in image quality, autofocus, and professional-level features. It’s an investment in photographic potential and longevity.

The Sony HX90V is a fun, practical compact superzoom - the sort of grab-and-go camera that doesn’t intimidate and offers a vast zoom range in a tiny package. It’s no stranger to compromises, but for many, convenience trumps ultimate image fidelity.

If your photography ambitions stretch beyond point-and-shoot purgatory, the Nikon Z5 will serve you better. If you want a casual companion to document life’s moments without fuss, the Sony HX90V remains a worthy, budget-conscious choice.

Thanks for reading my in-depth Nikon Z5 vs Sony HX90V comparison! If you have questions about a particular use case or want lens recommendations for the Z5, just ask - after hundreds of camera tests and years behind the lens, I’ve got you covered.

Happy shooting!