Clicky

Nikon Z5

 
Nikon Z5 front
 
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Boost to 102400)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon Z Mount
  • 675g - 134 x 101 x 70mm
  • Introduced July 2020
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Lenses
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
62
Imaging
76
Features
86
Overall
80

Nikon Z5 summary

Nikon Z5 is Nikon's Advanced Mirrorless camera originally introduced on July of 2020. It uses a 24 MegaPixel, CMOS Full frame size sensor with a max resolution of 6016 x 4016.

The Z5 places at #10 out of 62 in Advanced Mirrorless cameras & over-all #44 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our database. You should check out our Smart camera filter to get camera listings based on your custom criteria.

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Below is a graph of various factors used in the rating system.

Nikon Z5 family

The Nikon Z5 has a history of related digital cameras. Here, you can find all previous and brand new models along with important specs.

ModelVisualizeResolutionSensor SizeMax fpsReleased
Nikon-Z8 front thumbnailNikon Z8
Z5 vs Z8
46MPFull frame30.0 fps2023
Nikon-Z9 front thumbnailNikon Z9
Z5 vs Z9
46MPFull frame30.0 fps2021
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes
Nikon-Z6-Mark-II front thumbnailNikon Z6 II
Z5 vs Z6 II
25MPFull frame14.0 fps2020
Nikon-Z7-Mark-II front thumbnailNikon Z7 II
Z5 vs Z7 II
46MPFull frame10.0 fps2020
Nikon-Z5 front thumbnailNikon Z524MPFull frame4.5 fps2020
Nikon-Z7 front thumbnailNikon Z7
Z5 vs Z7
46MPFull frame9.0 fps2018
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video
Nikon-Z6 front thumbnailNikon Z6
Z5 vs Z6
25MPFull frame12.0 fps2018

Nikon Z5 Pros and Cons

Here is a collection of benefits and drawbacks of the Nikon Z5 based on factors that are usually considered necessary in a camera.

better than average battery pack (470 CIPA)
big sensor size (Full frame)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection autofocus
features tracking autofocus
good MP (24 megapixels)
good resolution screen (1,040 k dot)
has a tilting screen
has bluetooth
has double storage slots
has external microphone port
has HDMI port
has headphone port
has phase detect autofocus
has touch focus
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
interchangeable lenses (Nikon Z mount)
manual focus
nice screen size (3.2")
supports RAW formats
touchscreen enabled
very good high ISO (51,200)
very good minimum ISO (100)
video res high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
weather proofing
display is not selfie friendly
more heavy than competitors in class (675 grams)
very slow continuous shooting (4.5 fps)
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Nikon Z5 Sensor information

The Nikon Z5 houses the Expeed 6 processor chip. The sensor size on the Nikon Z5 is 35.9mm x 23.9mm (Full frame). The 858 mm² sensor is able to capture 6016 x 4016 pixels using aspect ratios of 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera has Image Stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis). Sensor stabilization is better than digital stabilization since the latter can cause cropping.

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

The CMOS sensor has 24 megapixels and supports a native ISO range of 100 to 51200. The ISO can be extended electronically to 50 to 102400. RAW photos are supported so you have more margin for error.

The graphic below shows the Z5's sensor size compared to other common sizes. The Z5 sensor has a crop factor of 1 and is outlined in green.

Nikon Z5 sensor size Photography Glossary

To get a sense of various aspect ratios, you can refer to the visual below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Nikon Z5 dimensions

Nikon Z5 weighs about 1.49 pounds (675g or 23.81 oz) & has external measurements of 134mm x 101mm x 70mm (5.3" x 4.0" x 2.8"). The weight of typical Advanced Mirrorless camera is 454g and the Nikon Z5 is more heavy as compared to other rivals.

Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Below is a pic of the Nikon Z5 alongside a soft drink so you can get a feel for its size.

Nikon Z5 dimensions scale

The top view below will show the button design on the Z5.

Nikon Z5 topview buttons dials

Nikon Z5 Lens information

The Z5 fits the Nikon Z mount and has 31 lenses to pick from. Here is some of the lenses we have in our database that will work with the Z5.

ModelVisualizeFocal LengthApertureStabilizedWeight
Nikon-Nikkor-Z-85mm-F1.8-S lensNikon Nikkor Z 85mm F1.8 S85mmf/1.8470g
Nikon-Nikkor-Z-100-400mm-F4.5-5.6-VR-S lensNikon Nikkor Z 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 VR S100-400mmf/4.5-5.6 1355g
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month
Nikon-Nikkor-Z-40mm-F2 lensNikon Nikkor Z 40mm F240mmf/2 170g
Nikon-Nikkor-Z-58mm-F0.95-S-Noct lensNikon Nikkor Z 58mm F0.95 S Noct58mmf/12000g
Nikon-Nikkor-Z-24-70mm-F2.8-S lensNikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm F2.8 S24-70mmf/2.8 805g
Nikon-Nikkor-Z-20mm-F1.8-S lensNikon Nikkor Z 20mm F1.8 S20mmf/1.8 505g
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone
Nikon-Nikkor-Z-14-30mm-F4-S lensNikon Nikkor Z 14-30mm F4 S14-30mmf/4485g
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Nikon Z5 Connectivity

The Z5 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • Wireless Yes
  • Bluetooth Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Digital cameras that include NFC and / or Bluetooth connectivity are able to be used wirelessly via smartphones. You can copy pictures and in some cases change camera settings without the hassle of connecting physically with the camera.

Certain apps also enable a Liveview and hit the shutter when you are not close to the camera. If the camera boasts a HDMI port, it can easily be connected to an external screen. Virtually all cameras will allow you to charge the battery pack through the USB socket.

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Nikon Z5 Video information

The max video resolution on the Nikon Z5 is 3840 x 2160 and you can record in MPEG-4 and H.264 format. 2160p delivers an excellent resolution for video. You can downsample to 1080p to get clearer video. Be mindful of the massive file sizes and make sure you have high quality SD cards with good write speed. The camera does come with both headphone and microphone port making it pretty useful whilst recording sound.

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Nikon Z5 Weather Sealing

Nikon Z5 comes with weather proofing making it a good choice for use for tough conditions. This can be particularly valuable when you are not sure about the elements you may encounter for outdoor photography.

Nikon Z5 Display and Viewfinder

The Nikon Z5 houses a 3.2" tilting display screen having a resolution of 1,040k dots.

Additionally the display screen is touch friendly so you can change focus point as well as adjust settings using your fingertips.

Nikon Z5 screen and viewfinder Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

The View Finder specs for Nikon Z5 are as follows:

  • ViewFinder Electronic
  • ViewFinder Resolution 3,690k dots
  • ViewFinder Coverage 100 percent
  • ViewFinder Magnification 0.8x

For bright outdoor situations that make the camera displays washed out and tricky to see, viewfinders will be quite useful.

Nikon Z5 Shutter information

Nikon Z5 is able to shoot continuously at 4.5 fps. The highest shutter speed is 1/8000 sec.

Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Nikon Z5 Flash and Hot shoe information

Nikon Z5 has external flash support but with missing integrated flash. The max flash sync speed is 1/200 sec.

Nikon Z5 Autofocusing information

Nikon Z5 has both Phase Detect AF as well as Contrast Based AF. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot quicker and precise as compared to Contrast Based autofocusing. The camera boasts Face detect which can be handy for portrait photography.

The AF system boasts 273 focus points to pick from. Nikon Z5 has tap to focus. You are able to use your fingers to adjust focus. It also features Tracking AF for objects that move. Nikon Z5 has got manual focusing if required for low light occasions or you require more accurate focusing control.

Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Nikon Z5 Battery life

The battery pack (EN-EL15c) in the Nikon Z5 is fashioned to last for 470 photographs according to the CIPA standards making it above standard when compared to its category. The usual Advanced Mirrorless camera battery life is 390. Sony A6600 offers the maximum (810) battery life for this kind of cameras.

Underneath is a list of Advanced Mirrorless cameras with the strongest battery life:

ModelVisualizeBattery LifeRAWNFCBluetooth
Sony-Alpha-a6600 front thumbnailSony A6600
Z5 vs A6600
810 yesyesyes
Sony-Alpha-A7c front thumbnailSony A7c
Z5 vs A7c
740 yesyesyes
Photography Glossary
Canon-EOS-R7 front thumbnailCanon R7
Z5 vs R7
660 yesnoyes

Nikon Z5 for various categories of photography

The following bar chart shows a rundown of the Nikon Z5 for various categories of photography. To understand more, visit the specific paragraph below.

Nikon Z5 Portrait photography advice

The Nikon Z5 receives a points tally of 85 which is wonderful, and means the camera is a outstanding fit to use for portraits. Photographing portraits leans greatly towards sensor resolution, RAW support along with the option to utilize off-camera flash.

Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards
focusing manually
MP count good (24 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
has face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats

Nikon Z5 Street photography information

Coming in at a above average rating of 74, the Nikon Z5 is a good option to buy for street photography. A good street photography camera offers a good balance of picture quality plus portability.

Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
comes with touch to focus
weather proofing
good ISO range (51,200)
more heavy than others (675g)

Nikon Z5 Sports photography details

A superb sports photography score of 82 indicates the Nikon Z5 is a wonderful fit for shooting sports. A camera must have fantastic focusing and fast continuous shooting for sports photography.

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment sealing
great battery power (470 shots)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.5 frames per second)

Nikon Z5 Travel photography information

Size is extremely crucial in getting a travel camera. All round, the Nikon Z5 gets a nice 68 for a travel camera which makes it a respectable option to purchase for your trips.

Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images
great battery pack (470 CIPA)
environment proofing
has bluetooth
supports touch to focus
good megapixels (24MP)
heavier than average in class (675 grams)
display is not selfie friendly

Nikon Z5 Landscape photography features

For anyone planning to purchase a digital camera for landscape photography, the most essential factor is going to be image quality. The Nikon Z5 with it's excellent rating of 86 as a landscape camera is a wonderful choice within the current marketplace.

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Nikon Z mount)
nice screen size (3.2 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (24MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
above average ISO range (51,200)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
great battery power (470 CIPA)
two card slots

Vlogging with Nikon Z5

A camera for vlogging preferably should offer a articulating display screen, mic input and if possible IBIS. Taking all things in to account, the Nikon Z5 is just not good for vlogging as it gets a terrible score of 34.

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detection focus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
includes external microphone socket
does not offer selfie friendly display
more heavy than competition in class (675 grams)

Nikon Z5 Alternatives

If you want alternatives to the Z5, below is a selection of the top scored cameras which fall in to the category of Advanced Mirrorless.

The diagram down below provides you an overview of the Z5 compared to it's highest ranking rivals suggested previously.

These are some more cameras you might look into as alternative options. To review a complete comparison, simply click on the "compare" link.

Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Specifications

General Information
Company
Nikon
Model type
Nikon Z5
Class
Advanced Mirrorless
Introduced
2020-07-20
Body design
SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CMOS
Chip
Expeed 6
Sensor size
Full frame
Sensor measurements
35.9 x 23.9mm
Sensor surface area
858.0mm²
Sensor resolution
24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio
1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution
6016 x 4016
RAW files
Highest native ISO
51200
Highest enhanced ISO
102400
Min native ISO
100
Min enhanced ISO
50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points
273
Lens
Lens mount type
Nikon Z
Amount of lenses
15
Crop factor
1
Screen
Display type
Tilting
Display diagonal
3.2"
Display resolution
1,040k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
Electronic
Viewfinder resolution
3,690k dot
Viewfinder coverage
100 percent
Viewfinder magnification
0.8x
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating
not tested
DXO Color Depth rating
not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating
not tested
DXO Low light rating
not tested
Features
Min shutter speed
30 seconds
Max shutter speed
1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed
4.5fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation
Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance
no built-in flash
Flash modes
Front-curtain sync, slow sync, rear-curtain sync, red-eye reduction, red-eye reduction with slow sync, slow rear-curtain sync, off
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync
1/200 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions
3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 24p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution
3840x2160
Video format
MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless
Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
Yes
GPS
None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight
675g (1.49 lb)
Physical dimensions
134 x 101 x 70mm (5.3" x 4.0" x 2.8")
Other
Battery life
470 pictures
Type of battery
Battery Pack
Battery ID
EN-EL15c
Self timer
Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 secs)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage
Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible)
Storage slots
2
Pricing at release
$1,399