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At first look the brand new Nikon Z5 II full-frame mirrorless digicam bears greater than a passing resemblance to its venerable predecessor, the Nikon Z5.
5 years is a very long time on the planet of digital cameras, so what precisely has modified between the Nikon Z5 II that was launched in 2025 and the unique Z5 from means again in 2020?
We’re bringing you this in-depth Nikon Z5 II vs Z5 head-to-head comparability to elucidate the variations and make it easier to select between these two mirrorless cameras.
It’s also possible to learn our detailed Nikon Z5 II evaluation and Nikon Z5 evaluation to seek out out precisely what we consider every one.
Sensor
There’s seemingly valuable little to decide on between the 2 cameras right here, as each fashions have a really smart 24 megapixel decision sensor.
This has grow to be the sweet-spot for entry-level and mid-range mirrorless cameras, with a lot increased megapixel counts reserved for premium flagship fashions.
Nonetheless, a more in-depth take a look at the specs sheets reveals that the Z5 II has a BSI – Bottom Illuminated – sensor, whereas the Z5 doesn’t.
It is a particular manufacturing course of that ought to end in higher picture high quality in low-light conditions.
So with the megapixel rely being equal, the Nikon Z5 II probably has the sting relating to increased ISO taking pictures, one thing that’s borne out in our full critiques of each cameras.
In case you do not do numerous handheld taking pictures in low-light, then there’s little or no to decide on between the 2 cameras when it comes to their picture sensor.
ISO Pace
On paper there’s once more little to decide on between the 2 fashions right here, with the Z5 providing a local ISO vary of 100-51200 and the Z5 II working from 100-64000.
Crucially, although, the Z5 II might be pushed two stops additional to ISO 204800, whereas the Z5 can solely be expanded to ISO (102400). Each can drop right down to ISO 50 if required.
The Z5 II additionally has a slight edge on the video aspect by offering an ISO vary of 100–51200 versus the Z5’s 100–25600.
Video
Each the Z5 II and Z5 provide 4K UHD video recording, however the Z5 has quite a lot of critical limitations which makes the newer Z5 II a significantly better selection for extra critical videographers.
The Z5 II’s video high quality tops out at 4K 60/50p cropped to the 1.5x DX format, whereas the unique Z5 does not provide that recording mode in any respect.
As a substitute the Nikon Z5 applies an enormous 1.7x crop to its greatest 4K/30p video, whereas the Z5 II captures oversampled 6K footage and due to this fact produces extra detailed outcomes with no crop in any respect.
The aggressive crop on the Z5 additionally implies that you may want to make use of wider-angle focal lengths to attain the identical discipline of view because the Z5 II, and quicker lenses to attain the identical depth of discipline, one thing that may show significantly problematic for avid vloggers who will probably be compelled to place the digicam additional away than at arms size.
Fortunately in 1080p / Full HD mode each cameras shoot with no crop in any respect, however once more the Z5 II has the sting because of its 120fps super-slow-mo mode, with the Z5 topping out at 60fps.
Lastly, the Z5 II moreover presents N-Uncooked inner recording to UHS-II SD card, 10-bit N-Log recording for superior profiling throughout post-production plus HLG and SDR modes, RED Luts, improved digital VR, the Product Evaluation mode from the Z50 II, 2x Excessive-Res zoom with any lens, even a main, in 1080p high quality, a video self-timer and USB streaming.
Surprisingly recording occasions are barely longer on the unique Z5 – as much as 120 minutes versus 85 minutes on the newer model.
The Z5 remains to be an honest sufficient digicam for motion pictures, with a connection for an exterior microphone built-in and assist for focus peaking, zebras and timecode, plus the power to create time-lapses, however total the Z5 II is the clear winner when it comes to video.
Autofocus
This is likely one of the main areas of distinction between the 2 fashions because the Z5 II makes use of the newest Expeed7 processor.
The Z5 has a 273-point Hybrid autofocus system with eye and animal detection, providing snappy efficiency while having the ability to deal with all kinds of topics with the minimal of fuss.
It might probably focus right down to -3.5EV as customary and all the best way to -6EV within the low-light AF mode.
The brand new Z5 II has the identical focusing system because the extra premium Z9, Z8 and Z7 III fashions with the identical 9 AI-driven subject-detection modes.
It might probably focus all the best way right down to -10EV AF and Nikon claims that it is 68% quicker than the unique Z5.
Different enhancements embrace a brand new small topic detect mode which makes use of solely 3% of the body, helpful in the event you don’t have a protracted sufficient lens for birds, the inclusion of 3D monitoring which wasn’t on the unique Z5, and the brand new Clever AF-A mode for freshmen.
The Starlight view mode permits for for simpler composition at nighttime for EVF and LCD by boosting publicity in-camera – the Z5 does not have this function.
Burst Capturing
Steady taking pictures is one other space the place the Nikon Z5 II has a transparent benefit over its older sibling.
Whereas the Z5 can solely shoot at a somewhat pedestrian 4.5fps, the Z5 II cranks issues as much as an entire different stage, providing 30fps burst taking pictures for JPEG and 14fps/11fps for RAW.
It additionally has a intelligent Pre-release seize mode which robotically captures 1 seconds value of pictures / 30 frames earlier than you totally press the shutter button.
This makes the Z6 significantly better suited to motion, chicken and wildlife images the place getting the proper shot typically depends on having a sequence of very comparable pictures to select from.
Shutter SpeedsBoth fashions provide a quickest shutter velocity of 1/8,000sec for each stills and video.
Image ControlsThe new Z5 has the identical devoted Image Management button from the Z50 II mannequin which supplies fast entry to the 31 totally different Image Controls. On the Z5 you needed to dive into the menu system to pick out one of many 28 totally different modes.
It’s also possible to obtain recipes from Nikon Cloud onto the Z5 II and even create your individual recipes in NX Studio.
Physique and Design
The brand new Z5 II is ever so barely heavier than the Z5 – 700g versus 675g – and ever so barely bigger too – 134 x 100.5 x 72 mm versus 134 x 100.5 x 69.5 mm.
Outwardly they feel and appear very comparable, however there are a couple of delicate variations of be aware.
The newer mannequin presents improved Z6 III ranges of weather-proofing. It additionally has a deeper handgrip than the Z5 and options the identical button structure as the brand new era of Z8/Z9 cameras.
ViewfinderThe Z5 and Z5 II share a really comparable 0.5-inch, 3.69 million-dot OLED digital viewfinder, which presents 100% horizontal and vertical protection, 0.8x magnification and 21mm eyepoint).
Trying via the viewfinder of each cameras shouldn’t be fairly similar, nevertheless, because the Z5 II has a 3,000 nit viewfinder (on par with the Z8/Z9) whereas the Z5’s display has a brightness of 1000 cd/m².
LCD Display screen
The Z5 has a 3.2-inch, 1.04-million dot decision touchscreen LCD on the rear that may be tilted to 45 levels,
The Z5 II’s 3.2 inch display presents increased 2.1-million dot decision and now has a vari-angle design that is significantly better suited to each video and stills.
IBISThe Z5 has a 5-axis in-body picture stabilisation (IBIS) system that gives 5 stops of stabilisation
The Z5 II has an enhanced Focus level VR in-body picture stabilization system that gives 7.5 stops within the centre and 6 stops on the edges of the body, similar to the Zf and Z6 III fashions.
Reminiscence Playing cards
Each cameras have two reminiscence card slots, utilising twin UHS-II SD slots housed in a devoted compartment on the aspect of the physique.
Battery Life
Each fashions use the identical EN-EL 15C battery, which permits the digicam to be powered by USB while you are utilizing it, particularly useful for timelapse images or video and for journey images when carrying a robust powerbank.
On the Z5 it supplies a CIPA-approved lifespan of 390 stills or 115 minutes of video when utilizing the EVF, or 470 stills or 120 minutes of video when utilizing the LCD display, in comparison with 330 pictures or 85 minutes of video on the Z5 II when utilizing the EVF and 380 pictures when utilizing the LCD display.
Worth
At launch in 2020 the Nikon Z5 was priced at $1399 physique solely or £1719 / $1699 with the Z 24-50mm f/4-6.3 retractable zoom package lens.
The Z5 II is priced at £1599 physique solely, £1859 for the 24-50mm package, £2129 for the 24-70mm f/4 package and £2299 for the 24-200mm package.
ConclusionThe new Z5 II improves on the unique mannequin in a number of totally different areas, which might be what you’d count on provided that the Z5 was launched in 2020. The unique mannequin is not going to be discontinued immediately, however until you may decide it up at a hefty low cost we might advise choosing the way more succesful 2025 model.
So what do you assume? Would you select the brand new Nikon Z5 II or the earlier Z5? Go away a remark under!
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