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Introduction
The Nikon Z5 II is an entry-level 35mm full-frame mirrorless digital camera that provides 4K/60p video, as much as 30fps burst capturing, and IBIS. That is the long-awaited substitute for 2020’s Z5 mannequin. It sits beneath the better-specced and higher-priced Z6 III mannequin within the Nikon Z-series vary. Different key options of the Z5 II embrace a 24.5 megapixel BSI CMOS sensor, ISO vary of 100-64000 , 273-point Hybrid AF system with AI-driven topic detection, 3690k-dot digital viewfinder, vari-angle touchscreen LCD, weatherproof magnesium alloy physique, twin UHS-II SD card slots, and built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The Nikon Z5 II is obtainable now in black solely, priced at £1599 physique solely, £1859 for the 24-50mm equipment, £2129 for the 24-70mm f/4 equipment and £2299 for the 24-200mm equipment. It’s made in Thailand. Learn on for our in-depth Nikon Z5 II evaluate, full with full-size pattern images and movies so that you can obtain and consider.
Ease of Use
Because the mannequin title suggests, this unit sits beneath the prevailing ‘6’ and ‘7’ semi professional fashions in its maker’s line up, the premise right here being that this can be a extra accessible entry level into the ‘Z’ sequence for many who don’t need the steep studying curve they might understand the upper priced options current.
That mentioned, whereas comparable with different mirrorless digital camera choices on the market, the £2129 being requested for the digital camera and 24-70mm f/4 lens bundle we had been despatched by Nikon isn’t low cost for a ‘newbie’ or smartphone upgrader by any means.
Nikon has used just about the identical physique design for the Z5 II as the unique Z5, which does not come as an awesome shock in a mature market the place upgrades are much less frequent and extra incremental.
Measuring 134 x 100.5 x 72 mm (5.3 × 4 × 2.9 in.) and weighing 700 g (1 lb. 8.7 oz.) with battery and reminiscence card, fitted, it’s a few mm bigger and 325g heavier than its predecessor, primarily to accommodate the chunkier hand grip, which we predict is unquestionably definitely worth the commerce off for the marginally higher dealing with that it affords.
In any other case you would be hard-pressed to to inform the 2 cameras aside side-by-side, with the exterior management layouts being fairly muchidentical – it is contained in the digital camera the place nearly all of the enhancements have been made.
Burst capturing charges and buffer capacities have been drastically improved on this new Z5 II mannequin in comparison with the five-year-old authentic.
Whereas the Z5 can solely shoot at a reasonably pedestrian 4.5fps, the Z5 II cranks issues as much as an entire different degree, providing 30fps burst capturing for JPEG and 14fps/11fps for RAW.
As well as, the Z5 II additionally boasts Pre-Launch Seize mode, an awesome characteristic that makes it simpler to seize the decisive second even when capturing at 30fps.
When activated, the digital camera can buffer pictures as much as 1 second earlier than you totally depress the shutter button. Burst capturing then begins when the shutter is half-pressed and the buffer will retain as much as 1 seconds price of frames after totally urgent the shutter.
There may be one necessary caveat when utilizing this mode, which applies to all of the Nikon digital camera that supply it so far. Pre-Launch Seize is simply obtainable when capturing JPEGs, not RAW recordsdata, whereas som,e rival cameras assist each JPEG and RAW codecs for its equal characteristic.
Backing up the improved burst capturing and making the Z5 II a lot better suited to wildlife and sports activities pictures is the revamped auto-focus system which is similar to the one discovered on the flagship Z8/Z9 fashions.
The 273-point phase-detection AF system is claimed to be 68% sooner than the Z5. When paired with an F1.2 lens, the Z5 II boasts AF sensitivity which means it will probably auto-focus all the way down to an unimaginable -10EV, even when not utilizing the particular Starlight AF capturing mode.
3D Monitoring AF is inherited from the corporate’s DSLR cameras helps the Z6 III to trace fast-moving topics, with the digital camera utilizing a single AF level to trace no matter’s beneath it when you half-press the shutter button.
The brand new Z5 II affords the identical 9 AI-driven subject-detection modes because the extra premium Z9, Z8 and Z7 III fashions, together with a devoted hen mode, whereas the brand new Clever AF-A mode for newbies means there’s no want to vary focus modes your self.
One other helpful improvemenet is the small topic detect mode which makes use of solely 3% of the body, helpful for those who don’t have a protracted sufficient lens for birds.
By way of AF efficiency, the Z5 II represents a giant enchancment compared with the Z5, getting it proper much more steadily than that digital camera did and making it a lot simpler to advocate for anyone that shoots quite a lot of transferring topics, resembling wildlife or sport.
The in-body picture stabilization system has been considerably improved with the Z5 II providing 7.5 stops within the centre and 6 stops on the edges of the body of 5-axis picture stabilisation constructed into the digital camera’s physique, up from 5 stops on the Z6 II, plus there’s electronic-VR for video recording. The optionally available Focus Level VR characteristic stabilises the world across the lively focus level when capturing stills.
The Z5II’s video capabilities have additionally gained a major improve within the 4 years because the launch of the Mark I model.
Each the Z5 II and Z5 supply 4K UHD video recording, however the Z5 has plenty of severe limitations which makes the newer Z5 II a a lot better selection for extra severe 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 would not supply that recording mode in any respect.
As an alternative the Nikon Z5 applies a large 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 will want to make use of wider-angle focal lengths to realize the identical subject of view because the Z5 II, and sooner lenses to realize the identical depth of subject, one thing that may show notably problematic for avid vloggers who will likely be pressured to place the digital camera 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 due to its 120fps super-slow-mo mode, with the Z5 topping out at 60fps.
Lastly, the Z5 II moreover affords N-Uncooked inside 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 Evaluate 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 instances are barely longer on the unique Z5 – as much as 120 minutes versus 85 minutes on the newer model.
The Z5 affords a local ISO vary of 100-51200 whereas the Z5 II runs from 100-64000.
Crucially, although, the Z5 II will be pushed two stops additional to ISO 204800, whereas the Z5 can solely be expanded to ISO (102400). Each can drop all the way 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.
Each fashions supply a quickest shutter velocity of 1/8,000sec for each stills and video.
Outwardly the brand new Z5 II seems to be and feels similar to its predecessor, however there are a number of delicate variations of notice.
The newer mannequin affords 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 technology of Z8/Z9 cameras.
The Z5 II has the identical devoted Image Management button from the Z50 II mannequin which gives fast entry to the 31 completely different Image Controls. On the Z5 you needed to dive into the menu system to pick one of many 28 completely different modes.
You can even obtain recipes from Nikon Cloud onto the Z5 II and even create your individual recipes in NX Studio.
The Z5 and Z5 II share a really comparable 0.5-inch, 3.69 million-dot OLED digital viewfinder, which affords 100% horizontal and vertical protection, 0.8x magnification and 21mm eyepoint).
Trying by way of the viewfinder of each cameras just isn’t fairly similar, nevertheless, because the Z5 II has a 3,000 nit viewfinder (on par with the Z8/Z9) whereas the Z5’s display screen has a brightness of 1000 cd/m².
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 screen affords increased 2.1-million dot decision and now has a vari-angle design that is a lot better suited to each video and stills.
The Z5II has two reminiscence card slots, utilising twin UHS-II SD slots housed in a devoted compartment on the aspect of the physique.
Each the Z5 amd Z5II fashions use the identical EN-EL 15C battery, which permits the digital camera to be powered by USB while you are utilizing it, particularly useful for timelapse pictures or video and for journey pictures when carrying a robust powerbank.
On the Z5 it gives 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 screen, in comparison with 330 photographs or 85 minutes of video on the Z5 II when utilizing the EVF and 380 photographs when utilizing the LCD display screen.
With lens mount entrance and centre on this mannequin, the faceplate is a comparatively minimalist affair, with a lens launch button on one aspect of the mount flanked on the opposite by two barely smaller operate buttons.
After all we additionally get the acquainted screw head sized porthole housing a self time/AF help lamp prime proper of the lens mount, and a deep, sculpted handgrip over on the left.
This has the acquainted fringe of a ridged management wheel poking out close to the highest the place it falls underneath the forefinger, although we extra typically discovered ourselves utilizing the extra distinguished ‘most important’ command dial that’s alternatively set into the highest plate simply above the thumb pad on the rear.
It simply feels extra pure to us to present this one a thumb spin, whereas your forefinger is free to hover over the shutter launch button, and that button alone.
One factor this digital camera is lacking nevertheless – although in fact newbies received’t sweat over its omission – is a prime plate LCD window. Maybe this is able to have been one thing of a luxurious, provided that its maker was aiming for compactness right here.
High plate controls together with the aforementioned most important command dial and acquainted capturing mode wheel – that includes the standard P,A,S,M and auto settings, plus three user-customisable ones – are reassuringly massive and chunky, making for fluid, versus fiddly, operation.
These have simply the correct quantity of give and will not be overly stiff, the person listening to an audible ‘click on’ when a selected capturing mode is chosen, or a reassuring sequence of clicks when the principle command wheel is spun.
The highest plate can also be the place you’ll discover the Nikon Z5’s unobtrusive speaker, whereas stereo microphones sit both aspect of the acquainted pentaprism form, which homes the digital camera’s digital viewfinder and built-in stereo microphones.
The diploma of visibility you get from the 3690K-dot decision EVF right here is sufficiently spectacular that we forgot we weren’t wanting by way of an truly optical viewfinder. Stated EVF additionally helpfully gives 100% body protection, so what you’re seeing is what you’re capturing.
One other factor that’s lacking right here, nevertheless, that you simply marvel if Nikon might have included, is a pop-up flash – as it’s, there’s a vacant hotshoe for attaching an adjunct flashgun if and when required, although clearly that is at further price.
Falling underneath the forefinger because it dances across the shutter launch button in the meantime are an ergonomically organized prime plate trio of buttons – one for controlling publicity compensation (an incrementally broad +/- 5EV), one other for accessing ISO settings along side a twirl of the command wheel as you maintain this button down, plus a well-recognized document button for the commencing and canceling video seize
The again plate of the Nikon Z5 II in the meantime finds the digital camera at its busiest wanting and presumably initially daunting, with a DSLR-like array of buttons organized in a L-shape alongside the highest, plus down the appropriate hand aspect of the vari-angle LCD display screen.
High left the place they conveniently fall underneath the thumb of the left hand, we get instantly recognizable buttons for drive mode choice (accessing single shot, burst capturing and customary self timer choices) and file deletion, whereas, over on the different aspect of the viewfinder window, we discover a show button encircled by a rocker change for self explanatorily switching between stills and video seize.
To the appropriate of those we get an AF-on button and a joystick with roughened floor so that you actually get a ‘really feel’ for its operation and directing of your AF level – activated by way of a press of the ‘OK’ button beneath – with out having to take your eye away from the viewfinder.
Between the joystick and the OK button, set right into a multi directional management pad, is an ‘i’ button, which by default gives a brief minimize to an on-screen toolbar of key capturing settings. Every setting has its personal lozenge formed digital button, that are simply of adequate dimension to have the ability to nudge frivolously with a thumb and keep away from miss-selection. This additionally saves deep diving into the menu screens correct on most events.
Beneath the multi directional management are an extra quartet of buttons – being the self explanatory ‘menu’, a playback button, plus two magnifying glass illustrated enlarge and minimise buttons, which clearly come into their very own when checking vital focus with the digital camera positioned in playback mode.
With all of the above seeming fairly easy and logical, the appropriate hand flank of the digital camera – as considered from the again – options the slide-and-open cowl housing the twin reminiscence card slots as mentioned earlier, whereas the alternative flank options the digital camera’s connectivity choices.
Right here you get greater than we’d count on on a ‘newbie’ mannequin, together with the flexibility to plug in an exterior microphone and a pair of headphones for monitoring, whereas HDMI and USB ports are additionally offered, together with an adjunct terminal possibility for plugging in a distant shutter launch; so, these are commendably complete choices for a digital camera on this class (if not on this worth bracket).
With Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on board as customary, the bottom of the Nikon Z5 encompasses a screw thread for a tripod useless centre of its lens mount, whereas the bottom of the handgrip homes its rechargeable EN-EL15C lithium ion battery.
Picture High quality
All the pattern pictures on this evaluate had been taken utilizing the 24.5 megapixel High-quality JPEG setting, which supplies a median picture dimension of round 10Mb.
NoiseThe expanded ISO sensitivity will be set between ISO 50 and ISO 204800 in full-stop increments. Listed here are some 100% crops which present the noise ranges for every ISO setting, with JPEG on the left and RAW on the appropriate.
File QualityThe Nikon Z5 II has a number of completely different JPEG and RAW picture high quality settings obtainable, with High-quality* being the best high quality JPEG possibility. Listed here are some 100% crops which present the standard of the varied choices, with the file dimension proven in brackets.
Energetic D-lighting (ADL)D-lighting is Nikon’s dynamic vary optimisation device that makes an attempt to squeeze the complete dynamic vary of the sensor into JPEGs. Energetic D-lighting works “on the fly”, earlier than the in-camera processing engine converts the uncooked picture information into JPEGs. The obtainable settings are Off, Low, Regular, Excessive and Further Excessive, plus an Auto mode.OffLowNormalHighExtra HighAuto
HDROffLowNormalHighExtra HighAuto
A number of Publicity
Image ControlsNikon’s Image Controls are preset combos of sharpening, distinction, brightness, saturation and hue. All 31 completely different Image Controls will be tweaked to your liking, then saved and transferred to different cameras.AutoStandardNeutralVividMonochromeFlat MonochromeDeep Tone MonochromePortraitRich Tone PortraitLandscapeFlatCreative Image ControlsDreamMorningPopSundaySomberDramaticSilenceBleachedMelancholicPureDenimToySepiaBlueRedPinkCharcoalGraphiteBinaryCarbon
Pattern Pictures
This can be a collection of pattern pictures from the Nikon Z5 II digital camera, which had been all taken utilizing the 24.5 megapixel High-quality JPEG setting. The thumbnails beneath hyperlink to the full-sized variations, which haven’t been altered in any means.
Pattern RAW Pictures
The Nikon Z5 II permits customers to seize RAW and JPEG format recordsdata. We have offered some Nikon RAW (NEF) samples so that you can obtain (thumbnail pictures proven beneath will not be 100% consultant).
Pattern Motion pictures & Video
Product Pictures
Conclusion
The Z5 II takes Nikon’s entry-level mirrorless digital camera forwards in veritable leaps and bounds, enhancing on the unique mannequin in plenty of completely different areas, which might be what you’d count on provided that the Z5 was launched in 2020.It is also a greater than viable different to the dearer Z6 III mannequin, providing sufficient comparable options and efficiency in a smaller, lighter physique at a decrease price-point, making it the higher selection for lots of customers.With a wealth of enhancements to burst capturing charges and pre-release seize, auto-focusing velocity and reliability, class-leading IBIS and the digital viewfinder, the Z5 II is well-suited to capturing each stills and video of wildlife, sports activities and something that strikes shortly, one thing that could not be confidently mentioned about its predecessor.It is also a a lot better possibility for videographers due to the inclusion of 4K/60p recording, which the unique mannequin did not supply in any respect, and a cropless 4K/30p mode (the Z5 utilized a large 1.7x crop).Add in 1080/120p super-slow-mo, N-Uncooked inside 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 Evaluate mode from the Z50 II, 2x Excessive-Res zoom with any lens, a video self-timer and USB streaming, and its very clear certainly that 5 years has been very type to the Z5 II.Commendably the official worth hasn’t gone up by an excessive amount of because the 2020 launch of the Z5, regardless of a substantial quantity of worldwide turmoil.You do want to think about if actually you want the Z5 II if you have already got a Z5, or, because the latter digital camera continues to be on sale, for those who’re considering selecting one up for the primary time. If finances is a giant concern, it can save you a hefty chunk of money by both sticking with what you have already received or plumping for the earlier, however not but discontinued, mannequin.Except you possibly can decide up the unique mannequin at a hefty low cost, we would positively advise choosing the far more succesful 2025 model. In some ways the Z5 II goes means past its entry-level billing and is greater than ok to tempt would-be Z6 III patrons to avoid wasting severe money…
Rankings (out of 5)
Design
4.5
Options
4.5
Ease-of-use
4
Picture high quality
4.5
Worth for cash
4
Major Rivals
Listed beneath are a few of the rivals of the Nikon Z5 II.
The brand new Canon EOS R8 full-frame mirrorless digital camera integrates the picture high quality and autofocusing from the dearer EOS R6 Mark II with the smaller, lighter and less complicated physique of the cheaper EOS RP. Is the ensuing digital camera a powerful success or a horrible mish-mash? Discover out now by studying our in-depth Canon EOS R8 evaluate…
The Z5 is Nikon’s model new entry-level full-frame mirrorless digital camera, sitting beneath the mid-range Z6 and flagship Z7 fashions within the three-camera lineup, and above the APS-C sensor Z50. Designed to compete with the likes of the Canon EOS R, Sony A7 III and Panasonic Lumix S1, does the Z5 have what it takes to face out in an more and more crowded market? Discover out now by studying our in-depth Nikon Z5 evaluate, full with full-size pattern images and movies.
The Nikon Z6 III is a brand new fanatic full-frame hybrid mirrorless digital camera with a revolutionary partially stacked sensor and a tremendous digital viewfinder. Is that this one of the best all-round prosumer mirrorless digital camera available on the market? Discover out now by studying our in-depth Nikon Z6 II evaluate, full with full dimension pattern images and movies…
Classic, retro, heritage – Nikon are again with the Zf, a really fashionable 35mm full-frame digital digital camera housed inside a physique that is clearly been impressed by the basic FM2 SLR from the Nineteen Eighties. We take an in-depth have a look at the Nikon Zf in our full evaluate, full with full-size pattern images and movies.
Lastly! The brand new Lumix S5 II is the primary ever Panasonic digital camera to have a section hybrid detection AF system, answering the critics of its contrast-based DFD system. However does this highly effective hybrid picture and video digital camera have what it takes to beat its most important rivals? Discover out now by studying our in-depth Panasonic Lumix S5 II evaluate, full with full-size pattern images and movies.
We have kicked off our Panasonic Lumix S9 evaluate with pattern JPEG and RAW pictures, product photographs and extra…
The brand new Sony Alpha A7 IV is a brand new 33 megapixel, 4K/60p video, 10fps burst capturing, cutting-edge auto-focusing hybrid full-frame mirrorless mannequin that pulls no punches in its bid to be the one digital camera that you simply want. Discover out why we predict this is among the greatest all-round cameras of 2021 by studying our in-depth Sony A7 IV evaluate…
Evaluate Roundup
Opinions of the Nikon Z5 II from across the net.
The Nikon Z5 II could be the new ‘entry’ level into Nikon’s full-frame mirrorless ecosystem, however there’s nothing fundamental about its spec sheet or efficiency. It has inherited a lot of the top-end tech from cameras increased up the vary and packaged them into an reasonably priced physique, together with clever topic recognition and superior autofocus that may assist enhance your hit charge in capturing sharper photographs.
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An amazing spec sheet and little or no to dislike, plus a tempting worth level makes the Z5 II a incredible all-rounder for a wide range of completely different photographers.
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The Nikon Z5 II is a calculated and well-executed digital camera that blurs the road between affordability and efficiency. Regardless of being angled because the model’s entry-level mannequin, the physique has obtained important upgrades over its reasonably pedestrian predecessor. That is successfully a mid-range digital camera at an impressive worth, and one which advantages massively from inheriting the wonderful subject-detection autofocus of Nikon’s pricier our bodies.
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