6 Things to Love About the Nikon Z5
- The Handling and Ergonomics of the Nikon Z5
- The High-Resolution Photos and Videos of the Nikon Z5
- The Hybrid Autofocus System of the Nikon Z5
- The In-Body Image Stabilization of the Nikon Z5
- The Lens Selection of the Nikon Z5
- The Budget-Friendly Price of the Nikon Z5
- Final Thoughts on the Nikon Z5
- Camera Type: Mirrorless Camera
- Sensor: 24.3MP Full-Frame CMOS Sensor
- ISO: 100 - 51,200 (Expandable to 50 - 102,400)
- Lens Mount: Nikon Z Mount
- Speed: 4.5 fps
- Autofocus: 273 focus points
- Video: 4K/30p & 1080p/60p
- Size/Weight: 134 x 101 x 70 mm / 675 grams
- Battery Life: 470 shots
- Stabilization: Yes
- Touchscreen: Yes
- Weather-Sealed: Yes
- Used Nikon Z5 Price: $719 - $834
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If you're looking for a powerful yet affordable full-frame mirrorless camera, the Nikon Z5 should be at the top of your wish list. It’s a hybrid digital camera that debuted in 2020 and is perfect for everyone, from first-time camera owners to photographers with a lifetime of experience.
In our Nikon Z5 review, we’ll share six things we love about this Nikon mirrorless camera. From its impeccable design and superb image quality to its amazing lens compatibility and low price, very few cameras can compete with everything the Z5 offers. Additionally, thanks to innovative websites like MPB, buying a used mirrorless camera has never been cheaper and easier.
Who is MPB? It is a trustworthy and reliable online platform selling pre-owned photography and videography gear at unbeatable prices. Better yet, all of its cameras and lenses are hand-inspected by expert product specialists with years of experience and backed by six-month warranties, allowing you to make your purchases confidently and worry-free.
We love MPB because, over the years, we have saved thousands of dollars buying, selling, and trading in photography equipment on their one-of-a-kind online marketplace. You can start saving, too, by visiting their website today. With that in mind, it’s time to explore what makes the Nikon Z5 an excellent camera in 2024!
Check out the video above by Ralph Mayhew Photography to learn how the Nikon Z5’s recent firmware update took an already great camera and made it even better.
Table of Contents
The Handling and Ergonomics of the Nikon Z5
The first thing that jumps out when you see the Nikon Z5 is its beautiful and functional design. The Z5 is smaller and lighter than many other full-frame cameras, which makes it easy to control with one hand. Moreover, its portable size makes it a good choice for travel and street photography.
The camera has one top control dial and various programmable buttons on the back. You can also customize the menus, which boosts productivity. Other notable design features that improve handling are the tilting rear LCD, high-resolution electronic viewfinder (EVF), and dual memory card slots.
Now, here’s an in-depth look at the Nikon Z5 specs and key features:
The High-Resolution Photos and Videos of the Nikon Z5
For photography, the most prominent feature of the Nikon Z5 is its 24.3-megapixel full-frame sensor. It delivers detailed pictures with terrific corner-to-corner sharpness. Moreover, Nikon’s color science has long been considered one of the best in the photography industry, meaning you can expect bold and bright images regardless of whether you shoot JPEGs or RAW files.
The Z5 also excels as a video camera. It boasts both 1080p Full HD and 4K video capabilities. 4K footage has a maximum frame rate of 30 frames per second (fps), while 1080p video can reach 60 fps. Although the UHD 4K video quality is great, we aren’t fans of the generous 1.7x crop factor the camera applies to the footage.
The Hybrid Autofocus System of the Nikon Z5
The Nikon Z5’s fast, accurate, and reliable autofocus (AF) system is courtesy of its advanced Expeed 6 image processing engine. The AF has 273 AF points and covers roughly 90% of the sensor. You can select your focus point using the AF joystick on the camera's back.
To make focusing even easier for photographers and videographers, the Z5 offers continuous AF and subject-tracking. This technology lets the camera identify and follow moving subjects, keeping them in focus the entire time. It is particularly useful for sports, wildlife, and portrait photography.
Learn More:
The In-Body Image Stabilization of the Nikon Z5
While many cameras only utilize optical image stabilization, the Nikon Z5 features 5-axis in-body image stabilization that Nikon calls Vibration Reduction (VR). Testing shows that the VR adds up to 5 stops of exposure (more if paired with a stabilized lens), enhancing the camera's low-light performance.
Furthermore, the VR significantly reduces camera shake during video recording, allowing you to capture stable handheld footage. The Z5’s impressive VR makes it a solid entry-level camera for vlogging and filmmaking.
The Lens Selection of the Nikon Z5
There are currently around 50 native Nikon Z Mount lenses compatible with Nikon Z5, ranging from inexpensive kit lenses for beginners to state-of-the-art prime lenses for professionals. In addition, over 100 third-party lenses from brands like Sigma, Tamron, and 7Artisans exist. So, you'll have plenty of options, no matter your budget or the type of photography you like to shoot.
Here are links to some of our favorite lenses for photo and video to pair with the Z5:
The Budget-Friendly Price of the Nikon Z5
Lastly, we shouldn’t leave without discussing the Z5's affordable price. Because Nikon has released a handful of newer cameras in the past couple of years, the retail price of the Nikon Z5 has dropped to $1,396.95. Considering everything the Z5 can do, that’s a total bargain.
For even better deals, purchase a pre-owned Nikon Z5 from a reputable source like MPB. You can get a camera in “like-new” condition for as low as $819. Then, use all the money you saved to upgrade your camera kit with more photography gear like lenses, tripods, lighting equipment, etc.
Final Thoughts on the Nikon Z5
As you can see, the Nikon Z5 packs tons of high-end specs and features into its compact body. Those features enable it to thrive during both photo and video capture modes. On top of that, it’s the cheapest full-frame mirrorless camera on sale today. Honestly, what more could you want from a camera?!?
We understand if you want to compare and contrast the Z5 with other cameras before making a final decision, though. So, to aid you in your camera search, here’s a list of other popular Nikon mirrorless cameras in stock now at MPB:
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