The Nikon Z5 is Here and Features IBIS, Dual UHS II Card Slots, and More
Nikon Z5
Speculation has been rampant for months that Nikon would release the Nikon Z5 sooner rather than later, and it appears that the sooner part won out.
Nikon announced its newest mirrorless camera - an entry-level full-frame positioned below the Z6 and Z7 - last night.
As an entry-level rig, we can't expect it to have all the bells and whistles of its big brothers. But there are many features that make this an interesting entry-level option.
Perhaps the best feature is its 5-axis in-body image stabilization system, which is seldom a specification for a budget-friendly camera.
It also features dual UHS-II card slots, an EXPEED 6 processor (the same one in the Z6 and Z7), and a 24-megapixel CMOS sensor, though it is not back-illuminated like the Z6 and Z7's sensors.
The autofocus system is a hybrid contrast-detect and phase-detect setup with 273 AF points and face and eye detection for people and animals to boot.
Add in a 3.69-million dot OLED EVF, a tilting touchscreen LCD, and weather sealing, and you have quite a nice set of features for an MSRP of $1,400.
However...
If you're a sports or wildlife photographer, this is not the camera for you since it maxes out at 4.5fps with full autofocus. You can find more than double the speed in similarly-priced APS-C mirrorless cameras.
And unlike the Z6 and Z7 - which are very good video cameras - the Z5 is not.
It is capable of 4K video, but only at 30fps and with a giant 1.7x crop, just like the Canon EOS R and EOS RP.
Video shooting at 1080p is available using the full width of the sensor, but only up to 60fps. In other words, this camera was not designed to be a photo and video camera.
As noted earlier, the price for the Z5 is a more than respectable $1,400 for the body only ($1,396.95 to be exact...). You can also get it as a kit with the brand-new 24-50mm f/4-6.3 lens for $1,696.95.
The camera will be available in August, and you can pre-order your very own right here.
