Five years ago, Nikon released the entry-level full-frame mirrorless Z5 as a more affordable alternative to the more expensive Z7 and Z6. Now, the company has finally announced the upcoming Z5 II, which features improved autofocus, faster shooting speeds, an upgraded image stabilizer, and a much brighter electronic viewfinder.
Image source: Nikon
The Z5 II uses a 24-megapixel, back-illuminated full-frame sensor and Nikon’s EXPEED 7 image processor, borrowed from the more expensive professional Z8 and Z9 cameras. This combination allows the camera to shoot at up to 14 fps in JPEG or 11 fps in RAW using the mechanical shutter, or up to 30 fps (JPEG) and 15 fps (RAW) when using the electronic shutter.
The Z5 II uses a 3D tracking autofocus system to keep fast-moving subjects in focus. The autofocus system can detect nine different types of subjects when shooting photos or videos: people, dogs, cats, cars, birds, motorcycles, bicycles, airplanes, and trains. The built-in image stabilization system prioritizes areas in focus.
The Z5 II is the first full-frame Nikon camera to feature an automatic AF-A mode. The camera can quickly switch between AF-S (single) and AF-C (continuous) modes if subjects suddenly move or change position. This makes it much easier to capture and keep difficult-to-photograph subjects, such as pets or children, in focus. The camera also features a pre-shoot mode that saves an image for up to a second before you press the shutter button, helping you capture that special moment.
The Z5 II has a pixel shift mode, which uses pixel-by-pixel shifting during shooting to create images up to 96 megapixels in size. It should be noted that Nikon’s Studio NX software is required to process such images, meaning that it cannot be done “on the fly” in the camera itself.
Video capabilities are limited to 4K resolution at 30 fps. Dropping the video resolution to 1080p increases the frame rate to 120 fps. Nikon says the new Z5 II is the first camera that can shoot video in its proprietary 12-bit N-RAW video format directly to an SD memory card, rather than the more expensive CF Express Type B cards.
A dedicated Picture Control button provides quick access to 31 built-in color presets, as well as additional Nikon Imaging Recipes that users can load into the camera themselves.
The Z5 II’s electronic viewfinder offers up to 3,000 cd/m² of brightness, which Nikon claims makes it “six times brighter than any competing model.” The camera’s 3.2-inch touchscreen LCD can now flip out and rotate, rather than just tilting up and down like on the original Nikon Z5.
The Nikon Z5 II will go on sale in April 2025. The camera without a lens is priced at $1,700, which is $300 more than the original Z5. A kit with a Nikkor Z 24-50mm ƒ/4-6.3 lens will cost the buyer $2,000, and with a Nikkor Z 24-200mm ƒ/4-6.3 VR lens with vibration reduction, it will cost $2,500.