Nikon Z 5 Camera Review

This isn't the most compact option, but it's relatively portable for a full-frame camera. It's much less bulky than a DSLR camera like the Nikon D780, but it isn't as lightweight as comparable full-frame mirrorless models like the Canon EOS RP or the Sony α7 II.

The camera feels very well-built. Though it's mostly made of plastic, it does have a magnesium alloy frame, and it's a lot sturdier-feeling than comparable entry-level full-frames like the Canon EOS RP. It's even weather-sealed against dust and moisture, giving you a bit more peace of mind when taking your camera out on rainy days.

• Nikon Z 5 camera body
• Sensor cap
• Nikkor Z 24-50mm f/4-6.3 lens
• Lens cap
• Rear lens cover
• 1x Nikon EN-EL15C battery
• Shoulder strap
• Battery charger
• USB-C to USB-A cable
• User manual

The Nikon Z5 has excellent ergonomics, with plenty of space between the grip and the lens, though this can vary depending on what lens you use. It handles very much like other Nikon mirrorless cameras, with a nearly identical body and handgrip to the Nikon Z 6. The controls are intuitive and well-placed. Overall, it feels great in the hand and is suitable for a wide range of hand sizes.

The electronic viewfinder (EVF) has a high resolution. Though 3.69 million-dot resolutions have become more common in mirrorless EVFs, it's still nice to see on an entry-level model like this, and it means you'll get a clear, sharp view of your subjects through the viewfinder.

The camera has a tilting screen with full touch capability. You can select focus points with it, use it as a touch shutter, or navigate the menu and quick menu. It doesn't get overly bright, making it a bit harder to see what's on the screen on really sunny days.

Nikon's user interface is super intuitive and well-organized. You can navigate the Z5's menu using either the physical controls or the touchscreen. There's a handy quick menu to access commonly used settings, and you can customize it to show your preferred settings. The menu also has a help function that gives you more information about certain settings, which you can access by tapping the '?' symbol in the bottom left corner of the screen or pressing the zoom-out button. However, it's only available for some settings.

The camera uses a high-resolution full-frame sensor, though it isn't backside-illuminated like the sensor found on the higher-end Nikon Z 6. Backside-illuminated designs help with light-gathering efficiency.

Battery performance is great overall. It's CIPA-rated for 390 shots when shooting through the viewfinder and 470 shots when shooting through the screen. Of course, in the real world, that number will vary depending on how you use your camera, how long you keep it powered on, what kind of shooting you're doing, and more. However, the CIPA rating is a good indicator of how it performs relative to other cameras, and the Z 5 performs quite well among mirrorless options, outperforming the more powerful Nikon Z 6II. That said, it still falls far short of DSLR cameras and newer mirrorless options.

The camera's battery life is especially impressive in video mode. The battery can last through over two and a half hours of continuous video recording in 4k. It's worth noting, however, that the camera can only record 4k video at 30 fps with a severe crop and limited bit rates, so it's less demanding than cameras that can record at higher frame rates and bit rates. If you need to extend the camera's battery life even further, you can power it externally via USB-C.

Shooting speed is one of the areas in which the Nikon Z 5 falls short of pricier models, but this isn't surprising given its relatively affordable price point.

Its image buffer has a fixed cap, regardless of format, which is a bit disappointing given its slow shooting speed. However, considering you can shoot up to 100 frames in either RAW or JPEG, it could be worse. Thankfully, if you manage to fill up the buffer, it's very quick to empty, so that won't slow you down for long. Where the camera falls apart is its burst rate, which maxes out at a measly five fps. That's fine if you're just taking photos of your dog or your kids, but it's probably not going to cut it for birds in flight or fast-moving sports photography.

The Nikon Z 5 uses the same basic autofocus system as the Nikon Z 6, with on-sensor phase detection technology. It's pretty good overall. It has a few different subject detection modes, including animal detection, as well as face and eye detection. Its tracking feature isn't as consistent as newer, higher-end Nikons like the Nikon Z 6II, but it still performs reasonably well overall for those who prefer a more hands-off approach to autofocus. With firmware version 1.40, Nikon updated the eye-detection performance for the camera's 'Auto-area AF' mode. The eye tracking is a bit more reliable, but it still falls considerably short of competitors like the Sony a7 III and the Canon EOS R6, though these both sit at higher price points. Its area mode options are also more limited than competitors.

If you don't use the tracking mode, on the other hand, the camera's AF proves to be quite good. It focuses quickly and smoothly when using the center focus point, with little trouble staying with the subject behind the AF point. That's great for scenarios with more predictable subjects.

Unlike the Canon EOS RP, the Nikon Z5 includes built-in image stabilization, which works in tandem with optically stabilized NIKKOR Z lenses. You can get clear shots at reasonably slow shutter speeds, but we found that the IBIS isn't as effective as the IBIS on the Nikon Z 6II, despite Nikon advertising both systems as offering up to five stops of stabilization performance.

The camera's dynamic range is excellent, especially at its base ISO. It can capture a wide range of detail, preserving a good range of highlights and shadows.

The Nikon Z5 has a high-resolution sensor that resolves fine details very well. That means you have more leeway to crop in without losing detail than you would with a smaller sensor or lower-resolution camera.

The sensor has great noise handling. Though noise is somewhat inevitable in really low-light situations, you can still get relatively clean RAW files when there's less available light.

The Nikon Z5 has relatively limited video features. It doesn't support Log recording for those who want to preserve more dynamic range and have more flexibility in post. However, it's suitable enough for more casual video recording.

Unfortunately, this camera can only record 4k video with a severe 1.58x crop, significantly reducing your field of view. It's limited to 30 fps in 4k, too, so you're out of luck if you want to capture high-frame rate footage for slow-motion clips.

The camera's internal recording capability is okay in 4k, but the camera isn't really intended for more advanced video work. There's no Log gamma curve, and it's limited to 8-bit 4:2:0 capture, meaning you'll have less leeway to color-grade and process your footage.

The autofocus system is okay for 4k video. It only supports face detection in video mode; however, it does a great job of tracking moving subjects. It's a little more sluggish when you use the general subject tracking—that is, when you select the subject manually rather than letting the AI detect a face on its own. You can adjust AF speed and sensitivity as well, which is great.

4k video quality is good overall. It's mostly limited by the heavy crop, but videos are still reasonably sharp and detailed, even in low light. It has a bit of an edge over the competing Canon EOS RP in terms of sharpness and noise handling—just don't expect the same level of quality as cameras like the Nikon Z 6II that can shoot uncropped 4k.

Rolling shutter effect is really bad. There's heavy distortion in 4k, which can be especially distracting when panning the camera.

In 1080p, the camera can shoot at up to 60 fps, and thankfully, there's no crop. While it's suitable for lightly slowed-down footage, a lot of newer or higher-end cameras can shoot at even higher frame rates to get even greater degrees of slow motion.

As with 4k, internal recording is somewhat limited in 1080p. It's still limited to 8-bit 4:2:0 capture. There's also a 30-minute cap on recording, and the camera's bit rates are nothing to write home about.

In 1080p, autofocus works quite well. The tracking feature does a great job of keeping moving human subjects in focus. The general subject tracking is also a lot better in this resolution.

The 1080p video quality is pretty good. Details are a little more muddled than on the Nikon Z 6, but it's a bit better than the Canon EOS RP and isn't bad overall. It even performs decently well in low light without overly noisy footage.

Thankfully, there's much less noticeable rolling shutter effect in 1080p, though there's still a bit of distortion when panning.

The SD card slots are conveniently placed on the side of the camera, making it easy to switch out cards even when the camera's on a tripod. The dual slots are great for those who want a backup.

The Nikon Z5 uses a USB-C port for charging and file transfer. It also includes a Mini HDMI port, as well as both a headphone and mic jack, so you can connect videography peripherals if needed.