Nikon Z5 II Review
Entry-level full frame usually means an old processor and a list of things the camera cannot do. The Z5II runs the same EXPEED 7 as Nikon's flagship, and that changes which list it belongs on.
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The Verdict
The number that matters on this camera is not 24.5 megapixels. It is EXPEED 7 — the processor Nikon puts in the Z8 and Z9 — sitting inside the cheapest full-frame body the company sells. Autofocus, subject detection, 3D-Tracking and pre-release capture all come down from the professional bodies rather than being rationed out of the entry one.
Around that sits a sensible, unglamorous specification: a 24.5MP BSI sensor, in-body stabilisation, two SD UHS-II slots, a 3.2-inch vari-angle screen at 2.1 million dots, and a viewfinder that runs to 3,000 nits — three times the brightness of the Z5 it replaces. 4K30 records at full sensor width; 4K60 costs you a 1.5x crop.
What you give up is speed and headroom: 7.8 fps mechanical, 14 fps in the expanded mode, flash sync at 1/200s, and a single-digit megapixel gap that only matters if you crop hard. For a first full-frame body, or a second one that does not need to be the fast one, that is a short list of regrets. EISA gave it Best Buy Camera 2025-2026.
- Overall
- 7.8/10
- Image quality
- 8.3
- Autofocus
- 8.3
- Video
- 7.3
- Speed
- 7.0
- Handling and build
- 8.0
| Announced | 3 April 2025 |
|---|---|
| Sensor | 24.5MP BSI-CMOS, full frame / Nikon FX (35.9 × 23.9 mm) |
| Resolution | 6,048 × 4,032 |
| Processor | EXPEED 7 |
| Mount | Nikon Z |
| Stabilisation | In-body image stabilisation |
| Autofocus | Hybrid AF, 273 points; 3D-Tracking and subject detection |
| Burst | 7.8 fps; 14 fps in the expanded mode |
| Shutter speeds | 30s to 1/8000s (900s with extended shutter speeds enabled), bulb, time |
| Flash sync | 1/200s; no built-in flash, hot shoe only |
| Video | 4K UHD 30/25/24p; 4K60 with a 1.5x crop; 1080p up to 120p; 12-bit N-RAW and 10-bit HEVC |
| ISO | 100–64,000, expandable to 204,800 |
| Metering | TTL, −4 to +17 EV at ISO 100 |
| Viewfinder | 0.5-inch Quad-VGA OLED, 3.69M dots, 3,000 cd/m² |
| Rear screen | 3.2-inch vari-angle TFT touchscreen, 2.10M dots |
| Card slots | 2 × SD UHS-II |
| Battery | EN-EL15c, charges over USB-C PD (EN-EL15a/b work, with less life) |
| Connections | USB-C, HDMI Type-D, 3.5 mm microphone and headphone jacks, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 134 × 100 × 72 mm |
| Weight | 620 g body only; 700 g with battery |
Maker-published figures, with source and date: Numbers & Sources below.
What Stands Out
- EXPEED 7 — the Z8 and Z9 processor, with their subject detection and 3D-Tracking
- 4K30 uses the full sensor width; the Z5 before it cropped by 1.7x
- A 3,000-nit viewfinder, against 1,000 nits on the Z5
- In-body stabilisation, two SD UHS-II slots and a headphone jack at the entry price
- 12-bit N-RAW and 10-bit HEVC internally — the Z5 was 8-bit only
Trade-offs
- 7.8 fps mechanical is modest; 14 fps only in the expanded mode
- 4K60 carries a 1.5x crop, so wide framing needs a wider lens
- Flash sync stops at 1/200s
- SD only — no CFexpress slot for sustained high-bitrate recording
- 24.5MP leaves less crop room than the 45MP Z8 and Z9 bodies
In Depth
Why the processor is the headline
Entry-level bodies are normally defined by what was left out, and the first thing to go is usually the processor — which means last generation's autofocus. Nikon did the opposite here: EXPEED 7 is the same silicon that runs the Z8 and Z9, and with it come subject detection, 3D-Tracking and pre-release capture. Nikon rates the autofocus system as working down to 7 EV lower than the Z5's. On a camera at this end of the range, that is the specification that decides how many frames you keep.
The sensor, and what 24.5MP is for
A 24.5MP BSI-CMOS sensor covering 35.9 × 23.9 mm, the same generation Nikon uses in the Z6II and the Zf. In practical terms: 6,048 × 4,032 files that print large, edit quickly and do not punish an older laptop, with the low-light behaviour that comes from spreading 24.5 million pixels across a full frame rather than a crop sensor. If you routinely crop to half the frame, look at a 45MP body instead; if you do not, this resolution is the easier one to live with.
Video: where the crop starts
4K at 30, 25 and 24p records across the full sensor width — worth saying plainly, because the Z5 before it applied a 1.7x crop to 4K and that alone made it awkward for wide work. 4K60 does carry a 1.5x crop, so a 24mm lens frames like a 36mm when you switch to it. Internally the camera writes 12-bit N-RAW and 10-bit HEVC, where the Z5 was limited to 8-bit, and 1080p runs to 120p for slow motion.
The viewfinder and screen
The finder is a 0.5-inch Quad-VGA OLED at 3.69 million dots running up to 3,000 cd/m². Brightness is the number that changed: the Z5 managed 1,000 nits, and the difference shows up in bright sun rather than in a showroom. The rear screen is a 3.2-inch vari-angle touchscreen at 2.10 million dots, which is the useful configuration for video and for shooting from awkward positions.
Cards, power and handling
Two SD UHS-II slots — no CFexpress, which is the honest boundary of the class and the limit on sustained high-bitrate recording. Power is the EN-EL15c, and the body charges over USB-C PD, so a laptop charger or a power bank tops it up between shoots. At 620 g body only and 134 × 100 × 72 mm, it is a normal-sized full-frame body rather than a compact one.
The numbers, and where they come from
Published by the maker
| Sensor size (maker's figure) | 35.9 x 23.9 mm |
|---|---|
| Effective pixels | 24.5 MP |
| Native ISO range | ISO 100–64,000 |
| Continuous shooting | 30 fps (at full resolution) |
| Battery (CIPA) | 380 shots |
| Viewfinder resolution | 3.69 million dots |
Maker figures checked on 25 Sept 2026 — maker's spec sheet. Continuous shooting, in the maker's words: Top Continuous Shooting Speed at Full Resolution: 30 frames per second
Computed from those figures
| Sensor area | 858 mm² |
|---|---|
| Format factor | 1x |
| Light gathered vs 35mm | the same |
Computed from the figures above. Pixel pitch = sensor width / pixel count across. Light gathered = log2 of the area ratio to 36 x 24 mm. Diffraction limit = the aperture at which the Airy disc diameter (2.44 x lambda x N, lambda = 550 nm) reaches two pixel pitches. Other calculators use other thresholds and so quote other numbers.
How this score is put together
7.8 out of 10
- Image quality Weight 25% 8.3
24.5MP BSI full frame
- Autofocus Weight 20% 8.3
273-point hybrid AF
- Video Weight 20% 7.3
4K60 only with a 1.5x crop
- Speed Weight 15% 7.0
7.8 fps mechanical
- Handling and build Weight 20% 8.0
5-stop IBIS, twin SD slots
Scored against full-frame interchangeable-lens cameras. The overall figure is the weighted mean of the rows above — it is computed, not set by hand.
How It Compares
| Spec | Nikon Z5 II | Nikon Z6 III | Nikon Z8 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensor | 24.5MP BSI FF | 24.5MP FF | 45.7MP FF Stacked |
| Video | 4K30 full width / 4K60 (1.5x crop) | 6K N-RAW | 8K60 N-RAW |
| AF Points | 273 points | 299 points | 493 points |
| Burst | 7.8 fps (14 fps expanded) | 20 fps | 20 fps |
| IBIS | 5 stops | 8 stops | 5.5 stops |
| Buy | Check price at Amazon | Check price at Amazon | Check price at Amazon |
Recommended Accessories
Essential gear to maximize your Nikon Z5 II experience:
ProGrade Digital SDXC UHS-II V90 256 GB
Both slots are SD UHS-II; V90 is what keeps 4K and the expanded burst writing.
Nikon EN-EL15c
The body charges over USB-C, but a second cell is faster than waiting for it.
Lowepro ProTactic
Sized for a full-frame body plus a standard zoom and a prime.
K&F Sensor Swabs (full frame)
A full-frame sensor sits exposed at every lens change.
More gear guides: Best TripodsBest Camera BagsBest SD Cards
FAQ
Z5 II or Z6 III?
Both are 24.5MP full frame. The Z6 III uses a partially stacked sensor, which buys 20 fps and 6K60 N-RAW; the Z5 II gives you the same EXPEED 7 autofocus generation at 7.8 fps and 4K. If you photograph fast-moving subjects or shoot video as the main job, the Z6 III earns the gap. Otherwise the two take the same pictures.
Is 24.5MP enough?
For prints, client delivery and anything that ends up on a screen, comfortably. The limit is crop room: halving a 24.5MP frame leaves about 6MP, where the same crop on a 45MP body leaves 11MP. If your working method is to shoot loose and crop in, that is the argument for a Z8.
Does it crop 4K?
Not at 30p, 25p or 24p — those use the full sensor width. 4K60 applies a 1.5x crop. This is the clearest improvement over the original Z5, which cropped 4K by 1.7x at every frame rate.
Can I use my F-mount lenses?
Yes, through Nikon's FTZ or FTZ II adapter, with the usual caveat that compatibility varies by lens generation — screw-drive AF lenses will not autofocus. Check your specific lens against Nikon's compatibility list before assuming.
