The Nikon Z5 is the cheapest full-frame camera introduced by Nikon to date. At $1400, it has a lot to offer in such a lightweight, compact, and rugged camera body. Many of our readers might be wondering how this camera differs from the Nikon Z6 that was released two years ago, so I decided to put together a comparison that shows the differences between these cameras. We will first start out with ergonomic and body differences side-by-side, then talk about features.
Nikon Z5 vs Nikon Z6 Ergonomics Comparison
First, let’s take a look at the front of the two cameras:
As you can see, both cameras look very similar, with very slight differences on the top (due to the moved PASM dial), and a smooth finish on the right side of the mount on the Z5. Size-wise (both width and height), the cameras are identical.
Next, here is how the two cameras appear from the top:
Nikon basically moved the PASM dial from the left to the right on the Z5, removing the top LCD screen. The PASM dial itself got slightly modified. While you need to press the center button to change the camera mode on the Z6 (which is great, because it prevents accidental changes to camera mode), it is now a simple dial on the Z5. The removal of the LCD screen is a bummer for those who are used to it, but that was one way for Nikon to reduce cost on the Z5. Other than this, everything else is identical.
Lastly, let’s take a look at the backs of the cameras:
Once again, the cameras are nearly identical. The buttons, the rear LCD, their placement, and access is the same. The only difference is on the right side – since the Z5 has dual SD card slots, its memory card door is a bit taller in comparison. Another difference to note, which is not visible in the image, is the lower resolution of the LCD screen on the Z5. As shown below, it has 1,040k pixels vs 2,100k pixels on the Z6.
Nikon Z5 vs Nikon Z6 Specifications Comparison
Next, we will take a look at how these two cameras compare in terms of their technical specifications:
| Camera Feature | Nikon Z5 | Nikon Z6 |
|---|---|---|
| Sensor Resolution | 24.3 MP | 24.5 MP |
| Low-Pass Filter | Yes | Yes |
| Sensor Type | CMOS | BSI CMOS |
| In-Body Image Stabilization | Yes, 5-axis | Yes, 5-axis |
| Sensor Size | 35.9 x 23.9mm | 35.9 x 24.0mm |
| Image Size | 6016 x 4016 | 6048 x 4024 |
| Pixel Size | 5.9µ | 5.9µ |
| Image Processor | EXPEED 6 | EXPEED 6 |
| Viewfinder | Electronic / EVF | Electronic / EVF |
| Viewfinder Type / Resolution | OLED / 3.69 Million Dots | OLED / 3.69 Million Dots |
| Viewfinder Coverage | 100% | 100% |
| Viewfinder Magnification | 0.80x | 0.80x |
| Built-in Flash | No | No |
| Flash Sync Speed | 1/200 | 1/200 |
| Storage Media | 2x SD UHS II | 1x XQD / CFexpress |
| Continuous Shooting Speed | 4.5 FPS | 12 FPS |
| Max Shutter Speed | 1/8000 | 1/8000 |
| Electronic Front-Curtain Shutter | Yes | Yes |
| Exposure Metering Sensor | TTL metering using camera image sensor | TTL metering using camera image sensor |
| Base ISO | ISO 100 | ISO 100 |
| Native ISO Sensitivity | ISO 100-51,200 | ISO 100-51,200 |
| Autofocus System | Hybrid PDAF | Hybrid PDAF |
| Focus Points | 273 | 273 |
| Low-Light Sensitivity | -2 to +19 EV | -3.5 to +19 EV |
| Video Maximum Resolution | 4K @ up to 30p, 1080p @ up to 60p | 4K @ up to 30p, 1080p @ up to 120p |
| Video Crop | 1.7x Crop | Full sensor width |
| HDMI Out / LOG | 4:2:2 10-bit HDMI Output / Yes | 4:2:2 10-bit HDMI Output / Yes |
| Audio Recording | Yes | Yes |
| Articulating LCD | Yes, Tilting | Yes, Tilting |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes |
| LCD Size | 3.2″ Diagonal LCD | 3.2″ Diagonal LCD |
| LCD Resolution | 1,040,000 dots | 2,100,000 dots |
| Built-in GPS | No | No |
| Wi-Fi / Band | 802.11a/ac/b/g/n / 2.4 Ghz and 5 Ghz | 802.11a/ac/b/g/n / 2.4 Ghz and 5 Ghz |
| Bluetooth | Yes, 4.2 | Yes, 4.2 |
| Battery | EN-EL15c | EN-EL15b |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 470 shots | 380 shots |
| Weather Sealed Body | Yes | Yes |
| USB Version | Type-C 3.1 | Type-C 3.1 |
| Weight (Camera Body Only) | 590g | 585g |
| Dimensions | 134 x 100.5 x 69.5mm | 134 x 100.5 x 67.5mm |
| MSRP | $1,399 (check current price) | $1,999 (check current price) |
Looking at this comparison table, it is clear that these two cameras have a lot in common. Similar resolution, same processor, same EVF, same autofocus system, and very similar ergonomics. However, there are some small differences between these two cameras worth pointing out.
First of all, the Nikon Z6 has two big advantages over the Z5. It has a much faster continuous shooting rate of 12 FPS vs only 4.5 FPS on the Z5, which makes the Z6 a more desirable camera for photographing action. Second, it has a much better 4K video shooting capability, which takes advantage of the width of the whole sensor without any cropping, whereas the Z5 has a big 1.7x crop. Not important for stills shooters, but a fairly big deal for those who want to use the Z5 for serious video needs. Other than these, there aren’t other serious advantages over the Z5. The LCD on the Z6 has more resolution, but most people are probably not going to care about that. The sensor on the Z6 is slightly better as well – it uses a BSI (back-side illuminated) sensor vs a front-side illuminated sensor on the Z5. This should give a slight advantage to the Z6 in terms of high ISO performance, but not to make a big difference in the real world.
Where the Z5 leads is in dual memory card slots, for those who consider it to be important, and especially for those who already own SD memory cards and do not want to buy expensive CFexpress / XQD cards. Another advantage is the new EN-EL15c battery, which provides noticeably better battery life performance on the Z5 vs the EN-EN15b battery on the Z6. At this point, it is unclear whether the Z6 can take advantage of the new battery, but if it does, this one could be a wash.
Lastly, let’s not forget about the big price difference in MSRP between the Z5 and Z6. While the price of the Z6 has come down quite a bit in the past two years, and one could even buy a used or gray market Z6 for about $1400-1500, it is great that Nikon priced the Z5 at $1400. We can expect the price of the Z5 to come down in the next few years, which allows more people on a tight budget to get into full-frame.
Overall, Nikon has done a remarkable job with the Z5. For enthusiasts looking for a very capable full-frame camera, it is a great choice at a very reasonable price point.
The real competition, surely, is from the F-mount used market.
For the price of a Z5 you can get a D610 with, say, the 18-35 and 24-85 and possibly even a carbon fibre tripod. If I’m taking mainly landscapes and am on a budget, that’s my choice.
For people like me who never shoot video, the 5 makes more sense than the 6.
I agree Jim, not everyone needs video features in a camera. However, I don’t see manufactures backing out of video, especially on higher-end offerings.
If Nikon has trouble selling the Z5, I think the sticking point is not going to be the camera itself but the kit lenses. The Z5 with the 24-200mm lens costs $2200, which is a bit much for an introductory level camera. The 24-50mm lens, in my opinion, doesn’t have enough range.
I am happy about Nikon offering a lower price point full frame camera but I am still confused about whether not having a BSI sensor would be a deal breaker for several hundred dollars difference between the two models (Z6 has been on sale for near the cost of the Z5).
I have read about the new BSI sensor and it seems to be far superior in many aspects such as its abilities regarding astrophotography and other light sensitive forms of image capture. Thanks in advance for any comments.
Having own the D750 and the Z6, honestly there’s not a great deal of difference in low light performance due to BSI tech. If anything the on-sensor phase detection makes the D750 files look cleaner to my eye.
Disagree here. I shoot low light sports and the Z6 is almost a stop ahead of the D750 and the D850 at 12800 ISO and above. The D4 still beats the Z6 (barely) at high ISO.
That said, I don’t think the Z5 will be far behind the Z6 in low light performance.
“Low light performance” usually refers to high ISO settings. But not for landscape photographers, for whom it means shadow detail. One disadvantage of the Zs is banding in shadow areas, which is quite a drag if you are a landscape photographer. I bought my Z7 when it was released and have been shooting with it for two years and many thousands of photos under various outdoor conditions. My old D750 way outperforms my Z7 when bringing up shadow detail. That’s because the BSI sensors have a banding problem that the CMOS sensor doesn’t. When I shoot Adirondack streams with my Z7, the dark brown areas of quiet water cannot be brought up to see detail without banding. I rely heavily on the ability to bring up shadow detail, since I can’t bracket moving subjects like leaves in the wind and water, or panoramas – in other words most of my subjects. With my old D750, my photos were loaded with detail in the shadows. With my Z7, the shadows are dark to black, period. I am seriously thinking of adding the Z5 rather than the Z6 II to my bag, for high dynamic range shots.
I agree with you on Z5. I think the hidden gem of nikon’s announcement is the two teleconverters. They have some great features:
1. These teleconverters do NOT change the minimum focus distance. When paired with 70-200, one can get 1 to 2 reproduction ratio. That’s almost a macro lens. You can find this info in www.youtube.com/watch…-2Njlk_Y2M at 20:20.
2. Retain autofocus capabilities with ALL AF points up to F11.
Nikon is sort of confused. Why release Z50? Why make Z5 with such close similarities to Z6? Z5 is gonna kill both Z50 and Z6, especially due to the dual card. Since, most starters ain’t much bothered about FPS, Z5 will sort of be a win. But, if Z6 price goes down further, Z5 will get effected.
Firoz, the Nikon Z50 is a $850 APS-C camera, which does not compete in any way with the full-frame offerings. The Z5 won’t kill the Z50, because it is substantially more expensive and requires full-frame lenses. It probably will harm the Z6 sales in some ways, but keep in mind that not many people are buying the Z6 and Z7 cameras these days, so Nikon is pushing the Z5 to earn more sales and more conversions to the Z mount. To me, this makes total sense, and I bet Nikon will sell a boatload of these Z5 cameras.
I can understand Nikon not selling many z6 or z7s. For an amateur with a D610, D750, or even something like a D7200, buying a Z and a couple of lenses is around a $3000-$7000 purchase. Unless you make very large prints or shoot something that is at the margin of your cameras abilities like concerts in very low light (or just have lots of money to spend on your hobby) this seems like a huge expense for mostly marginal benefits, including marginally less weight.
This is especially true now, with so many people having financial problems. A z5 body might be a few hundred dollars cheaper than the z6 but you still have to buy the lenses so your overall costs aren’t much lower. I see no reason to spend this much money to replace what I already have, and I guess a lot of people feel like I do.
You can shoot all your existing F mount lenses with an FTZ adapter with no loss of performance. In to mirrorless with a great video camera for just over a grand used or on sale.
You only need Z lenses for video. The kit 24-70mm will cover 90% of video needs beautifully.
You don’t really need Z lenses for video. I shoot video with F lenses just fine. The autofocus is pretty good. It makes a bit of noise, but that’s easily solved by having an off camera mic. In many situations, you’ll be using manual focus for video anyway.
Hello Nasim,
thank you for your article, I was confused about the concrete differences between Z5 and Z6, really clarified me.
I think the differences will be more “pronounced” when Z6s will be on sale, the latter being rumored to introduce also the battery grip.
In any case, Z5 seems to be a good choice for “budget” Full Frame. The “battle” is now also against D780 and still available D750, even if different concept/cameras and, I’d say, target users.
Ciao from Italy, Sebastiano
I think the Z5 will make great for as a backup or secondary camera to the Z6. Now only if Nikon can get out some more native lenses like the phantom 70-200 f/2.8 S that is rumored to exist.
Mike, I agree, it is a great backup camera for the Z6. Nikon really needs to get their production in control sooner than later. I hope the 70-200mm delivery will be done by September.
Nikon knows will be delivering Z6s and that other brands have “entry” models; they needed to deliver a “cost accessible” model to avoid Z6s being the entry. Which is supposed to be not.
In all fairness, no one has introduced a new camera line and put out more new lens than Nikon has in the first 2 years of Z. Canon did’nt and Sony didn’t even come close.
My 70-200mm f2.8 FL E works great on the FTZ adapter. Native lenses in this case are overrated. “Oh, no, I can’t get this lens in a native version!” The Nikon glass catalogue is incredibly rich and unlike Canon or Sony, reasonably priced.
Missing native lenses is just another item for complainers to complain about. For Nikon releasing a 70-200mm f2.8 Z lens would be great though – lots and lots of extra income for them with people duplicating excellent high-priced lenses which are already in their bags.
The Low-Light Sensitivity comparison is wrong, assuming it’s referring to AF sensitivity. The specifications on Nikon’s web site are:
Z6: -6 to +19 EV, or -3.5 to +19 EV without low-light AF
Z5: -3 to +19 EV, or -2 to +19 EV without low-light AF
I’ve tried the Z5 with the 24-200mm kit lens, which has a maximum aperture of f/5.6 in the middle of its range, and it appears that for still subjects (where you can use image stabilization), the autofocus will stop functioning at light levels where the camera is otherwise capable of capturing a decent quality image. So the extra low light sensitivity of the Z6 (and the forthcoming Z6 II) could be useful in practice.
I bought an used Z6 and FTZ adapter last year because the Z-mount would allow to use my rare Contarex and Pentacon Super lenses. For me, after using the D700, Df and D810, it was not easy to get used on it, especially the touch screen. The XQD cards are rare and expensive.
What I like is the video which is easier to handle as the D810.
If the Z5 had been available then I had bought that one because of the cheaper memory cards and I am content with the usual HD resolution.