(Credit: Jim Fisher)
The Z5II is Nikon's newest camera. It’s the first update to the Z 5 from 2020 and is similar in concept and execution to the original. The Z5II is suitable for novice to intermediate photographers, with a large full-frame sensor, a sturdier build than most starter cameras, and the reliable performance Nikon users expect.
I had the opportunity to use a preproduction Z5II for an afternoon photo walk along New York's High Line. The camera wasn't quite finalized, but even so, I didn't run into any noticeable quirks or issues. I'll put together a full review once I've tried a Z5II from the production line, but in the meantime, I have some first impressions to share.
Concept: Entry Level, But Better
(Credit: Jim Fisher)The original Z 5 debuted at $1,399.95, at the time an aggressively low price for a full-frame camera, especially one with an oversized viewfinder, weather protection, and dual memory card slots, features typically reserved for upmarket models. The Z5II builds on this foundation, bettering the original with a brighter viewfinder, a fully articulating rear monitor, and an upgraded 24MP BSI CMOS sensor and Expeed 7 processor. It debuts at a higher starting price, $1,699.95 as a body only.
(Credit: Jim Fisher)The upgrades most notably result in snappier performance. The Z5II feels just as responsive as the upper-end models in the line and supports the advanced focus modes we've seen in pro-level cameras like the Z6III ($2,499.95) and the Z 8 ($3,999.95). The Z5II supports 3D Tracking, a mode that follows moving subjects through the frame and couples it with subject recognition for people, pets, vehicles, and wildlife. I didn't have a chance to try the Z5II with a long lens for wildlife, but the camera nimbly tracked pedestrians walking along the High Line, locking focus on their eyes.
Calling the Z5II a "baby Z6III" feels appropriate. Many of the Z6III's key features trickle down, and the body styles are quite similar. Not every feature is included; the Z5II doesn't support 6K video, and its electronic shutter doesn't freeze motion with the same aplomb as the Z6III's unique Partially Stacked architecture. Still, it's fair to say that the Z5II encompasses a good 90% of the Z6III.
Ergonomics: Comfortable Grip, Familiar Controls
The Z5II's body style is very similar to the Z 5 and the Z6III. Its body includes a comfortable, sculpted handgrip for good balance with lenses of all sizes, a centered electronic viewfinder, and an articulating rear display that swings out to the side of the camera and twists to face forward, up, or down. On the inside, the body is built around a chassis that's mostly magnesium alloy (with some polycarbonate bits) with seals to prevent dust and moisture ingress. The viewfinder is also noteworthy, as it matches the Z 5's excellent EVF in size (0.80x) but ups the brightness and shows a broader color gamut. If you've been hesitant to give up your D780 because of its optical viewfinder, the Z5II's EVF may be enough to convince you it's time to move to a mirrorless camera.
(Credit: Jim Fisher)The body has the control surfaces I like to see in a serious camera, too. It includes dual exposure control dials, one in the grip and the other at the rear of the top plate, dual front function buttons, and an eight-way controller on the rear to manipulate the focus point. The Z5II is a new camera, but speaking as someone who has been using Nikons since the DSLR era, everything feels familiar, though not identical.
The Z5II includes a Picture Control button on its top plate, putting an existing feature (the ability to apply different styles to JPG images) at the forefront. This follows an industry trend in which camera companies are working to provide more aesthetically pleasing results directly out of camera. Nikon's set includes the basics—standard, vivid, and a few flavors of black and white—plus some more dramatically filtered options with whimsical names like Denim, Sunday, Graphite, and Dream.
Imaging and Video: Upgraded Sensor and Processor
The Z5II is similar enough to the Z 5 on the outside, but there are major improvements going on inside. First and foremost are the image sensor and processor. The Z5II's 24MP full-frame sensor uses a BSI CMOS architecture, and while I've not put the new camera through formal testing, the sensor and Expeed 7 processor are the same as in the Z f, so we know what kind of performance to expect.
I'll hold my verdict until I try a final copy of the camera, but I expect it to be right in line with peers packing similar sensors in terms of high ISO noise control and Raw dynamic range. Creators who make images in dim conditions should find it more appealing versus the Z 5 and others with standard CMOS sensors. It even supports multi-shot Pixel Shift sampling for 96MP output, though that feature requires a static scene, a tripod, and desktop processing software to work.
Faster processing brings snappier, smarter autofocus to the camera too. The Z5II gets the 3D Tracking focus system previously restricted to pricier models, along with the Nikon's full set of subject recognition modes. The Z5II not only focuses faster than the Z 5, it also pushes faster burst rates with continuous focus, a healthy 11fps with the mechanical shutter (versus 4.5fps for Z 5) in Raw format. The Z5II is even faster for JPGs; it supports up to 14fps with the mechanical shutter and has a pre-capture buffering mode that supports 15fps or 30fps drive with a fully electronic shutter.
Video features also get a boost. The Z5II supports 4K30 full-width video with 10-bit color and pushes 4K60 with a 1.5x crop to the frame. It supports compressed HEVC/H.265 recording (like nearly every other camera) and is the most affordable camera we've seen with Raw video support. In this case it is Nikon's N-Raw format, which works in conjunction with Red Cinema LUTs to adjust color in the editing room. The Z5II saves N-Raw video directly to a V90 SDXC memory card, which is a feature I've not yet seen in any other camera, let alone one positioned as a mid-entry model. I see Raw video as an expert-level feature but I still appreciate the inclusion of videographers honing their craft and pros looking at the Z5II as a backup body to a Z6III.
Availability Details and Bundle Options
The Z5II is available for order from authorized Nikon resellers today, with deliveries expected to begin later this month into early May. The camera costs $1,699.95 as a body only, $1,999.95 in a kit with the compact Nikkor Z 24-50mm F4-6.3 zoom, or $2,499.95 with the long-range Nikkor Z 24-200mm F4-6.3 VR lens. Check back closer to its release for a full review.