Review: Nikon Z5 II

By Anthony McKee | 6 May 2025

Eighteen years ago, Nikon released their first full-frame camera, the 12-megapixel D3. Pitched at professional sports photographers it could capture 9 frames-per-second at useful ISOs up to 6400.

The following year Nikon released the D3X, a 24-megapixel DSLR designed for creative professionals. The D3 cost $8,000 while the D3X cost $14,000.

I was thinking of those cameras over Easter as I sat at a rodeo testing Nikon’s new Z5II.

Looking straight into the Z5II you can see how relatively compact this camera is. Note the two function buttons tucked in next to the hand-grip, just where you would also find them on Nikons more advanced cameras. — Looking straight into the Z5II you can see how relatively compact this camera is. Note the two function buttons tucked in next to the hand-grip, just where you would also find them on Nikon's more advanced cameras.

As dusk became night, the lighting in the arena became so poor I was shooting at ISO 20,000, and yet this camera was happily focusing on subjects even as I was shooting RAWs at 11-frames-per-second.

The build

Despite having more pep, the Z5II still maintains most of the styling of the older camera. It lacks the LCD info display that you find on the top deck of the advanced models, but it retains the well crafted mode dial with its solid click stops between each setting.

The viewfinder also retains the same 3.69M dot display but it is brighter, but the one difference that will appeal to most users is an improved rear monitor.

Rather than the “tilting” LCD panel, the Z5II has a fully articulating 2.1M dot display that can let you view the display from down low, up high, from the sides or even from the front of the camera.

A rear photograph of the Z5II reveals how similar the control arrangement is now to Nikon’s premium cameras. Note the Release Mode control button in the far right corner of rear panel.
The rear LCD panel is also fully articulated, making ideal for those who like to shoot selfies or vlog about their adventures. — A rear photograph of the Z5II reveals how similar the control arrangement is now to Nikon’s premium cameras. Note the Release Mode control button in the far right corner of rear panel. The rear LCD panel is also fully articulated, making ideal for those who like to shoot selfies or vlog about their adventures.

Although I find these screens fussier to use than the tilting screens, they do make it a lot easier for the selfie generation to compose themselves into photos and videos.

At a more discreet level, Nikon is also working to standardise the control layout of their cameras. The Playback button that has typically been in the top left of rear panel for well over a decade is now in the bottom right, in keeping with Nikon’s newer cameras.

The Nikon Z5II lacks the top deck LCD panel that you will find on the Z6, Z7 and Z8 series cameras, but you soon discover you can live without it. In its place is a rugged mode selector dial, and just next to it, a dedicated Picture Control mode that lets you manipulate the tones of an image in numerous different ways.

The main power switch along with ISO, Exposure Compensation and Record buttons, and even the shutter and aperture adjustment controls are also where you would expect to find them on Nikon’s more advanced cameras.

And, for those who like to use function buttons, we still have the Fn1 and Fn2 buttons just beneath your fingertips just next to the handgrip.

This is smart. It not only means that should a Z5II user ever want to upgrade to a Z6III or even a Z8, the controls will be familiar to them; and for pro and advanced users wants a more compact camera for weekends, the Z5II will have the same control layout as their work cameras.

Of course, there is one giveaway as to whom this camera is targeted. Just to the right of the Mode dial is a Picture Control button that lets you manipulate the tonality of your images in camera as you make photos.

Think of it as real-time Photoshop for your Nikon. As you scroll through all the Picture Control options, from Standard and Neutral through to Vivid, Monochrome, Dream, Morning, and over twenty other treatment options, your “ordinary” photo will take on a totally different feel.

Novice and intermediate photographers might enjoy this option, but those of us who want to treat this as a serious camera will probably put a piece of tape over it and pretend this button never exists.

A rider holds on during the bronco event. Exposure was 1/800th at f2.8, ISO 3200 with a Nikon 70-200mm lens at 200mm.

Autofocus

The Z5II is a replacement for Nikon’s five-year-old entry-level camera, the Z5, but unlike the tweak we saw a few years back when Nikon “upgraded” the Z6 to the Z6II, this reinvention has brought some serious performance improvements.

While the Z5 or even my old Z6 camera would have struggled to even focus in the low light at the rodeo, the Z5II easily identified and tracked subjects as they galloped about the arena.

Rodeos are not just interesting for the action, but also the portraits you see in the quiet moments. Exposure was 1/200th at f4, ISO 4000 with a Nikon 300mm PF lens and an FTZ adapter.

To actually compare the Z5 and the Z5II in numbers, the autofocus sensitivity on the Z5 covered +3 to +19EV; on the Z5II the autofocus can work at -10 EV, which is good enough to focus on bright stars.

The Z5II also has improved subject detection. While the Z5 could only “identify” people and pets, the Z5II can also identify 9 different subject types, from birds and planes to pets and people.

You can also define the subject you are photographing if you are ever worried about being in the same place with all these subjects at the same time.

The quiet look of uncertainty as a rider leaves the gates in the bronco event. Exposure was 1/640th at f4, ISO 8000 with a Nikon 300mm PF lens and an FTZ adapter.

The sensor

Curiously enough, the Z5II uses the same 24MP BSI full-frame CMOS sensor as the Nikon Z6II but the significant performance increase comes from the addition of an EXPEED 7, the same imaging processor as used in the Nikon Z8.

The EXPEED imaging processor is no doubt helping the AF on this camera, but it is also adding power to the capture rates. While the Z5 could shoot at 4.5 fps, the Z5II can shoot RAWs at 11 fps with its mechanical shutter or JPEGs at 30 fps shooting in electronic shutter mode.

A young rider visualises her next few moments in the steer roping competition. Exposure was 1/200th at f4, ISO 4000 with a Nikon Z 24-120mm lens at 115mm.

The Z5II can also pre-buffer JPEGs, so that you have more chance of capturing random moments, like a bird launching itself the air.

What is truly impressive about the Z5II though, is its image quality.

Exposure was 1/640th at f2.8, ISO 16,000 with a Nikon 70-200mm lens at 200mm.

Image quality

The Nikon D3 was my workhorse camera for several years, but while I would frequently work in low light situations at ISO 3200, I never ventured past ISO 6400 because the noise and dynamic range became unmanageable.

With the Z5II I was nervously working at ISO 20,000 and when I finally got the files into post I was surprised how useful they were.

While I did apply some mild noise reduction to the files using the AI function in Adobe Camera RAW, the images were remarkably good, and if I am getting usable images at the high ISOs I’m usually confident the lower ISOs will be ok too.

When photographers recognise each other at an event. Despite his face being partially obscured by a camera, the Z5II easily focused on my friend Yuri’s face. Exposure was 1/500th at f2.8, ISO 20,000 with a Nikon 70-200mm lens at 170mm. Photos made at ISO 20,000 would usually be too noisy to reveal any detail in the skin, but that’s not the case with the Z5II.

Video

For those who like to shoot video, the Z5II also has improved performance; while the Z5 could only capture 4K/30p video in a cropped sensor mode, the Z5II can capture 4K/30p in full frame mode, and up to 4K/60p in cropped mode.

The Z5II can also record video on N-RAW mode, but the Nikon Z6III and Z8 are still probably the better cameras to be working with if you are more passionate about video photography rather than stills.

Making action photos is pretty straightforward, particularly when using the Z5II’s 3D AF mode and shooting RAWs at 11-frames per second. Exposure was 1/400th at f2.8, ISO 20,000 with a Nikon 70-200mm lens at 200mm.

The wrap-up

There is a lot to like about the Nikon Z5 II, and this is why I think a lot of photographers will be asking themselves some tough questions over the next month or two. For anyone looking at buying their first mirrorless camera, the decision is actually easy - this is the best entry-level camera on the market at the moment.

It’s compact and reliable and yet it is more capable than many pro DLSR cameras from recent times. It is a camera you might never grow out of. For those photographers who have been waiting to move on from their Z6 and Z6II cameras though, the decision will be whether you buy a Z6III or even the Z8 - or buy an “entry-level” camera!

Admittedly, the Z8 (like the Z9) has twice as many focusing points as the Z5II (493 vs 273) and it can shoot RAWs at 30 frames per second, but short of shooting Formula 1 crashes, do you really need that frame rate?

And the Z6III will give you more options if you shoot video, but if you prefer making photos it’s just another digital asset with more functionality than you really need.

I won’t be selling my Z8 to buy this camera, but the Z5II would actually be a good replacement for my Z6, particularly for doco and event work.

And as for the money you would saving buying the Z5II over the Z6III or the Z8 - put it towards a decent lens like the Z 24-120 rather than a cheaper kit lens.

Nikon might be calling this their entry-level camera, but it might actually be the most capable camera you own for a while. Put a decent lens on it and enjoy.

One of the nice things about the Z5II is that it is not so big as to be intimidating to your subjects. This portrait was shot at 1/60th at f4, ISO 4000 with a Nikon Z 24-120mm at 24mm.

The results

HANDLING ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

The Z5II is not only compact and light but it is an easy camera to use. Over recent years Nikon has refined the control layout on most of its advanced cameras, and rather than get clever with even newer designs, this camera shares the same basic ergonomics as the Z6III and the Z8. And it just works!

FEATURES ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

While the sensor might not be new, pairing it with the EXPEED 7 processor has turned this camera into what might well be the best “entry-level” camera on the market. It actually delivers most of the functionality that, up until recently, we would have been found on Nikon’s professional DSLRs!

AUTOFOCUS ★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2

The Z5II lacks the “stacked” and "partially stacked” sensor technology of the Z8 and the Z6III models but it is still very capable of finding and focussing on subjects, even in the most challenging light conditions. Like the Z6III, the new 3D focus and subject detection modes should make it easy for almost anyone to focus in on action and wildlife images.

IMAGE QUALITY ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The image quality out the Nikon Z5II is quite remarkable, particularly in low light conditions. If your passion is low light or even astro photography, I would probably be considering the Z5II over its “stacked sensor" siblings (or many other “advanced” cameras on the market for that matter).

VALUE FOR MONEY ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
At $2,600 (body only) the Z5II is several hundred dollars cheaper than the recently released Z6III, and yet I think if you were to put the two cameras head to head, I would almost be tempted to buy the Z5II.

It is such a capable camera that in most situations I would find this camera just as capable as its bigger siblings.

FINAL WORD ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Entry-level cameras used to be just that, a very basic starting camera, but the Z5II has all the performance we used to expect from Nikon’s professional DSLR cameras.

It might lack the top deck LCD display but it has everything else any photographer (from amateur to pro) might need to make great photos. This is great buying.

gold award

More images

The bright lights of some big rigs were a great backdrop for these two teachers, enjoying a night in the country. Exposure was 1/50th at f4, ISO 2500 with a Nikon Z 24-120mm at 120mm.

The Z5II might not share the same stacked type sensors as the Z8 and Z6III but it was still great at nailing focus on faces. Exposure was 1/160th at f4, ISO 3200 with a Nikon Z 24-120mm at 24mm.

The Z5II had an easy time making sense of colour balance, even in difficult lighting conditions.
Exposure was 1/30th at f3.5, ISO 1600 with a Nikon Z 35mm lens. — The Z5II had an easy time making sense of colour balance, even in difficult lighting conditions. Exposure was 1/30th at f3.5, ISO 1600 with a Nikon Z 35mm lens.

Photographing wildlife is made easy for novice photographers, thanks to the Z5II’s ability to easily identify various subjects, including birds, family pets and wild animals. Exposure was 1/1250th at f4, ISO 1000 with a Nikon 300mm PF lens and FTZ adapter.

Like the Nikon Z6III and Z8, the Z5II is very capable of tracking subjects from a distance. The camera picked up this runner from a distance of about 200-metres and happily tracked him as he ran along this country lane. Exposure was 1/800th at f4, ISO 1000 with a Nikon 300mm PF lens and an FTZ adapter.

A currawong loiters about the village at Halls Gap hoping to steal any unattended food.
Exposure was 1/640th at f4, ISO 400 with a Nikon 300mm PF lens and FTZ adapter. — A currawong loiters about the village at Halls Gap hoping to steal any unattended food. Exposure was 1/640th at f4, ISO 400 with a Nikon 300mm PF lens and FTZ adapter.

The Z5II can automatically detect up to 9 different subject types including people, dogs, cats birds, cars, trains, bikes and aircraft, but you can also specify the subject you are photographing.
Exposure was 1/1250th at f4, ISO 400 with a Nikon 24-120mm lens at 35mm. — The Z5II can automatically detect up to 9 different subject types including people, dogs, cats birds, cars, trains, bikes and aircraft, but you can also specify the subject you are photographing. Exposure was 1/1250th at f4, ISO 400 with a Nikon 24-120mm lens at 35mm.

Being light and rather compact, the Z5II is also an ideal camera for landscape photography. Exposure was 1/100th at f8, ISO 100 with a Nikon 300mm PF lens and an FTZ adapter.

A young wallaby pauses long enough to make a few quiet photos. Exposure was 1/500th at f4, ISO 640 with a Nikon 300mm PF lens and FTZ adapter.