D5vs Z30
Nikon
D5 (2016)
Starting from £1800 new
Best for Professional Sports, Photojournalism & Wildlife
View D5
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Professional Sports, Photojournalism & Wildlife — D5 (2016): Nikon's ultimate pro DSLR and a certified space traveller — the D5's 153-point AF, 12fps, and ISO 3,280,000 made it the weapon of choice for Olympic and space photography.
Travel & Everyday Video — Z30 (2022): Nikon's lightest Z-mount body — no fuss, excellent subject tracking, and a flip screen for creators.
Who should buy what
D5 (2016)
- Sports and wildlife photographers with an F-mount telephoto investment
- Photojournalists who need the fastest, most reliable DSLR AF available
- Nikon system professionals looking for a flagship body at used prices
- Collectors of cameras with a documented space pedigree
Z30 (2022)
- Vloggers and content creators who don't need an EVF
- Beginners entering the Nikon Z system at the lowest price point
- Streamers who want a compact interchangeable-lens camera for desk use
- Travel and lifestyle shooters who want a compact APS-C Z body
Quick take: The z30 has the highest resolution at 21mp; the z30 is the most affordable; only the d5 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | D5 (2016) | Z30 (2022) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,800 | £479 |
| Sensor | 20.8MP full-frame BSI CMOS | 20.9MP APS-C CMOS |
| Resolution | 20.8MP | 20.9MP |
| Video | 4K UHD 30fps (heavy sensor crop) | 4K/30p, 4K/60p (with crop), 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Multi-CAM 20K 153-point AF system, 99 cross-type | Phase-detect, 209 points, subject tracking (human/animal/vehicle) |
| Stabilisation | — | None (no IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | 12fps mechanical | 11fps |
| Battery Life | ~3780 shots (CIPA) | ~300 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 1405g (body only) | 405g body only |
| Dimensions | 160 × 158.5 × 92mm | 127.5 × 73.5 × 59.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | OVF 0.72× magnification, 100% coverage | None |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 2.36M dots | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Nikon F mount | Nikon Z-mount |
| Memory Cards | Dual XQD slots (XQD variant) | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet (RJ-45), USB 3.0 | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic input, micro HDMI |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | D5 | Z30 |
|---|---|---|
| Sports & Action | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Street | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Travel | — | |
| Family & Everyday | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
More comparisons with D5
Camera family history