D5vs Now Gen 3
Nikon
D5 (2016)
Starting from £1800 new
Best for Professional Sports, Photojournalism & Wildlife
View D5
VS
Polaroid
Now Gen 3 (2024)
Starting from £120 new
Best for Classic Polaroid fans & square-print lovers
View Now Gen 3
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.
Classic Polaroid Fans & Square-Print Lovers — Now Gen 3 (2024): The definitive modern Polaroid. Autofocus, USB-C, and full-sized square prints — classic Polaroid experience, updated for today.
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
Now Gen 3 (2024)
- Anyone who wants the classic full-sized square Polaroid print experience
- Instax users who prefer Polaroid's dreamy colour palette and white border
- Party hosts and event photographers who want iconic-looking keepsakes
- Previous Polaroid Now owners upgrading to the Gen 3's improved autofocus
Quick take: The now gen 3 is the most affordable; only the d5 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | D5 (2016) | Now Gen 3 (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,800 | £120 |
| Sensor | 20.8MP full-frame BSI CMOS | i-Type / 600 Polaroid film (79 × 79mm / image area 62 × 62mm) |
| Resolution | 20.8MP | — |
| Video | 4K UHD 30fps (heavy sensor crop) | N/A — instant film camera |
| Autofocus | Multi-CAM 20K 153-point AF system, 99 cross-type | Autofocus (0.4m–2m close; 2m–∞ landscape) |
| Stabilisation | — | N/A |
| Burst Rate | 12fps mechanical | N/A |
| Battery Life | ~3780 shots (CIPA) | Rechargeable internal battery (USB-C, ~15 packs) |
| Weight | 1405g (body only) | ~445g |
| Dimensions | 160 × 158.5 × 92mm | 138.2 × 112.6 × 62.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | OVF 0.72× magnification, 100% coverage | Real-image optical viewfinder |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 2.36M dots | N/A |
| Mount | Nikon F mount | i-Type or 600 film (8 shots per pack) |
| Memory Cards | Dual XQD slots (XQD variant) | N/A — instant film only |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet (RJ-45), USB 3.0 | USB-C (charging) |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | D5 | Now Gen 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Parties & Events | — | |
| Everyday | — | |
| Travel | — | |
| Low Light | — | |
| Creative | — |
More comparisons with D5
Camera family history