Decision tools · Compare
D5 vs A99 II
Quick take: The A99 II has the highest resolution at 42MP; the A99 II is the most affordable; only the D5 is weather sealed.
16 specs side by side·15 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras
How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.
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Verdictwhich should you buy?
D5 — Professional Sports, Photojournalism & Wildlife: 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.
Who should buy what
D5 (2016)
is the right camera for you if…
- 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
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | D5Nikon · 2016 | A99 IISony · 2016 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £953 used | £749 usedBest |
| Sensor | 20.8MP full-frame BSI CMOS | 42.4MP full-frame sensor |
| Resolution | 20.8MP | 42.4MPBest |
| Video | 4K UHD 30fps (heavy sensor crop) | 4K/30p full-pixel readout, 1080p/120, S-Log2 / S-Log3 |
| Autofocus | Multi-CAM 20K 153-point AF system, 99 cross-type | 79-point Hybrid Cross phase-detect AF (dedicated sensor + 399-point on-sensor), Eye AF |
| Stabilisation | — | 4.5-stop 5-axis sensor-shift |
| Burst Rate | 12fps mechanical | 12fps with AF/AE tracking |
| Battery Life | ~3780 shots (CIPA)Best | ~490 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 1405g (body only) | 849g (with battery and card)Best |
| Dimensions | 160 × 158.5 × 92mm | 142.6 × 104.2 × 76.1mm |
| Weather Sealed | YesBest | Not weather sealed |
| Viewfinder | OVF 0.72× magnification, 100% coverage | OLED EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.78x |
| Screen | 3.2" fixed touchscreen, 2.36M dots | 3.0" three-way tilting / swivel LCD, 1.23M dots |
| Mount | Nikon F mount | Sony A-mount |
| Memory Cards | Dual XQD slots (XQD variant) | Dual slots: SD / Memory Stick + SD |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet (RJ-45), USB 3.0 | Multi / micro USB, micro HDMI, 3.5mm mic + headphone, Multi Interface Shoe, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.
How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
D5
A99 II
Portrait
6.0/10
6.6/10
Street
3.9/10
5.2/10
Travel
4.0/10
4.6/10
Wedding & Events
6.8/10
6.2/10
Filmmaking
5.5/10
5.9/10
Documentary
5.5/10
5.0/10
Sports & Action
6.7/10
5.9/10
Landscape
5.3/10
5.8/10
Wildlife
6.5/10
5.7/10
Casual
2.9/10
3.5/10
Food
4.3/10
6.0/10
Macro
3.6/10
4.7/10
Architecture
4.9/10
6.2/10
Astrophotography
6.3/10
5.2/10
Vlogging & Video
—
4.3/10
Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →
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