Z5vs A7 V
VS
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Entry-Level Full-Frame & Dslr Switchers — Z5 (2020): The most affordable route into full-frame Z — dual card slots, IBIS, and a capable sensor at an accessible price.
Portrait, Wedding, Travel, Video — A7 V (2024): The definitive full-frame mirrorless. Hard to argue for anything else at this price.
Who should buy what
Z5 (2020)
- DSLR photographers switching to full-frame mirrorless for the first time
- Enthusiasts who want full-frame image quality on a tighter budget
- Photographers stepping up from APS-C who don't need fast burst or 4K
- Z5 II shoppers on a budget — the original Z5 is now excellent value used
A7 V (2024)
- A7 III or A7 IV owners ready for a meaningful upgrade
- Photographers who want one camera to cover everything
Quick take: The a7 v has the highest resolution at 33mp; the z5 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Z5 (2020) | A7 V (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £999 | £2,799 |
| Sensor | 24.3MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS | Full-frame BSI-CMOS 35mm, partially stacked |
| Resolution | 24.3MP | 33.0MP |
| Video | 4K/30p (with crop), 1080p/60p | 4K 60fps 10-bit |
| Autofocus | Hybrid AF — 273 phase-detect points, eye/subject detection | 759-point phase-detect, AI subject recognition (human, animal, bird, insect, vehicle) |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — up to 5 stops | 5-axis IBIS, 8.0 stops |
| Burst Rate | 4.5fps | 10fps mechanical, 20fps electronic |
| Battery Life | ~470 shots (CIPA) | 760 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 590g (with battery) | 514g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 134 × 100.5 × 69.5mm | 131.3 × 96.4 × 70.0mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.8× magnification | EVF 0.90× 9.44M-dot |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.44M-dot |
| Mount | Nikon Z mount | Sony E-Mount |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | 2× SD UHS-II / CFexpress Type A |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Wi-Fi 6GHz, Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Z5 | A7 V |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | — | |
| Travel | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Everyday | — | |
| Sports | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — |
More comparisons with Z5
Camera family history