Upgrade Guide
Nikon D5→Nikon Z7 II
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the D5. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the Z7 II
-
Resolution46MP vs 21MP (+25MP)
-
StabilisationIBIS added — significant for handheld and video
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Generation4 years newer (2020 vs 2016)
Suitability by genre
| Genre | D5 | Z7 II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sports & Action | — | ||
| Wildlife | -5.0 | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | ||
| Street | +1.0 | ||
| Portrait | +2.0 | ||
| Landscape | — | ||
| Travel | — | ||
| Video | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | D5 | Z7 II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,800 | £2,699 | |
| Released | 2016 | 2020 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 20.8MP full-frame BSI CMOS | 45.7MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS | |
| Resolution | 21MP | 46MP | ↑ |
| Video | 4K UHD 30fps (heavy sensor crop) | 4K/60p, 4K/30p (oversampled), 1080p/120p slow-motion | |
| Autofocus | Multi-CAM 20K 153-point AF system, 99 cross-type | Phase-detect, 493 points, Eye AF, subject tracking | |
| Stabilisation | — | 5-axis IBIS, 5 stops (up to 6 stops with VR lenses) | |
| Burst Rate | 12fps mechanical | 10fps mechanical, 10fps electronic | ↓ |
| Battery Life | ~3780 shots (CIPA) | ~420 shots (CIPA) | ↓ |
| Weight | 1405g (body only) | 705g (body, battery, card) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | OVF 0.72× magnification, 100% coverage | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.80× magnification | |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 2.36M dots | 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 2.1M dots | |
| Mount | Nikon F mount | Nikon Z-mount | |
| Memory Cards | Dual XQD slots (XQD variant) | Dual card: 1× CFexpress Type B / XQD + 1× SD UHS-II |
Compare side-by-side
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