Upgrade Guide
Nikon Z30→Nikon D5
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the Z30. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the D5
-
Weather sealingAdded — fully sealed body
-
Battery life~3780 shots (CIPA) vs ~300 shots (CIPA)
Unchanged or similar
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ResolutionSimilar (21MP)
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StabilisationIBIS not present in new body
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Z30 | D5 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vlogging & Video | — | ||
| Travel | — | ||
| Family & Everyday | — | ||
| Portrait | — | ||
| Street | +1.0 | ||
| Sports & Action | +6.0 | ||
| Wildlife | — | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | ||
| Landscape | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | Z30 | D5 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £479 | £1,800 | |
| Released | 2022 | 2016 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 20.9MP APS-C CMOS | 20.8MP full-frame BSI CMOS | |
| Resolution | 21MP | 21MP | ↓ |
| Video | 4K/30p, 4K/60p (with crop), 1080p/120p | 4K UHD 30fps (heavy sensor crop) | |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 209 points, subject tracking (human/animal/vehicle) | Multi-CAM 20K 153-point AF system, 99 cross-type | |
| Stabilisation | None (no IBIS) | — | |
| Burst Rate | 11fps | 12fps mechanical | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~300 shots (CIPA) | ~3780 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 405g body only | 1405g (body only) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes | ↑ |
| Viewfinder | None | OVF 0.72× magnification, 100% coverage | |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 2.36M dots | |
| Mount | Nikon Z-mount | Nikon F mount | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual XQD slots (XQD variant) |
Compare side-by-side
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