Upgrade Guide
Nikon Z30→Nikon Z5 II
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
→
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 Z5 II
-
Resolution24MP vs 21MP (+4MP)
-
Weather sealingAdded — fully sealed body
-
Battery life~470 shots (CIPA) vs ~300 shots (CIPA)
-
Generation2 years newer (2024 vs 2022)
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Z30 | Z5 II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vlogging & Video | — | ||
| Travel | -2.0 | ||
| Family & Everyday | — | ||
| Portrait | +2.0 | ||
| Street | — | ||
| Sports & Action | — | ||
| Landscape | — | ||
| Wedding & Events | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | Z30 | Z5 II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £479 | £1,299 | |
| Released | 2022 | 2024 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 20.9MP APS-C CMOS | 24.5MP Full-frame BSI CMOS | |
| Resolution | 21MP | 24MP | ↑ |
| Video | 4K/30p, 4K/60p (with crop), 1080p/120p | 4K/30p oversampled, 1080p/120p, N-Log | |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 209 points, subject tracking (human/animal/vehicle) | Phase-detect, 273 points, subject detection (human/animal/vehicle) | |
| Stabilisation | None (no IBIS) | 5-axis IBIS, 5.0 stops | |
| Burst Rate | 11fps | 14fps mechanical, 30fps electronic | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~300 shots (CIPA) | ~470 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 405g body only | 700g body only | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes | ↑ |
| Viewfinder | None | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.80× magnification | |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen | |
| Mount | Nikon Z-mount | Nikon Z-mount (full-frame) | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See Z30 and Z5 II next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
Run the upgrade checker →
Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the Z5 II against your specific genres — not just specs.
Other upgrades from the Z30
Related buying guides
Camera family history