Upgrade Guide
Nikon Z5→Nikon D5
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the Z5. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the D5
-
Burst rate12fps mechanical vs 4.5fps
-
Battery life~3780 shots (CIPA) vs ~470 shots (CIPA)
Unchanged or similar
-
Resolution21MP (down from 24MP — optimised for low light)
-
StabilisationIBIS not present in new body
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Z5 | D5 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -2.0 | ||
| Travel | — | ||
| Landscape | -2.0 | ||
| Everyday | — | ||
| Sports | — | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | ||
| Sports & Action | — | ||
| Wildlife | — | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | ||
| Street | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | Z5 | D5 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £999 | £1,800 | |
| Released | 2020 | 2016 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 24.3MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS | 20.8MP full-frame BSI CMOS | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 21MP | ↓ |
| Video | 4K/30p (with crop), 1080p/60p | 4K UHD 30fps (heavy sensor crop) | |
| Autofocus | Hybrid AF — 273 phase-detect points, eye/subject detection | Multi-CAM 20K 153-point AF system, 99 cross-type | |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — up to 5 stops | — | |
| Burst Rate | 4.5fps | 12fps mechanical | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~470 shots (CIPA) | ~3780 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 590g (with battery) | 1405g (body only) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.8× magnification | OVF 0.72× magnification, 100% coverage | |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 2.36M dots | |
| Mount | Nikon Z mount | Nikon F mount | |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | Dual XQD slots (XQD variant) |
Compare side-by-side
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Camera family history