Upgrade Guide
Nikon Z5→Nikon Z6 III
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 Z6 III
-
Burst rate20fps mechanical, 60fps electronic vs 4.5fps
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Generation4 years newer (2024 vs 2020)
Unchanged or similar
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ResolutionSimilar (24MP)
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Z5 | Z6 III | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | — | ||
| Travel | — | ||
| Landscape | -2.0 | ||
| Everyday | — | ||
| Sports | — | ||
| Vlogging & Video | +5.0 | ||
| Sports & Action | — | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | ||
| Wildlife | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | Z5 | Z6 III | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £999 | £2,199 | |
| Released | 2020 | 2024 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 24.3MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS | 24.5MP Full-frame Partial-stacked CMOS | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 24MP | ↑ |
| Video | 4K/30p (with crop), 1080p/60p | 6K/60p RAW, 4K/120p, 4K/60p oversampled, N-Log, 10-bit | |
| Autofocus | Hybrid AF — 273 phase-detect points, eye/subject detection | Phase-detect, 273 points, subject detection (human/animal/vehicle/aircraft) | |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — up to 5 stops | 5-axis IBIS, 6.0 stops | |
| Burst Rate | 4.5fps | 20fps mechanical, 60fps electronic | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~470 shots (CIPA) | ~380 shots (CIPA) | ↓ |
| Weight | 590g (with battery) | 760g body only | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.8× magnification | EVF, 5.76M dots, 0.90× magnification | |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen | |
| Mount | Nikon Z mount | Nikon Z-mount (full-frame) | |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | Dual slots: CFexpress Type B + SD UHS-II |
Compare side-by-side
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