Upgrade Guide
Nikon Z5→Nikon Z7
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 Z7
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Resolution46MP vs 24MP (+21MP)
-
Burst rate9fps vs 4.5fps
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | Z5 | Z7 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -0.2 | ||
| Street | -0.2 | ||
| Travel | -0.2 | ||
| Wedding & Events | -1.2 | ||
| Filmmaking | +0.1 | ||
| Documentary | -0.3 | ||
| Sports & Action | +0.2 | ||
| Landscape | +0.5 | ||
| Wildlife | +0.5 | ||
| Casual | -0.6 | ||
| Food | +0.3 | ||
| Macro | +0.3 | ||
| Architecture | +0.6 | ||
| Astrophotography | -0.6 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | Z5 | Z7 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £999 | £1,099 | |
| Released | 2020 | 2018 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 24.3MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS | Full-frame BSI CMOS 35mm | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 46MP | ↑ |
| Video | 4K/30p (with crop), 1080p/60p | 4K 30fps, 1080p 120fps | |
| Autofocus | Hybrid AF — 273 phase-detect points, eye/subject detection | 493-point phase-detect hybrid AF | |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — up to 5 stops | 5-axis IBIS, 5.0 stops | |
| Burst Rate | 4.5fps | 9fps | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~470 shots (CIPA) | 330 shots (CIPA) | ↓ |
| Weight | 590g (body only) | 585g (body only) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.8× magnification | EVF 0.80× 3.69M-dot | |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 2.1M-dot | |
| Mount | Nikon Z mount | Nikon Z-Mount | |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | Single XQD / CFexpress Type B |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See Z5 and Z7 next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
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Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the Z7 against your specific genres — not just specs.
Other upgrades from the Z5
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Camera family history