Upgrade Guide
Nikon Z5→Nikon Zf
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 Zf
-
Burst rate14fps mechanical, 30fps electronic vs 4.5fps
-
Generation3 years newer (2023 vs 2020)
Unchanged or similar
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ResolutionSimilar (24MP)
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 | Zf | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +0.7 | ||
| Street | +0.4 | ||
| Travel | +0.3 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +0.8 | ||
| Filmmaking | +1.2 | ||
| Documentary | +1.0 | ||
| Sports & Action | +1.8 | ||
| Landscape | +0.9 | ||
| Wildlife | +1.5 | ||
| Casual | +0.2 | ||
| Food | +1.1 | ||
| Macro | +0.9 | ||
| Architecture | +1.3 | ||
| Astrophotography | +1.0 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | ||
| Fun & simple | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | Z5 | Zf | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £999 | £1,699 | |
| Released | 2020 | 2023 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 24.3MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS | 24.5MP Full-frame BSI CMOS | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 24MP | ↑ |
| Video | 4K/30p (with crop), 1080p/60p | 4K/30p oversampled, FHD/120p, N-Log, 10-bit | |
| Autofocus | Hybrid AF — 273 phase-detect points, eye/subject detection | Phase-detect 273 points, subject detection (human/animal/vehicle) | |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — up to 5 stops | 5-axis IBIS, 8.0 stops | |
| Burst Rate | 4.5fps | 14fps mechanical, 30fps electronic | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~470 shots (CIPA) | ~380 shots (CIPA) | ↓ |
| Weight | 590g (body only) | 630g (body only) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.8× magnification | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.80× magnification | |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen | 3.2" vari-angle touchscreen | |
| Mount | Nikon Z mount | Nikon Z-mount (full-frame) | |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | SD UHS-II + microSD UHS-I |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See Z5 and Zf 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 Zf against your specific genres — not just specs.
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