Upgrade Guide
Nikon Z5→Nikon Z fc
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 Z fc
-
Burst rate11fps vs 4.5fps
-
Generation1 year newer (2021 vs 2020)
Unchanged or similar
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Resolution21MP (down from 24MP — optimised for low light)
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Weather sealingNot present in new body
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 | Z fc | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -1.2 | ||
| Street | +0.5 | ||
| Travel | -0.1 | ||
| Wedding & Events | -2.4 | ||
| Filmmaking | -1.4 | ||
| Documentary | -1.8 | ||
| Sports & Action | -0.2 | ||
| Landscape | -1.3 | ||
| Wildlife | -0.2 | ||
| Casual | +0.4 | ||
| Food | -0.5 | ||
| Macro | -0.6 | ||
| Architecture | -0.7 | ||
| Astrophotography | -1.1 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | ||
| Fun & simple | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | Z5 | Z fc | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £999 | £799 | |
| Released | 2020 | 2021 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 24.3MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS | 20.9MP APS-C CMOS | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 21MP | ↓ |
| Video | 4K/30p (with crop), 1080p/60p | 4K/30p oversampled (uncropped), 1080p/60p | |
| Autofocus | Hybrid AF — 273 phase-detect points, eye/subject detection | Hybrid phase-detect AF with eye/face detection | |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — up to 5 stops | No stabilisation | |
| Burst Rate | 4.5fps | 11fps | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~470 shots (CIPA) | 300 shots (CIPA) | ↓ |
| Weight | 590g (body only) | 445g (with battery and card) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Not weather sealed | ↓ |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.8× magnification | EVF, 2.36M dots | |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen | Vari-angle touchscreen | |
| Mount | Nikon Z mount | Nikon Z-mount | |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | Single SD (UHS-I) |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See Z5 and Z fc 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 Z fc against your specific genres — not just specs.
Other upgrades from the Z5
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Camera family history