Upgrade Guide
Nikon Z5→Nikon Nikon ZR
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 Nikon ZR
-
StabilisationImproved — 7.5-stop IBIS (Synchro VR)
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Burst rate20fps vs 4.5fps
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Generation5 years newer (2025 vs 2020)
Unchanged or similar
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ResolutionSimilar (25MP)
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 | Nikon ZR | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -1.1 | ||
| Street | -1.3 | ||
| Travel | — | ||
| Wedding & Events | -0.7 | ||
| Filmmaking | +1.8 | ||
| Documentary | +1.4 | ||
| Sports & Action | — | ||
| Landscape | — | ||
| Wildlife | -0.3 | ||
| Casual | +1.0 | ||
| Food | +1.2 | ||
| Macro | -0.2 | ||
| Architecture | +1.2 | ||
| Astrophotography | -0.8 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | Z5 | Nikon ZR | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £999 | £1,999 | |
| Released | 2020 | 2025 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 24.3MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS | 24.5MP full-frame CMOS | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 25MP | ↑ |
| Video | 4K/30p (with crop), 1080p/60p | 6K/60p, 4K/120p, internal R3D NE/N-RAW, ProRes, 10-bit N-Log, 32-bit float audio | |
| Autofocus | Hybrid AF — 273 phase-detect points, eye/subject detection | Hybrid phase-detect AF with subject detection | |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — up to 5 stops | 7.5-stop IBIS (Synchro VR) | |
| Burst Rate | 4.5fps | 20fps | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~470 shots (CIPA) | 390 shots (CIPA); ~90-125 min continuous recording | ↓ |
| Weight | 590g (body only) | 630g (with battery and card) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.8× magnification | None (screen only) | |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen | 4.0" fully articulating touchscreen | |
| Mount | Nikon Z mount | Nikon Z-mount | |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | CFexpress Type B + microSD |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See Z5 and Nikon ZR 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 Nikon ZR against your specific genres — not just specs.
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