Nikon officially announced the release of the Z5II full-frame mirrorless camera on April 3, 2025, promising superior performance and greater responsiveness. This new addition to the Z series aims to deliver a similar experience to Nikon’s flagship models, but with enhanced capabilities in low-light conditions and improved subject tracking for capturing fast action.
What’s Under the Hood? A Look at the Specs
The Nikon Z5II features a 24MP BSI CMOS sensor, the same sensor found in the retro-styled Nikon Zf, promising excellent image quality and performance across a wide range of shooting scenarios. This sensor is coupled with Nikon’s powerful EXPEED 7 image processing engine, the same processor found in the professional-grade Z8 and Z9 cameras. This upgrade brings significant improvements in operational speed, especially in autofocus performance. Nikon claims the Z5II’s autofocus system locks onto subjects approximately one-third faster than its predecessor.
The autofocus system is a standout feature, boasting the ability to detect up to nine different types of subjects for both stills and video. These include people (faces, eyes, heads, and upper bodies), dogs, cats, birds, cars, motorcycles, bicycles, airplanes, and trains. This intelligent subject detection, powered by deep learning (AI) technology, ensures that your subjects remain sharp and in focus, even when they are small within the frame (as small as 3% of the image area). The Z5II also incorporates Nikon’s advanced 3D tracking technology, further enhancing its ability to follow moving subjects.
For capturing action, the Z5II offers impressive continuous shooting speeds. Photographers can shoot at up to 14 frames per second using the mechanical shutter, and even faster at 15 or 30 frames per second in electronic shutter mode with full autofocus capabilities. This speed makes the Z5II a capable tool for capturing sports, wildlife, and other fast-paced events.
Low Light? No Problem!
One of the key improvements in the Z5II is its low-light performance. The camera boasts class-leading autofocus detection down to -10EV, ensuring accurate and reliable focus even in extremely dim conditions. This makes it ideal for shooting concerts, live performances, nightscapes, and portraits in available light. The standard ISO sensitivity range is also broad, spanning from 100 to 64,000, and expandable up to Hi 1.7 (ISO 204,800 equivalent) for stills. For video recording, the maximum ISO is 51,200.
To further aid in low-light shooting, the Z5II features a 5-axis in-camera vibration reduction (VR) system that provides superior image stabilization, equivalent to a 7.5-stop increase in shutter speed at the center of the frame and a 6.0-stop increase at the periphery. This allows for sharper handheld shots and smoother video, even with longer shutter speeds or telephoto lenses. Additionally, the Starlight View Mode simplifies focusing and composition in extremely low light, while the Warm Color Display Mode helps preserve night vision when working in complete darkness. For extreme long-exposure enthusiasts, the Z5II offers extended shutter speeds up to 900 seconds (15 minutes) in manual exposure mode, perfect for capturing stunning star trails and nightscapes.
Unleash Your Creativity with Advanced Video Features
The Nikon Z5II is not just a stills camera; it’s a capable video machine as well. It can capture 4K UHD video at up to 30p using the full width of the sensor, with no crop. For higher frame rates, it can also record 4K video at 60p with a 1.5x crop. The camera offers flexible in-camera video recording options, including 12-bit N-RAW, 10-bit H.265, and 8-bit H.264. The inclusion of N-Log tone modes provides greater flexibility for color grading in post-production. For slow-motion enthusiasts, the Z5II can record Full HD video at 120p, allowing for 5x slow-motion playback in 8-bit H.264.
Notably, the Z5II is the first camera to offer internal recording of Nikon’s 12-bit N-RAW format to an SD card. This provides filmmakers with a compact and accessible way to capture high-quality RAW video. Z5II users also gain access to free RED LUTs, developed in collaboration with RED, offering even more creative possibilities for video color grading. The camera also features a Hi-Res Zoom function that uses 4K resolution to zoom up to 2x in-camera during Full HD shooting without any loss of quality. The maximum continuous video recording time is an impressive 2 hours and 5 minutes. The Z5II is equipped with both a 3.5mm socket for an external stereo microphone and a headphone socket for monitoring audio.
Designed for Comfort and Reliability
The design and ergonomics of the Z5II have been refined based on user feedback and Nikon’s latest models. The camera features a deeper grip for more secure and comfortable handling, especially during extended shooting sessions. The button layout has also been tweaked to be more intuitive, with the playback button now positioned for easier access with the right thumb. The Z5II features a fully articulating 3.2-inch 2.1m-dot touchscreen LCD, allowing for easy composition and control from various angles. The electronic viewfinder is a high-resolution 3.69m-dot OLED with a large 0.8x magnification and a notably bright 3000 nits peak brightness, making it easier to see in bright outdoor conditions. The camera also features dual SD card slots, both supporting UHS-II speeds, providing ample storage and backup options. Built with durability in mind, the Z5II boasts dust- and drip-resistance on par with the acclaimed Z6III, offering peace of mind when shooting in challenging weather conditions.
Creative Control at Your Fingertips
The Nikon Z5II offers a range of features to enhance creative expression. It includes one-button access to Picture Controls, allowing users to instantly apply film-inspired looks to their photos and videos. The camera is also compatible with the Nikon Imaging Cloud. The new Flexible Color Picture Control allows users to create their own unique color styles using Nikon’s free NX Studio software, offering a wider variety of adjustments for hue, brightness, and contrast. For capturing intricate details and textures, the Z5II features a Pixel Shift shooting mode that can create ultra-high-resolution images of up to approximately 96 megapixels (processing with free Studio NX software is required). The Advanced AF-A mode intelligently switches between AF-S (for still subjects) and AF-C (for moving subjects) as needed, ensuring sharp focus in a variety of situations. The Pre-Release Capture feature, which allows capturing moments even before the shutter is fully pressed (up to 30 fps), is perfect for nailing peak action shots.
The Nikon Z5II appears to be a significant upgrade over its predecessor, bringing a wealth of advanced features and improved performance. With its powerful EXPEED 7 processor, enhanced autofocus system, impressive low-light capabilities, and comprehensive video features, the Z5II stands out as a compelling option for both enthusiast photographers and videographers looking for a versatile and capable full-frame mirrorless camera.
