This Nikon Camera Did What No Canon Has In Years - It Made Me Consider Switching

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• The Nikon Z5 II delivers awesome image value correct retired of nan box.
• You'll admit nan build value and snappy autofocusing.
• The deficiency of upwind sealing is felt, arsenic is nan price.

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Capturing awesome photography has gotten easier and easier these days, acknowledgment to nan trusty smartphones we each transportation successful our pockets. However, location are times erstwhile a smartphone's capabilities will not beryllium sufficient. Instead, opt for a dedicated, pro-grade camera, specified arsenic nan Nikon Z5 II. 

No request to thin connected AI smarts aliases computational photography, conscionable thin connected nan correct instrumentality for nan correct job.

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The squad astatine Nikon was benignant capable to indebtedness maine its Z5 II for a mates of weeks to spot conscionable really good its mid-tier camera assemblage will clasp up for day-to-day photography arsenic good arsenic master scenarios. It's been a batch of nosy trying retired nan Z5 II. Allow maine to stock my acquisition pinch you.

The basics you should know

The Nikon Z5 II is simply a 24.5-megapixel full-frame camera tin of grabbing images astatine 14 frames per 2nd while utilizing nan mechanical shutter. But this is nan property of mirrorless cameras. Photographers tin now sprout pinch an physics shutter. The Z5 II allows for 30 frames per 2nd seizure successful physics shutter mode. 

Making it highly easy to seizure action shots. The Z5 II besides captures video successful 4K up to 60 frames per 2nd and HD solution astatine 120 frames per second. It besides includes dual SD paper slots for those days erstwhile nan photoshoot runs really long. 

hands connected nan Nikon Z5 II

Ant Pruitt / ZDNET

Using nan Z5 II connected a master job

Granted I spend astir of my clip successful beforehand of nan camera much truthful this twelvemonth than down nan it, but from clip to clip I still sprout precocious schoolhouse sports and portraits. I tried nan Z5 II successful a image environment, past really challenged it successful not only a sports environment, but a low-light, fast-paced shot game. Shooting pinch controlled lighting successful a workplace mounting was a breeze, arsenic is nan lawsuit pinch astir cameras these days. 

As personification who's accustomed to shooting successful manual mode, I encountered nary problems adjusting nan shutter speed, ISO, aliases aperture connected nan Z5 II because nan dials and controls are well-positioned to activity pinch almost anyone holding nan camera body. 

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I'm a Canon shooter because nan ergonomics connected Canon bodies champion fresh my ample hands, but this offering from Nikon is simply a worthy mention successful position of ergonomics, successful summation to its image quality. 

While shooting a shot game, I knew nan Z5 II would beryllium challenged. A fewer variables were stacked against it. First, nan shot section was poorly lit for photography astatine higher shutter speeds. Secondly, Nikon loaned maine its 24-50mm "kit" lens. This has lower-quality solid arsenic good arsenic a less-than-ideal aperture astatine f/6.3. 

Nikon Z5 II used. Football subordinate runs nan ball

Ant Pruitt / ZDNET

Due to these variables, nan ISO had to beryllium group higher than 6400 to seizure immoderate usable frames. Having an ISO supra 1600 tin lead to image sound if nan camera isn't decently stabilized during image capture. 

With that said, nan images from nan Z5 II weren't bad. I wish I could person utilized a tighter focal length, but nan images were decidedly usable. The image sound was low. The value was strong. The autofocus was outstanding. Football players moving nan shot coming a batch of challenges. First, they're moving really quickly -- toward you. 

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Secondly, nan lighting is usually low. From nan camera settings, you'll request a shutter velocity that's accelerated capable to limit mobility blur and an autofocus that will support up pinch nan taxable arsenic it moves quickly into and done your framing.

Nikon Z5 II used. Football subordinate runs walk nan camera

Ant Pruitt / ZDNET

As you tin spot successful nan image sequence, nan Z5 II maintained awesome attraction connected nan runner pinch nan shot and exhibited minimal mobility blur, moreover astatine a 1/250-second shutter speed. 

The runner ran past maine and was still successful focus. Again, I wish I had a much master lens attached to this camera body, but this was a nosy attempt. Some whitethorn announcement really greenish nan writer looks successful this image. This is not owed to nan colour subject of nan Z5 II. The writer is genuinely that greenish this clip of twelvemonth successful Northern California.    

ZDNET's buying advice

The Nikon Z5 II mirrorless camera body is disposable online for $1,596. You tin adhd nan kit lens for a full of $1,896. This is simply a adjacent price. Even though you're paying for a photography kit that's astir nan aforesaid value arsenic your trusty smartphone, it doesn't moreover nonstop matter messages. What you deficiency successful telephony capability, you summation successful existent photography prowess. 

The full-frame sensor will execute importantly amended than your smartphone, some successful low-light and well-lit conditions. You'll get a existent 24.5-megapixel image pinch vibrant colors. Not faux "40-megapixels" offered by smartphones owed to pixel binning. My only disapproval of nan Z5 II is that nan image sensor isn't protected erstwhile changing lenses. 

Ideally, a shutter curtain should screen nan sensor erstwhile it's not successful use. That's not nan lawsuit pinch this camera body. I would urge this camera to photography enthusiasts looking to grow their photography portfolio and return connected superior master work. Just adhd a premier lens to nan Z-mount and commencement shooting.