Nikon Z5
Announced July 21, 2020
PixelMeter The PixelMeter is our 1–100 aggregate of reviewer scores from trusted publications and creators. Weighted by source tier — not a raw average, and not PetaPixel’s own review.
Reviewer Consensus
Strong
The Nikon Z5 is a highly capable, well-built mirrorless camera that excels at everyday stills photography for landscape, travel, and portrait enthusiasts. While it offers professional-grade ergonomics and dual SD card slots at an accessible price point, it is less suited for action or serious video work due to its slow burst rate and cropped 4K recording.
Weighted from 32 reviewer scores
Pros
- Excellent ergonomics and build quality featuring weather sealing and dual SD card slots
- High-quality full-frame sensor and reliable autofocus performance
- Effective 5-axis in-body image stabilization
- Bright, high-resolution electronic viewfinder
- Strong battery life with convenient USB-C power delivery
Cons
- Slow 4.5 fps burst shooting speed
- Significant 1.7x crop when recording 4K video
- Autofocus struggles in low-light conditions
- Limited screen articulation compared to competitors
- Launch price $1,399.95 (USD)
- Sensor 24.3MP Full-Frame CMOS
- Video 4K 30p
- Stabilization In-body IS, 5 stops (CIPA)
- Burst 4.5 fps electronic 4.5 fps mechanical
What the Reviewers Say
All 32 expert reviews, weighted into the PixelMeter score.
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- DPReview 89/100
The Z5 is an extremely well-rounded camera for stills photography (we’ll talk video in a minute). In fact, it’s easily the the most compelling stills-oriented full-framer for the cash in 2020.
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While the Nikon Z5 might not be a great choice for shooting videos or fast action, it is a formidable tool for everyday stills photography.
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Far more advanced than its “entry level” billing – and still a capable, reliable full-frame camera of quality feel, decent specs, and ever-expanding range of good lenses. Fantastic at its price point.
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As a Nikon owner for over two decades, to me, the Z5 is both a surprise and a familiar experience.
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The Z5 is often highly discounted now (2025), which makes it a bargain entry-level, full frame camera. I'll just say up front that, unless you're heavy into video, it doesn't feel like you lost much by picking the Z5 over the Z6.
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[A] highly successful offering and one that can be enthusiastically Highly Recommended.
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will have appeal to long-term photo hobbyists who have resisted going mirrorless until now.
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The Nikon Z5 is a great buy for those brand new to full-frame photography, and it has an appealing range of specifications that should suit lots of different type of photographers.
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The Z5 is competent, attractive and affordable, but its price pitches it against a host of cameras which can boast exactly the same thing.
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The Nikon Z 5 offers a lot for photographers moving from a Nikon SLR system to mirrorless, even though it omits some of the latest bells and whistles to meet its price point.
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The Nikon Z5 is the best entry-level full-frame mirrorless camera you can buy right now. It’s not perfect, but thanks to a blend of great image quality, a reliable autofocus performance, accessible handling and a weather-sealed body and tough body, the Z5 has a lot going for it.
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Almost all the settings can be easily adjusted from either the i menu or a dedicated button on the camera body and it’s compact while still being comfortable to hold.
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All in all, I think Nikon did an excellent job designing a camera that's going to be at an entry-level price point that still is going to give you great image quality, and that's what it comes down to.
- Digital Trends 6/10
The Nikon Z 5 is a good entry-level full-frame camera — but slow low-light autofocus, inconsistent accuracy in mixed lighting, and a sluggish burst mode keep the camera from being a great entry-level full-frame option.
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Nikon promotes the Z5 as an entry-level full-frame shooter, yet nothing much about it feels entry-level after days of use. The bulk of its design and performance were borrowed from the much more expensive Z6 and Z7 cameras.
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Whether you are looking to step up your photography to a professional level or just seeking a high-quality daily-use camera, the Z5 will get you going without costing a fortune.
- Photo Review 8.9/10
The Nikon Z5 is a great little camera that is fun to use and can take excellent photos.
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There is no doubt that the Nikon is one of the best value cameras on the market and certainly succeeds in bringing something new and fresh to the full-frame mirrorless market.
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If you're just getting started in photography or want to make the leap to either a full-frame or mirrorless system without spending too much then the Nikon Z5 is a fantastic option.
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As mirrorless cameras go the Nikon is easy to use, has a wonderful viewfinder, introduces improved autofocus features, and feels pitched to the correct kind of audience.
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The Nikon Z5 has an enticing set of specifications for the entry-level full-frame user, especially when you consider just how small the camera is.
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If you're looking to break into the full-frame mirrorless world, this camera is a great way to do that without breaking the bank while getting a host of features found on the Z 6 and the Z 7 models.
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The Nikon Z5 review 2026 confirms this affordable full frame camera makes sense for a specific shooter: someone upgrading from a DSLR who values landscape and travel photography above speed and video capability.
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I was expecting one thing that I use and that I absolutely need to be left out of this camera, but they really just kind of gave me everything that I could ever want.
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The Nikon Z5 is a great little camera. I prefer its controls and ergonomics to those of the Z6 II and Z7 II, and its image quality is the same (megapixels are only for marketing purposes 97% of the time).
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The Nikon Z5 is the camera that I chose. And I chose it because, simply put, it’s the best value full frame mirror-less interchangeable lens camera available today.
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If you are a landscape, portrait, macro, travel, or street photographer, I would say the Z5 would be a good fit for you.
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I cast my lot with Micro Four Thirds with my eyes fully open, and for reasons that still hold up: cheaper gear, smaller lenses, resolution enough for 99 percent of purposes. But here in 2020, the road I choose looks to be a dead end.
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From a still image perspective, the Nikon Z 5 is a real all-around monster in a small package.
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Despite its struggles with dim, warm light, the occasional focusing discrepancy and the 4K videos ordeal, the Nikon Z5 is wholeheartedly recommendable.
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If you're an enthusiast or a semi-professional photographer taking on more and more jobs, looking to get your first entry into the land of full-frame cameras, the Z 5 is a really good choice.
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I think that this is going to be Nikon's most important camera to date in their mirrorless lineup, yeah, even over the Z6 II and Z7 II, because this has some really, really wide range appeal in the marketplace.
