It’s been 5 years since the launch of the Z5 and arguably there’s never been an entry level camera with this much buzz around it! Priced at ₹1.5 lakhs for body only, Nikon’s looking at setting the bar high with this one. Today we’re reviewing the Nikon Z5II which was launched recently.

Look, Body and Feel

At first glance, the Z5II is unmistakably a Nikon. It bears a resemblance to the Z6III in size, but it’s slightly more compact and weighs in at 700g — just 60g lighter than the Z6III. The grip is excellent — deep, secure, and ergonomically designed. Nikon users will feel right at home with the familiar button layout. On the right, you’ll find the PASM dial along with
all the usual control buttons. A noticeable new addition is the color profile button, giving you quick access to preloaded filters and customizable picture styles for in-camera effects. This body also features dual UHS-II SD card slots and is weather-sealed to the same degree as the Z6III.

In terms of connectivity, it includes the standard mic and headphone jacks, a USB-C port, and — unfortunately — a Micro HDMI port. That feels a bit outdated in 2025 and means carrying an extra cable if you plan to output video. That said, the overall build quality is solid, and the rubber sealing feels durable.

Sensor and Performance

The Z5II is equipped with a 24.5MP full-frame sensor — the same as the Z6II — paired with the latest EXPEED 7 processor borrowed from Nikon’s flagship Z9. While it’s not a stacked sensor, this combination brings a significant jump in processing speed, autofocus capabilities, and buffer performance over the original Z5.

Screen and EVF

Like most cameras in 2025, the Z5II features a fully articulated 3.2-inch touchscreen with a resolution of 2.1 million dots. The touch response is quick and fluid. The electronic viewfinder (EVF) boasts 3.69 million dots, a 60Hz refresh rate, and a peak brightness of 3000 nits — as bright as some smartphones today.

Autofocus

Here’s where the Z5II really steps up. Autofocus performance is dramatically improved, and the menu offers the same flexibility as the Z6III. Nikon clearly wants to show that “entry-level” doesn’t have to mean “stripped down.” Subject-detection and 3D tracking — both borrowed from higher-end models — are now part of the package. Performance-wise, also the autofocus tracks well and is pretty fast.

Burst Modes

Being an entry-level model, we won’t dwell too much on shutter types. But for those interested, the Z5II shoots up to 30fps jpeg only and 14 fps in RAW using the electronic shutter and 11fps RAW with the mechanical shutter. There is some rolling shutter effect, as expected, but it’s manageable.

Image Quality

We paired the Z5II with the 24-50mm F/4–6.3 kit lens, and the results were impressive. Images are sharp, vibrant and detailed, with strong dynamic range. Even in challenging backlit scenarios, the camera holds its own.

• 

• 

• 

Even in low light, the camera performs well as it can go -5 stops below, capturing evenly lit images with ample detail — a testament to the sensor’s dynamic range.

• 

• 

• 

Video Capabilities

The Z5II can record 4K video at up to 60fps, although with a 1.5x crop, with 4K30 at full-width. The camera features in-body image stabilization (IBIS) and we have a sample video in our YouTube video. Autofocus during video is quick and reliable. But the real standout feature? Internal 12-bit RAW video recording — a first for any entry-level camera. This feature, previously limited to the Z9 and Z8, made its way to the Z6 III and now lands in the Z5 II. You’ll need a high-speed UHS-II card for this, of course. The camera also supports N-Log, though the setting is buried in the menu. A dedicated button/setting would’ve been a nice touch.

ISO Performance

The Z5II has a maximum ISO of 51,200. Images remain clean and usable up to ISO 6400. Beyond that, some noise and pixelation do creep in, but for most real-world scenarios, it handles noise well.

Conclusion

So, what do we think of the Nikon Z5II? It’s an impressive camera for its price — blending a proven sensor with Nikon’s latest processing tech and some pro-level features. Nikon has played this one smart: they’ve kept costs down by sticking with a reliable sensor, while elevating performance with meaningful upgrades. And from the looks of it – it seems to
be working. As per reports following the Z5II’s release, Nikon became the best-selling mirrorless camera brand in Japan in May 2025, overtaking Sony. Now if that continues or not – we don’t know. But as a camera – Nikon’s really got this one right.