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| Photo: Mitchell Clark |
We’ve put the Nikon Z5II through our studio scene as part of our upcoming review. And it’s fair to say it doesn’t present any major surprises. But we thought it’s worth stepping back a bit to acknowledge what we perhaps risk taking for granted.
The Nikon Z5II is the company’s entry-level full-frame mirrorless camera. Its launch price of $1699, body only, means it’s not quite as inexpensive as the original Z5, but there are still only four full-frame digital cameras that have been launched for a lower price, so it’s not uncompetitive.
But, whereas the original Z5 used a relatively elderly sensor to differentiate it from the higher-end Z6 II, the Z5II uses the same sensor as the more expensive Zf. And, while it’s not the newest chip on the block, it’s still being introduced in new models from Sigma and Panasonic, so shouldn’t be considered unacceptably out-of-date.
Studio test scene
The test scene throws up no surprises at all: detail capture is consistent with other 24MP full-frame cameras, as is noise performance at high ISO. Default JPEG color is the usual Nikon response: on the punchy side of accurate, which is a result a lot of people like.
JPEG sharpening pulls out a lot of fine detail, though false color isn’t as well suppressed as in the Canon’s files. Noise reduction smoothes away a little more detail than its peers, but overall, the results are very solid.
This is a well-known sensor, so the results aren’t surprising, but until recently, you had to spend a fair amount more than this to get the same combination of IQ, handling and autofocus performance.
Our DPREVIEW Tribute:
After nearly 25 years of operation, DPReview closed on 10 April 2023. This difficult decision was part of the annual operating plan review that parent company, Amazon, shared earlier this year.
Over the course of 25 years, DP Review built up a reputation as being one of the most informative places to go for information about that new camera or lens you’re after. DP Review began as an independent reviews site based in the UK in 1998, the brainchild of Philip and Joanna Askey, but it was eventually purchased by Amazon in 2007 and relocated over to Seattle in the USA in 2010.
Cheers DPReview – thanks for the great work and content that guided photographers, videographers and techno junkies the world over!