Nikon Z5 II vs Nikon Z6 II

Let’s compare the Nikon Z5 II versus the Nikon Z6 II camera now. Z5 II camera was announced recently on April 2025 and features all the possible latest updates straight out from Nikon professional camera that include AI AF, that helps 9 different types of subject detection 🔎 automatically and it also has a dedicated bird eye auto focus mode that even cameras like the Nikon Z6 Mark III are waiting for an update, at the time I am writing this article on April 4, 2025.

Similarly, not only are the updates limited to AI auto focus, we also have 7.5 stops of image stabilizer that can be linked to the Nikon AF points to ensure the best stability possible in this segment.

The list goes on, so let’s compare side-by-side the advantages of the new Z5 Mark II camera compared to the Z6 Mark II.

Design and build comparisons of both the cameras

Both cameras feature a magnesium alloy body, and both of them are weather sealed, so you don’t have to worry about using them outdoors in a kind of windy or rainy situation if you are using weather-sealed lenses. Other than that, the weight and the size are approximately the same. The biggest noticeable difference when you pick both of them in your hand is the kind of display screen the cameras are using. Z5 II is using a fully articulating touch display screen that helps you to create content on the go, whereas the Z6 Mark II camera features a tilting display screen, which limits its use to photographers only.

The other noticeable difference is a bright 3.69 million dot electronic viewfinder with 3000 nits of brightness.

Build & Display Feature Comparison

But apart from the almost identical controls and ports, both of them have dual card slots. In the camera, the additional advantage we get in the Z6 Mark II is the top display screen, and in the Z5 II, we don’t have that, so that makes the design difference complete.

Overall, both cameras are highly usable for photographers, but if you are a hybrid shooter, the Nikon Z5 Mark II camera is more usable design-wise due to its fully articulating display screen.

Photography features comparison

Nikon Z5 II and Nikon Z6 Mark II feature a bit different sensor readout speed, since the Nikon Z5 Mark II camera uses the sensor from Nikon Zf whose readout speed is faster than the Nikon Z6 II camera, resulting in better images while keeping away rolling shutter effect as much as possible.

Also, the continuous shooting speed of the new Nikon Z5 II with the help of the latest EXPEED 7 image processor goes up to 14 frames per second in JPG and RAW it’s up to 11 frames per second, and with upcoming updates, the mechanical shutter will support RAW up to 14 FPS. And if you use the electronic shutter of the Nikon Z5 II camera, you will get the continuous shooting speed of 30 frames per second, which is insane when compared to the Nikon Z6 II. In the Nikon Z6 II camera, the continuous shooting speed reaches 14 frames per second in 12-bit RAW, so it is also quite usable.

Burst Shooting & Sensor Speed Comparison

More than these two differences, the biggest difference is due to the presence of EXPEED 7 image processor, we are getting AI autofocus inside the new Nikon Z5 II camera, and with the help of that the camera can detect 9 different types of moving subjects automatically which also includes bird eye autofocus mode, specifically for wildlife photography.

Nikon Z6 Mark II camera does detect human and animal eyes but the autofocus algorithm isn’t updated that much to support AI autofocus just like we have in Nikon Z5 II.

So for photographers it’s not only important to push or uplift the continuous shooting speed to a new benchmark, but at the very same time, it’s also very important to perfectly do subject tracking.

Now let’s talk about the sensor shift image stabilization system. The Nikon Z6 Mark II camera provides up to five stops of shutter speed compensation, whereas the new Z5 Mark II camera features 7.5 stops of shutter speed compensation with the help of new IBIS tech. Not only limited to that—with the new EXPEED 7 image processor—now you can link your VR with camera autofocusing points so you get perfect stability and true 7.5 stops of IBIS from your camera.

The expandable ISO range of both the cameras is the same—up to 204800.

 ISO Range Comparison

The low light AF sensitivity of the Nikon Z5 Mark 2 camera is up to -19.0 EV, the camera can do pinpoint AF in nearly dark situations, whereas the Nikon Z6 II camera is limited to -5 EV.

The pixel shift mode is also now available in the Nikon Z5 II camera. With the help of this mode, you can generate 96 megapixel of high-resolution images, but you have to keep your camera still on a tripod and the images will be processed by the Nikon NX software.

Verdict / Conclusion: Best still photography camera – Nikon Z5 II

Nikon Z5 II with its vari-angle display screen and 3000 nits of brightness EVF, not only from the design part but also from its core specification where we find ZF sensor which is quite bit faster while having the readout speed of 23ms, at the very same time the camera uses brand new EXPEED 7 image processor which implements AI autofocus algorithm directly coming from Nikon Z8 and Z9, moreover this the autofocus sensitivity has been upscaled to a next level where you can detect subjects up to -19 EV which was limited to -5 EV in Nikon Z6 II and the cherry on top thing is now the sensor-shift image stabilization is up to 7.5 stops and you can also link your IBIS with camera autofocus point which is completely a brand new thing and gives super stable shot.

Nikon Z5 II has been upscaled from upside down and every single core spec has been updated and now it’s even far better than Nikon Z6 Mark 2 camera so don’t do a mistake by buying the Z6 II get Nikon Z5 II it’s far more better than the Z6 II in terms of still photography.

Video Core Specification

Let’s compare the video specifications of both cameras. The Nikon Z5 Mark II camera can record 4:2:2 10-bit videos, 12-bit videos, and RAW videos. Both of these are significant advantages that allow you can internally record high-quality RAW videos in the camera.

So the Nikon Z5 Mark II camera gives you the next level of colour grading experience. The audio recording also includes linear PCM at 48 kilohertz, 24-bit for any MOV formats. Also, you get 16-bit for MP4, enhancing the overall audio quality for video production.

While researching, I have found that Nikon Z6 Mark II camera also supports linear PCM and AAC, but it does not specify specifically the bit depth beyond the standard 16-bit for AAC and its internal video recording is limited to 8-bit, so in that you are not getting the quality which the recently announced Nikon Z5 II offers.

The Nikon Z5 II camera offers RAW video capability internally inside the camera. You can record N-RAW videos up to 4K 30 FPS and even 4K 60 FPS in DX mode.

Nikon Z6 Mark II camera gives you limited 8-bit recording capability, and if you want to take out RAW videos, you have to use external recorders and switch it to the HDMI port, so that’s a very messy process, and even then, you are not getting the high quality.

Comparison Table:

I have found that the recently announced Nikon Z5 II camera offers RED LUTs made for upscaling your overall cinematography experience to the next level. At the very same time, those LUTs are very helpful even in wedding cinematography.

Additionally, your overall cinematography experience becomes more and more enjoyable when you get the support of Nikon’s latest AI autofocus technology as well as 7.5 stops of sensor stabilization to ensure stable and smooth shots.

Overall conclusion: The best video camera is the Nikon Z5 II.

The best camera, when we compare the core specifications of both, without a doubt, is the Nikon Z5 II camera, so we highly recommend you to get the Nikon Z5 Mark II camera over the Z6 II.

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