Updated 1 Nov 2026
Is the Nikon Z5 II worth it?
Yes — the best full frame for the money.
Nikon calls it entry level, but it isn't: it gets the subject-detecting autofocus of Nikon's pricier cameras, focuses in near darkness, shoots 14 frames a second in RAW (30 in JPEG), has strong stabilisation, two SD slots and weather sealing. Low-light photos are excellent. 4K at 60 frames is cropped, battery life is middling and autofocus is a step behind Sony's and Canon's best.
80%of 5 owners give it 4 or 5 stars
- Autofocus from Nikon's pricier cameras
- Excellent low-light photos
- Two card slots and weather sealing
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What owners say
Only a handful of verified owners so far: four love the image quality and handling for the price; one gave it a low score without saying why.
Good to know
- 4K at 60 frames uses a 1.5x crop.
- Battery life is middling.
- Autofocus isn't quite as quick or sure as Sony's and Canon's best.
- No top-plate info screen.
From 5 buyer ratings at Currys, Takealot (South Africa) and Harvey Norman (NZ, Australia), every complaint read by us, November 2026. How we do this
What they love
- Sharp images, good in low lightMentioned a lot
- Handling and weather sealing for the priceMentioned a lot
What they complain about
Hardly any: just 1 of 5 owners gave it 3 stars or fewer, and no complaint came up often enough to list.
Get it if…
- You want full frame without paying top money.
- You're moving up from an APS-C camera or DSLR.
- You shoot in dim light.
Skip it if…
- Video is your main job.
- You shoot fast sport every week: the Z6 III is quicker.
More on the Z5 II
How we reached this verdict
TechRadar named it its camera of the year 2025: a mid-range camera at an outstanding price, with the excellent subject-detection autofocus of Nikon's pricier bodies, if video is good rather than outstanding. Tom's Guide calls it unbeatable value with fantastic image quality, especially in low light, but finds autofocus less snappy than Canon or Sony and battery life mediocre. Digital Camera World praises its 30fps JPEG and pre-release capture and autofocus at -10EV, with no top screen and cropped 4K/60p against it. Only a handful of verified owner reviews so far.
We compared independent expert reviews with the manufacturer's specifications, then checked it's sold at a major retailer where you live. We don't test products ourselves.
Sources: TechRadar, Tom's Guide, Digital Camera World, Nikon (specs), TechRadar, Digital Camera World, manufacturer specifications.
Updated 1 Nov 2026How we decide