I don’t know why people thought that Nikon would make a full-frame camera without an electronic viewfinder (EVF), but I called it- the alleged Nikon Z5, the company’s supposed next full-frame camera to arrive sometime soon, will apparently be a lite version of the existing Nikon Z6.
Here’s what we think we know so far:
- 24-megapixel sensor; probably the same as the Z6, but we don’t know yet
- Probably the same EVF as the Z6
- Probably the same autofocus as the Z6
- IBIS / IBVR
- 4K30p, 1.7x crop
- 6FPS stills
- Magnesium-allow body
- Dual SD memory card slots
- USB charging, AND direct power
- No top-pane LCD display
How Might a Nikon Z5 Compare To The Canon EOS RP?
Cropped 4K Video
Well, if the rumors are true, the Nikon Z5’s 4K video will be cropped by 1.7x, and that was one of the main complaints for the EOS RP. It seems that full-sensor width 4K video is going to be reserved for the ~$2K+ cameras, unfortunately.
All in all, this spec alone isn’t a deal-breaker, because Nikon, of all the companies now making full-frame camera systems, is the least video-centric company. Having said that, they’re trying to change that notion, and they’re generally doing a decent job of it, but it would be a huge help if this rumor/leak weren’t true. I’m holding out for the Z5’s 4K video to be full-width.
IBIS (IBVR?)
Unlike the Canon EOS RP, however, (and also, unlike the rumored Sony A5 competitor?) …the Nikon Z5 is allegedly going to have IBIS/IBVR. It might not, but if it does, that could really set it apart for both casual and serious photographers alike, as well as video shooters.
I don’t know if I believe all the rumored/leaked specs, though. We’ll have to wait and see! If any company is likely to cram the most features into a price point, it’s Nikon, in my opinion. They have a long track record of really delivering great value in the $1K-2K price range.
Dual SD Card Slots
This would be another feature that neither the Canon EOS RP, nor the alleged Sony A5, or heck, even the EOS R, or the Z6, …offers. If true, it would REALLY set the Z5 apart from its competition.
(It also might make the camera more likely to come in at $1299, though, and not $999.)
What do I think? I’m incredulous again. I’ll believe it when I see it. I’d expect a single card slot. But, I’d love to be wrong.
When Will We Know The Truth?
The reality is, this is still just hearsay; all we know for sure is that Nikon has some more new cameras trademarked that are likely to be announced this year. Besides that, nothing is definite. Having said that, the future seems rather predictable in this regard- Nikon is going to try as hard as they can to win customers at the best price point possible, which is something Nikon does very well.
Either way, it seems we might know the truth in about a month or so, and it seems even more likely that the camera will be in our hands later this year. If that does happen, I think Nikon will have taken a rather impressive leap forward in the battle to present the most attractive camera system for many photographers, though maybe not all.
What do you think, though? Does this sound like a good camera, for a good value? Or would you rather have a Z6, or something else? Leave a comment below!
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Hi Matthew,
This would be fantastic – the absence of dual card slot (just cannot afford a memory card failure when shooting a wedding, you know what I am talking about) is precisely why I kept using the D750 instead of switching to the Z6 so that would be a game changer to me ;-)
Hi @@jeanfrancisgothuey:disqus ,
I absolutely like the idea of dual SD far more than a single XQD slot, indeed. However, I’m still not 100% convinced that this “lower-end” model will have dual slots, since there is little precedent for it. Really the only precedent is Nikon’s own ~$1200 cameras, such as the D7000-D7200, although they did remove the 2nd SD slot from the D7500. So, while I hope they do put dual SD slots in it, because that SHOULD be the standard for all full-frame cameras, …I’m not as hopeful as some.
Having said that, for wedding photography I think there are plenty of easy work-arounds that can allow for easy on-location backup, if anyone really wants to photograph a wedding with a Z6. First and foremost, the wireless backup function works quite smoothly, and you can set the camera to shoot both RAW and JPG images, have the JPG images be “only” 6-10 megapixels and compressed, (which is still more than I had when I started photographing weddings in JPG 15 years ago!) …and you’ll have a complete backup of the entire wedding in your pocket all day long. If you’re willing to make the trade-off of not having two raw copies of the data, I’d say it’s even safer than dual card slots because if someone steals your camera from the wedding you will lose both copies of your data.
Either way, I hope that Nikon (and Canon) learned their lesson about dual card slots. It was unfortunate that they had made big decisions about the Z6/Z7 (and the EOS R) likely before the Sony A7 III was announced, so they had no way of knowing for sure that Sony was about to set such a precedent for mirrorless.
We’ll find out what Nikon can do sooner than later, and if anyone can pull off an incredible value, it’s them…