Nikon Zf vs Nikon D5 Comparison

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Nikon Zf

25 MP | Full frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

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Nikon D5

21 MP | Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) CMOS Sensor

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Nikon Zf

Nikon D5

Nikon Zf

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Nikon D5

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Cast your vote: Which camera would you choose?

Nikon Zf vs Nikon D5 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two Nikon cameras cameras with different body types: Nikon Zf, which was introduced in September 2023 is a Pro Mirrorless camera with a 25.0MP Full frame sensor whereas Nikon D5, which was introduced in January 2016 is a Pro DSLR camera with a 21.0MP Full frame sensor. As you can see, D5 is 7 years older than Zf. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Despite some fundamental differences of these two body types, Mirrorless cameras are becoming serious alternatives to DSLR cameras thanks to their size/weight advantages and recent improvements in their focus speeds , which makes this comparison even more interesting.

Here is a brief look at the main features of the Nikon Zf and Nikon D5 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Nikon Zf Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2023-09-20

25MP - Full frame BSI-CMOS Sensor

ISO 100 - 64000 ( expands to 50 - 204800)

Nikon Z Mount

Sensor-shift Image Stabilization

3.20" Fully Articulated Screen

3690k dot Electronic viewfinder

14.0fps (15.0fps Electronic) continuous shooting

4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution

120fps High-Speed Video

Built-in Wireless

710g. 144 x 103 x 49 mm

Weather-sealed Body

Nikon D5 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2016-01-05

21MP - Full frame CMOS Sensor

ISO 100 - 102400 ( expands to 3280000)

Nikon F Mount

3.20" Fixed Type Screen

Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder

14.0fps continuous shooting

4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution

1415g. 160 x 158.5 x 92 mm

Weather-sealed Body

Replaced Nikon D4s Compare

Let's read on in the following sections in order to better understand in detail how the Nikon Zf and Nikon D5 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Nikon Zf over Nikon D5

Video Record Limit	Unlimited vs Limited	Record clips longer than 30 minutes
Wireless Connection	Built-In vs Optional	Better connectivity
In-built Image Stabilization	Sensor-shift vs None	Sharper images at longer focal lengths and slow shutter speeds
LCD Screen	Fully Articulated vs Fixed Type	Flexible shooting positions
Viewfinder Magnif.	0.8x vs 0.72x	Larger Viewfinder
Image Processor	Expeed 7 vs Expeed 5	More Capable Processor
Sensor Resolution	25 MP vs 21 MP	19% more pixels
Number of Focus Points	273 vs 153	120 more focus points
Continuous Shooting	15.0fps vs 14.0fps	1 fps faster
Weight	710 g vs 1415 g	705 g lighter
4:2:2 Chroma Subsampling	Yes vs No	Less compressed color data
Selfie & Vlogger LCD	Yes vs No	Rotate LCD for taking Selfies
Pixel Shift High-Res Mode	Yes (96 MP) vs No	Increased resolution with pixel shift
Bluetooth	Yes vs No	Connect your camera to other devices via Bluetooth
Focus Bracketing	Yes vs No	Take multiple photos shifting focus point
Smartphone Remote	Yes vs No	Remote control your camera with a smartphone
Min Focus Sensitivity	EV -10 vs EV -4	Autofocus in lower light
Animal Eye AF Tracking	Yes vs No	Easily lock and track focus on animals
Vehicle Tracking AF	Yes vs No	Easily lock and track racing cars and bikes
Insect Tracking AF	Yes vs No	Great for Macro photography
Webcam Function	Yes vs No	Use your camera as a Webcam
Eye Tracking Focus	Yes vs No	Autofocus system locks on the eye and tracks the subject

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Reasons to choose Nikon D5 over Nikon Zf

Max Native ISO	102.400 vs 64.000	60% higher Max Native ISO
LCD Resolution	2.359k dots vs 2.100k dots	12% higher resolution screen
Battery Life	3780 shots vs 380 shots	3400 more frames with a single charge
Sensor Pixel Area	41.25µm2 vs 35.25µm2	17% larger pixel area
Top LCD	Yes vs No	Help viewing and changing settings easily
Flash Sync Port	Yes vs No	Connect off-camera flash
Ethernet Port	Yes vs No	Use Ethernet connection for fast wired transfer
4K Photo Mode	Yes vs No	Extract 8MP photos from 4K Video
Illuminated Buttons	Yes vs No	Find the buttons easily in dark

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Common Strengths of Nikon Zf and Nikon D5

External Flash Shoe	Yes vs Yes	Better for flash photography
Touch Screen	Yes vs Yes	Easy control of camera functions
Viewfinder	Yes (Electronic) vs Yes (Optical)	Better framing and control under bright light
RAW Support	Yes vs Yes	Better image quality
Face Detection Focus	Yes vs Yes	Easy focusing on portrait shots
Max Resolution	25 MP vs 21 MP	Bigger prints and more details
LCD Screen Size	3.20" vs 3.20"	Large display
LCD Screen Resolution	2.100k dots vs 2.359k dots	High resolution screens
Max Continuous Shooting	15.0fps vs 14.0fps	Fast shooting speeds
Microphone Port	Yes vs Yes	High quality audio recording option
Headphone Port	Yes vs Yes	better sound monitoring
Environmental Sealing	Yes vs Yes	Extra protection against water and dust
Timelapse Recording	Yes vs Yes	creative shooting
AE Bracketing	Yes vs Yes	Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Dual-axis Electronic Level	Yes vs Yes	Level the camera easily in two axis
Storage Slot	2 vs 2	Extra Storage Slot
Anti flicker	Yes vs Yes	Reduced uneven color and exposure under flickering light

Common Weaknesses of Nikon Zf and Nikon D5

Built-in Flash	No vs No	Require external flash

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Nikon Zf vs Nikon D5: Physical Specs and Body Features Comparison

Size and weight are big decision factors when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, we are going to illustrate the Nikon Zf and Nikon D5 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Nikon Zf has external dimensions of 144 x 103 x 49 mm (5.67 x 4.06 x 1.93″) and weighs 710 g (1.57 lb / 25.04 oz) (including batteries). Nikon D5 has external dimensions of 160 x 158.5 x 92 mm (6.3 x 6.2 x 3.62″) and weighs 1415 g (3.12 lb / 49.91 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front-view size comparison of the Nikon Zf and the Nikon D5. Nikon Zf is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 16mm narrower, 56mm shorter and 43mm thinner than Nikon D5.

Comparison image of the Nikon Zf and the Nikon D5 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of the Nikon Zf and Nikon D5.

Comparison image of the Nikon Zf and the Nikon D5 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon Zf and Nikon D5.

Top View Comparison image of the Nikon Zf and the Nikon D5 Size

Weight is another important factor, especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Nikon Zf is significantly lighter (705g ) than the Nikon D5 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Also keep in mind that body weight is not the only deciding factor when comparing two interchangeable camera bodies, you also have to take into account the lenses that you will be using with these bodies. Since both Nikon Zf and Nikon D5 have the same Full frame sized sensor, their lenses for a similar focal length and aperture will be similar in size and weight.

Weight Comparison

DSLR Cameras

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

DSLR Cameras

Min

Average

Max

Weather Sealing

Both the Zf and the D5 have weather sealings in their bodies, making them resistant to water and dust.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Nikon Zf and Nikon D5's LCD screens have the same diagonal size of 3.20 inches.

On the other hand, Nikon Zf sports a Fully Articulated screen which you can change the angle and position of the screen almost freely, making it possible to shoot from waist or over-the-head levels, and especially very useful for shooting selfies and video. Nikon D5's LCD screen is a fixed type which provides almost no flexibility in shooting positions compared to Zf.

Nikon Zf vs Nikon D5: Sensor Comparison

Nikon Zf has a 25.0MP Full frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features Expeed 7 processor. On the other hand, Nikon D5 has a 21.0MP Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Expeed 5 processor.

Below you can see the Zf and D5 sensor size comparison.

Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon Zf and Nikon D5 Cameras

Nikon Zf and Nikon D5 have almost the same sensor size, so neither of them has any significant advantage over the other in terms of providing control over depth of field when used with the same focal length and aperture.

Sensor size sets the circle of confusion, so it drives how much depth of field each of these bodies gives you at a given aperture. You can calculate it exactly for the Nikon Zf or the Nikon D5, including hyperfocal distance.

Nikon Zf vs Nikon D5 Comparison of Available Lenses

Which camera has more lenses?

The number of available lenses is a big deciding factor when choosing your interchangeable lens camera. When we look at the available lenses for these two cameras, we see that the Nikon D5 has an advantage over the Nikon Zf There are 316 lenses for the Nikon D5's Nikon F mount, but on the other hand, there are only 184 lenses for the Nikon Zf's Nikon Z lens mount.

Another important factor is the availability of image stabilization. Nikon Zf has a big advantage in this regard because it has a sensor based image stabilization (IS) which means that all the lenses mounted to this body will be stabilized. Zf's built-in Image stabilization system is effective for compensating vibration up to 8.0-stops according to CIPA standards.
On the other hand, Nikon D5 doesn't have this feature so you have to buy a lens with optical stabilization feature. Currently there are 108 lenses for Nikon F mount with Optical Image Stabilization features.

Lens Type	# of Nikon Zf Lenses	# of Nikon D5 Lenses
Standard Zoom	11 (9 Full Frame)	32 (16 Full Frame)
Standard Prime	43 (24 Full Frame)	22 (19 Full Frame)
Wideangle Zoom	7 (5 Full Frame)	31 (16 Full Frame)
Wideangle Prime	46 (32 Full Frame)	50 (48 Full Frame)
Telephoto Zoom	12 (11 Full Frame)	55 (45 Full Frame)
Telephoto Prime	42 (28 Full Frame)	46 (45 Full Frame)
SuperZoom	4 (2 Full Frame)	30 (6 Full Frame)
Wideangle Fisheye Prime	4 (3 Full Frame)	8 (3 Full Frame)
Macro Prime	9 (9 Full Frame)	26 (23 Full Frame)
Perspective Control Prime	5 (5 Full Frame)	11 (11 Full Frame)
Telephoto Mirror Prime	n/a	1 (0 Full Frame)
TOTAL	184 (128 Full Frame)	316 (232 Full Frame)

Now let's compare some sample lenses from each mount with typical Focal ranges for Nikon Zf and Nikon D5 to see how these lenses compare:

Fast Standard Zoom Lenses

Model		FF Equiv.	Weight	Weight w/ Cam	Length	Street Price
	Nikon Z 24-70mm F2.8 II ( Check Size)	24 - 70mm	675gr	1,385gr	142mm	Amazon B&H Photo
	Nikon 24-70mm F2.8E ED VR	24 - 70mm	1070gr	2,485gr	155mm	Amazon B&H Photo

Compare Nikon Z 24-70mm F2.8 II vs Nikon 24-70mm F2.8E ED VR

Fast Tele Zoom Equivalent Lenses

Model		FF Equiv.	Weight	Weight w/ Cam	Length	Street Price
	Nikon Z 70-200 F2.8 VR S ( Check Size)	70 - 200mm	1440gr	2,150gr	220mm	Amazon B&H Photo
	Nikon AF-S 70-200mm F2.8E FL ED VR	70 - 200mm	1430gr	2,845gr	203mm	Amazon B&H Photo

Compare Nikon Z 70-200 F2.8 VR S vs Nikon AF-S 70-200mm F2.8E FL ED VR

Fast Normal Prime Equivalent Lenses

Model		FF Equiv.	Weight	Weight w/ Cam	Length	Street Price
	Nikon Z 70-200 F2.8 II ( Check Size)	70 - 200mm	1180gr	1,890gr	208mm	Amazon B&H Photo
	Nikon 50mm f1.4G	50mm	290gr	1,705gr	54mm	Amazon B&H Photo

Compare Nikon Z 70-200 F2.8 II vs Nikon 50mm f1.4G

Fast Wideangle Zoom Equivalent Lenses

Model		FF Equiv.	Weight	Weight w/ Cam	Length	Street Price
	Nikon Z 50mm F1.8 S ( Check Size)	50mm	415gr	1,125gr	87mm	Amazon B&H Photo
	Nikon 17-35mm f2.8D ED-IF	17 - 35mm	745gr	2,160gr	106mm	Amazon B&H Photo

Compare Nikon Z 50mm F1.8 S vs Nikon 17-35mm f2.8D ED-IF

24-105mm f4 Equivalent Lenses

Model		FF Equiv.	Weight	Weight w/ Cam	Length	Street Price
	Nikon Z 14-30mm F4 S ( Check Size)	14 - 30mm	485gr	1,195gr	85mm	Amazon B&H Photo
	Nikon 24-120mm f4G ED VR	24 - 120mm	710gr	2,125gr	104mm	Amazon B&H Photo

Compare Nikon Z 14-30mm F4 S vs Nikon 24-120mm f4G ED VR

Super-Tele Zoom Equivalent Lenses

Model		FF Equiv.	Weight	Weight w/ Cam	Length	Street Price
	Nikon Z 24-120mm F4 S ( Check Size)	24 - 120mm	630gr	1,340gr	118mm	Amazon B&H Photo
	Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM C	150 - 600mm	1930gr	3,345gr	290mm	Amazon B&H Photo

Compare Nikon Z 24-120mm F4 S vs Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM C

What types of Photography are Nikon Zf and Nikon D5 Good for?

In this section, we rank and compare Nikon Zf and Nikon D5 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Nikon Zf for Portrait Photography

GOOD

Nikon D5 for Portrait Photography

GOOD

Large Full frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 25.0MP
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Check the Best Nikon Z Mount Lenses for Portrait Photography

Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 21.0MP
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Check the Best Nikon F Mount Lenses for Portrait Photography

Nikon Zf for Street Photography

EXCELLENT

Nikon D5 for Street Photography

GOOD

Large Full frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fully Articulated LCD Screen
Medium sized Body
Read the details

Check the Best Nikon Z Mount Lenses for Street Photography

Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
No Image Stabilization
Large Body
Read the details

Check the Best Nikon F Mount Lenses for Street Photography

Nikon Zf for Sports Photography

EXCELLENT

Nikon D5 for Sports Photography

EXCELLENT

Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Continuous Shooting: 14.0fps
Anti Flicker feature
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
273 Focus Points
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
Read the details

Check the Best Nikon Z Mount Lenses for Sports Photography

Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Continuous Shooting: 14.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
99 Cross Type Focus sensors
153 Focus Points
Good Battery Life: 3780 shots
Good Low Light ISO
Anti Flicker feature
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Check the Best Nikon F Mount Lenses for Sports Photography

Nikon Zf for Daily Photography

EXCELLENT

Nikon D5 for Daily Photography

GOOD

Large Full frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Anti Flicker feature
Environmental Sealings
Medium size Body
710g
Body Thickness 49mm
Read the details

Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Anti Flicker feature
Large Body
1415g
Body Thickness 92mm
Read the details

Nikon Zf for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon D5 for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE

Large Full frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 25.0MP
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Read the details

Check the Best Nikon Z Mount Lenses for Landscape Photography

Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 21.0MP
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Read the details

Check the Best Nikon F Mount Lenses for Landscape Photography

Nikon Zf vs Nikon D5: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision regarding which camera best suits your needs and budget. However, if you're curious about how we rated the Nikon Zf and the Nikon D5, below you'll find their scores across five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Nikon Zf and Nikon D5 scores compare:

Nikon Zf

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #37 out of 146 in SLR-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #39 out of 1384 in all Cameras

Nikon D5

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #3 out of 36 in Large SLR cameras
Ranked #133 out of 1384 in all Cameras

Nikon Zf is the clear winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Nikon D5 in all criteria. It has better general image quality, more features, more compact body and offers more value for the money

Nikon Zf

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Nikon D5

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Check price at B&H PHOTO

General	Nikon Zf	Nikon D5
Brand	Nikon	Nikon
Announced	2023-09-20	2016-01-05
Body Type	SLR-style mirrorless	Large SLR
Sensor
Type	BSI-CMOS	CMOS
Size	Full frame	Full frame
Dimensions	35.9 x 23.9 mm	35.8 x 23.9 mm
Area	858.01mm²	855.62mm²
Megapixels	25 megapixels	21 megapixels
Max Resolution	6048 x 4024	5588 x 3712
Max Native Light sensitivity	64,000 ISO	102,400 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity	204800 ISO	3280000 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity	100 ISO	100 ISO
Min Boosted Light Sensitivity	50 ISO	-
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points	273	153
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	Nikon Z	Nikon F
Number of Available Lenses	184	316
Screen
Type	Fully Articulated	Fixed type
Size	3.20"	3.20"
Resolution	2,100k dots	2,359k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Electronic	Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder Resolution	3,690k dots	no electronic viewfinder
Viewfinder Coverage	100%	100%
Viewfinder Magnification	0.8x	0.72x
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter	1/8000s	1/8000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization	Sensor-shift	No
Built-in Flash
Max Flash Sync	1/200s	n/a
External Flash
Continuous Shooting	14.0 fps	14.0 fps
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution	3840 x 2160	3840 x 2160
Video Formats	MPEG-4, H.264	MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	Built-In	Optional
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight	710g	1415g
Dimensions	144 x 103 x 49mm	160 x 158.5 x 92mm
Battery Life	380 shots	3780 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None	Optional
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score	not tested	88
DxO Color Depth	not tested	25.1
DxO Dynamic Range	not tested	12.3
DxO Low Light ISO	not tested	2434
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