Tested across weddings, travel, landscapes and family photography from Salisbury, Wiltshire

First impressions and build

The Nikon Z5II doesn’t try to reinvent itself, and honestly, I’m glad about that. At first glance it looks almost identical to its predecessor. No dramatic redesign, no flashy statement. Just a solid, purposeful camera that feels like it was built to work rather than to impress on a spec sheet.

The magnesium alloy body is reassuringly sturdy, and the weather sealing inspires confidence when you’re inevitably caught in a bit of Wiltshire drizzle. The grip is deep and comfortable, which matters more than you think when you’re carrying it all day at a wedding.

It isn’t a small camera, and if you’re hoping for something ultra compact for travel, this isn’t quite that. But the trade off is a body that feels like a proper tool. You pick it up and trust it immediately.

Autofocus: where the real upgrade lives

The biggest jump from the original Z5 is the autofocus system. Nikon’s EXPEED 7 processor, the same one powering the Z8 and Z9, brings a very noticeable shift in confidence when shooting real moments.

On paper you get nine subject detection modes, 3D tracking, and Auto AF that intelligently switches between single and continuous focus. In practice, what that means is this: you stop thinking about focus quite so much.

At weddings, during first dances or chaotic family group shots, the camera finds eyes and sticks to them. Moments you would normally lose while second guessing focus simply land in focus without drama. Nikon claims it is significantly faster than the original Z5, and for once the marketing feels believable. The improvement is obvious the moment you start shooting people.

Image quality and high ISO performance

The 24.5MP BSI sensor paired with the EXPEED 7 processor is a familiar combination. It is effectively the same pairing found in the Zf, and it delivers exactly what I want from a camera like this.

High ISO performance is noticeably cleaner once you get into the ISO 3200 plus range, which makes a genuine difference at wedding receptions or during those fading golden hour moments when the light disappears faster than you would like. Files are flexible, dynamic range is generous, and shadow recovery is strong enough that you do not feel punished for exposing conservatively.

The 24MP resolution feels like a sweet spot. Large enough for prints and professional work, but not so large that your hard drives start silently judging you.

Stabilisation: quietly transformative

The in body stabilisation is one of those features that does not make headlines but changes how you shoot. Handholding at slower shutter speeds becomes normal rather than risky, which is brilliant for travel and landscape work when you do not want to haul a tripod everywhere.

Walking along the Avon Valley or shooting late afternoon light around Stonehenge, I found myself taking shots I would normally have skipped or tripod mounted.

The EVF also deserves a mention. Bright, clear, and perfectly usable outdoors. Composing in harsh sunlight no longer feels like guessing.

The little frustrations

No camera escapes compromise, and the Z5II has a few quirks.

First, it is not especially small. Travelling light still requires some discipline, especially once you add lenses.

The exposure compensation button has moved to a position I find awkward, requiring a slight hand shuffle if you want to adjust quickly while keeping your eye to the viewfinder. It is not a dealbreaker, but it is one of those tiny ergonomic decisions you notice repeatedly.

There is also no shutter closure over the sensor when changing lenses. Competitors have started including this, and once you have used it, you miss it.

Battery life is fine rather than exceptional. Around a few hundred shots is realistic, perfectly workable, but you will absolutely want a spare battery for weddings or long travel days.

Verdict: the all rounder Nikon quietly needed

Pros? Excellent autofocus that feels lifted from far more expensive bodies, genuinely effective stabilisation, strong high ISO performance, dual card slots for peace of mind at weddings, and solid video capability should you need it.

Cons? It is not especially compact, some small ergonomic quirks, no sensor protection when swapping lenses, and battery life that encourages carrying extras.

But here is the thing: the Z5II feels complete. It handles the pressure of weddings, the spontaneity of family moments, and the slower pace of landscape photography without ever feeling out of its depth.

It punches well above its entry full frame label. In fact, I would argue it is one of Nikon’s most sensible cameras, the kind you could happily use as a main body or as a reliable second camera even alongside more professional kit.

At around £1,599 body only, it offers a lot of camera for the money, (I paid significantly less than this by going via Cotswold Cameras). The imperfections are real, but they are small ones. If you are looking at stepping into full frame, or simply want a dependable do everything body, this deserves a very serious look.

Overall rating: 4.5 / 5