Nikon Z5II Review: Is the Second-Gen Mirrorless Camera Worth the Upgrade?

The long-awaited Nikon Z52 has finally arrived, leaving early Z62 adopters who paid 10,000 yuan feeling like they’ve been played. Surprisingly, beyond the upgraded processor, its core specifications mirror the Z62 almost identically.

Nikon Z5II Review: Is the Second-Gen Mirrorless Camera Worth the Upgrade?
Nikon Z5II Review: Is the Second-Gen Mirrorless Camera Worth the Upgrade?

Here’s what makes the Z52 stand out:
1. Introducing Nikon Cloud Creative – capture perfectly styled shots straight from your camera.
2. Internal N-Log recording capability (though we wonder: can SD cards really handle this?).
3. New skin-softening feature for flawless portraits.
4. Finally addresses those frustrating continuous shooting limitations.

Nikon Z5II Review: Is the Second-Gen Mirrorless Camera Worth the Upgrade?
Nikon Z5II Review: Is the Second-Gen Mirrorless Camera Worth the Upgrade?

5. Pixel-shift compositing support (post-processing required for magic to happen).
6. Massive autofocus upgrades (though truth be told, you won’t appreciate how poor Z62’s AF was until you experience third-gen performance).
7. At 10,999 yuan for the body alone, it’s not exactly budget-friendly – but compared to Z63’s staggering 18,999 yuan launch price, it suddenly seems quite reasonable.

Nikon Z5II Review: Is the Second-Gen Mirrorless Camera Worth the Upgrade?
Nikon Z5II Review: Is the Second-Gen Mirrorless Camera Worth the Upgrade?

@PhotographyTips

Nikon Z5II Review: Is the Second-Gen Mirrorless Camera Worth the Upgrade?
Nikon Z5II Review: Is the Second-Gen Mirrorless Camera Worth the Upgrade?
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By WMCN

27 thoughts on “Nikon Z5II Review: Is the Second-Gen Mirrorless Camera Worth the Upgrade?”
  1. I see the Z5II offers some cool new features like the skin-softening mode, but it’s disappointing that the core specs are so similar to the Z6II. The internal N-Log sounds great in theory, but I’m curious how well it will actually work with regular SD cards. Still, Nikon Cloud Creative could be a game-changer for convenience. It’ll be interesting to see real-world samples!

    1. Absolutely, the Z5II’s new features like skin-softening mode are exciting, and you’re right about the similarities to the Z6II—Nikon seems to be taking an incremental approach here. Regarding N-Log, it should work fine with regular SD cards, though faster UHS-II or CFexpress cards will handle higher bitrates more smoothly. Nikon Cloud Creative does sound promising for workflow便利性, and I’m eager to see those real-world samples too! Thanks for sharing your thoughts—it’s always great to hear different perspectives.

  2. I see the Z5II has some cool new features like the skin-softening mode, but it’s disappointing that the core specs are so similar to the Z6II. The internal N-Log sounds promising, but I’m curious how well it will work with SD cards—hopefully, it won’t be a bottleneck. Overall, I’m not sure it’s worth the upgrade unless you really need those extra features. Still, Nikon Cloud Creative could be a game-changer if it lives up to the hype.

    1. Absolutely, the Z5II’s new features like skin-softening mode are exciting, but you’re right that the core specs feel incremental compared to the Z6II. Regarding N-Log and SD cards, while there might be some limitations, many users find it manageable for moderate workflows. As someone who’s tried it, I think it depends on your needs—if you don’t heavily rely on those advanced features, the upgrade may not feel urgent. That said, Nikon Cloud Creative does sound promising, and I’m hopeful it could add real value for creative flexibility! Thanks for sharing your thoughts—it’s great to hear different perspectives.

  3. I’m curious about the new skin-softening feature—sounds like it could be a game-changer for portrait photographers. But I share the skepticism about those SD cards handling N-Log; that seems like a lot to ask. Overall, though, it feels like Nikon is trying to add value without completely overhauling the formula. Guess I’d wait for some real-world tests before jumping on this upgrade.

  4. I’m torn about the Z5II—on one hand, those new portrait features sound great, but on the other, it feels like not enough has changed from the Z6II to justify the upgrade. Especially with the SD card question lingering—hope that doesn’t cause issues in practice.

  5. I see the Z5II is trying to bring some new features, but it’s disappointing that the core specs are so similar to the Z6II. The cloud integration sounds interesting, but I’m skeptical about how useful it’ll be in real-world shooting. The skin-softening feature could be a hit with portrait photographers, though. Overall, I’m not convinced it’s worth upgrading unless you need those specific new functions.

  6. I see the Z5II brings some cool new features, but it’s disappointing that the core specs are so similar to the Z6II. The cloud integration sounds interesting, but I’m skeptical about how well it’ll work in practice. The skin-softening feature could be a game-changer for portrait shooters. Overall, I’d wait to see real-world reviews before deciding if it’s worth upgrading.

  7. I see the Z5II has some cool new features like the skin-softening mode, but it’s disappointing that the core specs are so similar to the Z6II. The N-Log capability sounds great, but I’m curious how well it will work with regular SD cards—hopefully, that’s not a letdown in practice. Overall, it seems like a solid upgrade for videographers, especially with the cloud integration. I wonder how the price compares to its actual value though.

    1. Thanks for sharing your thoughts! The N-Log does work with SD cards, though using faster UHS-II or V90 cards is recommended for smoother performance. As for pricing, it’s definitely a strong option for videographers given its features, but like any gear, it’s about finding the right fit for your needs. Cloud integration is a nice touch that sets it apart, and I think it’s worth considering if video is your priority!

  8. I see the Z5II is trying to offer some new features, but it’s disappointing that the core specs are so similar to the Z6II. The cloud integration sounds interesting, but I’m skeptical about how useful it will be for everyone. The skin-softening feature could be a big draw for portrait photographers though. Overall, I’m not sure it’s worth the upgrade unless you need those specific new features.

  9. I see the Z5II is trying to offer some new features, but it’s disappointing that the core specs are so similar to the Z6II. The cloud integration sounds interesting, but I’m skeptical about how useful it’ll be for most photographers. The skin-softening feature could be a hit with portrait shooters, though. Overall, I’m not convinced it’s worth the upgrade unless you need those specific additions.

    1. Thanks for sharing your thoughts! While the Z5II doesn’t drastically change the formula from the Z6II, its new features like cloud integration could appeal to those looking for more connected workflows. The skin-softening tool is indeed a nice touch for portrait pros, and the overall package might make sense if you’re already invested in the Z system. Ultimately, it’s all about what aligns with your shooting needs—appreciate you weighing in on this!

  10. I see the Z5II offers some cool new features like the skin-softening mode, but it’s disappointing that the core specs are so similar to the Z6II. The cloud integration sounds interesting, but I’m not sure about the SD card limitations for N-Log. Overall, I’m still on the fence about whether it’s worth upgrading.

  11. I see the Z5II has some interesting new features, but it’s disappointing that the core specs are so similar to the Z6II. The skin-softening and cloud integration sound cool, but I’m still on the fence about whether it’s worth upgrading if you already own a Z6II. The N-Log capability is exciting, though I share your doubt about regular SD cards handling that kind of data. Overall, it feels like a solid update, just not a game-changer.

    1. Thanks for sharing your thoughts! You’re right—the Z5II does feel more like an evolution than a revolution compared to the Z6II. While the new features are nice, they might not be enough to justify an upgrade unless you need specific capabilities like N-Log or enhanced video features. That said, it’s always good to consider future-proofing if you plan to grow with the system. Appreciate your insights, and happy shooting regardless of which camera you choose!

  12. I see the Z5II offers some cool new features like the skin-softening mode and Nikon Cloud Creative, but it’s disappointing that the core specs are so similar to the Z6II. The internal N-Log is intriguing, but I’m curious how well it works with SD cards—hopefully, it doesn’t cause any performance hiccups.

    1. Absolutely, the Z5II does feel like an incremental upgrade compared to the Z6II, and I understand your concern about the core specs. Regarding N-Log, it works well with SD cards, though UHS-II or faster cards are recommended for smooth performance. It’s a great feature for color grading enthusiasts! Thanks for your thoughtful feedback—it really helps to hear what the community values most.

  13. The skin-softening feature sounds interesting for portrait work, but I’m skeptical about the SD cards handling N-Log smoothly. Honestly feels like Nikon just repackaged the Z62 with minor tweaks – not sure it’s worth upgrading if you already own the first gen. That cloud creative thing could be handy though if it works well in practice.

  14. Interesting review! The Z5II does seem like a solid upgrade, though I’m a bit skeptical about that internal N-Log recording on SD cards – wouldn’t that cause overheating issues? The skin-softening feature sounds great for portrait work, but I wish they’d improved the autofocus more.

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