The new Nikon Z5IIC has just been announced, and Nikon sent over two units for our TCSTV team to take a closer look at! Evelyn got her hands on a pre-production silver model, while our TCSTV videographer Erfan used a production black version to shoot our TCSTV Nikon Z5IIC first look in 4K 10- bit footage so you can get an idea of what the footage is going to look like. Now, let's see what Evelyn thought of this unique camera.
Image by Amair Javaid
The first thing Evelyn noticed was what isn’t on the camera, and that would be the electronic viewfinder. Instead, the Z5IIC has a fully articulating screen. On paper, that screen is a step down from the Z5II, dropping from around two million dots to just over one million. But after actually using it, Evelyn says she didn't find the resolution difference particularly noticeable. The handling is a little different, too. The Z5IIC has a chunky grip with plenty of room for your fingers, although your pinky does hang off the bottom, and there is a subtle ergonomic difference compared to the Z5II. This is one of those cameras you'll want to pick up yourself to see how it feels in your hands.
Image by Amair Javaid
There are some other clear differences compared to the Z5II. Nikon has removed the autofocus joystick and dedicated AF-ON button, although the AEL/AFL button can be customized. The camera also has a single SD card slot, rather than the dual-card setup found on the Z5II, but does keep the same EN-EL15C battery. Those compromises start to make sense when you think that Nikon is aiming to provide a lower-priced, full-frame camera that still delivers excellent image quality, and Evelyn found plenty to like once she started shooting!
The 24MP full-frame sensor delivers the kind of image quality you'd expect from Nikon, while the in-body image stabilization provides up to 7.5 stops of stabilization at the centre. Autofocus is also very capable, with 3D Tracking doing a good job of following people and moving subjects. The camera can also shoot at up to 30 fps electronically or 14 fps mechanically. Nikon has also included an Aquarium mode, although, as Evelyn quickly points out, that doesn't mean the camera is waterproof for underwater shooting. It's just another shooting mode built into the camera.
Image by Amair Javaid
One of the features Evelyn really enjoyed was Nikon's collection of Image Recipes. Like other manufacturers, Nikon is leaning into creative in-camera looks, and the Z5IIC gives you plenty of options to experiment with. Evelyn particularly liked Carbon for black and white and the Toy look, which she felt had a warm, buttery quality that worked especially well for fall photography. There's also a dedicated button on the top of the camera that makes it quick to cycle through the different profiles. Options include Bleached, Silence, Dramatic, Sombre, Sunday, Pop, Morning, Dream, Flat, Landscape, Rich Tone and Portrait. For Evelyn, this is a big part of what the Z5IIC seems designed for, making it easy for you to customize your look straight out of the camera and share it immediately.
Now, the “C” or "casual" of the Z5IIC is something that makes more sense once you see how the camera is positioned. You're getting a lot of the capability of the Z5II, but with some of the more expensive features stripped away. Even the physical design reflects that. Without the EVF (which was quite the learning curve for Evelyn, and would be for a lot of photographers), the top plate has a much flatter look, giving it a particularly sleek, attractive design. Also, by removing the viewfinder, it helps to bring the overall weight down to 620g, compared with roughly 700g for the Z5II, which can be a nice bonus for some.
Photo by Amair Javaid
Despite the casual positioning, Nikon hasn't stripped away the video features. The Z5IIC still has a headphone jack, microphone input, USB-C and micro HDMI, giving you the basic connections you'd want for video work. The camera can shoot 4K at 30p using the full width of the sensor, while 4K 60p is available with an APS-C crop. Erfan was shooting handheld throughout the video, without a tripod or gimbal, and was impressed with how well the in-body stabilization handled the movement. Nikon has also kept useful video tools, including waveforms and focus peaking, which is great to see for the price. The autofocus was also staying surprisingly sticky when moving around with a subject. For even more flexibility in post, the Z5IIC can record N-RAW to the SD card, giving you additional control over white balance and tone during grading, though it may not be worth the storage space with only one SD card slot.
Image by Amair Javaid
After spending some time shooting with the Z5IIC, Evelyn came away genuinely impressed with what Nikon has managed to pack into the camera. The Z5IIC offers excellent image quality, strong IBIS, capable autofocus, fast shooting, a fully articulating screen, creative Picture Controls and a surprisingly complete set of video features. There is one thing she still misses, though, and that's the EVF. But if you're someone who primarily shoots using the rear screen, this just might be the perfect camera for you! Now, could you live without the viewfinder?
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Nikon Z5IIC Body
