After years of lagging behind rivals with regards to video seize (after which all of a sudden shopping for cinema digicam producer RED), Nikon is pushing new boundaries in that space. Its newest salvo is the $1,699 24-megapixel full-frame Z5 II, maybe the most cost effective mirrorless digicam to this point to assist inside RAW video. It additionally gives improved autofocus with new AI powers, cleaner photos and enhanced picture stabilization.
The Z5 II is a wholesale remake of the unique Z5 and that begins with video. Whereas nonetheless restricted to 4K 30 fps and cropped 4K 60 fps, it will possibly now seize these codecs internally utilizing the corporate's 12-bit N-RAW format with N-log, together with 10-bit H.265 and 8-bit H.264. Curiously, it’s going to report in N-RAW to SDXC UHS-II playing cards, because the digicam lacks high-speed CFexpress slots. That doubtless means you'll want to purchase very quick (and costly) playing cards and that the N-RAW video shall be extremely compressed. Nonetheless, it's a function out there on no different digicam on this value vary.
Nikon can also be promising much-improved autofocus bolstered by a brand new image-processing engine and tech borrowed from its high-end Z9 and Z8 fashions. The Z5 II can now lock onto topics extra rapidly, notably human eyes, faces and our bodies, and works in decrease mild right down to -10 EV, in comparison with -3 EV earlier than. In the meantime, the AI system can detect as much as 9 topic varieties starting from animals (together with a Fowl Detection mode) to bicycles. When working in Auto-Space AF, these topics could be detected, targeted on, and tracked robotically.
Native ISOs have been boosted to 100-64000 (50-204,800 in expanded modes), up from a most 51,200 earlier than. That ought to enhance noise ranges throughout the ISO ranges, the corporate mentioned. Nevertheless, decision continues to be restricted to 24 megapixels.
In-body stabilization has been boosted to 7.5 stops with supported lenses, manner up from 5 stops on the Z5. That's paired with digital stabilization designed to maintain handheld video regular.
The Z5 II's viewfinder nonetheless gives an honest 3.69-million dots of decision, however brightness has been boosted to three,000 nits with 13 ranges of brightness management. And it now comes with a 1.7-million-dot vari-angle show that's a giant enchancment from the earlier mannequin's tilt-only display screen. The physique now has a deeper grip to enhance dealing with and comes with a one-touch Image Management button for previewing and switching between colour profiles in actual time, matching a current pattern began by Fujifilm's X100 VI.
Different options together with twin SD UHS-II card slots, 3.5mm headphone and mic jacks, digicam to cloud connectivity by way of Nikon's Imaging Cloud and a brand new weather-proof construct "on par with the Z6 III," in accordance with Nikon.
The Z5 II appears to be a formidable hybrid full-frame digicam for the cash and rivals Sony and Canon don't actually have something in the identical value vary that may match it. Nevertheless, it additionally comes at a value $300 increased than the Z5 was at launch. Nonetheless, it might tempt filmmakers and others away from equally priced crop sensor cameras from the likes of Fujifilm and Sony. The Z5 II is now on pre-order for $1,699 (physique solely) or $1,999 with a 24-50mm f/4-6.3 equipment lens.
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