The Nikon Z5IIC is officially on sale, and if Nikon's latest compact full-frame mirrorless camera has caught your attention, the good news is that you can now buy one on both sides of the Atlantic. In the US, the Nikon Z5IIC is available from Adorama and B&H for $1,396.95, while photographers in the UK can pick one up from Wex for £1,349 or Park Cameras for £1,349. With the pre-order period now behind us, Nikon's latest addition to its full-frame Z-series lineup has finally reached its official retail launch.
US Retailers
UK Retailers
And I have to say, I think Nikon might have something rather interesting on its hands here. The Z5IIC takes much of what makes the Nikon Z5 II such an appealing full-frame camera and squeezes it into a smaller, flatter body that feels much better suited to everyday photography. It's a camera designed to be carried around rather than left sitting on a shelf, and for photographers who value portability without wanting to compromise on image quality, that is a rather tempting proposition.
Of course, the biggest talking point is the absence of a traditional electronic viewfinder. Nikon has taken a slightly different approach here, creating a low-profile camera that feels closer in concept to Sony's A7C series or even its own Z30, only with a full-frame sensor at its heart. Not everyone is going to appreciate losing the viewfinder, myself included, but there is certainly an audience for a camera that prioritises a smaller footprint and a more straightforward shooting experience.
Underneath that compact exterior sits a 24.5MP full-frame BSI sensor, powered by Nikon's EXPEED 7 processor, alongside advanced subject-detection autofocus and up to 7.5 stops of in-body image stabilisation. It's an impressive combination for a camera at this price, particularly if you're someone who enjoys travel, street, or documentary photography and wants something capable of delivering excellent results without carrying a larger camera system everywhere you go.
Video hasn't been overlooked either. The Nikon Z5IIC offers internal N-RAW recording for photographers and filmmakers who want greater flexibility when editing their footage, alongside 4K recording at up to 60p, albeit with a crop, and Full HD recording at up to 120p for slow-motion footage. Throw in the vari-angle touchscreen and front-facing recording indicator, and this begins to look like a rather capable hybrid camera for anyone who enjoys creating both stills and video.
Nikon Imaging Cloud support is another welcome addition, allowing photographers to download Imaging Recipes, apply different looks to their JPEG images and keep their camera updated without the usual complications. Combined with SnapBridge for transferring images directly to a smartphone, it's another example of Nikon recognising that not everyone wants to spend hours editing photographs before sharing them.
For me, however, the real appeal of the Nikon Z5IIC comes down to the combination of price, size, and performance. There are certainly compromises to consider, particularly the missing viewfinder and single memory card slot, but Nikon hasn't stripped away the technology that makes the Z5 II such a capable camera. Instead, it has created something a little more accessible, a little more portable, and perhaps a little more appealing to photographers who simply want to enjoy taking pictures.
And now that the Nikon Z5IIC has officially gone on sale for $1,396.95 in the US and £1,349 in the UK, I have a feeling this could become a particularly popular choice for photographers looking to make the move into full-frame photography without spending a fortune.
