Nikon has officially launched its first camera of 2026, and honestly, I’ve got mixed feelings. As the name suggests, the Nikon Z5IIC is essentially a Nikon Z5II without the viewfinder. And apart from a couple of very small differences (fish AF anyone?), that’s about it.
Its biggest appeal is the price. The body is launching for $1,399.95 / £1,349 / AU$2,399, which is very competitive for a full-frame camera, especially one of this caliber. I’m also pleased to see that Nikon has broken ranks by offering the Nikon Z5IIC in two colors: all-black or black-and-silver. Retro cameras aside, this is the first Z-Series camera to offer a choice of colors beyond the Z-series’ traditional black.
No viewfinder, no problem
Let’s address the elephant in the room; this camera doesn’t have a viewfinder. And you know what? I don’t mind. If this camera was a huge departure from the norm, I might selfishly care because I prefer to use a viewfinder, but since it’s almost identical to the Nikon Z5II, arguing about the viewfinder is futile. If you don’t like it, get a Nikon Z5II.
We know that plenty of creators spend 95% of their time shooting through the rear screen, and if it works, it works. The bigger problem for me is that I’m struggling to understand the camera’s identity, beyond being a viewfinderless Nikon Z5II.
Let me explain…
‘C’ is for… casual?
Had I not seen photographs and reviews of the camera alongside the launch, I would have assumed that the ‘C’ in Nikon Z5IIC stood for ‘compact’. I was surprised to learn that it’s actually meant to represent ‘casual’.
And yet, this isn’t a casual camera. It’s a $1,400 full-frame lump that can shoot RAW video. This seems like an identity crisis to me. Think about it: what casual creator needs RAW video? Plenty of pro creators don’t need RAW video. And you’re not capturing this demanding bundle of data onto a CFexpress card, because there’s only a single SD card slot.
Despite having a high-end feature in RAW video, the Z5IIC maxes out at 4K / 60p (cropped). Compare that to the Panasonic Lumix S9 with 6K open-gate and no ability to record internal RAW video. Personally, I think that's much more useful.
What does fit the 'casual' bill is that the Z5IIC is the first full-frame Nikon Z-series camera to have beginner-friendly Scene Modes, so you can set the genre and the camera will automate the settings accordingly. See what I mean? The specs really are a mixed bag.
Then you’ve got the form factor. Sure, the lack of an EVF means it’s smaller and lighter than the Nikon Z5II, but it’s still built around largely the same beefy body and weighs 620g (with a battery and card). Compare that to the Panasonic Lumix S9 at 486g, and the Sony A7C II at 514g (which has an EVF), and the Nikon Z5IIC is a serious hunk of camera.
What I most certainly am disappointed in is the 3.2-inch flip-out screen. It’s only 1.04m dots, a downgrade from the Nikon Z5II’s 2.1m dots. As somebody who was tentatively hoping that a full-frame viewfinderless Nikon would borrow the Nikon ZR’s massive 4-inch rear LCD, the downgrade from the Z5II is a real shame. Especially for a camera with no EVF.
A full-frame Nikon Z30?
The Nikon Z5IIC launch reminds me a lot of the Nikon Z30 launch. After all, the Nikon Z30 is essentially a Nikon Z50 without a viewfinder, and I can remember feeling similarly underwhelmed. And yet, the Nikon Z30 has sold very well in Japan, a market that isn’t afraid of quirky, pocketable, viewfinderless cameras.
As such, I think the Nikon Z5IIC will live and die by its performance on the Japanese domestic market. I worry that, unlike the Nikon Z30, it’s simply not compact enough. But only time will tell. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time that a camera has proven me wrong. And it very well could…
It’s a darn good camera
But beyond the Z5IIC’s murky identity lies an incredible camera. I’m talking about a full-frame 24.5-MP sensor, Nikon’s latest Expeed 7 processor, top-notch autofocus with subject detection for 10 subject types, Nikon’s trendy Imaging Recipes, up to 7.5 stops of in-body image stabilization, 14-fps burst shooting (mechanical shutter), 4K / 60p (cropped) and internal RAW video output.
I’m yet to use the camera, but based on using the Nikon Z5II and pretty much every Nikon Z-series camera in existence, Nikon makes fantastic cameras. Call me biased – I’m a long-time Nikon shooter – but I firmly believe that Nikon offers the best blend of build quality, image quality, autofocus and optics on the market.
If the price is right and you don’t mind the form factor, there is no doubt in my mind that the Nikon Z5IIC will capture anything other than gorgeous full-frame photographs. The question remains whether or not the Nikon Z5IIC can separate itself enough from the rest of Nikon’s lineup to court interest.
I can't wait to get my hands on a review sample!
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