Nikon
Z9
Flagship stacked mirrorless with 45MP, 8K video, and no mechanical shutter.
$5,899
Released Oct 2021
Z9 is 1.3 years newer.
Wins
Z5
Wins
Z9
3 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- AZ5 has higher Burst (mechanical) (4.5 fps vs 0 fps)
- BZ9 has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 4.5 fps)
- BZ9 has higher 4K max frame rate (120 fps vs 30 fps)
- AZ5 has lower Weight (590 g vs 1340 g)
- AZ5 has higher ISO max (native) (51,200 vs 25,600)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
Z5
134 × 101 × 70 mm
590 g (1.30 lb / 20.81 oz)
Z9
149 × 150 × 91 mm
1340 g (2.95 lb / 47.27 oz)
Z5 is 15mm narrower, 49mm shorter, and 21mm thinner than Z9.
Z5 is 750 g lighter than Z9.
Depth (front-to-back): 70mm Z5 · 91mm Z9
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
Z5
134 × 101 mm
Z9
149 × 150 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
Z5
134 × 70 mm
Z9
149 × 91 mm
Sensor size, to scale
Z5
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
Z9
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
Z5
✓ more lensesNikon Z
90+
native lenses available
Z9
✓ more lensesNikon Z
90+
native lenses available
Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.
Use-case scoring
Which one for what?
Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class
Why pick one over the other
Reasons to choose
Z5
Burst (mechanical)
4.5 fps vs 0 fps — higher is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 134, 100.5, 69.5
Card types
Adds SD UHS-II, SD UHS-II
Weight
590 g vs 1340 g — lower is better
AA filter
Only Z5 supports it
ISO max (native)
51,200 vs 25,600 — higher is better
Reasons to choose
Z9
AF low-light limit
-8.5 EV vs -3 EV — lower is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 149, 149.5, 90.5
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type B / XQD, CFexpress Type B / XQD
Burst (electronic)
120 fps vs 4.5 fps — higher is better
Codecs
Adds N-RAW, ProRes RAW HQ, ProRes 422 HQ…
4K max frame rate
120 fps vs 30 fps — higher is better
Subject recognition
Adds Birds, Cars, Bicycles…
Pre-Capture / Pre-Release
Only Z9 supports it
Both cameras share
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
- ✓In-body stabilization — Both support in-body stabilization
- ✓Weather sealing — Both support weather sealing
- ✓Card slots — Both 2
- ✓EVF resolution — Both 3,690,000
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
Z5
Pros
- ✓Dual slots at entry price
- ✓IBIS
- ✓Full-frame
Cons
- –Older AF
- –4K crop
- –Slow burst
Z9
Pros
- ✓45MP stacked
- ✓8K 60p internal
- ✓120fps stills
- ✓Pro build
Cons
- –Heavy body
- –Expensive
- –Large files
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for sports, Z5 or Z9?
Z9 scores 9.0/10 versus 2.5/10 for Z5 — 120fps burst — pro-level action capture.
What's the resolution difference between the Z5 and Z9?
Z5 is 24.3 MP and Z9 is 45.7 MP, so the Z9 captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the Z5 and Z9 have in-body image stabilization?
Z5 has 5-stop in-body image stabilization, while z9 has 6-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the Z5 or the Z9?
Z5 reaches 4.5 fps electronic. Z9 reaches 120 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the Z5 and Z9?
Z5 weighs 590 g and Z9 weighs 1340 g, so the Z5 is 750 g lighter.
Do the Z5 and Z9 record 4K video?
Z5: 4K up to 30p. Z9: 8K UHD (max), 4K up to 120p.
Are the Z5 and Z9 weather sealed?
Z5: Yes. Z9: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 470 shots (CIPA) for the Z5 and 740 shots for the Z9, giving the Z9 the edge.
How much does each cost?
Z5 launched at $1,399 and Z9 at $5,899. The Z5 is $4,500 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of Nikon press materials.