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Nikon

Z5

Entry full-frame Z with dual slots and IBIS.

$1,399

Released Jul 2020

vs
ZR

Nikon

ZR

Compact Nikon RED full-frame 6K cinema camera with R3D NE RAW, 32-bit float audio, 7.5-stop VR, and Z mount.

$2,199

Released Sep 2025

ZR is 5.2 years newer.

Wins

2categories

Z5

TravelPortrait

Wins

4categories

ZR

Video & HybridPortrait

3 categories tied

TL;DR — Key differences

Z5 wins 2 categories·ZR wins 3 categories
  • AZ5 has higher Burst (mechanical) (4.5 fps vs 0 fps)
  • BZR has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 4.5 fps)
  • BZR has higher 4K max frame rate (120 fps vs 30 fps)
  • BZR has higher IBIS effectiveness (7.5 stops vs 5 stops)
  • AZ5 has lower Weight (590 g vs 630 g)

Key specs at a glance

Z5ZR
Resolution24.3 MP24.5 MP
SensorFull FrameFull Frame
ISO max51,20051,200
Burst4.5 fps120 fps
4K30 fps120 fps
IBIS5-stop7.5-stop
Weight590 g630 g
Battery470 shots

Size and weight, to scale

Z5

134 × 101 × 70 mm

590 g (1.30 lb / 20.81 oz)

ZR front view

ZR

134 × 81 × 49 mm

630 g (1.39 lb / 22.22 oz)

Z5 is 20mm taller and 21mm thicker than ZR.

Z5 is 40 g lighter than ZR.

Depth (front-to-back): 70mm Z5 · 49mm ZR

Back view, to scale

Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.

Z5

134 × 101 mm

ZR back view

ZR

134 × 81 mm

Top view, to scale

Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.

Z5

134 × 70 mm

ZR top view

ZR

134 × 49 mm

Sensor size, to scale

Z5

35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame

858 mm² area

ZR

35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame

858 mm² area

Lens ecosystem

Native lens selection

Z5

✓ more lenses

Nikon Z

90+

native lenses available

40 first-party50 third-party

ZR

✓ more lenses

Nikon Z

90+

native lenses available

40 first-party50 third-party

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

Use caseZ5ZR
Portrait
7.5Good
7.5Good
Sports & Action
2.5Limited
6.5Good✓ wins
Video & Hybrid
4.0Fair
9.0Excellent✓ wins
Landscape
7.0Good
7.0Good
Travel
8.0Excellent✓ wins
6.5Good
Wildlife
2.5Limited
6.5Good✓ wins
Vlogging
6.0Good
7.0Good✓ wins

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose

Z5

  • Burst (mechanical)

    4.5 fps vs 0 fps — higher is better

  • Codecs

    Adds H.264/AVC

  • Card types

    Adds SD UHS-II, SD UHS-II

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 100.5, 69.5

  • Weight

    590 g vs 630 g — lower is better

Reasons to choose

ZR

  • Codecs

    Adds R3D NE, N-RAW, ProRes RAW HQ…

  • Card types

    Adds CFexpress Type B, XQD, MicroSD UHS-I

  • Burst (electronic)

    120 fps vs 4.5 fps — higher is better

  • 4K max frame rate

    120 fps vs 30 fps — higher is better

  • Subject recognition

    Adds Birds, Cars, Bicycles…

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 80.5, 49

  • Pre-Capture / Pre-Release

    Only ZR supports it

  • Internal RAW video

    Only ZR supports it

Both cameras share

  • AA filterBoth support aa filter
  • ISO min (native)Both 100
  • ISO max (native)Both 51,200
  • Eye AFBoth support eye af
  • Animal / bird AFBoth support animal / bird af
  • In-body stabilizationBoth support in-body stabilization

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

ZR

Pros

  • 6K/60p R3D NE RAW
  • 32-bit float audio
  • 7.5-stop stabilization
  • Compact 535g cinema body

Cons

  • No built-in EVF
  • Cinema-first ergonomics
  • Single CFexpress plus MicroSD workflow

Full specifications

= category winner

Z5
ZR
Resolution
24.3 MP
24.5 MP+1%
Sensor type
Full Frame CMOS
Full Frame CMOS
Sensor size
35.9 × 23.9 mm
35.9 × 23.9 mm
AA filter
Yes
Yes
Z5
ZR
AF system
Hybrid AF (phase-detect + contrast-detect)
Hybrid AF with deep-learning subject detection
AF points / zones
273
AF low-light limit
-3 EV
Eye AF
Yes
Yes
Animal / bird AF
Yes
Yes
Subject recognition
People, Dogs, Cats
People, Birds, Dogs, Cats, Cars, Bicycles, Motorcycles, Trains, Airplanes
Z5
ZR
Burst (mechanical)
4.5 fps
0 fps
Burst (electronic)
4.5 fps
120 fps26.7× more
Pre-Capture / Pre-Release
No
Yes
Z5
ZR
Max resolution
4K UHD
6K
4K max frame rate
30 fps
120 fps4× more
Internal RAW video
No
Yes
Log profile
RED Log3G10 / Nikon N-Log / HLG
Codecs
H.264/AVC
R3D NE, N-RAW, ProRes RAW HQ, ProRes 422 HQ, H.265, H.264
Z5
ZR
Weight
590 g−40 g less
630 g
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
134 × 100.5 × 69.5 mm
134 × 80.5 × 49 mm
Weather sealing
Yes
Yes

Frequently asked

Quick answers generated from verified specs.

Which is better for video, Z5 or ZR?

ZR scores 9.0/10 versus 4.0/10 for Z5 — 6K video for oversampled 4K.

What's the resolution difference between the Z5 and ZR?

Z5 is 24.3 MP and ZR is 24.5 MP, so the ZR captures more detail for cropping and large prints.

Do the Z5 and ZR have in-body image stabilization?

Z5 has 5-stop in-body image stabilization, while zR has 7.5-stop in-body image stabilization.

Which shoots faster bursts — the Z5 or the ZR?

Z5 reaches 4.5 fps electronic. ZR reaches 120 fps electronic.

What's the weight difference between the Z5 and ZR?

Z5 weighs 590 g and ZR weighs 630 g, so the Z5 is 40 g lighter.

Do the Z5 and ZR record 4K video?

Z5: 4K up to 30p. ZR: 6K (max), 4K up to 120p.

Are the Z5 and ZR weather sealed?

Z5: Yes. ZR: Yes.

How much does each cost?

Z5 launched at $1,399 and ZR at $2,199. The Z5 is $800 less.

Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.

Product images courtesy of Nikon press materials.