Nikon
Z5
Entry full-frame Z with dual slots and IBIS.
$1,399
Launch priceReleased Jul 2020
Sony
Alpha 7 V
33MP partially stacked Exmor RS hybrid with BIONZ XR2 AI, 30fps blackout-free burst, 7.5-stop IBIS, and 4K 60p oversampled from 7K.
$2,899
Launch priceReleased Dec 2025
Alpha 7 V is 5.3 years newer.
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Wins
Z5
Wins
Alpha 7 V
3 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- BAlpha 7 V has higher Burst (electronic) (30 fps vs 4.5 fps)
- BAlpha 7 V has higher 4K max frame rate (120 fps vs 30 fps)
- BAlpha 7 V has higher AF points / zones (759 vs 273)
- BAlpha 7 V has higher Burst (mechanical) (10 fps vs 4.5 fps)
- BAlpha 7 V has higher IBIS effectiveness (7.5 stops vs 5 stops)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
Z5
134 × 101 × 70 mm
590 g (1.30 lb / 20.81 oz)
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
for scale
Alpha 7 V
130 × 96 × 82 mm
695 g (1.53 lb / 24.52 oz)
Z5 is 13mm thinner than Alpha 7 V but it is also 4mm wider and 4mm taller.
Z5 is 105 g lighter than Alpha 7 V.
Depth (front-to-back): 70mm Z5 · 82mm Alpha 7 V
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
Z5
134 × 101 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
Alpha 7 V
130 × 96 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
Z5
134 × 70 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
Alpha 7 V
130 × 82 mm
Sensor size, to scale
Z5
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
Alpha 7 V
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
Z5
Nikon Z
90+
native lenses available
Alpha 7 V
✓ more lensesSony E
350+
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
Subject recognition
Adds People, Dogs, Cats
Codecs
Adds H.264/AVC
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 134, 100.5, 69.5
Weight
590 g vs 695 g — lower is better
EVF magnification
0.8 × vs 0.78 × — higher is better
EVF resolution
3,690,000 vs 3,686,400 — higher is better
Reasons to choose
Alpha 7 V
AF low-light limit
-4 EV vs -3 EV — lower is better
Subject recognition
Adds Human, Animal, Bird…
Codecs
Adds XAVC HS, XAVC S, XAVC S-I…
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 130.3, 96.4, 82.4
Burst (electronic)
30 fps vs 4.5 fps — higher is better
4K max frame rate
120 fps vs 30 fps — higher is better
AF points / zones
759 vs 273 — higher is better
Burst (mechanical)
10 fps vs 4.5 fps — higher is better
Both cameras share
- ✓AA filter — Both support aa filter
- ✓ISO min (native) — Both 100
- ✓ISO max (native) — Both 51,200
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
- ✓In-body stabilization — Both 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
Alpha 7 V
Pros
- ✓33MP partially stacked sensor — ~4.5× faster readout than α7 IV
- ✓Blackout-free 30 fps with full AF/AE (electronic shutter)
- ✓7.5-stop central / 6.5-stop peripheral IBIS (CIPA 2024)
- ✓759-point phase-detect AF down to EV -4 with AI subject recognition
- ✓7K oversampled 4K 60p (full-frame, no pixel binning) + 4K 120p
- ✓Pre-Capture and dual USB-C (10 Gbps + USB 2.0)
- ✓Up to 16 stops dynamic range
Cons
- –Premium price vs α7 IV
- –4K 120p typically requires APS-C / Super 35 crop
- –Heavier than α7 IV (695 g vs 659 g with battery)
- –Complex menu and feature set
Decided which one is right for you?
Compare live prices for the Z5 and Alpha 7 V at major authorized retailers.
Sony Alpha 7 V
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Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for wildlife, Z5 or Alpha 7 V?
Alpha 7 V scores 10.0/10 versus 2.5/10 for Z5 — 30fps burst captures fleeting moments.
What's the resolution difference between the Z5 and Alpha 7 V?
Z5 is 24.3 MP and Alpha 7 V is 33 MP, so the Alpha 7 V captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the Z5 and Alpha 7 V have in-body image stabilization?
Z5 has 5-stop in-body image stabilization, while alpha 7 V has 7.5-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the Z5 or the Alpha 7 V?
Z5 reaches 4.5 fps electronic. Alpha 7 V reaches 30 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the Z5 and Alpha 7 V?
Z5 weighs 590 g and Alpha 7 V weighs 695 g, so the Z5 is 105 g lighter.
Do the Z5 and Alpha 7 V record 4K video?
Z5: 4K up to 30p. Alpha 7 V: 4K up to 120p.
Are the Z5 and Alpha 7 V weather sealed?
Z5: Yes. Alpha 7 V: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 470 shots (CIPA) for the Z5 and 630 shots for the Alpha 7 V, giving the Alpha 7 V the edge.
How much does each cost?
Z5 launched at $1,399 and Alpha 7 V at $2,899. The Z5 is $1,500 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed June 2026.
Product images courtesy of Nikon and Sony press materials.