The Nikon Z5IIC is a Z5II without the electronic viewfinder. Nikon announced the full-frame mirrorless camera this week, and it will arrive in mid-October for $1,399.95 body-only. A kit with the NIKKOR Z 24-50mm f/4-6.3 lens costs $1,699.95.
Nikon aims the Z5IIC at people moving up from a smartphone. In fact, the company says the “C” stands for casual. “The Nikon Z5IIC represents an important step in expanding access to full-frame photography for a new generation of creators,” said Fumiko Kawabata, Nikon Inc.’s senior VP of marketing and planning. Retailers will also sell bundles with the 26mm f/2.8 pancake and the 40mm f/2.
A screen-first Z5II
Inside, the Z5IIC shares its core with the Z5II. It uses a 24.5-megapixel backside-illuminated full-frame sensor and the EXPEED 7 processor from Nikon’s flagship cameras. It also keeps in-body stabilization rated for up to 7.5 stops at the center of the frame.
The big change is the flat-top body. Instead of an EVF, you frame shots on a 3.2-inch vari-angle touchscreen that flips around for selfies and vlogging. Nikon says dropping the viewfinder makes the camera smaller. Still, it weighs 620 grams (21.9 ounces), so it is not a pocket camera.
Scene modes, recipes, and fish detection
For beginners, the Z5IIC is Nikon’s first full-frame mirrorless camera with scene modes on the mode dial. You can pick from 15 scenes, such as portraits, pets, food, and night landscapes. A dedicated button also calls up Imaging Recipes, which are presets from Nikon and outside creators.
Autofocus tracks people, dogs, cats, birds, vehicles, and aircraft. In a first for Nikon, it can also detect fish. Meanwhile, burst shooting reaches about 14 fps, or up to 30 fps in JPEG-only High-Speed Frame Capture+ mode.
Video gets serious options, too. The camera records 4K at up to 60 fps, although 4K60 crops to the smaller DX area. It also supports Full HD at 120 fps, N-Log, H.265 10-bit, and N-RAW recording to an SD card. In addition, a REC lamp, Product Review Mode, and USB webcam support target creators.
The Z5IIC lands in a busy month for full-frame cameras. For example, Canon just gave the EOS R8 Mark II in-body stabilization. Sony’s FX5 cinema camera sits at the high end of the video market. Nikon’s pitch is different, though: an approachable full-frame entry point for people who would rather use a screen than a viewfinder.
