This is an excellent machine with professional capabilities and a very nice ergonomic feel in its handling. I have had it for about 2 years now and have used it in many different situations (various events, theater, concerts, inaugurations, mysteries, tourism, etc.).
The choice of this particular machine was not random and the decision came after a lot of research, reading, and editing of files from the machines I mention below as competition. When I started looking for an FF Mirrorless system, the main purchasing criteria were 4:
1/ To be VFM (Value For Money - to be efficient in relation to its price)
2/ To have dual card slots
3/ To have comfortable grip and ergonomic operation with buttons
4/ To have in-body stabilization (IBIS)
In my opinion, in this price range category, its direct competitors are the Canon RP and Eos R, and the Sony A7ii and A7iii cameras, as well as the Nikon Z6. The choice seemed like a one-way street because although all of them are excellent cameras, none of them, except for the A7iii, have dual memory card slots, so they lose criterion No 2. Also, the Canon Eos R and RP lack several buttons, with some options having to be made through the screen, as well as IBIS, which is now useful and even the most entry-level camera has it, so they lose the 3rd and 4th criteria. The A7iii, which remains in the balance, loses due to the 1st criterion (VFM) because it is a 5-year-old body, which, although still an excellent camera, is sold at a higher price than the Z5 (you can only find it used at a price close to that of the Z5). It also loses in comfortable grip because it has a rather small handle (at least for my hand), resulting in my fingers touching the lens.
Summarizing the positives of the camera:
- It has an excellent grip with a large handle and the buttons are ergonomically placed in nice positions and can be adjusted with quick commands, making handling very easy.
- It has a touchscreen that is useful for reviewing photos, menu options, and moving the AF point (the latter is very useful).
- It also has a joystick button for moving the AF, something that is found in more high-end expensive bodies.
- The AF includes 273 hybrid focus points and covers almost the entire sensor.
- The files have a truly good dynamic range (they give the feeling that they are somewhat better than the equivalent Canon ones, only the Sony A7iii ones seemed equally good to me). Also, the JPEGs have excellent colors.
- It has the video mode selection switch near the thumb in a good position for quick transition with manual settings, which is excellent for hybrid shooters (those who take photos as well as video highlights of an event).
- It has 2 UHS-II speed SD card slots for fast recording (in combination with a good fast card, even if you overdo it with bursts, I noticed that the buffer is unlikely to abandon you).
- The EVF has a very good resolution and makes it more comfortable to use for the eye.
- 5-axis stabilization in the body - IBIS. (The best I have achieved is about 0.5 seconds handheld - let's not forget that it is a 35mm sensor in size).
- The build quality is very good and it is weather-sealed for protection against dust and moisture.
- It is a fairly lightweight camera (compared to other FF mirrorless cameras), so you can easily carry it on a trip or during professional photography for several hours (the good grip mentioned earlier helps with this - fingers don't get tired).
- It has reliable AF with face and eye detection capabilities (after the latest update, the AF has become even better and locks onto the eye with exceptional accuracy).
- It produces high-quality videos in 1080/60P and 4K/30P.
- It has on-camera charging capability with USB-C, and when combined with a PD power bank, it can charge and operate simultaneously.
- The menu is very easy to navigate with a lot of customization options and the ability to save personalized profiles for quick settings changes.
- Quick and easy connectivity with mobile devices via WIFI and Bluetooth. The snapbridge app is easily and quickly set up (something you don't find in Sony cameras).
- It has microphone and headphone jacks (useful for videographers).
- With the use of the FTZ adapter, one can use all Nikon F mount lenses without any loss in speed and AF accuracy.
However, despite being an exceptional tool with many positive points, the camera also has some negatives, which are as follows:
- The AF is its weakest point, although very accurate, it struggles more in low-light environments, resulting in occasional missfocus.
- The sensor is a simple CMOS and not BSI (and chronologically older than equivalent bodies), so it shows a slight weakness in low-light situations with more noticeable noise in shadows.
- When using the FTZ adapter, the stabilization becomes 3-axis instead of 5.
- The 4K video mode has a significant crop factor of about 1.7X (meaning 24mm lenses become approximately 40mm), indicating the CPU's inability to read the entire sensor.
- Simultaneous recording on both memory cards for redundancy is not available in video mode.
- There is a strong flickering issue, to the point where the photo is destroyed when using the silent shutter (electronic shutter), especially indoors. (My advice... strictly use the mechanical shutter)
- Lastly (although I don't consider it a major negative, but it will be mentioned because many people complain about it), the camera has a slow burst speed of 4.5 FPS.
Who do I think this camera is NOT suitable for?... For those involved in sports and wildlife photography. In those situations, you need a fast and powerful AF-C that the camera cannot keep up with, and you need high burst speeds to capture every movement...
Otherwise, I believe it is suitable for all other photographers. It is a camera oriented towards photography for... amateurs entering the world of FF bodies... For professionals who are gradually changing or setting up their equipment or simply want to have a second backup body.
The camera is capable and can produce great work and results with the proper understanding of its limitations and the exploitation of its strengths. With a high-quality lens in front, the results will impress even the most demanding photographers.
Thank you to those who had the courage to read it until the end.
