Nikon D5 Review | 108 Data compared

The Nikon D5 is a robust, high-speed professional DSLR designed for sports and photojournalism, featuring a fast 153-point autofocus system and 12 fps continuous shooting. Key advantages include exceptional low-light ISO performance, a durable magnesium-alloy body, and outstanding battery life. Conversely, the camera is heavy, weighing roughly 1.4 kilograms, and offers a modest 20.8-megapixel resolution suited more for speed than high-detail photography. The review also notes limited 4K video recording, which is restricted to short clips, along with a high price point.

The Nikon D5 professional DSLR features a upgraded 21-megapixel sensor that expands crop flexibility and produces images large enough for magazine spreads. It introduces an advanced autofocus system boasting 153 focus points, including 99 cross-type sensors, which delivers excellent tracking performance for moving subjects like birds in flight. Additional operational enhancements include a responsive touchscreen interface for navigating playback and setting focus points in live view, an upgraded 180,000-pixel metering sensor, a larger viewfinder, and a high-resolution display. The camera also marks Nikon's entry into 4K video recording, utilizing the H.264 codec at 125 MBit/s to capture highly detailed footage, and upgrades its physical connectivity to USB 3.0 alongside a redesigned dual card slot configuration that accepts either two XQD or two CompactFlash cards. However, the review highlights several limitations, particularly regarding its video capabilities and specific performance metrics. The 4K recording is heavily restricted to a maximum duration of just three minutes per clip and forces a significant 3x image crop, while Full HD videos are limited to ten minutes at 60 frames per second. In terms of speed,...

The Nikon D5 is a high-end full-frame DSLR tailored for professional sports, wildlife, and reportage photographers who require maximum shooting speed and durability. It features an exceptionally fast 153-point autofocus system that excels at tracking moving subjects. The camera delivers blistering continuous shooting speeds of up to 14 frames per second and can capture an impressive buffer of up to 200 RAW images consecutively when using fast XQD or CF storage cards. Housed in a robust, weather-sealed magnesium alloy chassis with a built-in vertical grip, it offers extensive connectivity options like LAN and USB 3.0, a 3.2-inch touchscreen, and an outstanding battery life capable of reaching nearly 6,000 shots per charge when using the viewfinder. Key Pros and Cons Pro: Extremely fast and reliable autofocus performance. Pro: Rapid continuous bursts with a deep 200-image RAW buffer. Pro: Clean low-light image quality up to ISO 6,400. Pro: Robust, sealed body with extensive pro-grade connections. Pro: Phenomenal battery life of up to 6,020 shots. Con: Severely limited Ultra-HD recording length capped at 3 minutes. Con: High power consumption that drains battery quickly...

Nikon D5 Review Summary The Nikon D5 is a professional-grade flagship DSLR featuring a 20.7-megapixel full-frame sensor that delivers exceptional detail and virtually noise-free image quality up to ISO 6,400. Designed for ultimate speed and durability, its highly robust, weather-sealed magnesium body includes a built-in vertical grip, highly customizable physical controls, dual monochrome information screens, and a sharp 3.2-inch touch display. Performance-wise, the camera boasts a class-leading 153-point autofocus system (with 99 cross-type sensors) that remains accurate down to -4 EV. Combined with rapid burst shooting of up to 12 frames per second with full AF/AE tracking (and 14.1 fps with fixed focus), it utilizes fast XQD memory cards to capture continuous sequences of up to 200 RAW files without slowing down. Despite these stellar performance features, the D5 has notable limitations. While its expanded sensitivity reaches an astronomical ISO 3,280,000, settings beyond ISO 102,400 suffer from severe noise and lost detail, making them practically unusable. Additionally, the sensor exhibits a reduced dynamic range compared to previous Nikon full-frame cameras, leading to unusually high noise when aggressively pushing shadows. For...

The Andreas Pollok Nikon D5 review outlines the real-world performance of the flagship DSLR from the perspective of an active wedding and reportage photographer. The pros highlight a highly advanced autofocus system that remains exceptionally fast, precise, and reliable even during challenging backlit situations or dark receptions. The camera offers a high-capacity image buffer capable of capturing 200 consecutive RAW frames, which pairs perfectly with its rapid 12 frames-per-second continuous shooting speed. Image quality from the 20.8-megapixel full-frame sensor stands out for delivering sharp details, crisp contrast, natural skin tones, and an improved white balance system. Additionally, the camera boasts excellent high-ISO noise handling, an intuitive layout with a customisable front button setup, illuminated control keys for night shoots, an integrated automatic autofocus fine-tuning feature, and long-lasting battery life. The cons detailed in the review focus primarily on the sensor's lower dynamic range at low ISO settings (such as ISO 100), where it falls short compared to older bodies like the Nikon D750 or D810. This drawback makes it less ideal for photographers who frequently require deep shadow recovery in...

The Zielfoto community reviews rate the Nikon D5 highly with an average score of 4.9 out of 5 stars, celebrating it as a reliable "workhorse" for challenging environments like dark concert venues and festivals. The primary pros highlighted by reviewers include its exceptional low-light performance and minimal image noise at high ISO values, which work alongside a fast, highly accurate hybrid autofocus system to track rapid movements. Reviewers also heavily praise its outstanding battery life, natural colour reproduction from the 20.8-megapixel sensor, and an ergonomic, robust build featuring a bright optical viewfinder and dual controls for seamless switching between landscape and portrait formats. Conversely, the users point out a few clear cons, most notably its heavy weight and bulky size, making it cumbersome despite being well-balanced. Reviewers also criticize its lack of a tilting or articulating screen, and note that its video features are dated and weren't top-tier even at its initial launch. Additionally, the camera is described as very expensive, though users generally agree that this high cost is justified by its long-term durability and legendary reliability.

The Nikon D5 is a professional full-frame (FX) camera engineered specifically for speed, sports journalism, and extreme low-light environments. It delivers exceptional performance with a rapid continuous shooting speed of up to 14 frames per second, a lightning-fast 153-point autofocus system featuring 99 cross-type sensors, and a robust, weather-sealed magnesium-alloy body. Reviewers praise its remarkable maximum expanded ISO of 3,280,000, which allows users to capture visible details even in near-total darkness, as well as its clean image quality up to ISO 6,400 from its 20.8-megapixel sensor. Additional practical design pros include dual XQD memory card slots for efficient file backup, illuminated buttons for night-time operation, and a sharp, fixed rear monitor that enhances overall structural durability. However, the camera comes with a few notable drawbacks and limitations depending on user preferences. On the technical side, it entirely lacks built-in wireless connectivity and positioning features, meaning users must purchase separate external accessories like the Nikon WT-6 adapter for Wi-Fi or standalone GPS modules. While the camera is capable of recording 4K UHD video and includes a touchscreen feature, the reviewer found...

However, the review details prominent drawbacks, including the camera's massive weight and bulk, which can cause user fatigue during extended handheld shooting sessions. Critically, the camera lacks built-in GPS and Wi-Fi capabilities, requiring expensive external add-on accessories (like the Nikon WT-6 adapter) that add clutter to the rig. The reviewer also notes that the 20.2-megapixel sensor feels slightly low for the premium price tag, the autofocus points do not cover the entire frame to the outer edges, and it misses consumer-friendly features found on newer, cheaper models like the Nikon D850—specifically focus-peaking, a deeper grip, and a tilting touch display. Ultimately, the review concludes that while the D5 is an exceptional tool for photographers who absolutely depend on maximum burst speeds, the more affordable D850 offers a nearly identical autofocus system and broader functionality, making the D5's high price premium difficult to justify for most users.

The Nikon D5 is an exceptionally fast and light-sensitive professional DSLR designed primarily for sports and action photojournalists. Equipped with a 20-megapixel full-frame sensor and a dedicated autofocus processor, it sets a benchmark for speed and low-light performance. The camera offers an astounding standard sensitivity up to ISO 102,400, which can be extended to an unprecedented ISO 3,280,000, ensuring highly usable, sharp image quality even in extremely dim settings up to ISO 25,600. Furthermore, its newly integrated 153-point autofocus system tracks moving subjects with remarkable accuracy. Performance is bolstered by a rapid continuous shooting speed of 11 frames per second with full focus tracking, a massive 200-frame RAW buffer limit when using ultra-fast XQD cards, and an extraordinary battery life capable of delivering up to 6,500 to 8,000 shots on a single charge. Despite its stellar engineering, the camera comes with notable downsides regarding its body design, video features, and pricing. Retailing at a steep launch price of approximately €7,000 for the body alone, it demands a massive financial commitment. Physically, the camera's rugged metal housing is bulky and remarkably...

The dkamera.de review highlights the Nikon D5 as an action-photography powerhouse, featuring a robust 153-point autofocus system and 12 fps shooting speed. It boasts exceptional high-ISO image quality and superior build quality with a long-lasting battery, making it ideal for sports and professional use. Key drawbacks include limited dynamic range at low ISO settings and restrictive 4K video recording, which features a significant crop and a 3-minute time limit. Furthermore, the camera lacks built-in Wi-Fi and is notably large and heavy, weighing over 1.4 kilograms.

The DigitalPHOTO review celebrates the Nikon D5 as a premier professional DSLR, awarding it an impressive 94.4% overall score. The camera transitions from a purely sports-centric model into a versatile all-rounder, largely due to its advanced internal upgrades. Key pros highlighted in the review include its lightning-fast burst mode capable of hitting 14 frames per second (with the mirror up) and a massive buffer memory that smoothly stores up to 200 consecutive RAW files. Performance is anchored by a highly accurate 153-point autofocus system (including 99 cross-type sensors) that boasts a swift pre-focused release time of 0.07 seconds. Image quality from the 20.7-megapixel full-frame FX sensor delivers exceptional sharpness and contrast with minimal image noise even up to ISO 6400, operating within an unprecedented expanded sensitivity range reaching up to ISO 3,280,000. Additionally, the camera introduces an upgrade to professional 4K video recording at 30p, uncompressed 8-bit HDMI output, a highly responsive 3.2-inch touchscreen display with 2.36 million dots, and a weather-sealed magnesium alloy body optimized for comfortable landscape and portrait handling. However, the flagship comes with distinct cons regarding...

The Nikon D5 is a high-end, professional DSLR camera engineered specifically for sports and action photographers, sporting a robust metal body and a 20-megapixel sensor. It breaks industry records with its extreme low-light capabilities, featuring a native ISO of 102,400 that can be extended up to an unprecedented 3,280,000. The camera excels in performance, utilizing a dedicated autofocus processor with 153 focus points that can lock onto targets even in moonlight. It achieves a rapid continuous shooting speed of 11 frames per second with precise tracking for up to 200 RAW images when paired with fast XQD cards. Other major improvements include an upgraded 1024x768 pixel touchscreen display and exceptional battery longevity, delivering between 6,500 to 8,000 shots on a single charge. However, the camera comes with notable downsides, primarily its steep retail price of approximately €7,000 for the body alone, as well as its massive, heavy build weighing 1,405 grams with the battery. While it is the first Nikon DSLR to offer 4K video recording, its video functionality is hindered by a strict 3-minute recording limit per clip and...

The Nikon D5 is a high-end, professional full-frame DSLR camera designed for action, sports, and wildlife photographers who require exceptional speed and reliable low-light performance. Built with a highly durable magnesium alloy chassis and an integrated vertical grip, it features a 20.8-megapixel CMOS sensor with a maximum resolution of 5568 x 3712 pixels, optimized for magazine print layouts. The camera boasts a vastly upgraded autofocus system featuring 153 AF-meshing fields (including 99 cross sensors) and a 180,000-pixel 3D Color Matrix metering sensor, allowing it to focus accurately in extreme low-light conditions down to -4 EV. In performance testing, its continuous shooting speed excelled, slightly exceeding its promise by delivering 12.3 frames per second (fps) with full autofocus tracking, and up to 14 fps with the mirror locked up. Additionally, it features a high-resolution 3.2-inch rear touchscreen that supports image playback gestures and focus point selection. The review highlights several prominent advantages and drawbacks of the camera system: Pros: Key strengths include its outstanding high-ISO noise performance (outperforming its predecessor by a full stop up to ISO 51,200), an incredibly fast...

The Nikon D5 is a high-performance, professional DSLR designed primarily for sports and action photographers who require exceptional speed and low-light capabilities. It features a 20.8-megapixel full-frame sensor paired with an advanced Expeed 5 image processor. This combination delivers sharp, nearly noise-free images at low ISO levels and retains excellent detail even at high ISO ranges, achieving a peak dynamic range of 11.6 f-stops at ISO 200. On the downside, the camera lacks a built-in image stabiliser and requires separate purchases for basic features standard in cheaper cameras, most notably a Wi-Fi adapter.