NIKON Z5 Refurb by NIKON for $899 from Adorama

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04-14-2021 at 09:53 AM #2

Solid camera, especially for someone who will primarily use it for photography. IBIS, good sensor, dual card slots, good ergonomics, etc.

Really the only big issue at the moment is the lack of native Z mount lenses from Nikon and third party. This is why i ended up going with a Sony mirrorless camera recently over Canon and Nikon. As a hobby photographer on a budget, i have zero interest in lenses that cost $2000+ like the Canon L lenses.

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04-14-2021 at 10:01 AM #3

Quote from TheEmfinger

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Solid camera, especially for someone who will primarily use it for photography. IBIS, good sensor, dual card slots, good ergonomics, etc.

Really the only big issue at the moment is the lack of native Z mount lenses from Nikon and third party. This is why i ended up going with a Sony mirrorless camera recently over Canon and Nikon. As a hobby photographer on a budget, i have zero interest in lenses that cost $2000+ like the Canon L lenses.

Same thoughts on lens choice and cost to performance ratios. Canon lenses are good but the Z5 body is better than RP.

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04-14-2021 at 12:49 PM #4

The Viltrox 85mm ( $359 street price) is a great portrait lens for the Z mount. Unfortunately it's the only third party Z mount AF lens at the moment but others are likely to follow. For casual photographers who may look at the Z5, plenty of the excellent 24-70 f/4 kit lens to be had used. The 50mm 1.8 S lens is also excellent and reasonably affordable. Plus don't forget the world of F mount lenses that perform excellently on the FTZ adapter

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04-14-2021 at 01:06 PM #5

Abe of Maine Brand new is $989. Just for comparison.

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Last edited by kalyvenk April 16, 2021 at 10:33 AM.

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04-14-2021 at 01:07 PM #6

In Amazon someone gives one star saying " It's hard to find any reason why someone wouldn't get the Z6 over this camera. You save approximately $300 by getting the Z5 but you lose a lot more. First the Sensor in the Z6 is back side illuminated and gives better image quality, about half a stop. Second the Z5 doesn't shoot full frame 4K video! It only shoots video with a crop. Those things alone are worth $300. The SD cards in the Z5 are about 1/5 the speed of the CF express cards when transferring large quantity of images and videos which is important if you use your camera for work. Third you lose the excellent rear LCD of the Z6, the one on the Z5 is much lower quality. You also lose the top LCD screen. I'm not sure what Nikon is thinking here. It's a mistake from a marketing and customer value point of view. The way I see it this camera is worth $1,199 tops. The Nikon Z6 and the Z lenses are great. I've been using it as a pro for work and I love it. I recommend that camera instead of the Z5"

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04-14-2021 at 01:25 PM #7

Quote from kalyvenk

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Brand new is $989. Just for comparison.

Where?

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04-14-2021 at 01:41 PM #8

Been waffling between this or a used/refurb Z6 (non-II). Got this alert this morning and just purchased. Coming from a D750, so will get the FTZ adapter to tie me over until the rest of the Z lenses start coming out. Purchased a used Z 24-70mm f/4 just recently, and will now be on the hunt for a good priced 50mm f/1.8.

I didn't use my D750 for video, so the Z5's crop is not a consideration. Seldom take action shots as well; but did rent the Z5 for a week - and found that it very well met my amateur needs. The compromises are well worth $200-$400 saved, IMO.

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Last edited by chrisngem April 14, 2021 at 01:45 PM.

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04-14-2021 at 02:44 PM #9

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Brand new is $989. Just for comparison.

Gray market ?

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04-14-2021 at 02:46 PM #10

Quote from chrisngem

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Been waffling between this or a used/refurb Z6 (non-II). Got this alert this morning and just purchased. Coming from a D750, so will get the FTZ adapter to tie me over until the rest of the Z lenses start coming out. Purchased a used Z 24-70mm f/4 just recently, and will now be on the hunt for a good priced 50mm f/1.8.

I didn't use my D750 for video, so the Z5's crop is not a consideration. Seldom take action shots as well; but did rent the Z5 for a week - and found that it very well met my amateur needs. The compromises are well worth $200-$400 saved, IMO.

Nikkor's 50mm Z lens is stopping me from purchasing this one same as Z6 which is slightly better but has shortcomings of single card and XQD costing almost the price of an used lens.

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04-14-2021 at 03:10 PM #11

The 24-70/4 is a fantastic lens. Its specs aren't exotic, but it performs well in every regard, and is fairly compact.

Nikon's Z primes are also excellent. Not only is image quality excellent, but AF is great and build quality is very good. I have the 85/1.8, and it's so good it makes me angry about the years I didn't realize I was suffering with my Canon 85/1.8!

If the price difference between the Z5 and Z6 gets you a second lens, I say go with the Z5. Bodies are temporary, but your lenses are "permanent".

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04-14-2021 at 07:04 PM #12

Quote from ckrueger

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The 24-70/4 is a fantastic lens. Its specs aren't exotic, but it performs well in every regard, and is fairly compact.

Nikon's Z primes are also excellent. Not only is image quality excellent, but AF is great and build quality is very good. I have the 85/1.8, and it's so good it makes me angry about the years I didn't realize I was suffering with my Canon 85/1.8!

If the price difference between the Z5 and Z6 gets you a second lens, I say go with the Z5. Bodies are temporary, but your lenses are "permanent".

I agree with this. Only caveat being is if you are interested in video I think the jump to z6 is worth it considering the big spec jump in that department

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04-15-2021 at 04:40 AM #13

Quote from TheEmfinger

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Solid camera, especially for someone who will primarily use it for photography. IBIS, good sensor, dual card slots, good ergonomics, etc.

Really the only big issue at the moment is the lack of native Z mount lenses from Nikon and third party. This is why i ended up going with a Sony mirrorless camera recently over Canon and Nikon. As a hobby photographer on a budget, i have zero interest in lenses that cost $2000+ like the Canon L lenses.

Do you like Sony ? I have used their bodies in the past and I hated the ergonomics and menu system and of course I wasn't fond of the image quality (mostly colors and tones). Maybe things have changed since as this was the A7II.

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04-15-2021 at 04:57 AM #14

Quote from HilariousWing118

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Do you like Sony ? I have used their bodies in the past and I hated the ergonomics and menu system and of course I wasn't fond of the image quality (mostly colors and tones). Maybe things have changed since as this was the A7II.

I think it's one of the things you get used to. I went from an RP to an A7iii, and the RP feels better to hold and the Canon menus are nice to use, but the A7iii has a lot of customization. After you get it set up the way you like it with the function menu and custom buttons, I find it's actually not bad to use. The bigger issue for me right now is still lenses. I didn't like adapted lenses on the canon, and RF just has so few options that are affordable now. Sony is great in this area with the choice of affordable native lenses.

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04-15-2021 at 07:43 AM #15

Quote from HilariousWing118

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Do you like Sony ? I have used their bodies in the past and I hated the ergonomics and menu system and of course I wasn't fond of the image quality (mostly colors and tones). Maybe things have changed since as this was the A7II.

Seems to be lots of unhappy people shooting Sony and having serious problems that have been going on for many months. I personally know of two pro wedding shooters who ditched Sony this year.
https://petapixel.com/2021/03/27/...g-cameras/

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