The vivo T4 made its debut in India today as the newest entry in the brand’s T-series. It brings a massive 7,300mAh battery with 90W charging, Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset and up to 12GB RAM.
With its 7,300mAh cell, the vivo T4 is one of the best-equipped phones in its class. It comes in at 7.89mm thick and weighs 199 grams.
The battery features third-generation silicon-carbon anode technology and supports bypass charging. Like the vivo Y300 Pro+ and iQOO Z10, vivo T4 supports reverse OTG charging capabilities with charging speeds of up to 7.5W.
The phone is IP65...
Last year, Insta360 unveiled its first 8K 360° camera, the X4. Its successor, the Insta360 X5, brings larger image sensors, an AI-powered low-light mode, better water resistance and a larger battery. An important change this generation makes the lenses replaceable, so a scratched lens is now a $30 fix you can do at home.
The X5 features 1/1.28” sensors, which are 144% larger than the 1/2” sensors of the X3 and X4. This allows them to capture more light.
PureVideo is AI-based noise reduction and dynamic range optimization for low-light shooting. Also, Active HDR now works up to 5.7K...
Honor is all about GT these days. The brand has already announced the X60 GT, and tomorrow it will finally fully unveil the Honor GT Pro, which will complement the already available Honor GT in the company's roster.
Ahead of its unveiling, today the Honor GT Pro's full specs have been leaked. It will allegedly come with a 6.78-inch flat LTPO OLED screen with "1.5K" resolution, 144 Hz refresh rate, and 6,000-nit peak brightness, the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, up to 16GB of LPDDR5X Ultra memory, up to 1TB of UFS 4.1 storage, and a 7,200 mAh battery with support for 90W wired...
Honor is all about GT these days. The brand has already announced the X60 GT, and tomorrow it will finally fully unveil the Honor GT Pro, which will complement the already available Honor GT in the company's roster.
Ahead of its unveiling, today the Honor GT Pro's full specs have been leaked. It will allegedly come with a 6.78-inch flat LTPO OLED screen with "1.5K" resolution, 144 Hz refresh rate, and 6,000-nit peak brightness, the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, up to 16GB of LPDDR5X Ultra memory, up to 1TB of UFS 4.1 storage, and a 7,200 mAh battery with support for 90W wired...
Oppo launched the K12 in China last April, and a year later, the brand introduced the 's' model. However, the Oppo K12s isn't an entirely new smartphone. It's a version of the Oppo K13 introduced in India yesterday, but with NFC, more memory configurations, and an extra color option.
Oppo K13 • Oppo K12s
The Oppo K12s comes with the Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 SoC, a 6.67" 120Hz FullHD+ AMOLED screen, and a 7,000 mAh battery with 80W charging support. The smartphone runs Android 15-based ColorOS 15 out of the box, but it remains to be seen if it will get the same software support as the...
This review first appeared in issue 345 of PC Pro.
There are dozens of 15.6in portable monitors available on Amazon, many costing around £100, so you may wonder why anyone would consider paying over four times that price for the ViewSonic VP16-OLED. The first clue is in the name: including an OLED panel rather than IPS immediately puts this display on a different pedestal.
But the real reason is quality. Cheap portable monitors usually reward you with poor color coverage, low brightness and lackluster color accuracy. What ViewSonic promises is much more in line with a professional monitor. With Pantone validation and a guaranteed average Delta E of less than two, you can be confident of the colors you see. This was borne out in the tests for our review unit, with typical averages of around 0.5.
I say “typical” because this monitor ships with numerous color modes: user, DCI-P3, sRGB, REC.709 and DICOM. DICOM is a medical standard, while REC.709 is used in broadcasting and similar to sRGB. That means it’s conservative in terms of coverage, so for the punchiest colors you should choose DCI-P3.
Inputs include two USB-C ports and micro-HDMI(Image credit: Future)
When testing such profiles, we’re always looking for it to clamp down on the gamut as much as possible. That’s why it was comforting to see sRGB lock the panel to 96.4% coverage out of a 98.6% volume. So, only a tiny fraction of the colors you see on the VP16-OLED will sit outside the sRGB gamut when you’re in that mode.
Likewise in DCI-P3, where the monitor produced results of 95.4% and 96.9%.
It’s also easy to switch between profiles. ViewSonic places four buttons on the monitor’s base, and the text-based OSD is so simple to navigate that I was left wondering why all monitors don’t follow its lead.
Height adjustment in pictures. STEP 1 Here’s the ViewSonic in its most basic position(Image credit: Future)
The panel’s only minor negative is that it isn’t a true 10-bit display but 8-bit plus FRC. FRC stands for frame rate control, and mimics colors not supported by the 8-bit panel by flashing alternate colors incredibly quickly. It’s effective, but purists prefer 10-bit panels.
ViewSonic has gained DisplayHDR 400 certification for this screen, but don’t expect images to burn your retina. Still, OLED is naturally easier to view in brighter conditions than IPS thanks to its “infinite” contrast ratio, so although the VP16-OLED peaked at 402cd/m2 in our tests I can’t imagine any situation where you won’t be able to see its contents.
There’s even a hood in the box. This is normally included with professional monitors to stop ambient light interfering with colors, but here it’s most useful to keep the screen’s light from interfering with your darker shoots. I was also hoping it would offer protection during travel, but the folding mechanism isn’t quite clever enough to perfectly wrap around the screen.
STEP 2 Then, with a swivel of the stand, it’s raised a few inches(Image credit: Future)
Otherwise, I can’t fault ViewSonic’s design. One of the cleverest elements is the adjustable height stand. The photos below tell most of the story; all I need to add is that it moves smoothly through every stage and locks perfectly into position.
The VP16-OLED doesn’t include a battery, but it can draw power from a host laptop over USB-C or work the other way round: plug in the supplied USB-C power supply and then power your laptop. However, it only delivers 40W, so it’s better suited to keeping a laptop topped up than charging it from empty. There’s also a micro-HDMI input.
STEP 3 And finally it’s at its peak height, elevated by around 100mm(Image credit: Future)
ViewSonic includes a pair of 1W speakers, and as that power rating indicates they aren’t going to fill a room. Sound quality is mediocre – no depth, weak bass – but if you’re on a video shoot and want to check the audio they’ll be up to the job, or you can resort to the 3.5mm jack.
There’s one final downside to this monitor, and that’s its 1,920 x 1,080 resolution. Again, hunt online and you’ll find 4K portable monitors for half the price. Personally, I didn’t find this a problem in practice as text, photos and videos still look sharp at normal viewing distances.
For its target audience, then, this OLED monitor is worth every penny. It’s accurate, flexible and images pack a punch you won’t see from IPS rivals.
This review first appeared in issue 345 of PC Pro.
TP-Link’s EAP655-Wall is designed to offer discrete Wi-Fi 6 services to a wide range of environments, such as meeting rooms, apartments and home offices. This affordable palm-sized package will also appeal to hotels looking to provide in-room network services as it has three gigabit ports in its base and can deliver PoE on the third one – ideal for adding extra room devices such as IP phones.
The EAP655-Wall offers plenty of features for the price. This AX3000 dual-band access point (AP) delivers speeds of up to 2,402Mbits/sec on its 5GHz radio and 574Mbits/sec on the 2.4GHz radio. It also supports the high-speed Wi-Fi 6 160MHz channels, although the AP’s main uplink port is only the gigabit variety so you won’t see their full potential.
Even so, the EAP655-Wall delivered good overall results in our real-world performance tests. We started with its 80MHz channels enabled. Closerange copies of a large file between a Dell Windows 11 Pro workstation equipped with a TP-Link Archer TXE75E Wi-Fi 6E PCI-E card and a server on our 10GbE LAN averaged 94MB/sec, dropping to 77MB/sec with the AP moved ten meters away and into an adjoining room.
With the AP’s 160MHz channels activated, the workstation reported a 2.4Gbits/sec wireless connection. Unsurprisingly, our file copies maxed out the AP’s gigabit port and only increased to 111MB/sec at close range and 91MB/sec at ten meters, although these speeds will easily be good enough for all but the most demanding of users.
The EAP655-Wall offers lots of features for the price(Image credit: Future)
The AP can be managed in standalone mode, but most businesses will prefer TP-Link’s Omada cloud service as they can manage all their APs from one central web portal. Previously, each site required a hardware or software controller installed locally, but TP-Link now also offers cloud-based controllers with yearly prices starting at £12 per device.
From our main Omada cloud portal account, we viewed all our hardware, software and cloud-based controllers, and selecting the latter took us to its dedicated management console. Before adding the AP to our site, we made sure we’d enabled the cloud-based controller management option from its local web console. We could then import the AP by entering its serial number, naming it and assigning a license. After adoption, access to its local console was disabled and it started broadcasting our site-managed SSIDs.
The site portal presents a detailed dashboard that can be customized with widgets; we added ones to show details such as AP traffic and client distributions, the most active APs, a Wi-Fi summary and 24-hour graphs of client associations and overall wireless traffic. The AP was connected to the lab’s TP-Link TL-SG3210XHP-M2 PoE+ multi-gigabit switch, and we added more widgets to show its active ports, PoE usage and the available power budget.
The AP can be remotely managed from TP-Link’s Omada platform(Image credit: Future)
Wireless features are extensive, with up to eight SSIDs per radio supported and options to apply mixed WPA2/WPA3 encryption. You can set global or per client and SSID upload and download rate limits, and use guest networks to block users from private networks. Captive portal features are equally good, with profiles used to apply a global password, local user, voucher, Radius or Facebook authentication and add logos, greeting messages and acceptable use policies.
The three gigabit pass-through ports are enabled by default, and PoE services on the third port can be activated by checking this option in the portal’s AP configuration page, although make sure the main LAN port is connected to a PoE+ source. During testing, they worked fine and after connecting a Yealink IP phone to the third port, it duly received power and internet access.
It would have been good to see a 2.5GbE port, but the EAP655-Wall remains a reasonably fast Wi-Fi 6 AP with a good range. It offers a wealth of wireless features for a modest price, cloud management is excellent and its three gigabit downlink ports with extra power delivery make it even more versatile.
This review first appeared in issue 345 of PC Pro.
Although one of Qnap’s home devices, the Qnap TS-262 is surprisingly well specified for a two-bay device. It has just the one Ethernet port, so no redundancy, but as it’s a 2.5GbE port rather than gigabit you avoid one potential bottleneck. Given that this standard is becoming more and more popular on consumer switches and routers, it’s nice to see this fast connection.
If you do need more speed, there’s a 10GbE port upgrade available via the PCI-E slot, which is accessible when the case is unscrewed. That’s the only time you’ll need a screwdriver, as everything else is accessible via screw-free entry.
For example, pop out both of the hard disk caddies and you’ll see that dual M.2 2280 NVMe PCI-E Gen3 slots are available. These use a simple clip to hold the SSDs in place, so are easy to deal with. Hard disks simply slide into the slot.
As with all Qnap NAS devices, the TS-262 runs its QTS operating system so is compatible with the full range of services that this provides, including the ability to create your own personal storage cloud. There’s an Intel Celeron N4505 processor and 4GB of RAM (non-upgradable), which should prove enough for even heavy use.
There are some extra features you don’t often find on rival NAS devices, including an HDMI 2.0 output. When paired with the compatible remote control, this NAS can be turned into a media streamer, playing video directly from its hard disk. If you have a large collection of films, this might be your best option, but a sleeker option is to install a media server and stream directly from the NAS.
Running over a standard gigabit Ethernet connection, the Qnap TS-262 fell behind the Synology DS723+, when we benchmarked using 22TB hard disks and dual 1TB NVMe drives. However, upgrade that connection to 2.5GbE and things get better, particularly with larger file sizes: running the ATTO benchmark with 2MB files, the TS-262 jumped from 100MB/sec read speeds to 210MB/sec.
There was little difference in the PCMark 10 Storage test, which uses different file transfers and is less dependent on connection speeds.
Synology’s systems are arguably easier to use, but if you want more straightforward file and media sharing, locally and via the cloud, then this NAS is excellent value and fast, particularly when its 2.5GbE port is used.
Yesterday, vivo launched the X200 Ultra and X200s, today belongs to the tablets. The vivo Pad5 Pro is the first slate to be powered by the Dimensity 9400 and it is joined by a more affordable vivo Pad SE (here the “S” stands for “Study”). Also new today is the vivo Watch 5.
vivo Pad5 Pro
The vivo Pad5 Pro is a 13” tablet with a bright (1,200 nits) LCD. The display has 3,096 x 2,064px resolution and is good for streaming (10-bit colors, HDR10), gaming (144Hz refresh rate) and document editing (3:2 aspect ratio). The 8-speaker sound system is also a boon for entertainment use...
The Nikon Z5 II may be the ‘entry-level’ model in the brand’s most recent lineup of mirrorless bodies, but it’s by no means the stripped-down back-to-basics affair that its predecessor was. Nikon has conspicuously taken the body up a notch in terms of performance and features – and, for that matter, price.
It inherits the lion’s share of specs from the outstanding Nikon Zf, and subsequently it’s a fully-fledged hybrid shooter that excels in all but the most extreme of use cases. Notwithstanding its position in the Nikon range, don’t think of this as an entry-level camera – it’s anything but.
The Nikon Z5 II with the Nikkor 24-50mm f/4-6.3 kit lens (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
At the heart of the Nikon Z5 II is the same Expeed 7 processor that's in the recent higher-end Z-series bodies. Subject detection? Check. Super-sticky 3D tracking? Check. In terms of autofocus, video, and meaningful quality of life changes, this camera blows away the original Z5 in every area.
If I had to nitpick, I would say that the almost 25% price increase over the Z5 is a glaring sore point for this camera. I do, however, think the massive jump in performance makes this camera worth every penny; you pay more, but you also get substantially more camera. If you've been eying up the Zf, but were put off by its hipster charms and questionable ergonomics, then the Z5 II is the clear choice here.
It's also, arguably, the top choice in the entry-level to mid-range full-frame mirrorless market right now. It's carefully placed just below the Z6 III in terms of burst rates and video specs, but compares favorably to the likes of the Canon EOS R8, Panasonic S5 II, and Sony Alpha A7 III. All have their merits, but the Nikon Z5 II offers a compelling blend of price and performance without any glaring compromises. In short, it beats its competitors on either price or specs – it really is well positioned.
The Z5 II forgoes the top LCD panel of the Z6 series (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
As a stills camera in particular, it's hard to fault the Z5 II. You get a tried-and-tested 24.5MP back-side-illuminated sensor that's capable of excellent results, and 12fps raw capture. I'd also argue that this is one of Nikon's best cameras for JPEG shooters yet, thanks to the inclusion of the handy Picture Control button and support for sharing custom JPEG recipes via Nikon Imaging Cloud.
The video specs are a little weaker considering that 4K 60fps video is cropped, but the Z5 II is still capable of full-width 4K video up to 30fps – that's significantly better than the previous model.
In the rare cases where you need 6K video capture or quicker readout speeds, the Z6 III is likely a worthwhile upgrade. Otherwise, however, the Z5 II is going to be an absolute winner for most users. Sure, it's not a resolution beast like the Z8, nor is it particularly quick like the Z6 III; but the Z5 II is a superb camera in its own right, and one that's going to have mass appeal, even outside the Z-Mount ecosystem.
Nikon Z5 II: price and release date
The Nikon Z5 II body-only costs $1,699 / £1,599 / AU$2,699
Zoom kit bundles starting at $1,999 / £1,899 / AU$3,249
Roughly 25% more expensive than first Z5
At $1,699 / £1,599 / AU$2,699 the Z5 II arrives with a significant price jump over the first-gen model. At launch it’s roughly 25% more expensive than the first iteration, and the price difference is even more glaring considering that the Z5 has hit as low as $999 in the US in recent months.
Judged in terms of specs, however, the Nikon Z5 II isan aggressively priced body. I’ll elaborate more later, but the Z5 II is simply in a different league to its predecessor when it comes to both performance and features, and in my book this quantum leap softens the blow of the price hike significantly.
You could easily compare it to the most recent offerings from Canon R8 or Panasonic S5 II, but I’d argue that the Nikon is the more fully featured camera for the price. The R8, for example, is cheaper at $1,499 / £1,629 / AU$2,489, but forgoes IBIS and a second card slot. The S5 II is more comparable in term of specs, but it’s pricier in the US and UK at $1,999 / £1,699, and the Z5 II inherits the outstandingly refined subject-detect autofocus of the higher-end Z-Mount bodies.
The Z5 II is also well placed to compete with older mid-range models like the Sony Alpha A7 III. Sony’s former hybrid king is still available for new for around $1,799 / £1,679 / AU$2,000, and features a compelling mix of excellent autofocus, extensive lens choices, and specs that still hold up for enthusiast users.
It’s a testament to the A7 III that even in 2025 it remains a competitive choice, but the Z5 II finally gives customers a better option than Sony's seven-year-old camera in this price bracket. Sony’s traditionally killer USPs of autofocus and lens choice are less deadly to rivals now – and the Z5 II also features meaningful quality of life upgrades like a fantastic EVF, flip screen, and excellent IBIS. The Z5 II is so well featured that it’s hard not to recommend it, despite the unfortunate price bump.
Price score: 4.5/5
Nikon Z5 II: specs
Nikon Z5 II: design and handling
Similar design to the Nikon Z6 III
Fully articulating display
Picture Control button for JPEGs
Despite the Z5 II’s internal similarities to the Zf, outwardly the two cameras couldn’t be any more different. Nikon has returned to its modern design language with the Z5 II, and like its predecessor it essentially shares the same body as the most recent higher-end Z6 model, aside from that camera’s top LCD panel.
The Z5 II’s design is typically Nikon. It’s function over form, although the brand has made subtle tweaks compared to its previous generation of cameras. For one, the body is slightly thicker, and Nikon has also made a few changes to the EVF housing, which now sweeps around to the generously sized Z mount on the front. It’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it change, but the camera looks more modern for it.
The button layout is essentially the same as on the previous model, but there are some changes. The playback button and sequential shooting menu have been switched, for example, and there’s now a handy ‘Picture Control’ button to quickly access JPEG settings. Either way, everything is in the right place, and if you’re already a Nikon shooter you’ll feel right at home. Notably the grip remains the same; chunky, with plenty of purchase for when you're using larger Z-mount lenses.
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The new Picture Control dial is situated next to the PASM dial (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
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The Nikon Z5 II features mic, headphone, USB, and micro HDMI ports (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
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The new fully articulating screen on the Z5 II (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
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(Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
As on the Z6 III, the top and back plates are made of a sturdy magnesium alloy, and you also get the large and bright EVF that’s typical for Nikon cameras. The EVF is the same 3.69k dot OLED panel as on the previous model, although Nikon says it can now reach up to 3,000 nits of brightness.
Perhaps the most meaningful design change for the Z5 II is the inclusion of a fully articulating display. Previously, the Z5 only featured a tilting display, so it’s nice to see the inclusion of a flip screen that’s particularly useful for talking-head scenarios. There’s some debate around whether a tilting screen is still superior, but I much prefer the fully articulating option personally in terms of versatility. Not only do you get that selfie and talking-head option, but the flip-out screen is great for getting low-angle shots in portrait orientation, plus it isn't partially obstructed by the viewfinder for waist-level shooting like the previous screen.
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The Nikon Z5 II's EVF housing is chunkier than the previous model (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
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(Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
Ports-wise, the Z5 II features micro a HDMI port, plus headphone and microphone jacks, and USB-C with charging support. Unlike some budget models from the competition, notably the Canon R8, the Z5 II also features two card slots. You get support for two UHS-II cards here rather than the CFExpress Type-B combination that’s common on Nikon’s higher-end bodies, but it's still a fantastic inclusion for an entry-level camera. It’s also a nod to the Z5 II’s intended enthusiast target market, since the supported cards here are much cheaper than the CFExpress cards.
I'm grasping at straws to find a valid criticism of the Z5 II's design, but there are a few minor quibbles. The PASM dial, for example, doesn't feature the usual locking mechanism you find on higher-end bodies. It's a minor thing, yes, but it's easy to knock the dial out of your mode of choice, and it seems like an easy thing to rectify. Otherwise, the Z5 II is almost perfect in terms of function for a modern body.
Design score: 4.5/5
Nikon Z5 II: features and performance
Inherits subject-detection autofocus from high-end bodies
Now shoots 4K 30fps footage uncropped
12fps burst for raw / 30fps JPEG with pre-capture
The previous Z5 was an entry-level camera through and through. It was capable of capturing lovely images, sure, but pedestrian autofocus performance and lesser specs meant it was best consigned to rather sedentary subjects.
The Z5 II, however, is a significant leap in terms of performance. With an almost identical specs sheet to the mid-range retro-bodied Nikon Zf, the Z5 II is in a completely different class to its predecessor.
There’s really no other way to express it: the Nikon Z5 II is just a superb camera for the vast majority of applications. The 24.5MP back-side-illuminated sensor in combination with the Expeed 7 imaging processor means the Z5 II is an extremely capable body regardless of the price tag.
Readout speeds, while not up to the level of the Z6 III with its stacked sensor, are dramatically better now. The Z5 II supports raw burst rates up to 12fps versus its predecessor’s pedestrian 5fps. If you’re happy to go with JPEGs, then you can crank that up to 30fps, with additional support for pre-capture.
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The 24.5MP back-side-illuminated sensor at the heart of the Nikon Z5 II (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
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The Nikon Z5 II now supports custom user JPEG profiles (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
Video specs have also been improved significantly. The Z5 II now features full-width 4K footage at 30fps instead of the 1.7x crop of the Z5, and you also now get support for advanced formats like 12-bit N-RAW and 10-bit N-Log. Technically, the Z5 II can capture 4K at 60fps, but its 1.5x crop means it's still far behind the higher-end Z6 III when it comes to hybrid capabilities.
The two cameras do, however, share a lot of DNA, particularly when it comes to autofocus. The Z5 II inherits the various person, animal, and vehicle subject-detection capabilities from the higher-end Z Mount cameras, and is all the better for it.
Especially when compared to the older Z5 and Z6 models, the subject-detection autofocus is multitudes more effective here in all scenarios. On previous Z-mount bodies I was accustomed to having to manually steering the camera via tracking points or defined AF areas, but that’s not the case with the Z5 II.
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The Nikon Z5 II has received a subtle redesign (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
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The Z5 II is a little thicker than the first (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
In testing, I found myself shooting with full-area continuous autofocus in the vast majority of scenarios, simply letting the camera do its thing. The Z5 II has no issues picking out people, birds, eyes, and moving subjects in crowded or otherwise demanding scenes. 3D tracking is also significantly stickier now, which is handy for the rare occasions when subject-detection fails.
In terms of price relative to performance, it’s extremely hard to fault the Z5 II here. Sure, it’s not the quickest camera from Nikon, or the prettiest, but it’s an extremely capable body that’s perfect for a wide range of users. The Z5 II really is a versatile camera that’s going to be a fantastic tool for the vast majority of enthusiast shooters.
Features and performance score: 4.5/5
Nikon Z5 II: image and video quality
24.5MP back-side-illuminated full-frame sensor
Now supports custom JPEG recipes
Internal 12-bit N-RAW and 10-bit N-Log video
The Z5 II’s sensor is a known quantity by now. It’s a sensor that’s been knocking around in Nikon cameras in some form or another since 2018. That’s by no means to its detriment, though, since this 24.5MP back-side-illuminated sensor is capable of providing incredible results across a wide range of subjects and scenarios. You could say it’s an old favorite, even.
I have a fair amount of experience with this particular sensor, having shot with the older Nikon Z6. So I was immediately at home with the Z5 II’s output, and I’m pleased to note that it’s more than capable of producing detailed images with pleasing color straight out of the camera. It’s hard to fault a sensor this good – there really aren’t any limitations aside from the relatively middling 24.5MP resolution limiting cropping potential in the most extreme circumstances.
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Images shot with the 24-50 and 24-200mm kit zoom lenses (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
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All images straight out of camera JPEG using the auto profile (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
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(Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
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(Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
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(Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
If you can live with ‘just’ 24MP, then you’ll find the Z5 II’s output excellent – JPEGs in particular are fantastic. The image stabilization is rated at an impressive 7.5 stops – this sensor was already known as a low-light beast, but the image stabilization really adds to the camera’s night photography credentials.
Looping back to the Z5 II’s excellent JPEG output, it’s worth mentioning just how Nikon has significantly upped its game with the Z5 II. The camera now supports the new Nikon Imaging Cloud, which unlocks a much smoother image upload workflow and the seamless sharing of image recipes a la Fujifilm.
Given that my processing app of choice (Adobe Lightroom) didn’t support my pre-production Z5 II’s raw output, I quickly found myself tinkering with numerous JPEG presets. Switching between presets is extremely easy thanks to the dedicated Picture Control button on the top of the camera, and the interface also enables you to tweak various settings like sharpness, contrast, and clarity.
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The Nikon Z5 II tracks subjects perfectly even in low-light scenarios (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
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Shot with the Viltrox 85mm f/1.8 prime lens (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
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(Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
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(Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
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(Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
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(Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
If I have a complaint, it’s that the various in-camera JPEG sliders are still rather basic, and the default profiles lack the polish of the likes of Fujifilm. The Nikon Z5 II, however, has a secret weapon in that it can store up to nine additional custom color profiles from the NX Studio app. This app fully supports color grading and other advanced options, so it’s perfect for really tailoring your JPEGs to match your raw workflow.
I imported a few presets onto my Z5 II, and was instantly able to get some superb results right out of the camera. The process is extremely smooth, and Nikon’s excellent in-camera retouch options easily allow you to test out your profiles on the various raw files already saved to your card.
Below are a few images showcasing what's possible with these in-camera presets.
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JPEG images shot using an Ektar film inspired recipe (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
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More 'Ektar-esque' JPEG images (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
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One of Nikon's own profiles called 'charcoal' (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
These presets can also be used for in-camera color grading, although advanced videographers will likely want to make use of the camera’s new internal N-Raw and N-Log formats for maximum flexibility and dynamic range. Generally speaking, video output is excellent here – especially with the oversampled 4K footage at 30fps.
If the Z5 II has any weaknesses when it comes to video, they're generally down to the sensor's middling readout speeds. Aside from the 1.5x crop at 4k 60fps you also get some rolling shutter when panning quickly, as with most bodies without a stacked sensor. If you want a more fully-featured and modern video platform, it could be worth investing in the higher-end Nikon Z6 III.
While we’re here, it’s worth mentioning the number of excellent lenses that are ready to pair up with the Z5 II. While the Z-Mount supports plenty of high-end glass, even modest choices like the Nikkor 24-50mm f/4-6.3 kit lens are capable of providing great results. My favorite lenses for the Nikon Z5 II in particular are the super-lightweight Nikkor 40mm f/2 and Viltrox 85mm f/1.8, both of which are great lower-cost lenses that pair perfectly with the Z5 II.
Most of the example images you can see here were shot with either those two lenses or the Nikkor 24-200mm f/4-6.3 zoom, which is another kit option for the Z5 II.
Image and video quality score: 4.5/5
Nikon Z5 II: testing scorecard
Should I buy the Nikon Z5 II?
Buy it if...
You want a great-value all-rounder The Nikon Z5 II is fantastic jack-of-all-trades camera for a competitive price. It's a great choice if you want something that nails both photo and video without breaking the bank.
You're looking to upgrade If you're already shooting with an older Z-mount body or even a Nikon DLSR then there's a strong argument for upgrading to the Z5 II. The autofocus in particular provides a massive jump in performance over the older bodies, even the higher-end Z6 II.
Don't buy it if...
You want a retro design The Nikon Z5 II is almost identical to the Nikon Zf when it comes to performance and specs, so the latter is the obvious choice if you prefer a more retro look.
You need advanced video features The Z6 III provides more headroom in terms of high-resolution video with its support for 6K/60p N-RAW.
You need resolution The Z5 II's 24.5MP sensor isn't a high-resolution beast like the higher-end cameras in Nikon's lineup. If you need massive cropping potential there's the older Nikon Z7 II, pricier flagships, or look elsewhere.
Nikon Z5 II: also consider
Panasonic Lumix S5 II
The Lumix S5 II is another competitively priced full-frame body that offers a viable alternative to the Nikon Z5 II if you're looking for something more video-centric. The S5 II is capable of open-gate 6K / 30p recording at 10-bit, which gives it the edge for resolution and cropping video. That said, the Z5 II is cheaper at full list price, and inherits the outstanding autofocus from the higher-end Nikon Z-Mount bodies.
On paper the Nikon Z5 II and Nikon Zf are extremely similar cameras in terms of performance. In form, however, the two couldn't be more different, with the Zf sporting a gorgeous retro design. If you'd prefer the same specs in a more classic, nostalgia-themed body, the Nikon Zf is the obvious choice. Expect to pay a little extra for the pleasure though.
Nikon loaned me the Z5 II and some lenses for two weeks
I tested it with the 24-50mm and 24-200mm kit zooms
I also used the Nikon 26mm and 40mm and Viltrox 85mm primes
I carried the camera daily, testing its video and photo capabilities
I shot over 1,000 images with the camera
I used the Nikon Z5 II as my everyday camera over a two-week period, which gave me the chance to shoot more than 1,000 images and videos. I was able to test the subject tracking, low-light performance, and image stabilization effectively thanks to using the camera in a diverse range of environments, both indoors and outdoors.
Nikon sent me the Nikkor 24-50mm and f/4-6.3 Nikkor 24-200mm f/4-6.3 zoom kit lenses to try, as well as the Nikkor 26mm f/2.8. I also made sure to use the camera with a third-party lens, in this case the Viltrox 85mm f1/.8.
