Nikon Z5II + NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR

If you are looking for a first full-frame system camera, the Nikon Z5 II is a good choice. With this fast camera, I can easily take sharp photos thanks to the autofocus with subject recognition. I only regret that I can't make 4K videos at 60 frames per second without cropping.

Smart autofocus I take the Z5 II with me on a walk through nature. Here I photograph different types of subjects: my partner, passing cyclists, birds and a group of grazing cows. The camera's autofocus recognizes all these subjects without any problems. I use the automatic subject recognition, but can also select a specific subject in the menu. This is useful if I only photograph the same subject, for example during a series of portrait photos. Even from a distance, the camera recognizes my subject. When one of the cows walks through the field, the autofocus follows its movement. This makes it easy to take sharp photos.

Filming During my walk, I also make videos of the surroundings. I film handheld, because I don't have a gimbal or tripod with me. Normally, this would result in quite jerky images due to my own movements, but the image stabilization (IBIS) of the camera absorbs the vibrations well. As a result, the images I make still look smooth. For sharp videos, I film in 4K resolution at 30 frames per second. If I want to slow down my video a bit, I film in 4K resolution at 60 frames per second. The camera does crop the image, which means that the angle of view becomes smaller.

Clear images It is a sunny day, which makes the image on the tilting touchscreen of the camera less visible. I determine my frame via the viewfinder of the camera and am no longer bothered by the bright sun. This viewfinder has a high brightness and resolution, so I can see all the details clearly. I also find it useful that I can view a preview of my photos through the viewfinder. This way I can check afterwards whether my photos turned out well, even when I am standing in bright sunlight.

Picture Control When I press the Picture Control button, a menu with different color filters opens immediately. With this I can easily give my photos a special effect. For example, I choose Charcoal for soft black and white images, but add a little more contrast in the settings. Via the Nikon Imaging Cloud I download extra filters that other photographers have made. That way there is always a filter that suits my style.

My experience with the Nikon Z5 II is that it's a camera that immediately inspires confidence: the images are razor-sharp, the stabilization works really well, and the burst speed ensures I don't miss a single moment of action. With food photos, the colors and details are very natural, while the autofocus stays on track incredibly quickly for sports and movement. Video feels professional thanks to the many options and ease of use. The only issue I encountered was setting up the Nikon cloud; I found that process cumbersome and time-consuming. Once that's set up, it's nice that images are immediately stored securely.

The Nikon Z5 II is my first mirrorless camera, and I'm pleasantly surprised by its user-friendliness. The camera offers a perfect balance between advanced manual settings and useful automatic functions, allowing even inexperienced photographers to get started quickly. The camera performs exceptionally well in active photography. The fast continuous shooting mode is particularly well-suited for capturing sports moments or dynamic scenes. The autofocus is lightning-fast and accurate, resulting in a pleasant photography experience. The touchscreen is not only beautifully designed but also highly functional. A particularly useful feature for beginners is the distance indicator during manual focusing—the subject's distance is clearly displayed on the screen or in the viewfinder for optimally sharp photos.