Nikon D5 Review
Overview
Nikon D5 is Nikon’s best camera money can buy. It’s not the latest yet the most expensive in Nikon’s portfolio. Nikon D5 faces the Canon’s flagship DSLR, Canon D1x. It is also the successor to the famous D4s. Nikon D4s did raised the bar for competition. It had everything a professional would want. But can Nikon D5 take on the market after Nikon D4s. Lets see!
Source: pcmag
https://assets.pcmag.com/media/images/427765-nikon-d5.jpg?width=3000&height=1688
Specification
The Nikon D5 is Nikon’s most expensive DSLR. It will cost you around 4,50,000 INR ($7010) for the body only.
● 20.8 MP CMOS FX Sensor
● 35.90mm x 23.90mm Sensor Size
● 12 fps continuous RAW shooting
● 200 shot continuous buffer
● ISO 100-102400 (expandable to 50-3280000)
● 30-1/8000 sec shutter speed
● 153 focus points (99 cross type)
● 3.2 inch fixed LCD screen
● ±5 EV (in 1/3 EV, 2/3 EV, 1 EV steps)
● 4K Video at 30,24,25 fps
● 1080p video at 60,50,30,25,24 fps
● Dual XQD or CF card slots
● 3780 shots battery life on single full charge(claimed)
● USB 3.0(5gb/s), Type-C Mini HDMI, Ethernet, Audio In/Out
● 1415g heavy with battery
Source: dpreview
https://1.img-dpreview.com/files/p/E~TS589x442~articles/9189851572/P9840219_converted.jpeg
What's New (Nikon D5 vs Nikon D4s)
● Higher megapixel count 20.8 vs 16.2 MP
● Highest video resolution upgraded from 1080p at 60 fps to 4K at 30 fps
● Newer Image processor, Expeed 5 vs Expeed 4
● ISO stretched from 100-25600(50-409,600 expandable) to 100-102,400(50-3,280,000 expandable)
● More focus points, 153 vs 51 (99 vs 15 cross type)
● 180,000 pixel vs 91,000 pixel metering sensor for accurate results
● Touchscreen vs Non-Touchscreen display
● 12 fps vs 11 fps continuous focus system
● 200 vs 104 continuous RAW buffer
● Slightly more battery at 3780 vs 3020 shots
● Higher transfer rate with USB, upto 5 gb/s vs 480mb/s
Source: photography life
https://cdn.photographylife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Nikon-D5-vs-D4s-Back.jpg
Built and Handling
The D5 is well built for professional use. Although if you are switching from a not so professional camera, you will feel it bulky and uncomfortable for a few days. The experience however is much better than other professional cameras like the Canon 1Dx. The grip is adequately wide and being a professional camera it offers a second grip with shutter button which makes the shooting in portrait much easier. There is an autofocus joystick that is well accessible by both the grips. The only thing i felt missing was an articulating screen. The body is weather sealed, ofcourse. The built is rock solid and looks durable.
Source: cnet
https://cnet3.cbsistatic.com/img/pqLTpu4OXZyw99rHR9VtNn8cNCE=/770x433/2016/01/05/2dc5ace8-96f7-4a13-ae0a-1f7f59d1c466/nikon-d5-6.jpg
Pros
● Image quality is excellent as you would expect out of a flagship camera. It is among the better ones if not the best money can buy.
● Low light performance is exceptional. This camera has the highest ISO you can get in a DSLR at this point of time. You won’t be using an ISO that high but it makes the ISO performance upto 12800 very impressive.
● You never need to worry about an extra battery or charger for this beast. At around 3700 claimed shots, this camera has insane battery life. It also records over one hour of HD video..
● 200 RAW buffer and 12 fps continuous shooting is a deadly combo. It is a treat for sports photographers. You cannot miss a frame with this speed. The buffer also recovers quickly.
● The option to use XQD cards offers blazing fast read-write speeds. What’s even more interesting is that both the slots except XQD cards.
● The built is robust and durable. It does not feel delicate or unsatisfying from any point.
Source: nikon
http://www.nikon.co.in/tmp/Asia/4016499630/3857477713/365508689/3015334490/1054978028/2206162141/1233394670/1790921346.jpg
Cons
● We still don’t have a high Megapixel count. With just 20.8 MP you may face some detail loss when you try to crop more than 100%.
● Although we have 4K video, the frame rate is limited to 30. I was expecting the camera to do 4K video at 60 fps considering the price it comes at.
● At times, the image quality on lower models like the D850 feels slightly more satisfying. This is a big point when you take the price difference in account.
● The screen is fixed. I would have loved if the screen could have been articulating one. It makes your photography experience especially during street photography a much smoother ride.
● You can only 3 minutes of 4K video at a time! Seriously! I don’t understand this one. A professional camera should have the ability to shoot longer videos, at least longer than 3 minutes.
● Peak ISO levels are a gimmick and you won’t and can’t use it to get usable photos. It makes the photos look grainy, colors are distorted and pictures lack detail.
Verdict
Nikon D5 is an excellent camera, no doubt on that. It is blazing fast to capture perfectly focused and detailed shots in any lighting conditions. It offers an insane battery life which you possibly won’t find in the market. Weather sealed body is ready to take any climate you throw at it. But is it worth of the price it comes at. I felt the Nikon D5 to be slightly overpriced to what it should be coming at. You can get similar performance and almost everything by paying a lot less. Nikon D850 is the best example as we found the performance to be very close to Nikon D5. All that said it will be best suited to Sports Photographers.
Score: 7.5/10
Alternates
● Nikon D850
● Canon 1DX
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