Think full-frame is just for pros? Nikon's affordable Z5 II C rewrites that script

The Z5 II C is a lighter version of the full-frame Nikon Z5 II, without a viewfinder Prices start at £1,349 / AU$2,399 (US pricing TBC), on-sale date mid-October It's available in black or black/silver colorways, and numerous lens kit options Nikon redefined entry-level full-frame cameras with the Z

<![CDATA[ <article> <ul><li><strong>The Z5 II C is a lighter version of the full-frame Nikon Z5 II, without a viewfinder</strong></li><li><strong>Prices start at £1,349 / AU$2,399 (US pricing TBC), on-sale date mid-October</strong></li><li><strong>It's available in black or black/silver colorways, and numerous lens kit options</strong></li></ul><p>Nikon redefined entry-level full-frame cameras with the Z5 II, which scooped our <a href="https://www.techradar.com/cameras/mirrorless-cameras/the-nikon-z5-ii-camera-of-the-year-2025">Camera of the Year 2025 award</a>. Now the company is upending the notion that full-frame is just for pros with its most affordable and compact model in this format yet, the Z5 II C. </p><p>As its name suggests, the Z5 II C is a ‘compact’ version of the Z5 II, and the key difference is that it doesn’t have a viewfinder (and it has a single card slot rather than dual slots). This means the ‘C’ model is smaller, lighter <em>and</em> cheaper. </p><p>It still has a tough magnesium-alloy body with a chunky grip, is sealed for dust and moisture resistance, and packs a healthy 3.2-inch, 2.1m-dot vari-angle LCD, all carried over from the Z5 II. The cameras share identical features too; the same 24.5MP full-frame sensor with image stabilization that’s rated up to 7.5EV.</p><p>Nikon UK's Training Specialist Ricci Chera briefed me on the camera ahead of its September 24 announcement and mid-October on-sale date, emphasizing that the Z5 II C is about choice, offering certain users the “benefits of full-frame, without paying for something they’re never going to use [a viewfinder]”.</p><p>Is Nikon onto something here? Is the £1,349 / AU$2,399 asking price (I'll update this article with US pricing when I have it) enough of a gap to tempt first-time buyers, or sway them from the Z5 II? </p><div style="min-height: 250px;"> <div class="kwizly-quiz kwizly-Wwn6oe"></div> </div> <script src="https://kwizly.com/embed/Wwn6oe.js" async></script><figure role="gallery"><figure><img src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oaPP4bMfsjKHkQeY9kJhGR-1920-80.jpg" alt="Person taking a photo of a plate of food with the Nikon Z5 II C mirrorless camera" /><figcaption><small role="credit">Nikon</small></figcaption></figure><figure><img src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QipSq8i3Lay8YpEKkdhJfR-1920-80.jpg" alt="Person taking the Nikon Z5 II C mirrorless camera out of their bag, they're having a park picnic" /><figcaption><small role="credit">Nikon</small></figcaption></figure></figure><h2 id="so-full-frame-is-for-beginners-now">So, full-frame is for beginners now?</h2><p>The low £1,349 / AU$2,399 asking price of the ‘C’ version seems pretty appealing, especially given the spec and features you're getting: the Z5 II C has the same sensor as the Z5 II and Nikon’s latest processor, while its subject-detection autofocus can recognize subjects even when they take up as little as 3% of the frame, and which is low-light sensitive to -10EV (with a new ‘fish’ detection mode added — that’s a first), </p><p>There's also 14fps with a mechanical shutter (30fps electronic) and 4K video with 12-bit N-RAW internal recording, and much more. Besides the <a href="https://www.techradar.com/cameras/mirrorless-cameras/panasonic-lumix-s9-review">Lumix S9</a>, I can't think of a better-value full-frame camera, and not one that launched for such a low price. </p><p>The price and compact size are the major selling points of this full-frame model, which Nikon says is about offering users "choice" — the pricier and larger Z5 II with a viewfinder and dual card slots, or the cheaper and smaller viewfinder-less Z5 II C. I get the logic. </p><p>However, I’d still stump up the extra cash for <a href="https://www.techradar.com/cameras/mirrorless-cameras/nikon-z5-ii-review">the Z5 II</a> — its viewfinder is bright, big and immersive, it has the extra card slot, and I personally don’t mind the extra size and 100g in weight (the Z5 II C is around 600g with card and battery inserted while the Z5 II is around 700g). </p><p>Video-first users and even smartphone upgraders who've never experienced a viewfinder might not feel the same way, and for them the Z5 II C could prove to be the wiser choice, and one of the hits of 2026. We'll bring you our review of Nikon's latest full-framer soon. </p><div data-widget-type="review" data-model-name="Nikon Z5 II"></div> </article> ]]>