Nikon’s Cheaper Full-Frame Z5 IIC Cuts Features to Hit $1,399.95

The Z5 II starts at $1,849.95, so the Z5 IIC is $450 less expensive. The new model carries forward the Z5 II’s 24.5-megapixel backside illuminated full-frame sensor and uses the same EXPEED 7 image processing engine found in Nikon’s higher-end cameras. It also includes in-body image stabilization.

The camera can capture JPEG images at up to 30 frames per second with its electronic shutter, and it can capture images for up to a full second before the shutter button is pressed. It also has a mechanical shutter that can shoot up to 15 fps in JPEG mode. The Verge noted that this mechanical shutter feature is not found on the new $1,899 full-frame Canon EOS R8 Mark II.

To lower the price, Nikon removed the Z5 II’s electronic viewfinder from the Z5 IIC. The 3.2-inch articulated touchscreen’s resolution has been significantly reduced from 2.1 million to 1.04 million dots. The Z5 IIC also includes only a single UHS-II SD card slot, so there is no redundancy for captured images and videos. It lacks a joystick, requiring users to adjust autofocus points and navigate menus using a multi-directional controller.

The Verge reported that Nikon waited five years to update its full-frame Z5 to the Z5 II, but the company announced a new variant of last year’s upgrade that removes features instead of introducing improvements in order to make it more affordable for novice photographers. The Z5 IIC has a refreshed design and, according to The Verge, all of the original’s best core features.