Recommended Nikon Z5 Settings

With the release of the budget-friendly Nikon Z5 full-frame camera, we now have a number of different options to choose from in the Nikon mirrorless line-up. Although the Nikon Z5 is aimed to be a lower-tier camera than the Z6, its image sensor, ergonomics, and the menu system are very similar to those of its bigger brother.

This also means that the complexity of the controls and the menu system is fairly similar between the two cameras. In this article, I will provide detailed information on what settings I use on the Nikon Z5 and shortly explain what some of the camera buttons and controls do. A downloadable settings file for the Z5 is also provided at the end of the article.

NOTE: This guide is applicable to Nikon Z5 firmware v1.01. If you are running an older version of Nikon firmware, please make sure to update it before you load the settings file below.

Here is a quick summary of the differences between the Z5 and Z6. First of all, despite the fact that both cameras have the same body size, the Nikon Z5 has a slightly simplified camera body, lacking a top LCD screen. Second, the Z5 has dual SD UHS-II memory card slots, while the Z6 has a single XQD / CFexpress slot. Third, there are differences in continuous shooting speed, with the Z6 managing up to 12 FPS, while the Z5 is limited to just 4.5 FPS. Fourth, the Z6 has superior video shooting capabilities, taking advantage of the full sensor width while the Z5 is limited to 1.7x crop. Fifth, the Z5 has a slightly inferior LCD screen with 1.04 million dots (2.1 million on the Z6). And lastly, there is a $600 difference in MSRP between the two cameras (although considering the current $200 promotion on the Z6, the difference is roughly $400 in the US). If you would like to find out more, check out our detailed Nikon Z5 vs Z6 article.