Nikon Z5 vs Zeiss ZX1

The Nikon Z5 and the Zeiss ZX1 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in July 2020 and September 2018. The Z5 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, while the ZX1 is a fixed lens compact. Both cameras are equipped with a full frame sensor. The Nikon has a resolution of 24.2 megapixels, whereas the Zeiss provides 37.4 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Nikon Z5		Zeiss ZX1
Mirrorless system camera		Fixed lens compact camera
Nikon Z mount lenses		35mm f/2.8
24.2 MP, Full Frame Sensor		37.4 MP, Full Frame Sensor
4K/30p Video		4K/30p Video
ISO 100-51,200 (50 - 102,400)		ISO 80-51,200
Electronic viewfinder (3690k dots)		Electronic viewfinder (6221k dots)
3.2 LCD, 1040k dots		4.3 LCD, 2765k dots
Tilting touchscreen		Fixed touchscreen
4.5 shutter flaps per second		3 shutter flaps per second
In-body stabilization		no shake reduction
Weathersealed body		not weather sealed
470 shots per battery charge		250 shots per battery charge
134 x 101 x 67 mm, 675 g		142 x 93 x 46 mm, 800 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Nikon Z5 and the Zeiss ZX1? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Nikon Z5 and the Zeiss ZX1. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Zeiss ZX1 is somewhat smaller (2 percent) than the Nikon Z5. It is worth mentioning in this context that the Z5 is splash and dust resistant, while the ZX1 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the ZX1 has a lens built in, whereas the Z5 is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup.

The power pack in the Z5 can be charged via the USB port, so that it is not always necessary to take the battery charger along when travelling.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Nikon Z5	134 mm	101 mm	67 mm	675 g	470	Y	Jul 2020	1,399
2.		Zeiss ZX1	142 mm	93 mm	46 mm	800 g	250	n	Sep 2018	5,999
3.		Fujifilm X-T4	135 mm	93 mm	64 mm	607 g	500	Y	Feb 2020	1,699
4.		Leica Q2	130 mm	80 mm	92 mm	718 g	370	Y	Mar 2019	4,995
5.		Leica V-LUX 5	136 mm	97 mm	131 mm	812 g	350	n	Jul 2019	1,249
6.		Nikon Z7 II	134 mm	101 mm	70 mm	705 g	420	Y	Oct 2020	2,999
7.		Nikon Z6 II	134 mm	101 mm	70 mm	705 g	410	Y	Oct 2020	1,999
8.		Nikon Z6	134 mm	101 mm	67 mm	675 g	310	Y	Aug 2018	1,999
9.		Nikon Z7	134 mm	101 mm	67 mm	675 g	330	Y	Aug 2018	3,399
10.		Nikon D7500	136 mm	104 mm	73 mm	720 g	950	Y	Apr 2017	1,299
11.		Olympus E-M5 III	125 mm	85 mm	50 mm	414 g	310	Y	Oct 2019	1,199
12.		Panasonic FZ1000 II	136 mm	97 mm	131 mm	810 g	350	n	Feb 2019	899
13.		Panasonic G9	137 mm	97 mm	92 mm	658 g	400	Y	Nov 2017	1,699
14.		Panasonic FZ1000	137 mm	99 mm	131 mm	831 g	360	n	Jun 2014	899
15.		Sony A9 II	129 mm	96 mm	76 mm	678 g	690	Y	Oct 2019	4,499
16.		Sony A6600	120 mm	67 mm	69 mm	503 g	810	Y	Aug 2019	1,399
17.		Sony RX100 VI	102 mm	58 mm	43 mm	301 g	240	n	Jun 2018	1,199
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature a full frame sensor, but their sensors differ slightly in size. The sensor area in the ZX1 is 1 percent bigger. They nevertheless have the same format factor of 1.0. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors.

With 37.4MP, the ZX1 offers a higher resolution than the Z5 (24.2MP), but the ZX1 has smaller individual pixels (pixel pitch of 4.81μm versus 5.95μm for the Z5). It is noteworthy in this context that the Z5 is a somewhat more recent model (by 1 year and 9 months) than the ZX1, and its sensor might have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units.

The resolution advantage of the Zeiss ZX1 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the ZX1 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 37.4 x 25 inches or 95.1 x 63.4 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 30 x 20 inches or 76.1 x 50.7 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 25 x 16.6 inches or 63.4 x 42.3 cm. The corresponding values for the Nikon Z5 are 30.1 x 20.1 inches or 76.4 x 51 cm for good quality, 24.1 x 16.1 inches or 61.1 x 40.8 cm for very good quality, and 20.1 x 13.4 inches or 50.9 x 34 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Z5 has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

The Nikon Z5 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 51200, which can be extended to ISO 50-102400. The corresponding ISO settings for the Zeiss ZX1 are ISO 80 to ISO 51200 (no boost).

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Nikon Z5	Full Frame	24.2	6016	4016	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
2.		Zeiss ZX1	Full Frame	37.4	7488	4992	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
3.		Fujifilm X-T4	APS-C	26.0	6240	4160	4K/60p	..	..	..	..
4.		Leica Q2	Full Frame	46.7	8368	5584	4K/30p	26.4	13.5	2491	96
5.		Leica V-LUX 5	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
6.		Nikon Z7 II	Full Frame	45.4	8256	5504	4K/60p	..	..	..	..
7.		Nikon Z6 II	Full Frame	24.3	6048	4024	4K/60p	..	..	..	..
8.		Nikon Z6	Full Frame	24.3	6048	4024	4K/30p	25.3	14.3	3299	95
9.		Nikon Z7	Full Frame	45.4	8256	5504	4K/30p	26.3	14.6	2668	99
10.		Nikon D7500	APS-C	20.7	5568	3712	4K/30p	24.3	14.0	1483	86
11.		Olympus E-M5 III	Four Thirds	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
12.		Panasonic FZ1000 II	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
13.		Panasonic G9	Four Thirds	20.2	5184	3888	4K/60p	..	..	..	..
14.		Panasonic FZ1000	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	22.1	11.7	517	64
15.		Sony A9 II	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	4K/30p	25.0	14.0	3434	93
16.		Sony A6600	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/30p	23.8	13.4	1497	82
17.		Sony RX100 VI	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	..	..	..	..

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, and both provide the same movie specifications (4K/30p).

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The two cameras under review are similar with respect to both having an electronic viewfinder. However, the one in the ZX1 offers a substantially higher resolution than the one in the Z5 (6221k vs 3690k dots). The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Nikon Z5 and Zeiss ZX1 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Size (inch)	LCD Resolution (000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Mech Shutter Speed	Shutter Flaps (1/sec)	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Nikon Z5	3690	n	3.2	1040	tilting	Y	1/8000s	4.5	n	Y
2.		Zeiss ZX1	6221	n	4.3	2765	fixed	Y	1/1000s	3.0	n	n
3.		Fujifilm X-T4	3690	n	3.0	1620	swivel	Y	1/8000s	15.0	n	Y
4.		Leica Q2	3680	n	3.0	1040	fixed	Y	1/2000s	20.0	n	Y
5.		Leica V-LUX 5	2360	n	3.0	1240	swivel	Y	1/4000s	12.0	Y	Y
6.		Nikon Z7 II	3690	Y	3.2	2100	tilting	Y	1/8000s	10.0	n	Y
7.		Nikon Z6 II	3690	Y	3.2	2100	tilting	Y	1/8000s	14.0	n	Y
8.		Nikon Z6	3690	Y	3.2	2100	tilting	Y	1/8000s	12.0	n	Y
9.		Nikon Z7	3690	Y	3.2	2100	tilting	Y	1/8000s	9.0	n	Y
10.		Nikon D7500	optical	Y	3.2	922	tilting	Y	1/8000s	8.0	Y	n
11.		Olympus E-M5 III	2360	n	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/8000s	10.0	n	Y
12.		Panasonic FZ1000 II	2360	n	3.0	1240	swivel	Y	1/4000s	12.0	Y	Y
13.		Panasonic G9	3680	Y	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/8000s	20.0	n	Y
14.		Panasonic FZ1000	2359	n	3.0	921	swivel	n	1/4000s	12.0	Y	Y
15.		Sony A9 II	3686	n	3.0	1440	tilting	Y	1/8000s	10.0	n	Y
16.		Sony A6600	2359	n	3.0	922	tilting	Y	1/4000s	11.0	n	Y
17.		Sony RX100 VI	2359	n	3.0	1229	tilting	Y	1/2000s	24.0	Y	Y

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, both cameras under consideration feature an electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Nikon Z5 has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

The Z5 writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the ZX1 uses an internal SSD.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Nikon Z5 and Zeiss ZX1 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Microphone	Internal Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Nikon Z5	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.2	Y	-	Y
2.		Zeiss ZX1	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	-	3.1	Y	Y	Y
3.		Fujifilm X-T4	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	3.1	Y	-	Y
4.		Leica Q2	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	-	-	Y	-	Y
5.		Leica V-LUX 5	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
6.		Nikon Z7 II	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.2	Y	-	Y
7.		Nikon Z6 II	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.2	Y	-	Y
8.		Nikon Z6	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.1	Y	-	Y
9.		Nikon Z7	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.1	Y	-	Y
10.		Nikon D7500	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	Y	-	Y
11.		Olympus E-M5 III	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
12.		Panasonic FZ1000 II	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
13.		Panasonic G9	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	full	3.0	Y	-	Y
14.		Panasonic FZ1000	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
15.		Sony A9 II	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.1	Y	Y	Y
16.		Sony A6600	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	YES	2.0	Y	Y	Y
17.		Sony RX100 VI	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y

It is notable that the Z5 has a microphone port, which is missing on the ZX1. Such an external microphone input can help to substantially improve the quality of audio recordings when a good external microphone is used.

Both the Z5 and the ZX1 are recent models that are part of the current product line-up. Neither of the two has a direct predecessor, so perhaps they will constitute the origins of new camera lines for Nikon and Zeiss. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Nikon and Zeiss websites.

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is the Nikon Z5 better than the Zeiss ZX1 or vice versa? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

Arguments in favor of the Nikon Z5:

• Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
• Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
• Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.80x vs 0.74x).
• More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/1000s) to freeze action.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (4.5 vs 3 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
• More flexible: Accepts interchangeable lenses, so that lens characteristics can be altered.
• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (470 versus 250) on a single battery charge.
• Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
• Better sealing: Is weather sealed to enable shooting in dusty or wet environments.
• Sharper images: Has hand-shake reducing image stabilization built-in.
• Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.2 vs 3.1).

Advantages of the Zeiss ZX1:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (37.4 vs 24.2MP), which boosts linear resolution by 24%.
• More detailed viewfinder: Has higher resolution electronic viewfinder (6221k vs 3690k dots).
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (4.3" vs 3.2") for image review and settings control.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (2765k vs 1040k dots).
• Ready to shoot: Has an integrated lens, whereas the Z5 necessitates an extra lens.
• Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
• More prestigious: Has the Zeiss luxury appeal, which ensures a high resale value.

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the Z5 is the clear winner of the match-up (14 : 7 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Nikon Z5 and the Zeiss ZX1 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera and Best Prime Lens Compact Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the Z5 or the ZX1. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Nikon Z5	4/5	..	89/100	4.5/5	4/5	Jul 2020	1,399
2.		Zeiss ZX1	..	..	..	..	..	Sep 2018	5,999
3.		Fujifilm X-T4	5/5	+ +	..	5/5	5/5	Feb 2020	1,699
4.		Leica Q2	..	..	84/100	4.5/5	4/5	Mar 2019	4,995
5.		Leica V-LUX 5	..	..	..	4/5	4/5	Jul 2019	1,249
6.		Nikon Z7 II	4.5/5	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2020	2,999
7.		Nikon Z6 II	4.5/5	..	89/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2020	1,999
8.		Nikon Z6	5/5	..	..	4.5/5	5/5	Aug 2018	1,999
9.		Nikon Z7	5/5	+	89/100	4.5/5	5/5	Aug 2018	3,399
10.		Nikon D7500	4.5/5	+ +	86/100	5/5	4.5/5	Apr 2017	1,299
11.		Olympus E-M5 III	5/5	+	82/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2019	1,199
12.		Panasonic FZ1000 II	..	..	83/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2019	899
13.		Panasonic G9	..	+ +	85/100	5/5	5/5	Nov 2017	1,699
14.		Panasonic FZ1000	4/5	+ +	82/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2014	899
15.		Sony A9 II	..	..	90/100	5/5	5/5	Oct 2019	4,499
16.		Sony A6600	4/5	+	83/100	4.5/5	4/5	Aug 2019	1,399
17.		Sony RX100 VI	4.5/5	+ +	83/100	4/5	4.5/5	Jun 2018	1,199
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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Specifications: Nikon Z5 vs Zeiss ZX1

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

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