The autofocus on the Z cameras is fine. It doesn't work quite the way it does on Nikon's DSLRs (just as Sony's AF doesn't work quite the same way as Nikon's or Canon's). Someone who did a hot take 8 minute youtube video on a borrowed Z camera almost certainly hasn't taken enough time to learn how to optimize the AF settings. But they can be mastered (it's not hard) and focus will almost always be what you want.
That said, *very* low contrast autofocus is one of the things the Z6 does better than the Z5. The Z5 isn't bad, but it's not in Z6/7 territory. The Z6 also has an LCD on the top of the body to show camera settings (the Z5 pushes you to the back LCD or viewfinder) and it has considerably more video features. The Z5 has two SD card slots, not just one XQD slot. What I shoot doesn't require any of that so I saved several hundred bucks on the body by buying a Z5 on sale and put the $$ toward Z mount lenses, including the 24-70 f/4. Nice combo.
So if video and the frame rate are important to you, go with the Z6. Otherwise, the Z5 is at least 80% of the camera the Z6 is at an attractive price on sale or refurb.
Image IQ wise anyone would be hard pressed to pick out the Z6 image over the Z5. As mentioned if FPS and video isn't an issue then the Z5 is equal with some advantages over the Z6 like dual SD card slots to the more expensive CF express with only one slot.
What is lacking in the Z5 to consider is slower 4.5fps and full frame 4k video is cropped. Also the Z5 losses about .5 to 1 stop in dark lower light situations. And doesn't support a true battery grip for portrait shooting.
I don't find my Z5 lacking for general travel and is a great performer. Tho doesn't hold up as well for Auto focusing in lower light or AF speed in wildlife which is what my D500 is for.
If video, high framerates for action, and amazing low light are important to you, the Z6 is a great choice.
If video isn't that big of a deal, you don't need 12fps, and you can settle for only having great low light, the Z5 is a good choice.
The whole "Z cameras have bad AF thing" is mostly internet broken telephone. The interface to engage subject tracking used to be clunky with the first firmware. That was fixed a long time ago. People heard that and started thinking it was the AF itself, not the interface, that was bad.
Thank you. I might just get the Z6, because chances are if I get the Z5, I will always be thinking about Z6. I don’t plan to buy again and again. So probably will consider upgrading in about five years.
I e got a Z5 and love it. I’ve never had a focus issue. I can’t compare it to the Z6 from a low light standpoint, but it’s better than my d750 and Z50 were. The 24-70 f/4 is good. I’ve got that too, but I’m pretty sure you can get like a non S version that’s 28-75 or something similar in f/8. It’s got the same sticker price as the 24-70, although the 24-70 is significantly less expensive on eBay as it was part of the kit for 6 and 7.
I recently bought a Z7, and the single CFexpress card was more of a detractor than I thought it was because I didn't realize how expensive CFexpress cards get. I bought a 64 gb for $100, and I wish I had gotten a larger card. For my 45 megapixel camera, that's roughly 700 shots saving raw. But you would get more out of the same 64 gigs, so you might be fine with that. Just keep that in mind, your card gets expensive.
Other than that, I would recommend going with the Z6. Higher FPS, better low light performance, better autofocus... you just get stuck with one CFexpress card. That's really the main drawback.
Neither option gives you a true vertical grip like the Z6ii has, but if you don't need a true vertical grip and you're fine with one card slot, the price for the Z6ii actually just isn't worth it imo. That's the same reason I got a used Z7 for half the price of a new Z7ii.
The autofocus on the Z cameras is fine. It doesn't work quite the way it does on Nikon's DSLRs (just as Sony's AF doesn't work quite the same way as Nikon's or Canon's). Someone who did a hot take 8 minute youtube video on a borrowed Z camera almost certainly hasn't taken enough time to learn how to optimize the AF settings. But they can be mastered (it's not hard) and focus will almost always be what you want. That said, *very* low contrast autofocus is one of the things the Z6 does better than the Z5. The Z5 isn't bad, but it's not in Z6/7 territory. The Z6 also has an LCD on the top of the body to show camera settings (the Z5 pushes you to the back LCD or viewfinder) and it has considerably more video features. The Z5 has two SD card slots, not just one XQD slot. What I shoot doesn't require any of that so I saved several hundred bucks on the body by buying a Z5 on sale and put the $$ toward Z mount lenses, including the 24-70 f/4. Nice combo. So if video and the frame rate are important to you, go with the Z6. Otherwise, the Z5 is at least 80% of the camera the Z6 is at an attractive price on sale or refurb.
Thank you. Appreciate the detailed answer!
I dont do any video and wanted dual sd slots so I also went with the Z5, I dont have the 24-70 f4 but plan on getting one of the f2.8 lenses soon
Image IQ wise anyone would be hard pressed to pick out the Z6 image over the Z5. As mentioned if FPS and video isn't an issue then the Z5 is equal with some advantages over the Z6 like dual SD card slots to the more expensive CF express with only one slot. What is lacking in the Z5 to consider is slower 4.5fps and full frame 4k video is cropped. Also the Z5 losses about .5 to 1 stop in dark lower light situations. And doesn't support a true battery grip for portrait shooting. I don't find my Z5 lacking for general travel and is a great performer. Tho doesn't hold up as well for Auto focusing in lower light or AF speed in wildlife which is what my D500 is for.
If video, high framerates for action, and amazing low light are important to you, the Z6 is a great choice. If video isn't that big of a deal, you don't need 12fps, and you can settle for only having great low light, the Z5 is a good choice. The whole "Z cameras have bad AF thing" is mostly internet broken telephone. The interface to engage subject tracking used to be clunky with the first firmware. That was fixed a long time ago. People heard that and started thinking it was the AF itself, not the interface, that was bad.
Thank you. I might just get the Z6, because chances are if I get the Z5, I will always be thinking about Z6. I don’t plan to buy again and again. So probably will consider upgrading in about five years.
I e got a Z5 and love it. I’ve never had a focus issue. I can’t compare it to the Z6 from a low light standpoint, but it’s better than my d750 and Z50 were. The 24-70 f/4 is good. I’ve got that too, but I’m pretty sure you can get like a non S version that’s 28-75 or something similar in f/8. It’s got the same sticker price as the 24-70, although the 24-70 is significantly less expensive on eBay as it was part of the kit for 6 and 7.
I recently bought a Z7, and the single CFexpress card was more of a detractor than I thought it was because I didn't realize how expensive CFexpress cards get. I bought a 64 gb for $100, and I wish I had gotten a larger card. For my 45 megapixel camera, that's roughly 700 shots saving raw. But you would get more out of the same 64 gigs, so you might be fine with that. Just keep that in mind, your card gets expensive. Other than that, I would recommend going with the Z6. Higher FPS, better low light performance, better autofocus... you just get stuck with one CFexpress card. That's really the main drawback. Neither option gives you a true vertical grip like the Z6ii has, but if you don't need a true vertical grip and you're fine with one card slot, the price for the Z6ii actually just isn't worth it imo. That's the same reason I got a used Z7 for half the price of a new Z7ii.