Nikon Z fc Z fc Black 2021
Panasonic Lumix S S5 II Black 2023
What Buyers Say
Nikon Z fc Z fc Black 2021
The Nikon Zfc is widely praised for its retro design, intuitive manual controls, and excellent image quality, making it a favorite for travel and everyday photography. Users appreciate its compact, lightweight build and the fun of using physical dials, though many note the need for an add-on grip for comfortable handling. Common criticisms include the lack of in-body image stabilization and occasional autofocus struggles in low light, but overall sentiment is very positive, especially among enthusiasts and those nostalgic for film cameras.
Pros
- Retro design and styling
- Intuitive manual controls and dials
- Excellent image quality
- Compact and lightweight body
- Good battery life
Cons
- No in-body image stabilization
- Autofocus struggles in low light
- Needs add-on grip for comfortable hold
- Kit lens lacks manual aperture ring
- No built-in flash
Panasonic Lumix S S5 II Black 2023
The Panasonic Lumix S5II is overwhelmingly praised as a fantastic hybrid camera that finally brings phase-detect autofocus to the L-mount lineup. Users highlight its excellent video features, including a fan for unlimited recording, great stabilization, and beautiful color science, all at a very competitive price. A few long-term users report a shutter button issue, and some note the limited lens selection compared to Sony, but the vast majority consider it the best value full-frame camera under $2,000.
Pros
- Excellent phase-detect autofocus
- Great video quality and codecs
- Internal fan prevents overheating
- Outstanding image stabilization
- Beautiful color science
Cons
- Shutter button issue after extended use
- Limited lens selection compared to Sony
- APS-C crop in 4K 60p
- Rolling shutter at fast pans
- External monitor disables internal display info
Scores
Specifications
| Nikon Z fc Z fc | Panasonic Lumix S S5 II | |
|---|---|---|
| Sensor | ||
| Type | CMOS | CMOS |
| Size | aps-c | full-frame |
| Megapixels | 20.899999618530273 MP | 24.200000762939453 MP★ |
| ISO Range | 100 | 100 |
| Processor | EXPEED 6 | L2 |
| Autofocus | ||
| AF Points | ||
| AF Type | Phase Detection: 209 | Photo, VideoContrast Detection, Phase Detection: 779 |
| Eye AF | ✓ | ✓ |
| Animal AF | ✓ | ✓ |
| Subject Detection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Shooting | ||
| Burst (Mechanical) | 11 fps | 30 fps★ |
| Burst (Electronic) | — | 30 fps★ |
| Max Shutter | 1/4000 | 1/8000 |
| Electronic Shutter | ✓ | ✓ |
| Video | ||
| Max Resolution | 4K | 6K★ |
| 4K FPS | 30 fps | 60 fps★ |
| 1080p FPS | 100 fps | 100 fps |
| 10-bit | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Log Profile | — | ✓★ |
| RAW Video | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Codec | H.264 | H.264/H.265/MOV/MP4/ProRes 4:2:2/4:2:0 8/10-Bit |
| Display & EVF | ||
| Screen Size | 3" | 3" |
| Touchscreen | ✓ | ✓ |
| Articulating | ✓ | ✓ |
| EVF Resolution | 2.4M dots | 3.7M dots★ |
| Build | ||
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.39 kg★ | 0.66 kg |
| Battery Life | 300 shots | 370 shots★ |
| Connectivity | ||
| Wi-Fi | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| USB | USB Type-C | USB-C★ |
| HDMI | Micro-HDMI | HDMI Output |
| Hot Shoe | ✓ | ✓ |
Pros & Cons
Nikon Z fc Z fc Black 2021
- Strong connectivity (96th percentile)96th %ile
- Strong video (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong social proof (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong build (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
Panasonic Lumix S S5 II Black 2023
- Strong display (99th percentile)99th %ile
- Strong af (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong build (96th percentile)96th %ile
- Strong connectivity (96th percentile)96th %ile
Verdict
Scores 97 overall, wins 7 of 10 usage categories and 12 of 33 specs.