Nikon D5

 

 

 

 Manufacturer description: 

 The D5 is the latest in the acclaimed series of flagship FX-format professional DSLR cameras. The D5 boasts a myriad of powerful new imaging innovations, including a Nikon-developed 20.8-megapixel CMOS sensor, an all-new 153-point AF system, 4K UHD video capture and EXPEED 5 image processing to give photographers the best balance of performance, precision and low-light ability.

The Nikon D5 offers an unprecedented native ISO range, from 100 to 102,400, reinforcing the D-series reputation as the leader of low-light image capture. The D5 also realizes unprecedented image quality in the high-sensitivity range between ISO 3200 and 12800 and, for extreme low-light shooting, is expandable from 50 (Lo-1) to a staggering ISO 3,280,000.
The Multi-CAM 20K AF sensor module offers superior AF performance with 153 AF points, including 99 cross-type sensors - triple the AF points from Nikon’s previous flagship, the D4S. Of these 153 points, 55 AF points/35 cross-type points are selectable by photographers to quickly and easily frame any shot. The system is configurable in 153, 72 and 25-point coverage when used with Continuous AF, allowing for stellar AF tracking performance of even the most rapidly moving subjects throughout the frame. Fifteen of the AF points are also functional up to f/8, further aiding those who require extreme telephoto capabilities, including wildlife photographers. This all-new AF system is coupled with a new 180K pixel RGB metering system and Advanced Scene Recognition System, helping to achieve optimally balanced exposures and accurate white balance in even the most challenging light.

The Nikon D5 delivers with rugged construction and robust weather sealing, coupled with a familiar yet enhanced Nikon interface. A new 3.2” 2359K dot XGA LCD adds touchscreen functionality, allowing the user to easily pinch, zoom, swipe and scrub in playback, and also enter text faster than ever before. Being the champion of low-light, it is only natural that additional buttons and dials illuminate for enhanced visibility, while two additional Function buttons have been added for increased customization. The camera also features a Quick Release Mode setting for rapid access to release mode settings. Additionally, a new shutter and mirror sequencing mechanism nearly eliminates blackout time and mirror slap for bright, consistent views during high-speed shooting.
Further enhancing speed, the D5 is able to utilize the superior read and write speed of XQD memory cards, which are up to 35% faster than CF cards. To appeal to a wide variety of photographers, the D5 will be available in two versions; with either dual XQD card slots or with dual CF card capability. For maximum efficiency the camera is also capable of shooting smaller RAW Size S or M file types (12-bit, uncompressed), for greater flexibility when transferring batches of files from the field, while retaining image integrity. Photographers can also use the built in 1000 Base-T 400MBps Ethernet connection for image transfer, with speeds up to 1.5x faster than D4S.
he Nikon D5 is the first Nikon DSLR capable of capturing 4K UHD video (3840x2160 at 30p), letting users create stunning ultra-high definition video with beautiful clarity and color. Multimedia content creators can also use the D5 to create 4K time-lapse videos in-camera using the Time-lapse Movie function, and can create 8-megapixel still images from frame grabs. A great addition to any production environment, the D5 includes all of the most popular pro-level features of the Nikon D810, including Full HD 1080p video at a variety of frame rates, uncompressed HDMI out, simultaneous live view and headphone/microphone connections. Additionally, the D5 adds a feature to smooth exposure transitions using the Auto ISO function as well as exposure compensation to create natural-looking exposure transitions in video.

● 12 FPS with AF and AE tracking (14 FPS with locked-up in the lab)
● 200-frame buffer at these speeds, even in 14-bit uncompressed raw (with a fast enough card).
● 153 AF points that are rated down to LV -4 (full moonlight on sand).
● Touch Screen
● ISOs to 102,400 as regular ISOs, expandable to ISO 3,276,800 as "HI +5."
● Controls radio slaves.
● 4K video.
● Can shoot stills during video.
● Comes in two versions: either with two CF-card slots or with two XQD slots.

Missing

● No exposure MODE button near the shutter release; it's been moved off to the left side of the camera and an ISO button appears in its place.
● No lock on power switch; easy to knock on or off by accident and miss shots.
● Only 20 MP (5,568 x 3,712 pixels native); you still have to buy a D810 for high resolution.
● No auto brightness control for the LCD. The D4s has this.
● Still no full-frame AF; it may have a lot of points, but they're all in the center of the image.
● No Wi-Fi unless you buy something.
● Still no sane replacement of Nikon's idiotic Custom Settings Banks, which has been a core incompetancy of Nikon since they introduced these in 2003. There are no U1, U2, U3 (or C1, C2, C3 or M1, M2, M3 etc.) modes so we can save and recall camera settings. As-is, there is no way to save camera settings immediately; the Custom Banks are re-written every time you set the camera with no way to lock them!

Lens Compatibility

With a built-in AF motor and an aperture feeler for manual-focus lenses, the Nikon D5 works with all Nikon lenses made since 1977, and if AI-updated, all the way back to 1959!
Like most Nikon DSLRs, the D5 automatically corrects for any lateral color fringes in any lens, and for just about all Nikon lenses introduced in the past 20 years (any AF-D, AF-I, AF-S or G lens), also can automatically correct for lens distortion and corner light falloff. While it won't correct distortion with Nikon AI and AI-s manual focus lenses, it does provide full color Matrix metering, EXIF data and auto and manual exposure. Got a set of Nikon lenses from 39 years ago? You're already good to go with the D5; they'll look great.
The D5 works perfectly with every AF lens made since 1987,which means AF, AF-I, AF- and AF-S; G, E and D.
It also works great with AI and AI-S manual-focus lenses, and if you update the really old ones to AI, all Nikon's SLR lenses from as far back as 1959 work just fine with color matrix metering and manual and aperture-priority auto exposure and full EXIF data.
It doesn't work with Pronea (IX-NIKKOR), lenses for the ancient F3AF or with non-AI lenses, none of which fit properly.
The electronic rangefinder works with lenses as slow as f/5.6. There are also 9 selectable focus points that will work with lenses as slow as f/8.
More at Nikon Lens Compatibility and Nikon FX Lens Recommendations.

Specifications

Frame Rates

C_H (Continuous High): 12 FPS with full AF and AE. (14 FPS with mirror locked-up in a laboratory with no metering or focussing.
C_L (Continuous Low): selectable 1 to 10 FPS.
Q_C (Quiet Continuous): 3 FPS.

Sensor

35.9 x 23.9 mm CMOS.
Ultrasonic cleaner.

Image Sizes

FX (24 x 36mm)
5,568 x 3,712 (L), 4,176 x 2,784 (M), 2,784 x 1,856 (S).

5:4 (24 x 30mm)
4,640 x 3,712 (L), 3,472 x 2,784 (M), 2,320 x 1,856 (S).

1.2x (20 x 30mm) 4,640 x 3,088 (L), 3,472 x 2,312 (M), 2,320 x 1,544 (S).

DX (16 x 24mm) 3,648 x 2,432 (L), 2,736 x 1,824 (M), 1,824 x 1,216 (S).


Stills shot during video
3,840 x 2,160 when shooting 4K.
FX cropped to 16:9 (5,568 x 3,128 (L), 4,176 x 2,344 (M) or 2,784 x 1,560 (S)) when shooting 1080 or 720 video.

DX cropped to 16:9 (3,648 x 2,048 (L), 2,736 x 1,536 (M) or 1,824 x 1,024 (S)) when shooting 1080 or 720 video.

1,920 x 1,080 when shooting any of the 1080 cropped modes.

ISO

ISO 100 to 102,400, expandable from ISO 50 ("LO -1") to ISO 3,276,800 ("HI + 5").

Auto ISO

White Balance

All with individual fine-tuning:
Auto (3 types).
Incandescent.
Fluorescent (7 types).
Direct sunlight.
Flash.
Cloudy.
Shade.
Preset manual.
   6 stored presets.
   Spot white balance also with live view.
Kelvin (2,500 K to 10,000 K).

Color Spaces

sRGB and Adobe RGB.

File Formats

NEF (Raw): 12 or 14 bit (lossless compressed, compressed or uncompressed); large, medium, and small pixel sizes (medium and small images are recorded at a bit depth of 12 bits using lossless compression)
JPG: Fine (approx. 1:4), Normal (approx. 1:8) or Basic (approx. 1:16) compression. Usual optimal quality or fixed size options.
RAW+JPG
RGB TIFF

Video Frame Rates and Sizes

3,840 x 2,160 (4K): 29.97p, 25p or 23.976p.
1,920 x 1,080: 59.94p, 50p, 29.97p, 25p, 23.976p.
1,920 x 1,080 cropped-sensor; 59.94p, 50p, 29.97p, 25p, 23.976p.
1,280 x 720; 59.94p, 50p.
You can select high or normal quality at all these, except only normal at 4K.
H.264/MPEG-4
.MOV

Audio

Stereo Linear PCM with movies.
Separate mic for voice notes.

Autofocus

Same as the D500:
Face-Priority AF; should automatically find faces and focus on them.
153 AF points.
Work down to LV -4, which is full moonlight on sand.
Only 99 of these are cross-type.
Only 15 sensors work with f/8 lenses.
You can't select all these manually; you only can select 55 of them. Of these selectable 55; 35 are cross-type sensors and only 9 work at f/8.
Multi-CAM 20K AF sensor module.

Finder

100% coverage. (only 97% in DX and 1.2x crop; only 97% horizontal in 4:5 crop.)
0.72x magnification with 50mm lens.
17mm eyepoint.
-3 to +1 diopters.

Shutter

30s to 1/8,000, Bulb.

Remote Release

10-pin Nikon remote terminal for things like optional WR-R10 (requires WR-A10 WR Adapter) or WR-1 Wireless Remote Controller, GP-1/GP-1A GPS Unit, or GPS device compliant with NMEA0183 version 2.01 or 3.01 (requires optional MC-35 GPS Adapter Cord and cable with D-sub nine-pin connector)
Won't work with the ML-L3.

Flash

Flash Sync
1/250 sync speed.

Flash Control
Nikon's usual i-TTL.

PC (Prontor-Compur) Sync Terminal
Yes; ISO 519.

Radio Trigger
Supposedly built in.

Light Meter

TTL RGB.
180k pixels.
3D Color Matrix.
20mm, 15mm, 12mm or 8mm diameter center-weighted. (only the 12mm circle works with old manual-focus AI lenses.)
4mm spot at the selected focus point (only the center point with old manual-focus AI lenses).

 

Meter Range

LV -3 ~ +20.
Spot meter: LV 2 ~ 20.

Live View

Yip, for stills and movies with the usual options.

LCD Monitor

3.2" (8cm) TFT.
Touch sensitive.
2,359,000 dot (XGA).
170° viewing angle.
100% frame coverage.
NO AUTO BRIGHTNESS CONTROL.

Storage

Comes in two versions:
CF card version: Two slots for the usual Type 1 UDMA 7 CF cards. The slots are too thin for the old microdrives.
XQD card version: Two slots for XQD cards.
Both have the usual options for the two cards: dual (backup), sequential (overflow), RAW/JPG, etc.

Connectors

USB 3.0 Micro-B.
Type C HDMI.
3.5mm stereo audio input with plug-in power.
3.5mm stereo audio output.
10-pin Nikon remote: for things like optional WR-R10 (requires WR-A10 WR Adapter) or WR-1 Wireless Remote Controller, GP-1/GP-1A GPS Unit, or GPS device compliant with NMEA0183 version 2.01 or 3.01 (requires optional MC-35 GPS Adapter Cord and cable with D-sub nine-pin connector)
Peripheral connector for WT-6/A/B/C, WT-5A/B/C/D Wireless Transmitters.
RJ45 for Ethernet:

Ethernet

400MBps maximum
RJ45.
IEEE 802.3ab (1000BASE-T)
IEEE 802.3u (100BASE-TX)
IEEE 802.3 (10BASE-T)
10/100/1000 Mbps with auto detect

Power

EN-EL18a Rechargeable Li-ion Battery, same as D4s.
Rated to 3,780 shots per charge.
Optional EH-6b AC Adapter, which needs an EP-6 Power Connector.

Size

6.3 x 6.3 x 3.7 inches.
160 x 158.5 x 92 millimeters.

Weight

CF card version
49.9 oz. (1,415 g. or 3 lbs., 1.9 oz.) with battery and two CF cards.
43.8 oz. (1,240 g. or 2 lbs., 11.8 oz.) stripped.

XQD card version
49.6 oz. (1,405 g. or 3 lbs., 1.6 oz.) with battery and two XQD cards.
43.6 oz. (1,235 g. or 2 lbs., 11.6 oz.), stripped.

Included

Camera
BF-1B Body Cap
BS-3 Accessory Shoe Cover
EN-EL18a Rechargeable Li-ion Battery and BL-6 Battery Chamber Cover
MH-26a Battery Charger
UC-E22 USB Cable
AN-DC15 Strap
USB Cable Clip
HDMI Cable Clip
DK-27 Eyepiece Adapter
DK-17F Fluorine-Coated Finder Eyepiece

Quality

Made in Japan.

Environment, operating

0 to 40°C (32 to 104°F).
85% or less RH, no condensation.

Announced

Tuesday, 05 January 2016, 3PM NYC time.
("Development Announcement:" 18 November 2015.)

Promised for

March 2016.

Price, USA

January 2015
$6,497 for either of the two CF-card slot or two XQD slot versions.

Performance

Nikon isn't shipping these until March 2016, so no one really knows because Nikon's still finishing the design.
Sad to me is that there is zero innovation here; while Canon adds new features like the ability to shoot-through flickering arena and stadium lighting, the D5 seems like the same thing as a D4s with one more frame per second.
Disheartening is that the same horrible Custom Settings Bank system has not yet been replaced with any real way to save and recall camera settings immediately, and the scariest thing is that Nikon moved the critical MODE button to the left side of the camera, making what used to be the MODE button now the ISO button. I expect we will be able to reprogram these, but if not, I'll be darned if I'll have to use a second hand to swap between Program and Aperture Priority and Manual modes.
ISOs and resolution ratings haven't been relevant since about 2007, so don't get hung up on any of that. All that matters is how hot and fast is the AF system and how quickly we can set the camera. With no instant save and recall ability, resetting the camera from one type of shot or from gig to gig becomes much more of a pain than it is on a D750.
We'll all have to wait until March for real, shipping cameras. Nikon's back-pocket PR puppets that are given free pre-production cameras in exchange for glowing reviews obviously don't count.

Belanove K Binu

About The Author
Belanove is a Software Engineering Student and a photographer who has spent the last 5 years Researching and Understanding Dslrs & Technology
but has never hacked DSLR and specializes in writing about  Photography Products and Emerging photography technology.
When not writing for DSLR360, Belanove Conducts photography classes online,Goes out for bird watching,Wildlife photography and off course Attends college.