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The Nikon Z5 II is an easy upgrade for better travel photos

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The Nikon S5 II camera sitting on a white surface
Rachel Dennis / The Manual

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Are you fed up with washed-out, grainy travel photos that didn’t quite capture the magic of moments abroad? You’re not the only one — I’ve struggled with my phone’s small sensors, screen glare, and scrambling for the best low-light settings. And while modern phone cameras can produce high-quality outdoor photos with a bit of finesse, there are ways to step up your travel photography game without going pro — enter the Nikon Z5 II. 

This full frame mirrorless camera has a large sensor for photorealistic accuracy, a tilting and rotating screen for mastering tough angles, and reliable autofocus technology. Travelers new to full-spec cameras can get great results in auto-mode, and the viewfinder preview is true to life, so you won’t have to guess how the photo will turn out. 

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I tested the Nikon Z5 II’s beginner-friendly features to see if they hold up to (or exceed) the quality and shooting experience of a camera phone. Top considerations included how quick it was to get started, how easy it was to produce a good shot, and whether the more intermediate features could outshine an Apple or Samsung counterpart. 

How the Nikon Z5 II holds up against phone cameras

The Nikon S5 II camera with the touchscreen extended
Rachel Dennis / The Manual

For starters, the Nikon Z5 II has a sensor that’s about 12 times larger than the iPhone 17 Pro’s wide camera. This is more than a theoretical spec. Sensor size determines the detail and quality of an image, and the larger a sensor, the better the results. Cell phones have small sensors to keep things compact, which leads to blurry images and poor results in low-light settings.

Here are a few more of my first impressions on how the camera handles relative to my smartphone: 

  • Ease of shooting: There’s something satisfying about the deep grip of the Z5 II, which makes it easier to keep the device steady rather than gripping my phone. It’s heavier than a smartphone at 620 grams, which gives it a grounding weight, but is less convenient than something that slips in your pocket like the 206-gram iPhone 17 pro. So I recommend carrying the Z5 II with a strap for the easiest access. 
  • Shot accuracy: Both the viewfinder and touchscreen LCD significantly outperformed my Samsung S24 Ultra in preview accuracy, which gave me more confidence that my lush forest and radiant sunset shots would turn out how I expected. The digital display can also tilt and pivot, so you can view the shot from tricky angles without tilting the camera itself.
  • Selfie quality: The Nikon Z5 II’s touch-screen display pops up, flips around, and makes it easy to frame yourself in a photo, without needing to compromise quality by using the phone’s front-facing, lower megapixel camera.  
  • Image quality: While a phone like the iPhone 17 can generate 48 MP images, they don’t have the natural clarity of the Nikon S5 II. When I cropped and expanded camera-captured images, they had a cleaner, smoother, more natural quality than my phone pictures. 

All things considered, I felt that the Nikon Z5 II was easier for capturing low-effort, high-quality photos, whereas my smartphone was more convenient in a pinch. Since I’m often capturing images in less-than-ideal lighting while traveling, the biggest relief was knowing the image would turn out relatively similar to what I saw in the viewfinder. 

While the mid-tier Nikon Z5 II and high-end iPhone and Samsung models sit in a similar price range, all the camera’s innovation is around capturing the perfect photo rather than spreading its technology thin over non-camera features. So when comparing the two on price alone, the Z5 II offers better photographic value. However, lens choice can significantly increase the price, since there isn’t a built-in lens like there is on a phone. 

So is the Nikon Z5 II worth the investment? As an easy-start travel camera that you can grow into, absolutely. But if you plan to use it just like your camera phone and never dive into it’s deeper features like full manual calibration, lens-swapping, or stabilization control, it may not offer much additional value to your travel photography kit.

How easy is the switch from a phone camera to Nikon Z5 II?

A person holding the Nikon S5 II camera in their hands outside
Rachel Dennis / The Manual

If you decide to give the Nikon Z5 a shot, the difficulty will depend on your preparedness. Here’s everything you need to know to get started with ease and avoid overwhelm: 

  • Gather necessary accessories: As a minimum, I suggest grabbing a camera strap, bag, SD card, and a lens if you only purchased the camera base (you can purchase a kit that comes with a lens as well). The Nikkor Z 24-50mm lens is both compact and versatile for travel photography if you’re shopping for one separately.
  • Get comfortable with auto-mode: Start simple and keep the mode dial on AUTO so the camera handles focus, color, and exposure on your behalf. This point-and-shoot approach splits the difference between convenient and art-worthy shooting. 
  • Learn the interface: I find unfamiliar menus and icons to be the most intimidating part of moving away from the camera phone. Nip this in the bud by learning the dials and screen after you’ve mastered auto-mode. The interface is surprisingly intuitive, similar to a smartphone, but even 10 minutes spent reading the manual can make a huge difference when you’re ready to level up.  

If the Nikon Z5 II is your first travel camera, it will be easier to master than you may assume, since full-power cameras like the Z5 II are more user-friendly than DSLR and mirrorless cameras of the past. And in my opinion, the pay-off makes travel photography more enjoyable, which made the switch easier. Being able to capture low light moments and use the tilting screen for the perfect angle made it easier to capture footage overall. 

There are plenty of photography tips and tricks to learn the Nikon Z5 II overtime. But they’re not necessary, as the camera will do most of the heavy lifting as you enjoy a point-and-shoot experience on auto mode. This smooth transition lets you focus on capturing the fleeting moment rather than getting lost in the nuance of settings, and I firmly recommend it to the ambitious beginner travel photographer. 

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Rachel Dennis
Rachel Dennis
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Full-time slow traveler sharing honest insights on nature, culture, and travel to help you plan informed memorable adventures Read Full Bio
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