Nikon D5

The Nikon D5 is a full-frame DSLR from 2016, built around the Nikon F FX mount. It measures 160 x 159 x 92 mm and weighs 1415 g, so it is a substantial body that you carry deliberately rather than tuck into a small bag.

Its defining strengths are speed and low-light reach, with shooting at up to 12 fps, 153 autofocus points and an ISO range from 100 up to 102400. That combination suits sports, wildlife and low-light assignments, and the optical pentaprism viewfinder gives a clear, direct view for timing fast moments.

Owning it involves a weather-sealed body, a 3.2-inch touchscreen and dual card slots, plus support for external flash units rather than a built-in flash.

The D5 pairs a 20.8-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor with the Expeed 5 processor. That resolution keeps files and card usage manageable on long shoots, though it leaves less room for heavy cropping. Our Optics score of 72 rates the camera's optics as good, placing it in the top 21% of cameras in our database for Optics.

Speed is the headline here. The shutter reaches 1/8000 s, quick enough to freeze rapid motion, and the camera fires at up to 12 fps with 153 autofocus points available.

Sensitivity runs from ISO 100 to 102400, giving latitude to keep shutter speeds usable in dim arenas, evening events or under stadium lighting. The wide top end extends shooting into very dim conditions.

There is no in-body stabilisation, so shake reduction must come from the lens or from how you support the camera. In practice you lean on faster shutter speeds, steadier technique or a support when the light drops.

The D5 records 4K video and saves files in the MOV format, a common choice for editing workflows. Recording is framed through live view on the rear screen.

Frame rates reach up to 30 fps, the camera's maximum. That covers normal playback motion, but with no higher frame rate available there is no native slow-motion capture from the camera itself.

A built-in timelapse feature handles interval shooting inside the camera, so you can condense hours into a short sequence without extra triggering gear.

Our Video score of 70 rates the camera's video capability as good, reflecting its 4K resolution, 30 fps maximum and built-in timelapse. That level suits occasional clips and short documentary pieces alongside your photography.

The 3.2-inch touchscreen carries 2,359,000 dots, so images look crisp during playback and live view checks. Touch input lets you navigate menus and settings directly.

The screen is fixed in place with no tilting or flipping, so framing at overhead or waist-level angles takes more physical effort.

Weather sealing helps protect the body against dust and moisture in the field. There is no built-in flash, but the camera supports external flash units, and there is no GPS, so location data must come from another source.

WiFi is built in, while Bluetooth is absent, so there is no low-power pairing option. The Features score of 74 rates this set as good: strong on display and protection, lighter on connectivity extras.

Two card slots sit inside the body, and supported media runs to CompactFlash and XQD cards. Because those are different formats, you will likely need to stock both card types and carry suitable readers, which is worth remembering when buying media.

The EN-EL18a battery carries a rating of 3780 shots per charge. Real endurance shifts with how you shoot, but that figure underpins an exceptional Storage & Battery score of 87, alongside the dual card slots.

Charging happens outside the camera, as there is no USB charging. Plan to top the battery up in its charger between shoots, and a spare makes sense if you work full days away from power.