Top 5 BEST Nikon Cameras in 2025

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We round up the best Nikon cameras you can buy today

Which Nikon camera is the best for you? That greatly depends on the type of camera you want, but the established camera manufacturer undoubtedly offers a wide variety of choices for photographers and filmmakers of all backgrounds, abilities, and price ranges.

Nikon is fully committed to creating some of the greatest mirrorless cameras by 2025. One of the greatest high-end cameras available is the Nikon Z8, a true all-arounder with crisp 45MP stills and 8K video. If you are interested in appearance, the Nikon Zf is a stunning camera with amazing functionality. When it comes to crop-sensor cameras, the Nikon Z50 II is a great value if your budget is tight.

Don’t overlook Nikon’s vintage DSLRs if you’re a photographer first and foremost. Top models like the Pro D850 are still available new in 2025, and there are many great deals to be found in the secondhand market. You can be sure that you will find the finest Nikon camera for you below, regardless of your budget. Check out our list to learn more, along with helpful buying advice and links to the greatest offers.

Table of Contents

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1. Nikon Z6 III

The Z6 series is Nikon’s mid-range option for people looking for a full-frame mirrorless camera with outstanding handling and build quality, excluding the entry-level Z5. And because the Z6 III, its third generation model, was an unexpectedly big improvement over the Z6 II, Nikon overtook Canon and Sony in our list of the best mirrorless cameras to buy.

With a 24.5MP full-frame sensor that is similar to the Z6 II’s for detail and great in low light, the mid-range model is a true multipurpose tool. However, it is a partially stacked version with faster performance and a better handling on rolling shutter distortion. As a result, this powerful camera can shoot run-and-gun videos with a maximum output of 6K up to 60 frames per second, as well as handle fast-moving action with high frame rates and outstanding subject identification autofocus (even animals and cars). With the sensor, Nikon didn’t stop. Additionally, it unveiled their brightest-ever 5.76m-dot EVF, which is stunning, we assure you.

Although it’s not flawless, we think the Z6 III is the greatest Nikon camera for the majority of users. The Z6 II is currently a relative steal for stills-focused customers who won’t use the additional video and speed-focused capabilities of the Z6 III, while the more expensive Nikon Z8 sports a 45MP sensor with higher detail and is still more powerful (albeit larger and heavier). Nonetheless, the Z6 III is possibly Nikon’s camera that makes the most sense if you frequently take pictures and videos. It’s very amazing.

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2. Nikon Z50 II

The Nikon Z50 II, which builds on the original Z50 with some great performance and video-based enhancements, is a terrific hybrid mirrorless camera for the money. Even while the Z50 II has the same 20.9MP crop-sensor (APS-C) as its predecessor, it is a far more powerful and feature-rich camera thanks to Nikon’s most recent Expeed 7 processor. As such, it is a restricted upgrade for customers who are primarily interested in still photography.

The Nikon flagship Z9’s best focusing technology, which offers the same subject detection settings for people, animals, and more, is still a noteworthy feature. Additionally, there are design changes that significantly enhance the user experience; during testing, we particularly liked the larger-than-normal 3.2-inch vari-angle touchscreen. Then there are the video-based enhancements, which include a useful focusing mode for vlogging that is similar to Sony’s Product Showcase mode, 4K 60p oversampled from 5.6K, and the option for N-Log flat color profiles. This combination is really potent.

The Z50 II’s drawback against competitors is evident: while its great low light image quality, its 20.9MP sensor cannot provide the same level of detail. Additionally, there is no in-body image stabilization, which would have been fantastic but is a given at this price range. Aside from its low resolution, the Z50 II is a competitive entry-level Nikon camera that offers great value and is on par with the top cameras for novices.

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3. Nikon Z8

The Nikon Z8 is marketed as the “baby Z9,” although the flagship Z9, which we named the 2022 camera of the year, isn’t much more capable than the Z8. Given that the Z8 is a much smaller and less expensive model, it’s really amazing. In our opinion, it’s the best option for the majority of professionals and one of the most powerful mirrorless models available from any company at the moment. We tested the Z8 in a variety of settings, including sports, wildlife, landscape, and video, and we always found it to be a very capable camera. Thanks to its 45.7MP full-frame sensor and amazing 8K video, it captures incredibly fine still images.

The Sony A7R V, with its 61MP sensor, may boast the best-in-class detail, but the Nikon Z8 is twice as quick and more versatile. For extreme speed, the Z8 uses an electrical sensor instead of a mechanical one, just like the Z9.

Its stacked sensor virtually eliminates rolling shutter distortion, allowing for smooth video and unlimited 20 fps burst shooting. You can even shoot stills at 120 frames per second if you’re content with an 11MP output. Both battery life and video recording duration are inferior to the powerful Z9, and other cameras have superior in-body image stabilization technology. But for the price, it’s hard to find a better camera—the Z8 is a true champion.

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4. Nikon Zf

With its X-series, Fujifilm has dominated the vintage camera market for many years. Next, the Nikon Zf, a stunning camera based on the 1980s Nikon FM2, was introduced. You won’t find a better mirrorless camera for those who want vintage styles because it has exposure controls on top and is more robustly built than the less expensive Nikon Zfc. We appreciate that the Zf is designed to work with vintage lenses. Its subject detection manual focus features make it easier than ever to focus manually with old lenses. Unfortunately, there aren’t many Z-mount retro lenses available for the Zf, so you’ll need to go elsewhere, such as Voigtlander.

In the digital age, the Nikon Zf is a very good camera, but most people will be drawn to it for its appearance—we were captivated by it during our hands-on experience. As with the Nikon Z6 II, you get a full-frame 24.5MP sensor with a high ISO performance that has been proved to work well. Additionally, the Zf has Nikon’s best in-body image stabilization up to 8 stops.

Then there are the contemporary features like Nikon’s excellent topic recognition autofocus and a vari-angle touchscreen that can be folded away to make it look like you have a film camera. The Nikon Zf is a real delight to shoot with, and you’ll want to pick it up again and again. However, we would have preferred the higher-resolution Z7 II to be used here, and you’ll probably want to think about an optional handgrip to improve handling.

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5. Nikon Z5

Nearly identical to the more expensive Nikon Z6, this small full-frame camera is possibly the best entry-level mirrorless camera Nikon has ever made. For novices or enthusiasts, it’s a feature-rich choice that can easily handle a variety of topics. During testing, its 24MP sensor’s handling and image quality as well as its 273-point focusing system—which includes a quick and easy Eye AF for taking stunning portraits—wowed us.

Surprisingly high-end features are also included, particularly the durable, weather-sealed casing, even though the top LCD plate from the Z6 is gone. A beautiful 3.2-inch tilting touchscreen and a high-resolution EVF are also included. It has a similar appearance to the Z6 and Z7 bodies overall, but it has a 24- to 50mm kit lens that retracts when not in use, which makes it an excellent travel or walkaround camera.

Its 4K footage has a poor 1.7x crop, and its burst rate of 4.5 frames per second isn’t competitive with some of the competitors. Still, we heartily endorse the Z5 for anyone wishing to begin their photographic career or for a truly competent all-arounder.

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Selecting the ideal Nikon camera for you can be challenging due to the brand’s lengthy history. With features that rival those of smartphones, each of its camera types— DSLR, mirrorless, and bridge compact—offers something different for photographers and filmmakers. However, its waterproof and ‘vintage’ digital compacts have been discontinued.

New Nikon DSLRs and bridge cameras are still on the market, and you can find some excellent discounts on them. The market for used DSLRs is thriving, and people who decide to buy a DSLR are instantly presented with a vast selection of Nikon F-mount lenses. However, we would advise going with mirrorless if you want the newest and finest technology, as Nikon is now only working on its mirrorless cameras.

There are many different needs and price ranges covered by our selection of the finest Nikon cameras. The Nikon Z8 is arguably the best Nikon camera available today for professionals. With the exception of battery life and video recording durations, it is far less expensive, smaller, and has nearly all of the same capabilities as the Z9 (and its competitors, Sony and Canon). With its excellent 8K video and 45MP stills, the Z8 is essentially the mirrorless version of the Nikon D850 DSLR. In addition to having in-body image stabilization, it has superior subject detection focusing compared to the D850.

With the Z9 and Z8, Nikon did something very revolutionary: they did away with the necessity for a mechanical shutter, allowing for unmatched speed and performance for both photography and video. It accomplished this by using a stacked sensor, which does away with the unsightly rolling shutter that electronic sensors can produce in situations involving fast speeds.

However, not everyone requires Z8 power; in this article, we’ve listed the top substitutes. For instance, the Z5 is the least expensive option, frequently available for a triple-digit sum, and the entry-level model is a good all-arounder if you want to see why everyone is so excited about full-frame.

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