Nikon's Z5IIC Drops the Viewfinder for a $1,399.95 Full-Frame Camera, ₹1,39,995 in India
The screen-first camera keeps the Z5II's 24.5MP sensor and EXPEED 7 processor, adds scene modes and Imaging Recipes, and goes on sale in mid-October.
Nikon has announced the Z5IIC, a full-frame mirrorless camera that removes the electronic viewfinder from the existing Z5II and costs $1,399.95 body-only in the US, the same launch price as the original Z5 from 2020. In India it costs ₹1,39,995 body-only, with sales through Nikon outlets from mid-October 2026 in black and silver (MySmartPrice, FoneArena).
What "casual" means here
Nikon says the C stands for casual. The Z5IIC keeps the Z5II's 24.5MP backside-illuminated full-frame sensor and EXPEED 7 processor, the platform used in the flagship Z8 and Z9, but drops the viewfinder entirely, betting that buyers moving up from phones are used to composing on a screen. Nikon aims it at people who want much better image quality than a phone without the complexity of a traditional mirrorless system.
In place of the viewfinder come beginner-friendly features: 15 Scene Modes, a first for a Nikon full-frame body, for portraits, pets, food or night landscapes; a dedicated button for Imaging Recipes, preset looks downloadable from Nikon Imaging Cloud; and an in-camera Film Grain effect.
The specs that matter for enthusiasts
| Specification | Nikon Z5IIC |
|---|---|
| Sensor | 24.5MP full-frame BSI |
| Processor | EXPEED 7 |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis in-body, up to 7.5 stops |
| Autofocus | Subject detection for 10 categories, including a new fish mode |
| Burst | About 14fps mechanical; up to 30fps electronic with Pre-Release Capture |
| Video | 4K up to 60fps (APS-C crop at 60), Full HD up to 120fps, internal 12-bit N-RAW |
| Screen | 3.2-inch vari-angle touchscreen, 1.04 million dots |
| Viewfinder | None |
| Weight | 620g with battery and card (press release); 538g body-only (spec sheet) |
Video is where the Z5IIC punches above its price: internal 12-bit N-RAW to an SD card makes it, by Nikon's framing, one of the least expensive full-frame cameras to record RAW video without an external recorder.
Price and availability
| Market | Body only | Kit |
|---|---|---|
| US | $1,399.95 | $1,699.95 with NIKKOR Z 24-50mm f/4-6.3 |
| India | ₹1,39,995 | - |
Additional soft bundles with a 26mm pancake or 40mm f/2 lens are available through some US retailers. In India, the viewfinder-equipped Z5II sells for ₹1,54,495, about ₹14,500 more, and Nikon continues to sell both.
What to watch next
Watch for full reviews of whether removing the viewfinder is the right trade at this price, particularly against the Z5II. Early launch coverage notes the grip and body stay substantial even without a viewfinder.
