The Sweet Spot
I've used every model in the current lineup except for the Zfc, ZR, and Z9, and the Z5II is the sweet spot for most of what most people do in most of the shooting. The EXPEED7 processor brings the menu and capabilities, if not quite all the speed, of the top pro-level cameras. The sensor produces image files that are as deeply rich and malleable as any. The build and weatherproofing are far beyond what "entry-level" used to mean. A superb, incredibly capable bargain.