The Nikon Z50 is a 20.9 megapixel mirrorless camera – the first time the company has used an APS-C sensor behind its new, larger “Z” lens mount. According to the company, the camera is intended to appeal to a generation of users who don’t consider themselves photographers. The Nikon Z50 is the first generation Z-mount DX mirrorless camera with an APS-C sensor.
Along with two compact DX lenses designed specifically for the camera, the Nikon Z50 offers many compelling features that put it above entry-level DSLRs like the Nikon D3500 and D5600. Priced at $860 (MSRP), it competes directly with other mirrorless cameras on the market, such as the Sony A6400, Fuji X-T30 and Canon EOS M6 Mark II. We had the opportunity to test the Nikon Z50 with both DX lenses while traveling in the U.S. and Middle East over the past three months, so this review reflects extensive real-world experience.
With a 20.9MP DX sensor, a fast phase-detection autofocus system, a continuous shooting rate of 11 FPS, the ability to record high-quality 4K video at up to 30 FPS without cropping, and a compact and lightweight design with great body structure and ergonomics, the Nikon Z50 is certainly a waterproof camera worth considering for new and existing Nikon photographers. We are here with our Nikon Z50 review yon can read.
Nikon Z50 review: Design
Using the Z50 is essentially like using a miniature Z7/Z6. Nikon has done a good job of shrinking what was already a very small body to make it even more travel friendly. Naturally, some sacrifices have to be made to reduce the size: Gone is the top LCD plate that displays key settings, while the lack of a joystick for setting the AF point when using the viewfinder is also missing. Instead, you can use the directional keys to choose a selection point, which seems to take a long time.
We would appreciate the option to still use the screen while shooting through the viewfinder to set the AF point, something we’ve seen on other models on the market. If you use the Z50 with the 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 pancake lens, you have a very versatile and travel-friendly package. It won’t fit in your pocket, but it will slip nicely into a small bag. You’ll probably even find that you have plenty of room for the second lens if you opt for the dual lens kit, or one of the other existing Z lenses.
Nikon Z50 review: Features
At the heart of the Z50 is a 20.9MP sensor, which is joined by an Exped 6 processor – the same engine found in the Nikon Z6/Z7. Although it has the same number of pixels as the Nikon D500 DSLR, we are told that it is not the same sensor. The Expeed engine helps facilitate features like 4K video recording, as well as the native ISO range, which starts at ISO 50 and tops out at ISO 25600. Also joining the Z6’s party is the same hybrid autofocus system, with 209 AF points on the sensor that cover approximately 90% of the frame and promise to deliver edge-to-edge sharpness.
Sensitivity down to -4EV is promised for low-light shooting, and there’s also eye-detection AF, which should come in handy when photographing people; However, unlike similarly specced Sony models, there’s no Animal Eye AF. To compose your images, you have a choice of a 0.39-inch 2360k-dot electronic viewfinder or a tilting 3.2-inch TFT LCD screen, which is touch-sensitive. Unlike the Z6/Z7, it has the advantage of tilting forward from the bottom hinge, which makes it useful for selfies, but less to mount the camera on a tripod for Photography.
Nikon Z50 review: Portability
When Nikon announced that they were going to use the huge Z mount for an APS-C (DX) body, we was skeptical at first. Surely it would have been a better idea to make a separate DX mirrorless mount that uses one diameter like Fuji, Sony and Canon have done. However, the moment we picked up the Z50, we realized that all of my fears were totally unfounded.
The Z50 is delightfully portable, and while the Z mount itself looks comically large around that 1.5x crop sensor, the body and lenses themselves are perfectly sized. The entire 16-50mm kit lens and camera are small enough to fit easily into a compartment in your bag that might previously have been dedicated to a full-frame 24-70mm f/2.8 lens.
Nikon Z50 review: Image quality
The majority of photographers who purchase the Nikon Z50 may not be professionals, and as such are likely to rely more on direct in-camera JPEG conversions, rather than processing their own RAW files. So the first thing we focus on is the overall image quality of the Nikon Z50’s JPEGs, which produce some of the most impressive results in this segment.
The Z50 shoots well, with a 20.9-megapixel back-illuminated APS-C CMOS sensor combined with the Exped 6 image processor. On paper, the Z50 offers the lowest image resolution among competitors – the Canon EOS M6 II It has a 32.5-megapixel sensor, the Fujifilm X-T30 has a 26.1-megapixel sensor, and the Sony a6400 has a 24.2-megapixel sensor.
Nikon Z50 review: Performance
The Z50 can shoot at 11fps with autofocus and auto exposure. That’s impressive, but unfortunately, he couldn’t do it for long. Thanks to the UHS I card, I was only able to take 10-15 shots in RAW/JPEG mode before the buffer filled up completely, and it can take up to 20 seconds or more to clear. However, if you don’t need RAW and can shoot only in JPEG mode, you’ll hit faster speeds over a much longer period of time.
The Z50 has a silent shooting mode and you can use it for both single shot and burst mode. With the M6 Mark II, by comparison, you can only use silent mode for single shots. Speaking of the competition, Sony’s A6400 is the gold standard for autofocus on APS-C cameras, so how does the Z50 compare? It should work fine in theory, with a 209-point phase detection system similar to the Z6.
Battery Life and USB Charging
Lastly, while the Nikon Z50’s battery life is similar to or better than similar APS-C competition, we still wish Nikon could have designed a better battery for its DX system. Of course, it might have made the grip too big to try and use the Z6/Z7 battery. We will see what the battery technology of the future can do. My main complaint is one we also had with the Z6 and Z7, although they have a bigger and better battery: the Z50 lacks direct USB power capability.
On those cameras that offer this feature, you can get through a full day of filming, or even a multi-day trip, by simply plugging your camera into a USB and charging it even while the camera is on. Especially for shooting 4K video; simply leaving the camera connected to USB power 100% of the time is a fantastic option.
Nikon Z50 review: Autofocus and Video Quality
The area where Nikon has improved by leaps and bounds compared to its competitors over the years is autofocus, and the Z50 is a great example of this. The hybrid autofocus system has a 209-point module and generally works very accurately. In most situations, Nikon’s AF tracking system works flawlessly, even in situations of minute contrast differences. It locks onto the subject well and retains focus smoothly even if you change the focal length when using a zoom Nikon lens.
In comparative terms, the Nikon Z50’s autofocus system seemed to work much better than the Sony a6400’s, which had minor inconsistencies, and also the Fujifilm X-T30’s. We have yet to test the Canon EOS M6 II thoroughly. The same aspects are also reflected well in videography performance, and it is this that makes the Nikon Z50 one of the most versatile cameras out there. The Z50 produces excellent 4K video with oversampling at up to 30fps and can shoot 1080p video at up to 120fps.
Nikon Z50 review: Touch-control
When the screen is flipped down, physical button control is reduced to minimize accidental setting changes and the touch screen comes to the fore. The Z50’s screen is very responsive to touch and you can use it to make setting selections and adjustments via the main or info menu. However, one thing you can’t currently do is use the screen to set the AF point while looking in the viewfinder. That’s disappointing as there’s no joystick control either.
The Nikon UK representative indicated that there may be a firmware update to give the screen this functionality. As it stands, the AF point scrolls across the navigation panel as you look through the viewfinder. If you are using the screen, you can set the point with a touch of your finger. Interestingly, the Z50’s screen has a column of icons etched into its right side. These are touch-sensitive active buttons that give you access to useful functions, such as magnification control, help, and display options.
Final Words
Nikon Z50 is not just a scaled-down version of the Nikon Z6 and Z7. Nikon has done a remarkable job of giving such a small camera such a solid one-handed grip, but aside from the size of the camera, we were impressed by the 16-50mm pancake kit lens, which is one of the APS- thinner C. kit lens we’ve already seen and uses a ‘proper’ mechanical zoom instead of an electric zoom system.
