Nikon Z50

The Replacement to Entry-Level DX DSLR is Already Here...

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BY NASIM MANSUROV 84 COMMENTS

LAST UPDATED ON OCTOBER 28, 2020

«  1. Overview and Specifications

 »
The Nikon Z50 is the first-generation Z-mount DX mirrorless camera with an APS-C sensor.
Announced on October 10, 2019, together with two compact DX lenses specifically designed
for the camera, the Nikon Z50 packs many attractive features, putting it above entry-level
DSLRs like Nikon D3500 and D5600. With its price point of $860 MSRP, it competes head-
to-head with other mirrorless options on the market such as the Sony A6400, Fuji X-T30, and
Canon EOS M6 Mark II. I had a chance to test the Nikon Z50 with the two DX lenses during
the past 3 months of traveling in the US and the Middle East, so this review reflects extensive
shooting experience in the field.
Sporting a 20.9 MP DX sensor, fast phase-detection autofocus system, 11 FPS continuous
shooting speed, ability to record high-quality 4K video at up to 30 FPS without any crop (Full
HD slow motion at up to 120 FPS) and a compact, lightweight construction with great body
build and ergonomics, the Nikon Z50 is certainly a serious camera to consider for new and
existing Nikon shooters.

The two Z mount DX lenses launched with the camera, the Nikon Z DX 16-50mm VR and
the Nikon Z DX 50-250mm VR are both attractive choices for those who want to keep their
camera kit small and lightweight, but for those who want more lens options, there are plenty
of excellent Z-mount full-frame lenses already available, as well as older Nikon F lenses
(both DX and FX) using the FTZ adapter. While testing out the camera, I purposefully
limited myself to only the two DX kit zoom lenses the camera came with, so that I can
demonstrate their capabilities and see if they are sufficient for most day-to-day needs of
photographers.
NIKON Z 50 + NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR @ 18.5mm, ISO 100, 3 sec, f/5.6
Let’s take a closer look at the camera and its specifications.

Nikon Z50 Specifications

 Sensor Resolution: 20.9 MP

 Sensor Type: BSI CMOS
 Sensor Size: 23.5 × 15.6mm
 Sensor Pixel Size: 4.22 µ
 Optical Low Pass Filter: No
 In-Body Image Stabilization: No
 Image Size: 5568 × 3712
 Image Processor: EXPEED 6
 Viewfinder Type / Coverage: 2.36-million dot OLED EVF / 100%
  Viewfinder Magnification: 1.02× (0.67× FF equivalent)
 Built-in Flash: Yes
 Storage Media: 1× SD, UHS-I Compatible
 Continuous Shooting Speed: 11 FPS
 Electronic Shutter: Yes
 Shutter Speed Range: 1/4000 to 30 seconds
 Exposure Metering Sensor: TTL exposure metering using main image sensor
 Native ISO Sensitivity: 100-51,200
 Boosted ISO Sensitivity: 102,400-204,800
 Focus Points: 209 focus points
 On Sensor Phase Detection: Yes
 Flicker Detection: Yes
 Video Maximum Resolution: 4K up to 30 FPS (No Crop), 1080p up to 120 FPS
 LCD Size, Type and Resolution: 3.2″ Tilt-down 1,040,000-dot Touchscreen LCD
 Wi-Fi / Bluetooth: Yes
 Battery Life: 320 Shots (CIPA)
 Weight (Body Only): 395 g (13.9 oz)
 Dimensions: 126.5 × 93.5 × 60 mm (5.0 × 3.7 × 2.4 in)
 MSRP (Body Only): $860 (Check Current Price)

A detailed list of camera specifications is available at NikonUSA.com.

NIKON Z 50 + NIKKOR Z DX 50-250mm f/4.5-6.3 VR @ 110mm, ISO 100, 1/1250, f/8.0
Before we go into the camera details, let’s see how the Z50 compares to its Nikon F
counterparts and direct competitors on the market.

Nikon Z50 vs D3500 vs D5600 and D7500 Comparison

As I have previously pointed out, the Nikon Z50 is positioned above entry-level DSLRs like
Nikon D3500 and D5600, putting it closer to what the Nikon D7500 has to offer. Let’s take a
look at the key specifications of these four cameras and see how they differ:
Camera Feature Nikon Z50 Nikon D3500 Nikon D5600 Nikon D7500

Released Oct 2019 Aug 2018 Nov 2016 Apr 2017

Camera Feature Nikon Z50 Nikon D3500 Nikon D5600 Nikon D7500

Sensor 20.9 MP 24.2 MP 24.2 MP 20.9 MP

Resolution

Native ISO 100-51,200 100-25,600 100-25,600 100-51,200

Range

Low-Pass Filter No No No No

Image Processor EXPEED 6 EXPEED 4 EXPEED 4 EXPEED 5

Viewfinder Type EVF OVF OVF OVF

Viewfinder 1.02x / 100% 0.85× / 95% 0.82x / 95% 0.94x / 100%

Mag / Cov

Autofocus 209-pt Hybrid 11-pt Multi- 39-pt Multi- 51-pt Advanced

System AF CAM 1000 CAM 4800DX Multi-CAM
3500 II

Eye AF Yes No No No

Lens AF Support Z-mount, F- AF-S (E and G), AF-S (E and G), AF-S (E, G and
mount via FTZ AF-P AF-P, AF-I D), AF-P, AI-P,
Camera Feature Nikon Z50 Nikon D3500 Nikon D5600 Nikon D7500

IX

AF Detection -4 to +19 EV -1 to +19 EV -1 to +19 EV -3 to +19 EV

Range

Built-in Flash, Yes, 7m Yes, 7m Yes, 12m Yes, 12m

Guide #

Flash Sync 1/200 1/200 1/200 1/250

Speed

Flash Comm. No No No Yes

Mode

Max Shutter 1/4000 1/4000 1/4000 1/8000

Speed

Max Shooting 11 FPS 5 FPS 5 FPS 8 FPS

Speed

Storage 1x SD UHS-I 1x SD UHS-I 1x SD UHS-I 1x SD UHS-I

Built-in Yes No Yes Yes

Camera Feature Nikon Z50 Nikon D3500 Nikon D5600 Nikon D7500

Intervalometer

LCD Size and 3.2″ Tilt-down 3.0″ LCD 3.2″ Vari-angle 3.2″ Tilting
Type Touch Touch Touch

LCD Resolution 1040k-dot 922k-dot 1037k-dot 922k-dot

Wi-Fi / Yes / Yes No / Yes Yes / Yes Yes / Yes

Bluetooth

Max Video 4K No Crop @ Full HD @ Up Full HD @ Up 4K 1.5x crop @

Resolution Up to 30p to 60p to 60p Up to 30p

Battery EN-EL25 EN-EL14a EN-EL14a EN-EL15a

Battery Life 320 1550 970 850

(CIPA)

Charging via Yes No No No

USB
 Camera Feature Nikon Z50 Nikon D3500 Nikon D5600 Nikon D7500

Weight (body- 395 g 365 g 415 g 640 g

only)

Dimensions 127 x 94 x 60 124 x 97 x 70 124 x 97 x 70 136 x 104 x 73

mm mm mm mm

Price (MSRP) $860 $499 (with kit $799 $1,299

lens)

As you can see from the above table, the Nikon Z50 has a lot going for it when compared to
its DSLR counterparts. It has a similar sensor as the higher-end Nikon D7500 (which is
excellent). It sports the latest and the fastest EXPEED 6 processor. Its autofocus system has
more AF points and coverage than any Nikon DSLR, and it has a wide AF detection range of
-4 to +19 EV. It has a very fast continuous shooting speed of 11 FPS, and it can shoot high-
quality 4K videos with no cropping. It is the smallest camera of the group (although it is just
a tad heavier than the plastic Nikon D3500). The Nikon Z50 is better in almost every way
when compared to the D3500 and D5600 DSLRs. And being a mirrorless camera, it has some
features like Eye AF, Focus Peaking and other useful on-screen information overlays that are
not found on any of the above DSLRs.
NIKON Z 50 + NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR @ 37mm, ISO 100, 1/30, f/5.6
However, when compared to the higher-end Nikon D7500, the Z50 shows some weaknesses.
First, the shutter mechanism is different – its mechanical shutter is limited to 1/4000 vs
1/8000, and the flash sync is 1/200 vs 1/250 on the D7500. Second, although the autofocus
system on the Z50 appears to be better on paper, I did not find it to be as accurate at tracking
fast-moving subjects as Nikon’s proven 51-point Multi-CAM 3500 II autofocus system on
the D7500 (more details on the autofocus performance page of this review). Third, the built-
in flash on the Z50 is tiny when compared to the flash on the D7500, so if you need more fill-
flash power, the D7500 is going to be a better choice. Fourth, the D7500 is the only camera in
the group that can command other flashes using Nikon’s Creative Lighting System (CLS).
Lastly, if you own older AF-D type lenses, keep in mind that they will work just fine on the
D7500, but they will not autofocus on the Z50 with the FTZ adapter.
NIKON Z 50 + NIKKOR Z DX 50-250mm f/4.5-6.3 VR @ 81mm, ISO 400, 1/100, f/5.6
Overall, considering the price point of the Nikon Z50 vs its features, it certainly looks like a
very appealing camera.

Nikon Z50 vs Sony A6400 vs Fuji X-T30 vs Canon EOS M6 Mark II

How does the Nikon Z50 compare to its competitors from Sony, Fuji and Canon? I put
together a summary table below that highlights the key differences between these cameras:
Camera Feature Nikon Z50 Sony A6400 Fuji X-T30 Canon M6 II

Released Oct 2019 Jan 2019 Feb 2019 Aug 2019

Camera Feature Nikon Z50 Sony A6400 Fuji X-T30 Canon M6 II

Sensor 20.9 MP 24.2 MP 26.1 MP 32.5 MP

Resolution

Native ISO 100-51,200 100-32,000 160-12,800 100-25,600

Range

Low-Pass Filter No No No Yes

EVF Mag / Cov 1.02x / 100% 1.07x / 100% 0.93x / 100% 1.00x / 100%

EVF Resolution 2360k-dot 2360k-dot 2360k-dot 2360k-dot

Autofocus 209-pt Hybrid 425-pt Hybrid 425-pt Hybrid 143-pt Dual

System AF AF AF Pixel AF

Eye AF Yes Yes Yes Yes

Animal Eye AF No Yes No No

Native Lenses 35 200+ 150+ 40+

Camera Feature Nikon Z50 Sony A6400 Fuji X-T30 Canon M6 II

Built-in Flash, Yes, 7m Yes, 6m Yes, 5m Yes, 4.6m

Guide #

Flash Sync 1/200 1/160 1/180 1/200

Speed

Max Shutter 1/4000 1/4000 1/4000 1/4000

Speed

Max Shooting 11 FPS 11 FPS 8 FPS 14 FPS

Speed

Storage 1x SD UHS-I 1x SD UHS-I 1x SD UHS-I 1x SD UHS-II

LCD Size and 3.2″ Tilt-down 3.0″ Tilting 3.0″ Tilting 3.0″ Tilting
Type Touch Touch Touch Touch

LCD Resolution 1040k-dot 922k-dot 1040k-dot 1040k-dot

Wi-Fi / Yes / Yes Yes / Yes Yes / Yes Yes / Yes

Bluetooth

Max Video 4K No Crop @ 4K No crop in DCI 4K / 4K No 4K No Crop @

 Camera Feature Nikon Z50 Sony A6400 Fuji X-T30 Canon M6 II

Resolution Up to 30p 24p / 25p, 1.2x Crop @ Up to Up to 30p

crop at 30p 30p

Battery Life 320 360 380 305

(CIPA)

Charging via Yes Yes Yes Yes

USB

Weight (body- 395 g 360 g 333 g 361 g

only)

Dimensions 127 x 94 x 60 120 x 67 x 60 118 x 83 x 47 120 x 70 x 49

mm mm mm mm

Price (MSRP) $860 $899 $899 $850

As you can see from the above table, the Nikon Z50 has pretty fierce competition at similar
price points. Aside from a couple of differences here and there, most cameras have nearly
identical features in the group. Where the competition truly stands out is in autofocus
performance – Nikon’s first generation autofocus system on the Z50 is relatively weak when
compared to Sony’s refined AF system. Having previously used the A6400, the differences in
AF performance and accuracy are quite noticeable. Fuji’s AF system on the X-T30 is also
quite fast, although I would rank Nikon’s AF system to be more accurate for still subjects
(more on AF performance later in the review).

NIKON Z 50 + NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR @ 37mm, ISO 100, 1/4, f/5.6

Please note that the above table primarily compares key camera specifications and does not
take into account the camera system as a whole. If I were to base the above comparison on
things like lens/accessory selection, ergonomics and camera menu system, I would place Fuji
as the #1 choice for me personally, followed by Sony and Canon. Why Fuji? Because it is the
only manufacturer in the group that created a truly appealing line-up of high-performance
lenses that are specifically designed for the camera mount and sensor size. Sony has a wider
selection of lenses available, but that’s if you take into account its full-frame (FE) lenses.
Canon mostly has slow zoom lenses in its EF-M lens line-up.

Until Nikon rolls out high-performance DX lenses that are small and lightweight, it will
continue to lose to Fuji and the more mature camera systems out there. I really hope Nikon is
not going to cripple its Z-mount DX system as it has done with its DX DSLR cameras…
NIKON Z 50 + NIKKOR Z DX 50-250mm f/4.5-6.3 VR @ 50mm, ISO 100, 1/60, f/8.0
Build Quality and Ergonomics
Considering how small it is, the Nikon Z50 is built surprisingly well, with excellent
ergonomics to match. The whole front part of the camera, including the top and the grip, is
basically single-piece magnesium alloy, which is finished nicely with black paint, some
rubber and plastic. Similar to other Nikon cameras, the buttons and the dial are all plastic as
well. Nikon says that the body is somewhat weather-sealed, although not up to the standards
of the full-frame Z6 and Z7 bodies. After using the camera in very cold, rainy and sandy
conditions, I have not seen the camera lock up or give me any problems in the field.
NIKON Z 50 + NIKKOR Z DX 50-250mm f/4.5-6.3 VR @ 230mm, ISO 100, 1/200, f/8.0
When it comes to ergonomics, Nikon shooters will feel right at home with the Z50. First of
all, the grip of the camera is deep and very comfortable, especially when comparing it to
other cameras like Sony A6400, Fuji X-T30 and Canon EOS M6 II. And despite the big size
of the Z-mount, Nikon left plenty of room between the mount and the grip to make the
camera comfortable even for those with larger hands. Similar to other Nikon DSLRs, the grip
is covered with textured rubber, providing great comfort when using the camera for extended
periods of time. Here is the view of the top of the camera that shows the depth of the grip, as
well as the minimal number of buttons and dials on the top of the camera:
As you can see, the top of the camera is somewhat similar to cameras like D3500 and D5600,
although there are a few important changes to keep in mind. Aside from the dedicated ISO
button, the Z50 also features a front-dial – something you never see on entry-level Nikon
DSLRs. This is great, because it makes the camera much more functional in the field,
especially when one needs to make quick exposure adjustments.

However, the Z50 does not feature a top LCD that displays useful information, such as the
one we see on the Nikon D7500. Considering how small the Z50 is, it would have been tough
to fit an LCD screen on the top of the body without compromises, so I personally do not
consider it to be a huge negative. Everything else on the top of the camera is self-explanatory,
with no surprises.

The back of the camera has seen more stripping of buttons to take a more minimalistic
approach, which I personally welcome. Take a look at what Nikon has done here:
Compared to the Nikon D3500 and D7500 that have a total of 10 buttons, the Z50 only has 6
total buttons, in addition to the multi-selector OK button. Nikon was able to do this by
moving three of the buttons to the touchscreen area. Now, if you want to be able to zoom in /
out via the EVF or the LCD, you have to touch the right side of the LCD screen.

While this might not be ideal for those who want to use gloves or have issues finding the area
to touch when looking through the viewfinder, I personally did not find it to be much of a
hassle in the field for a number of reasons. First of all, the “OK” button still works very well
for zooming into the captured image at 100% (see Nikon One-Click Zoom Feature), and if
you want to zoom in to 100% when using the LCD or the EVF while shooting, you can still
do that by programming one of the buttons on the camera. In fact, you can customize the
same “OK” button to instantly zoom to 100% view, which is pretty cool! I am happy to see
all the button and menu customizations that Nikon allows with the Z50. The “DISP” button is
another one that has been moved to the LCD, which I personally don’t mind either, as I do
not use it very often.
NIKON Z 50 + NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR @ 38mm, ISO 100, 1/2, f/8.0
So far, everything Nikon has done seems great, and it really is. However, there is one major
issue I noticed from the get-go when handling the Z50, and it is the same thing Nikon
engineers plagued the Nikon Z6 and Z7 cameras with – there is no way to get rid of all the
overlay information when using the LCD! I don’t understand how Nikon does so many things
right only to royally screw up something so basic. When shooting with the Z50 on a tripod,
there is no way to turn off information overlay (such as aperture, shutter speed, and ISO), no
matter how many times you toggle between different display options. There is no menu in the
camera that allows you to change this behavior, so you basically have to live with it. We are
now three cameras into the Z line-up, and it is almost hard to believe that Nikon has
completely ignored this issue. All that’s needed is a simple firmware update, which we are
yet to see.
NIKON Z 50 + NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR @ 16mm, ISO 500, 1/25, f/5.6
My workaround with the Z50 so far has been the same as with the Nikon Z6 and Z7 cameras.
While composing, I use the EVF instead of the LCD, which shows the overlay information
on the bottom and does not obstruct the image. After that, I switch to LCD. It is a pain in the
rear end to do this every time, so I am still hopeful that this issue is going to be addressed
someday…

Another issue with the Z50 has to do with its LCD tilt-down screen. Nikon wanted the Z50 to
be marketed as a camera for vloggers, so it designed the LCD screen so that it can be tilted
down, as shown below:
Except, considering that most vloggers are going to be using a tripod to mount the camera on,
and the tripod socket is literally in the middle of the LCD screen, I wonder what in the world
Nikon engineers were thinking when they came up with this novel idea. The LCD screen
tilting does not work if you mount a camera base plate. It does not work if you mount the
camera on…anything. So what is the purpose of the tilt-down screen? I guess it only works
when shooting selfies handheld!
 NIK
ON Z 50 + NIKKOR Z DX 50-250mm f/4.5-6.3 VR @ 60mm, ISO 200, 1/800, f/6.3
The Nikon D5600 is much more useful in this regard because it has a tilting screen that can
be opened to the side and tilted – that’s what Nikon should have done with the Z50.

Table of Contents
 Overview and Specifications
 Camera Options, EVF and Menu System
 Autofocus Performance and Accuracy
 Image Sensor, Lenses and Video Features
 Summary
 More Image Samples
 Reader Comments

«  1. Overview and Specifications

 »
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DISCLOSURES, TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND SUPPORT OPTIONS
FILED UNDER: CAMERAS AND LENSESTAGGED WITH: NIKON, NIKON
REVIEWS, GEAR REVIEWS, CAMERA REVIEWS, NIKON Z50

About Nasim Mansurov
Nasim Mansurov is the author and founder of Photography Life, based out of Denver,
Colorado. He is recognized as one of the leading educators in the photography industry,
conducting workshops, producing educational videos and frequently writing content for
Photography Life. You can follow him on Instagram and Facebook. Read more about
Nasim here.

https://photographylife.com/reviews/nikon-z50