Nikon Z50 Review

December 4, 2019 | Mark Goldstein | Rating star Rating star Rating star Rating star Half rating star

Introduction

Following the launch of their full-frame models, the Z7 and Z6, the new Z50 is Nikon's first mirrorless camera with an APS-C sensor.

The Z50 uses the same Z lens mount as the larger sensor cameras, which means that it can utilise the same range of Z branded FX lenses, albeit with a 1.5x crop factor applied.

Alongside the Z50, Nikon have also launched the first two lenses in a fledgling range of DX Z-mount lenses, a 16-50mm pancake zoom and 50-250mm super-telephoto zoom.

In addition to the FX and new DX Z-mount lenses, the existing FTZ Mount Adapter that was released with the Z6/7 is also compatible with the Z50, which means that F-mount lenses can also be used with the new camera.

Other key features offered by the Nikon Z50 include a 20.9 megapixel APS-C sensor with 209 phase detection AF pixels, ISO range of 100-51200 that' expandable to 20400, 11fps burst shooting with AF/AE tracking, EXPEED 6 processor, 180-degree flip touch-screen, 2360k-dot EVF, 4K UHD video recording at 30p, Snapbridge, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity and a body that weighs less than 400g.

The Nikon Z 50 is available now priced at £849 / $856.95 body only. Various kits with the two new DX Z-mount lenses are also available.

Ease of Use

Nikon Z50
Front of the Nikon Z50

The introduction of the new Z50 means that there are now five full-frame and five APS-C cameras in Nikon's camera range. Three of them are mirrorless models, with the Z50 joining the Z6 and Z7 full-frame cameras.

In terms of how Nikon sees the Z50, it sits alongside the D7500 and D500 DSLR cameras in their positioning.

Nikon are hoping to tempt people to upgrade from their smartphones or their D7000-series Nikon DSLR with the Z50, as well as being an ideal backup camera for Z6 and Z7 owners.

For the design of the Z50, Nikon has taken things a step further than they did for the Z6/7 cameras, and miniaturized their DSLR camera blueprint even more.

Trying very hard not to alienate their existing customer base of DSLR users, the Z50 resembles a Z6/7 that's spent even longer time getting shrunk in the wash.

It weighs in at a mere 395g body only and measures 126.5 x 93.5 x 60mm, making this a camera that you can truly carry anywhere and at all times without really noticing it.

Despite this drastic size reduction, it doesn’t go so far that the camera becomes unusable. The lovely handgrip is still deep and chunky, while the rubberized covering across the whole camera body adds a tactile quality that belies the Z50's mid-range price-point, as does the magnesium alloy build.

While the Z50 doesn't have the same level of weatherproofing as the Z6/7, overall the build quality feels high enough to withstand a little bit of rough and tumble, as well as coping with a variety of different weather conditions, if you take the necessary precautions.

Nikon Z50
Front of the Nikon Z50

Control wise, almost all of the Z50’s buttons are grouped on the right hand side of the camera, making one handed operation easy.

Sadly, unlike on the Z6/Z7, there's no joystick which you can use to move focus points around the frame.

Instead you have to use the slower, less precise method of pressing the four directions on the rear d-pad to move the AF point, with a press of the OK button recentering it.

It’s also not possible to use the touch-sensitive screen to set the AF point when shooting through the viewfinder, as on some rival models (although not the Z6/7), all of which makes selecting the AF point less intuitive than it could be.

If you’re coming to the Z50 from a Nikon DSLR or the Z6/7, you’ll be very familiar with lots of the buttons here already, such as AE-L/AF-L, the Info button for accessing a quick men, and the switch on top for flicking between shooting video and shooting stills.

Nikon Z50
Rear of the Nikon Z50

To the left of the lens mount are two customisable function buttons which are useful for assigning oft-used settings to. A lens release button is found on the right of the mount.

Moving to the top of the Z50, you’ll find another familiarity in the shape of the mode dial. From here, you can switch between the different shooting modes that the Z50 offers, including M/A/S/P as well as fully automatic.

There’s space for two different groups of custom settings marked U1 and U2, which is very handy if you often find yourself shooting in a specific kind of situation, such as low light.

There's no button in the middle of the dial which must be pressed before you can rotate the dial, as on the Z6/Z7, although in practice the dial proved to be stiff enough to prevent accidental mode changes when the camera is stored in a bag.

Nikon Z50
Top of the Nikon Z50

Twin electronic dials occupy the top right of the Z50 – again being very reminiscent of using a Nikon DSLR camera such as the D7500 or D5600.

They can be used together to adjust the shutter speed and aperture, depending on the particular shooting mode you’re currently in.

They can also be used to adjust other settings when holding down other buttons – for example when holding down the ISO button, the rear dial adjusts sensitivity speed, while the front dial enables and disables Auto ISO.

As well as the ISO button, near the on/off switch, you’ll also find a dedicated video record button, as well as an exposure compensation button.

On its highest quality setting, the Z50 can record 4K UHD video at 30p in 8-bit. While it would have been nice to see 4K/60p or even 10-bit recording, the Z50 at least doesn't apply any crop in the 4K mode.

There' also a built-in time-lapse feature and interval timer, and slow-motion movies can be recorded complete with sound.

Unlike the bigger Z6/7 models, there's no handy LCD panel on top of the Z50 for showing the current key settings, which is one of the compromises that Nikon have had to made to reduce its size.

Nikon Z50
Tilting LCD Screen

Moving to the back of the Nikon Z50, there are two ways to compose your image – either via the LCD screen or the viewfinder.

This being a mirrorless camera, the Z50 employs an electronic viewfinder. At 2360k dots and with 0.68x magnification it’s one of the better electronic viewfinders that we’ve used, although not as good as the one in the Z6/7.

You get a clear view of the overall scene, along with extra benefits over a more traditional DSLR optical finder, such as being able to preview how changes to the camera's settings will affect your final image.

Meanwhile, the 1040K-dot tilting touchscreen is also middle-of-the-road in terms of its specification, rather than class-leading.

It gives you the option to change the AF point via the screen, as well as move around menus and make appropriate selections. Using the touchscreen in conjunction with the physical buttons is a great way to use the Z50, depending on how best you like to work.

One small disappointment is not being able to use the touchscreen when shooting through the viewfinder to select the AF point, something we’re used to seeing from other manufacturers such as Canon and Panasonic, especially considering the lack of an AF joystick on this model.

Nikon Z50
The Nikon Z50 In-hand

On a more positive note, the screen can be tilted down below the camera to face forwards by 180-degrees to enable easier selfies and vlogging, something that isn't possible on the more expensive Z6 and Z7 models.

Nikon have also introduced a brand new feature that we've not seen on any other camera before. The Z50 has a permanent column of three controls on the right of the touchscreen.

Starting from the top, there are icons for zooming in, zooming out, and toggling between the various display modes.

It's quite a neat, if somewhat limited idea, that's meant to make the transition from a smartphone to the Z50 easier.

The familiar Nikon Quick menu can be accessed by pressing the “i” button on the rear of the Z50. In this menu you’ll find – by default – a set of commonly used settings.

You can change the options which appear in this menu though, if you find there’s another setting that you more often require quick access to.

Nikon Z50
Front of the Nikon Z50

One of the big advantages that cameras like the Z50 offer over traditional DSLRs is their ability to shoot completely silently. Certain kinds of photographers, such as wedding or quiet sports photographers will likely find this function appealing.

Of course, it’s not new to the mirrorless market as a whole, but if you were previously a Nikon DSLR shooter before moving to the Z50, having this option may open up new shooting opportunities.

The Z50 may be relatively tiny, but Nikon have still managed to fit a built-in pop-up flash into the design, which may prove useful for some fill light if you haven't got a more powerful unit to hand.

A key difference between the Z50 and the more expensive Z6/7 cameras is the AF system, which as you'd perhaps expect isn't quite as capable on the former camera.

Having said that, the Z50's sensor has 209 PDAF points, making it the first ever DX sensor with PDAF onboard, and despite the reduced number of focus points compared with its more advanced siblings, the coverage is an impressive 90% both horizontally and vertically.

In practice, even when using the two slow kit lenses, the Z50's AF doesn’t seem to be noticeably more sluggish in the majority of shooting situations than the Z6/Z7.

It locks on pretty much instantaneously for static subjects in good light, while in low light, focusing is a little slower, but not unacceptably slow, with the Z50 capable of focusing down to an impressive -4EV. The same capable Eye AF system as found in the Z6/7 is also onboard.

Nikon Z50
Pop-up Flash

The Nikon Z50 camera can shoot at 11fps, faster than the max 9fps that the Z7 can muster and marginally slower than the Z6' 12fps.

As we found with the Z6/Z7, it performs best when attempting to keep the subject under an active AF point (using Single-Point AF or Wide-Area AF), rather than activating the tracking focus.

Both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity are included, primarily designed for use with Nikon’s Snapseed app.

After some early teething issues, on the whole using the app is a much more pleasant experience than when it first appeared a few years ago.

You can use it to automatically send files over to your phone for sharing online, which is useful for social media aficionados.

One of the big controversies at the Z7 and Z6 launch was the decision to only include a single memory card slot.

That’s likely to be less of a problem with the Z50, which is aimed more at consumers than professionals, but it’s still something to think about if you’re at all concerned about backup whilst shooting.

Instead of expensive XQD cards, the Z50 uses much more ubiquitous, cheaper SD cards. Rather annoyingly for this kind of camera, though, the card slot is in the same compartment as the battery on the bottom of the camera, rather than in a dedicated compartment on the side.

Nikon Z50
The Nikon Z50 and Kit Lenses

At the time of writing, there are only two DX format, Z mount lenses for the Z50, which accompanied it at launch. They are the NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR and the NIKKOR Z DX 50-250mm f/4.5-6.3 VR.

While we expect Nikon to bring more to the market during the next months and years, for the time being the available lenses are the main weakness of buying into the Z50 system.

The two kit zooms are both stabilised, important as the Z50 doesn't have built-in IBIS, feature a retractable design to make them more compact, and together cover virtually every focal length that most of the Z50's target market will ever need.

The super-slim 16-50mm pancake zoom in particular is worthy of praise, forming a tiny package with the Z50, yet still featuring a mechanical zoom mechanism, rather than a power zoom system.

But they are constructed from plastic, offer slow maximum apertures that make it more difficult to throw the background out of focus, and also suffer from a lack of sharpness when shooting wide open.

While you can use the generally excellent FX Z-mount lenses that Nikon has released, they're pretty expensive compared to the body-only price of the Z50, and suffer from having a 1.5x crop factor applied.

Nikon Z50
The Nikon Z50 and the 50-250mm Lens

For the time being, though, Nikon seems to think that some Z50 owners who aren't satisfied with the two kit lenses will naturally gravitate towards the faster primes and zooms that they've released for the Z6 and Z7 - we're not so sure...

For anybody with an existing array of DX and FX F-mount lenses, purchasing an FTZ adapter with the Z50 is a good idea. The adapter does not include a focusing motor within it, so only lenses which have focusing motors can take advantage of the Z50’s autofocus system, otherwise you’ll have to engage manual focus.

While we can't see too many new owners going down this route, if you're already invested in a Nikon full-frame system, be it DSLR or mirrorless, it's great to see Nikon supporting those lenses on their new DX-format camera.

The Z50's new EN-EL25 battery has a battery life rating of 300 shots, according to CIPA, making it just a fraction less than the 310 shots of the Z6. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but it’s important to remember that the aggressive power consumption of a standard CIPA test is unlikely to be replicated by the average user.

Instead, with good power management practices – such as turning the camera off when not in use – it’s unlikely most average users would need a second battery. If you’re a particularly rapid shooter, it’s certainly worth investing in a second battery, though.

Just like the Z6 and the Z7, the Z50 can be charged via its Micro USB port, so another option could be to pick up a battery pack so you can charge on the go.

Image Quality

All of the sample images in this review were taken using the 20.9 megapixel Fine JPEG setting, which produces an average image size of around 9Mb.

Noise

The base sensitivity of the Nikon Z50 is ISO 100. At the other end of the scale, the highest native sensitivity of the Nikon Z50 is ISO 51200, but two boosted settings, ISO 102400 and ISO 204800, are also available.

JPEG RAW

ISO 100 (100% Crop)

ISO 100 (100% Crop)

iso100.jpg iso100raw.jpg

ISO 200 (100% Crop)

ISO 200 (100% Crop)

iso200.jpg iso200raw.jpg

ISO 400 (100% Crop)

ISO 400 (100% Crop)

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ISO 800 (100% Crop)

ISO 800 (100% Crop)

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ISO 1600 (100% Crop)

ISO 1600 (100% Crop)

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ISO 3200 (100% Crop)

ISO 3200 (100% Crop)

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ISO 6400 (100% Crop)

ISO 6400 (100% Crop)

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ISO 12800 (100% Crop)

ISO 12800 (100% Crop)

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ISO 25600 (100% Crop)

ISO 25600 (100% Crop)

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ISO 51200 (100% Crop)

ISO 51200 (100% Crop)

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HI 1EV (ISO 102400) (100% Crop)

HI 1EV (ISO 102400) (100% Crop)

iso102400.jpg iso102400raw.jpg

HI 2EV (ISO 204800) (100% Crop)

HI 2EV (ISO 204800) (100% Crop)

iso204800.jpg iso204800raw.jpg

File Quality

The file quality settings available on the Nikon Z50 include Basic, Normal and Fine for JPEGs, and the camera can also shoot 12- or 14-bit NEFs (Nikon's proprietary raw file format).

Fine (9.41Mb) (100% Crop)

Normal (6.72Mb) (100% Crop)

quality_fine.jpg quality_normal.jpg
Basic (2.25Mb) (100% Crop)

Raw (26.3Mb) (100% Crop)

quality_basic.jpg quality_raw.jpg

Flash

Flash

The flash settings on the Nikon D3500 are Auto, Auto with red-eye reduction, Fill-flash, Auto slow sync, Auto slow sync with red-eye correction, and Rear curtain with slow sync. These shots of a white coloured wall were taken at a distance of 1.5m.

Flash Off - Wide Angle (24mm)

ISO 64

Flash On - Wide Angle (24mm)

ISO 64
Flash Off - Telephoto (75mm)
ISO 64
Flash On - Telephoto (75mm)
ISO 64

And here are some portrait shots. As you can see, neither the Flash On or the Red-eye-Reduction settings caused any noticeable red-eye.

Flash On

flash_on.jpg

Red-eye Reduction

flash_redeye.jpg

Low Light

The Nikon Z50 lets you dial in shutter speeds of up to 30 seconds and has a Bulb mode as well for exposure times of practically any length, which is very good news if you are seriously interested in night photography. There is an optional long-exposure noise reduction function that can be activated to filter out any hot pixels that may appear when extremely slow shutter speeds are used.

Low Light

lowlight.jpg

Active D-lighting (ADL)

D-lighting is Nikon's dynamic range optimisation tool that attempts to squeeze the full dynamic range of the sensor into JPEGs. Active D-lighting works “on the fly”, before the in-camera processing engine converts the raw image data into JPEGs. The available settings are Off, Low, Normal, High and Extra High, plus an Auto mode.

Off

adl_01.jpg
Low
adl_02.jpg

Normal

adl_03.jpg
High
adl_04.jpg

Extra High

adl_05.jpg

Auto

adl_06.jpg

Picture Controls

Nikon's Picture Controls are preset combinations of sharpening, contrast, brightness, saturation and hue. All 28 different Picture Controls can be tweaked to your liking, then saved and transferred to other cameras.

Auto

Standard

01-PictureControl-Auto.JPG 01-PictureControl-Standard.JPG
Neutral Vivid
03-PictureControl-Neutral.JPG 04-PictureControl-Vivid.JPG

Monochrome

Portrait

05-PictureControl-Monochrome.JPG 06-PictureControl-Portrait.JPG
Landscape Flat
07-PictureControl-Landscape.JPG 08-PictureControl-Flat.JPG

Dream

Morning

09-PictureControl-Dream.JPG 10-PictureControl-Dream.JPG
Pop Sunday
11-PictureControl-Pop.JPG 12-PictureControl-Sunday.JPG
Somber Dramatic
13-PictureControl-Somber.JPG 14-PictureControl-Drama.JPG
Silence Bleached
15-PictureControl-Silence.JPG 16-PictureControl-Bleach.JPG
Melancholic Pure
17-PictureControl-Melancholic.JPG 18-PictureControl-Pure.JPG
Denim Toy
19-PictureControl-Denim.JPG 20-PictureControl-Toy.JPG
Sepia Blue
21-PictureControl-Sepia.JPG 22-PictureControl-Blue.JPG
Red Pink
23-PictureControl-Red.JPG 24-PictureControl-Pink.JPG
Charcoal Graphite
25-PictureControl-Charcoal.JPG 26-PictureControl-Graphite.JPG
Binary Carbon
27-PictureControl-Binary.JPG 28-PictureControl-Carbon.JPG

Effects

The Nikon Z50 has an Effects shooting mode that provides 10 different creative filters which can be applied to both still images and movies.

Night Vision

Super Vivid

effects_01.jpg effects_02.jpg
Pop Photo Illustration
effects_03.jpg effects_04.jpg

Toy Camera

Miniature

effects_05.jpg effects_06.jpg
Selective Color Silhouette
effects_07.jpg effects_08.jpg

High Key

Low Key

effects_09.jpg effects_10.jpg

Sample Images

This is a selection of sample images from the Nikon Z50 camera, which were all taken using the 20.9 megapixel Fine JPEG setting. The thumbnails below link to the full-sized versions, which have not been altered in any way.

Sample RAW Images

The Nikon Z50 enables users to capture RAW and JPEG format files. We've provided some Nikon RAW (NEF) samples for you to download (thumbnail images shown below are not 100% representative).

Sample Movies & Video

This is a sample movie at the highest quality setting of 3840x2160 pixels at 30 frames per second. Please note that this 25 second movie is 378Mb in size.

This is a sample movie at the quality setting of 3840x2160 pixels at 25 frames per second. Please note that this 19 second movie is 301Mb in size.

This is a sample movie at the quality setting of 1920x1080 pixels at 120 frames per second. Please note that this 14 second movie is 222Mb in size.

This is a sample slow motion movie at the quality setting of 1920x1080 pixels at 30 frames per second. Please note that this 62 second movie is 240Mb in size.

This is a sample slow motion movie at the quality setting of 1920x1080 pixels at 25 frames per second. Please note that this 49 second movie is 162Mb in size.

Product Images

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Conclusion

Following hot on the heels of Nikon's first full-frame mirrorless cameras, the Z6 and Z7, comes their first venture into the ultra-competitive, mid-range, APS-C sensor mirrorless market with the launch of the excellent new Z50.

This is a compact, lightweight camera that is a joy to use thanks to its deep handgrip, logical control layout, and very good electronic viewfinder and LCD screen.

Only the lack of an AF joystick and the memory card slot being in located in the battery compartment really spoil what is something of an ergonomic masterpiece, especially considering the overall size of the camera.

The Z50's 20 megapixel APS-C sensor certainly delivers the goods in terms of still and video quality alike, with the uncropped 4K footage and slow-motion 1080p options proving to be great features at this price point.

11fps continuous shooting with full-time AE/AF is another stand-out highlight, as is the excellent auto-focus system that proved to be reliable, accurate and quiet virtually all of the time.

The only notable flies in the ointment are the lack of in-camera image stabilisation, something that the more expensive full-frame Z6 and Z7 models do offer, and the very limited range of DX Z-mount lenses on offer at the launch of the Z50.

While the two kit zooms are well-thought-out, offering vibration reduction in a compact, retractable design and covering a very wide focal range, their all-plastic construction and slow maximum apertures limit their appeal for both enthusiasts and more casual users alike, especially if you're after that shallow bokeh look that even most smartphones now offer.

You could pair the full-frame FX Z-mount lenses on the Z50 with an accompanying change in the focal length, or use the FTZ adapter to mount DX DSLR lenses, but both solutions are less than ideal.

If Nikon wants to really make a success of their new cropped sensor mirrorless system, especially if they want it to appeal to the enthusiast market, then they need to quickly flesh out their new lens range.

Having said that, a lack of lenses hasn't stopped Sony and Canon from selling bucket-loads of A6000-series and EOS M series cameras respectively, so the Nikon Z50 and its two kit zooms may prove to be enough initially, especially as Nikon have already been quite aggressive with their pricing (we've already seen the Z50 and both lenses priced at less than £$1000).

Overall, the Nikon Z50 is a very well-realised camera with a lot of plus points and not many negatives. Our main reservations are about the range of lenses, or rather the lack of them, something that we hope Nikon will address sooner rather than later...

4.5 stars

Ratings (out of 5)
Design 5
Features 4.5
Ease-of-use 4.5
Image quality 4.5
Value for money 5

Main Rivals

Listed below are some of the rivals of the Nikon Z50.

Canon EOS 90D

The Canon EOS 90D is that increasingly rare thing, a new DSLR camera. Aimed at sport and wildlife photographers, the Canon 90D uses a new 32 megapixel APS-C sensor and the latest generation DIGIC 8 processor. Read our in-depth Canon EOS 90D review to find out if a DSLR camera can still cut it in the mirrorless world of 2019...

Canon EOS M6 Mark II

The Canon EOS M6 Mark II is a new mid-range mirrorless camera with a 32 megapixel APS-C sensor, 4K video recording, 14fps burst shooting, a tilting touchscreen and optional electronic viewfinder. Can it beat the likes of the Sony A6400 and Fujifilm X-T30 cameras? Find out now by reading our Canon EOS M6 Mark II review...

Fujifilm X-T30

Dubbed the Little Giant by Fujifilm, the new X-T30 mirrorless camera takes most of the things that we loved about the flagship X-T3 and packages them into a smaller, lighter body. It even has a few tricks up its sleeve that the X-T3 doesn't currently offer, most notably a more advanced auto-focusing system. Read our Fujifilm X-T30 review to find out how it compares to the X-T3 and the previous X-T20, and why you should definitely consider buying this new mid-range mirrorless camera...

Nikon D500

The Nikon D500 is the long-awaited successor to the popular D300 APS-C DSLR camera, which was launched way back in 2007. Can the D500 breathe new life into the flagship DX format for professionals? Find out by reading our in-depth Nikon D500 review...

Nikon D5600

The Nikon D5600 is a new 24 megapixel mid-range DSLR camera with Snapbridge connectivity. The compact D5600 also offers timelapse movies, a touchscreen interface, 1080/60/50p video recording, ISO range of 100-25,600, 5fps continuous shooting, a range of creative effects, 3.2 inch tilting LCD screen, and a 39-point autofocus system. Read our in-depth Nikon D5600 review now...

Nikon D7500

The Nikon D7500 is a new prosumer DSLR camera, succeeding the D7200 model from 2013. Coming across like a mini D500, the weather-proof D7500 features a 20.9 megapixel DX image sensor, 51-point autofocusing system, wi-fi, bluetooth and NFC connectivity, 8fps burst shooting, a tilting touch-sensitive screen and 4K video recording. Read our Nikon D7500 review to find out if it's the right camera for you...

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

Olympus have finally updated their enthusiast camera model with the launch of the new Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III, but is is any good? Find out now by reading our review of the E-M5 Mark III mirrorless camera, complete with full-size sample images and videos.

Panasonic Lumix G90

The mid-range interchangeable lens camera market is fiercely fought, with a huge array of formats on offer from all the major camera manufacturers. Enter stage left Panasonic with the new Lumix G90 / G95, a camera that aims to satisfy both photographers and videographers alike. Can it pull off this tricky feat? Read our in-depth Panasonic Lumix G90 / G95 review to find out...

Sony A6400

The Sony A6400 is a new mirrorless camera with an APS-C size sensor and a cutting-edge auto-focusing system. With 24.2 megapixels, 4K movie recording, a touchscreen 180-degree LCD touchscreen, 11fps burst shooting, electronic viewfinder, built-in flash, and Wi-fi / Bluetooth / NFC connectivity, is this the best APS-C camera on the market? Read our Sony Alpha A6400 review to find out...

Sony A6500

The Sony A6500 is the latest high-end compact system camera with an APS-C size sensor. With 24.2 megapixels, 4K movie recording, in-body 5-axis stabilization, a touchscreen 3-inch tilting LCD screen, 11fps burst shooting, electronic viewfinder and built-in flash, is the A6500 the best Sony APS-C camera yet? Read our Sony A6500 review to find out...

Sony A6600

The A6600 is the new all-singing, all-dancing flagship camera in Sony's extensive range of APS-C mirrorless cameras, but does it offer enough to out-gun both its main rivals and its cheaper siblings? Find out now by reading our in-depth Sony A6600 review, complete with full-size sample images and videos.

Review Roundup

Reviews of the Nikon Z50 from around the web.

digitalcameraworld.com »

And the Z50 is great for video, shooting 4K across the full sensor width, rather than a cropped version that some rivals have employed. 4K time-lapse sequences can be created in-camera, while shooting in Full HD adds additional slow-motion footage mode. The Z50 also features an electronic viewfinder.
Read the full review »

Specifications

Type

Mirrorless

Lens mount

Nikon Z mount

Effective angle of view

DX

Image sensor

CMOS, 23.5 mm x 15.7 mm

Total pixels

21.51 million

Dust-reduction system

Image Dust Off reference data (requires Capture NX-D)

Effective pixels

20.9 million

Image size (pixels)

DX (24x16) image area, (L)5568 x 3712 (20.7 million), (M)4176 x 2784 (11.6 million), (S)2784 x 1856 (5.2 million)
1 : 1 (16x16) image area, (L)3712 x 3712 (13.8 million), (M)2784 x 2784 (7.8 million), (S)1856 x 1856 (3.4 million)
16 : 9 (24x14) image area, (L)5568 x 3128 (17.4 million), (M)4176 x 2344 (9.8 million), (S)2784 x 1560 (4.3 million)
Photographs taken during movie recording at a frame size of 3840 x 2160: 3840 x 2160
Photographs taken during movie recording at a frame size of 1920 x 1080: 1920 x 1080

Storage file formats

NEF (RAW): 12 or 14 bit, JPEG: JPEG-Baseline compliant with fine (approx. 1 : 4), normal (approx. 1 : 8), or basic (approx. 1 : 16) compression, NEF (RAW)+JPEG: Single photograph recorded in both NEF (RAW) and JPEG formats

Picture Control System

Auto, Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait, Landscape, Flat, Creative Picture Controls (Dream, Morning, Pop, Sunday, Somber, Dramatic, Silence, Bleached, Melancholic, Pure, Denim, Toy, Sepia, Blue, Red, Pink, Charcoal, Graphite, Binary, Carbon); selected Picture Control can be modified; storage for custom Picture Controls

Storage media

SD, SDHC (UHS-I compliant), SDXC (UHS-I compliant)

File system

DCF 2.0, Exif 2.31, PictBridge

Viewfinder

0.99-cm/0.39-in. approx. 2360k-dot (XGA) OLED electronic viewfinder with color balance and auto and 7-level manual brightness controls

Frame coverage

Approx. 100% horizontal and 100% vertical

Magnification

Approx. 1.02x (50 mm lens at infinity, -1.0 m-¹)

Eyepoint

19.5 mm (-1.0 m-¹; from center surface of viewfinder eyepiece lens)

Diopter adjustment

-3 to +3 m-¹

Eye sensor

Automatically switches between monitor and viewfinder displays

Shutter type

Electronically-controlled vertical-travel focal-plane mechanical shutter; electronic front-curtain shutter; electronic shutter

Shutter speed

1/4000 to 30 s (choose from step sizes of 1/3 and 1/2 EV), bulb, time

Flash sync speed

X=1/200s; synchronizes with shutter at 1/200 s or slower; Auto FP High-Speed sync supported

Release mode

Single frame, low-speed continuous, high-speed continuous, high-speed continuous (extended), self-timer

Frame advance rate

Up to 11 fps, Low-speed continuous: 1 to 4 fps, High-speed continuous: 5 fps, High-speed continuous (extended): 11 fps (measured under Nikon-specified test conditions)

Self-timer

2 s, 5 s, 10 s, 20 s; 1 to 9 exposures at intervals of 0.5, 1, 2, or 3 s

Exposure metering

TTL metering using camera image sensor

Metering method

Matrix metering Center-weighted metering: Weight of 75% given to 8 mm circle in center of frame; weighting can instead be based on average of entire frame, Spot metering: Meters 3.5 mm circle (about 2.5% of frame) centered on selected focus point Highlight-weighted metering

Metering range (ISO 100, f/1.4 lens, 20 °C/68 °F)

–4 to +17 EV

Mode

Auto, P: programmed auto with flexible program, S: shutter-priority auto, A: aperture-priority auto, M: manual Scene modes: portrait; landscape; child; sports; close up; night portrait; night landscape; party/indoor; beach/snow; sunset; dusk/dawn; pet portrait; candlelight; blossom; autumn colors; food Special effect modes: night vision; super vivid; pop; photo illustration; toy camera effect; miniature effect; selective color; silhouette; high key; low key U1 and U2: user settings

Exposure compensation

–5 to +5 EV (choose from step sizes of 1/3 and 1/2 EV) available in P, S, A, M, SCN, and EFCT modes

Exposure lock

Luminosity locked at detected value

ISO sensitivity

ISO 100 to 51200 (choose from step sizes of 1/3 and 1/2 EV); can also be set to approx. 1 or 2 EV (ISO 204800 equivalent) above ISO 51200; auto ISO sensitivity control available (Recommended Exposure Index)

Active D-Lighting

Can be selected from Auto, Extra high, High, Normal, Low, or Off

Multiple exposure

Add, average, lighten, darken

Other options

HDR (high dynamic range), photo mode flicker reduction

Autofocus

Hybrid phase-detection/contrast AF with AF assist

Detection range

-4 to +19 EV ( -2 to +19 EV without low-light AF, single-servo AF, photo mode, ISO 100, f/2.0 lens, 20 °C/68 °F)

Lens servo

Single-servo AF (AF-S), Continuous-servo AF (AF-C), AF mode auto-switch (AF-A; available only in photo mode), full-time AF (AF-F; available only in movie mode) ; predictive focus tracking, Manual focus (M): Electronic rangefinder can be used

Focus points

209 (single-point AF, photo mode, DX image area)

AF-area mode

Pinpoint, single-point, and dynamic-area AF (pinpoint and dynamic-area AF available in photo mode only); wide-area AF (S); wide-area AF (L); auto-area AF

Focus lock

Focus can be locked by pressing shutter-release button halfway (single-servo AF) or by pressing AE-L/AF-L button

Built-in flash

Manual pop-up flash raised via flash pop-up control Guide Number: Approx. 7/22, 7/22 with manual flash (m/ft, ISO 100, 20 °C/68 °F)

Flash control

TTL: i-TTL flash control; i-TTL balanced fill-flash is used with matrix, center-weighted, and highlight-weighted metering, standard i-TTL fill-flash with spot metering

Flash modes

Fill flash, red-eye reduction, slow sync, slow sync + red-eye, rear-curtain sync, auto, auto + red-eye reduction, auto slow sync, auto slow sync + red-eye, flash off

Flash compensation

–3 to +1 EV (choose from step sizes of 1/3 and 1/2 EV) available in P, S, A, M, and SCN modes

Flash-ready indicator

Lights when built-in flash or optional flash unit is fully charged; flashes as underexposure warning after flash is fired at full output

Accessory shoe

ISO 518 hot-shoe with sync and data contacts and safety lock

Nikon Creative Lighting System

i-TTL flash control, optical Advanced Wireless Lighting, FV lock, Color Information Communication, Auto FP High-Speed Sync

White balance

Auto (3 types), natural light auto, direct sunlight, cloudy, shade, incandescent, fluorescent (7 types), flash, choose color temperature (2500 K to 10,000 K), preset manual (up to 6 values can be stored), all except choose color temperature with fine-tuning

Bracketing types

Exposure, white balance, ADL

Movie - metering

TTL exposure metering using main image sensor, TTL metering using camera image sensor

Movie - metering method

Matrix, center-weighted, or highlight-weighted

Movie - frame size (pixels) and frame rate

3840 x 2160 (4K UHD); 30p (progressive), 25p, 24p. 1920 x 1080; 120p, 100p, 60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p. 1920 x 1080 (slow-motion); 30p x4, 25p x4, 24p x5. Actual frame rates for 120p, 100p, 60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, and 24p are 119.88, 100, 59.94, 50, 29.97, 25, and 23.976 fps respectively; quality selection available except at sizes of 3840 x 2160, 1920 x 1080 120p/100p, and 1920 x 1080 slow-motion, in which case quality is fixed at high.

Movie - file format

MOV, MP4

Movie - video compression

H.264/MPEG-4 Advanced Video Coding

Movie - audio recording format

Linear PCM, AAC

Movie - audio recording device

Built-in stereo or external microphone with attenuator option; sensitivity adjustable

Movie - ISO sensitivity

M: Manual selection (ISO 100 to 25600; choose from step sizes of 1/3 and 1/2 EV); auto ISO sensitivity control (ISO 100 to 25600) available with selectable upper limit P, S, A: Auto ISO sensitivity control (ISO 100 to 25600) with selectable upper limit AUTO, SCN, EFCT (excluding night vision): Auto ISO sensitivity control (ISO 100 to 25600); Night vision: Auto ISO sensitivity control (ISO 100 to Hi 4) (Recommended Exposure Index)

Movie - Active D-Lighting

Can be selected from Same as photo settings, Extra high, High, Normal, Low, or Off

Movie - Other options

Time-lapse movies, electronic vibration reduction

Monitor

8-cm (3.2–in.) diagonal; Tilting TFT touch-sensitive LCD with 170° viewing angle, approximately 100% frame coverage, and 11-level manual brightness controls; Approx. 1040k-dot

Playback

Full-frame and thumbnail (4, 9, or 72 images) playback with playback zoom, playback zoom cropping, movie playback, photo and/or movie slide shows, histogram display, highlights, photo information, location data display, auto image rotation, and picture rating

USB

Hi-Speed USB, with Micro-B connector; connection to built-in USB port is recommended

HDMI output

Type D HDMI connector

Audio output

Stereo mini-pin jack (3.5 mm diameter; plug-in power supported)

Wi-Fi (Wireless LAN) standards

IEEE 802.11b/g/n/a/ac

Wi-Fi (Wireless LAN) operating frequency

2412 to 2462 MHz (channel 11) and 5180 to 5320 MHz

Wi-Fi (Wireless LAN) maximum output power

2.4 GHz band: 6.9 dBm, 5 GHz band: 10.2 dBm

Wi-Fi (Wireless LAN) security

Open system, WPA2-PSK

Bluetooth standards

Bluetooth Specification Version 4.2, Bluetooth: 2402 to 2480 MHz, Bluetooth Low Energy: 2402 to 2480 MHz, Bluetooth: 1.4 dBm, Bluetooth Low Energy: –0.1 dBm; Approximately 10 m (32 ft) without interference; range may vary with signal strength and presence or absence of obstacles

Battery

One EN-EL25 rechargeable Li-ion battery

AC adapter

EH-73P charging AC adapter

Tripod socket

1/4–in. (ISO 1222)

Dimensions (W x H x D)

Approx. 126.5 x 93.5 x 60 mm (5 x 3.7 x 2.4 in.)

Weight

Approx. 450 g (15.9 oz.) with battery and memory card but without body cap; approx. 395 g/14 oz. (camera body only)

Operating environment - temperature

0 °C to 40 °C (+32 °F to 104 °F)

Operating environment - humidity

85% or less (no condensation)

Supplied accessories

BF-N1 Body Cap, DK-30 Rubber Eyecup (comes attached to camera), EN-EL25 Rechargeable Li-ion Battery with terminal cover, MH-32 Battery Charger (plug adapter supplied in countries or regions where required; shape depends on country of sale), AN-DC20 Strap, UC-E21 USB Cable

News

The much-rumored Nikon Z50 APS-C DX format mirrorless camera has just been officially unveiled.

The Z50 has a 20.9 megapixel APS-C sensor with 209 phase detection AF pixels, ISO 100-51200, 11fps burst shooting, EXPEED 6 processor, 180-degree flip screen, 2360k-dot EVF, 4K UHD video recording at 30p, and a 395g body.

The new Nikon Z50 will be available starting from 7th November 2019 priced at £849 / $856.95 body only.

In addition, Nikon have also introduced two new DX-format zoom lenses - the NIKKOR Z DX 16–50mm f/3.5–6.3 VR and the NIKKOR Z DX 50–250mm f/4.5–6.3 VR - to go with the Z50 camera.

Nikon UK Press Release

THE Z50 DX MIRRORLESS CAMERA AND FIRST NIKKOR Z DX LENSES JOIN THE NIKON Z FAMILY

London, England, 10 October 2019: Nikon today introduces the Nikon Z50, the first Z series DX-format mirrorless camera and the first two NIKKOR Z DX zoom lenses, the NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR and NIKKOR Z DX 50-250mm f/4.5-6.3 VR. Offering superb image quality, the all-new Nikon Z50 captures perfectly focused photos and 4K movies that are rich in detail, depth, and colour. Combining the Z 50 with the new NIKKOR Z DX lenses, the new DX mirrorless system will deliver stunning images, from wide-angle to telephoto.

Equipped with a large 20.9 MP DX-format sensor, the Z50 brings the optical advantages of Nikon mirrorless into a strong, compact DX body. Features inherited from the acclaimed Nikon Z7 and Z6 cameras include the wide Nikon Z Mount and the fast, wide Hybrid-AF (autofocus) system. The Z50 also features a sharp electronic viewfinder, a tilting touchscreen, and the deep grip that makes Nikon mirrorless cameras so comfortable to hold. Intelligent Eye-Detection AF makes the Z50 great for shooting portraits, and up to 11 fps continuous shooting (with AF/AE) takes care of the action. The Z50 is fully compatible with Nikon’s FTZ Mount Adapter, which allows F-mount NIKKOR DSLR lenses to be used together with the camera.

Both Z Mount DX lenses are optimised for the superb light-gathering capability of the wide Nikon Z mount. These zoom lenses focus quickly, quietly, and steadily, making them as great for video as they are for stills. The ultra-portable NIKKOR Z DX 16–50mm f/3.5–6.3 VR is a ‘pancake’ zoom that covers wide-angle to portrait views beautifully. The NIKKOR Z DX 50–250mm f/4.5–6.3 VR is a compact telephoto zoom: this lens lets users move from framing unique portraits to capturing distant action with smooth, steady precision.

Robert Harmon, Senior Commercial Planning Manager, Nikon UK, says: “Whether your passion is photography or video, Nikon’s new Z50 mirrorless system camera offers an exciting blend of creativity and power. Aside from the new NIKKOR Z DX lenses, you get seamless compatibility with all Z mount lenses. And if you have F-mount lenses and accessories in your bag, you can use them too. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a Nikon DSLR owner or a first time Nikon user: the Nikon DX mirrorless system gives you plenty of room for growth.”

Nikon Z50 - UK Price

The Nikon Z50 and NIKKOR Z DX lenses will be available nationwide from Winter 2019.

Camera and lens kits will be available starting from £989 RRP

  • Nikon Z50 & NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR - £989
  • Nikon Z50 & NIKKOR Z DX 50–250mm f/4.5–6.3 VR & NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR - £1,199
  • Nikon Z50 & FTZ mount adapter kit - £989
  • Nikon Z50 & NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR & FTZ mount adapter kit - £1,129
  • Nikon Z50 body only - £849

Nikon Z50 - US Price

  • Nikon Z50 body: $856.95
  • Nikon Z50 lens kit: $996.95
  • Nikon Z50 double lens kit: $1,346.95
  • Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR lens: 6;296.95
  • Nikkor Z DX 50-250mm f/4.5-6.3 VR lens: $349.95
  • Nikon MB-N10 battery grip: $196.95

Nikon Z50 - Features

  • Superb image quality: wide Nikon Z mount, large 20.9 MP DX-format (APS-C) CMOS sensor, and fast EXPEED 6 image processor. 
  • All the way sharp: Hybrid-AF (autofocus) system. 209 on-sensor AF points cover approx. 90% of the frame, horizontally and vertically, for superb edge-to-edge sharpness.
  • Brilliant in low light: wide 100–51200 ISO range and low-light autofocus down to -4 EV
  • Intelligent Eye-Detection AF: automatically focuses on a subject’s eyes, whether they’re alone or a face in a crowd. 
  • Fast continuous shooting: up to 11 fps with autofocus (AF) and auto exposure (AE).
  • Silent operation: the Nikon Z 50 focuses quietly and has a silent photography mode.
  • 4K movies: users can record 4K/UHD movies at 30p and shoot slow-motion footage in Full HD with no crop-factor limitations. 4K time-lapse sequences can be created in-camera.
  • Smooth EVF: ultra-sharp electronic viewfinder (2360k-dot) can display a natural image, similar to that of a DSLR optical viewfinder. Or images can be displayed as they’ll look with settings applied.
  • Large tilting touchscreen: high-resolution (1040k-dot) LCD monitor with smartphone-style touch controls. Can be tilted up or down for flexibility when shooting video or self-portraits.
  • Creative effects: 20 in-camera effects for photos and video. The intensity can be adjusted when previewing the effect.
  • DX mirrorless body with pop-up flash: easy to carry with a strong magnesium-alloy top and front.
  • Nikon ergonomics: deep grip for comfortable handling, and thoughtfully placed buttons, dials, and touchscreen controls.
  • Simple DSLR-style menu system: instantly familiar to current Nikon DSLR users and easy to master for first-time Nikon users. 
  • Fast connections: Wi-Fi® and Bluetooth® plus Nikon’s SnapBridge app make it easy to send photos and movies to any device for sharing or storage.
  • A system to love: compatible with the FTZ Mount Adapter and Nikon DSLR accessories, including remote camera controls, DSLR Speedlights, microphones, and more.

NIKKOR Z DX 16–50mm f/3.5–6.3 VR - Features

  • Ultra-portable wide-angle zoom: fast-focusing lens with wide-angle to normal 16–50mm focal length range (FX- format/35mm equivalent 24–75mm). 
  • Minimum focus distance of just 0.2 m: lets users focus sharply on close-up details. 
  • In-lens Vibration Reduction: shoot at shutter speeds up to 4.5 stops slower than otherwise possible.2 Capture clearer images in low light and record steady video footage even if filming while walking.
  • Silent control ring: for key functions including manual focus, aperture control, and exposure compensation.
  • Lens in your pocket: weighs just 135 grams and is flat as a pancake when retracted. 

NIKKOR Z DX 50–250mm f/4.5–6.3 VR - Features

  • Compact telephoto zoom lens: fast-focusing lens with normal to telephoto 50–250mm focal length range (FX- format/35mm equivalent 75–375mm). 
  • Minimum focus distance of just 0.5 m: lets users focus sharply on subjects that are closer.  
  • In-lens Vibration Reduction: shoot at shutter speeds up to 5 stops slower than otherwise possible.1 
  • Silent control ring: for key functions including manual focus, aperture control, and exposure compensation.
  • Travel light: Lens is super compact when retracted and weighs 405 grams.  

1 Approximately 360 F-Mount NIKKOR lenses can be used with your Nikon Z camera. Visit the official Nikon website to find more information about the NIKKOR lens system.

2 Based on CIPA standards.

The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Nikon and its Affiliates is under license.

Wi-Fi® and the Wi-Fi Certified logo are registered trademarks of Wi-Fi Alliance®.

Image Gallery

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First Impressions

Photography Blog attended the UK launch of the new Nikon Z50 mirrorless camera in central London - find out what we thought of Nikon's brand new camera by reading our detailed first impressions...

After weeks of rumors and leaks, Nikon has finally announced it's first ever mirrorless camera with an APS-C sensor, following hot on the heels of last year's full-frame twins, the Z6 and Z7.

Alongside the Z50, Nikon is launching two DX-format lenses which are all designed to fit the camera's Z-mount. The existing FTZ Mount Adapter that was released with the Z6/7 is also compatible with the new model, which means that existing Nikon Z-mount and even F-mount lenses can be used with the new camera.

Other important features of note include a 2.4-million dot EVF, a 1.04-million dot tilting screen with smartphone-style touch controls, 4K UHD video recording, Snapbridge, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, and 11fps burst shooting with AF/AE tracking.

The Nikon Z50 will launch on 7th November 2019 priced at £849 / $857 body only, with a number of kits also available.

Key Specifications

  • 20.9 megapixel APS-C sensor
  • Hybrid-AF with 209 phase-detection AF pixels
  • ISO 100-51200
  • 11fps burst shooting
  • Eye-Detection AF
  • EXPEED 6 processor
  • Silent mode
  • 180-degree flip screen
  • 2360k-dot EVF
  • 4K UHD video recording at 30p
  • 395g body

Target Audience

Nikon Z50

In terms of target users, the Z50 is aimed at people upgrading from D7000-series DSLRs, content creators an influencers looking for a small yet capable camera, and Z6/Z7 owners who want a backup camera.

The introduction of the Z50 means that Nikon now has five full-frame and five APS-C cameras in its current range, with three of them being mirrorless, with the Z50 sitting alongside the D7500 and D500.

Size and Weight

Nikon Z50

Weighing just 385g and measuring 126.5 x 93.5 x 60mm, the Z50 comes across very much like a Z6/7 that's been shrunk in the wash, no mean feat given that the latter cameras are already pretty small.

Nikon Z50

Despite this impressive reduction in size and weight, the Z50 still features a deep grip that can accommodate all of your fingers, already marking this out as camera for serious photographers.

Controls

Nikon Z50

The Z50 inherits the dedicated shooting mode dial from the Z6 and Z7, this time positioned on the top-right of the camera.

There are also two customisable Function buttons on the front of the chassis, and even two control dials, one on the front of the chunky hand-grip and one controlled by your right thumb on the rear.

Nikon Z50

Indeed, with most of the controls positioned on the right, it's clear that Nikon have done everything that they can to make one-handed operation of the Z50 a viable option (for right-handed users at least).

This degree of control and customisation is impressive on what is after all only a mid-range camera for enthusiasts.

Sensor

Nikon Z50

A brand new 20.9 megapixel APS-C sized CMOS sensor is at the heart of the Nikon Z50.

Nikon claim that the Z50 offers class-leading ISO performance than its main rivals due to the slightly lower megapixel count and therefore slightly bigger pixels.

We were unable to verify this claim at the launch event as the sample cameras that were available were pre-production units running non-final firmware.

The Z50 uses the latest EXPEED 6 processor, which is found in the much more expensive Z6 and Z7 full-frame models.

Video Recording

Nikon Z50

The Z50 can record 4K UHD video at 30p. While it would have been nice to see 4K/60p or even 10-bit recording, the fact that the Z50 doesn't apply any crop to its 4K footage to a lesson to at least one of its main rivals.

There' also a built-in time-lapse feature and interval timer, and slow-motion movies can be recorded complete with sound.

Auto-focusing

Perhaps more important than the number of megapixels is the fact that the sensor has 209 PDAF points, the first ever DX sensor with PDAF onboard.

Coverage is an impressive 90% both horizontally and vertically.

The same Eye AF system as found in the Z6/7 is onboard, and the Z50 is capable of focusing down to an impressive -4EV.

Our initial tests with the two kit zoom lenses in a dimly lit hotel basement certainly seemed promising,with the camera quickly finding focus almost all of the time.

Tilting LCD Screen

Nikon Z50

The Z50's 1040K-dot screen can be tilted down below the camera to face forwards for easier vlogging and the inevitable selfies.

While we'd have preferred a design that pivots out to the side, this implementation is at least an improvement on the Z6 and Z7's screen,which only tilts up and down, and not forwards.

Touchscreen

In addition to having a responsive touchscreen that can be used for almost everything (take note here, Sony), the Z50 also has an innovative and permanent column of three controls on the right of the screen.

Starting from the top, there are icons for zooming in, zooming out, and toggling between the various display modes.

It's quite a neat, if somewhat limited idea that's meant to make the transition from a smartphone to the Z50 easier.

Built-in Flash

Nikon Z50

The Z50 may be small, but Nikon have still squeezed a pop-up Speedlite flash into the design, which may prove useful for some fill light if you haven't got a more powerful unit to hand.

Lenses

Nikon Z50

Accompanying the Z50 are two new DX-format kit zoom lenses - the 16-50mm pancake and 50-250mm super-telephoto.

With an all-plastic construction and maximum apertures of f/3.5–6.3 and f/3.5–6.3, they're clearly at the budget end of the lens world, but they do at least provide a quick and inexpensive way to cover a versatile focal range.

Nikon Z50

As mentioned above, you can also fit the FTZ mount adapter which enables you to use any full-frame Z-mount or FX-mount lens on the Z50, with a corresponding change in the crop factor. The above image shows the Z50 with the full-frame 500mm lens fitted!

While we can't see too many new owners going down this route, if you're already invested in a Nikon full-frame system, be it DSLR or mirrorless, it's great to see Nikon supporting those lenses on their new DX-format camera.

Especially as in the UK at least, the FTZ adapter is free for everyone who pre-orders the Z50.

Battery

Nikon Z50

A brand new battery, the EN-EL25, is used by the Z50. Nikon haven't released any CIPA certified figures for the battery life just yet, so we'll have to wait and see what compromises have been made in this department.

Memory Cards

An unfortunate consequence of the Z50's small size is the single memory card slot, rather than a dual system.

Even worse, it's housed in the same compartment as the battery on the bottom of the camera, which will inevitably prove awkward for avid tripod users.

Image Quality

Although we've had a chance to try out the Z50 camera, we weren't permitted to take away any photos for closer examination, as only pre-production models running non-final firmware were available.

However, early indications from looking at stills and video on the screen look promising, as well as some of the sample images taken by photographers and influencers who had early access to the camera.

We’ll of course be very keen to put the Z50 properly through its paces as soon as full production samples become available, so watch this space!

Early Verdict

The Nikon Z50 is an impressively small, well thought-out camera that takes Nikon into a new market, namely cropped-sensor mirrorless.

This is hotly contested - Sony may generate a lot of headlines from their full-frame Alpha cameras, but it's actually their APS-C range that generates the most revenue, while Canon have also recently become more aggressive after letting their EOS M line-up languish for a few years. Other contenders include Fujifilm's well-regarded X-series system and the Micro Four Thirds system headed by Olympus and Panasonic.

So it will be very interesting, and maybe even crucial, to see how much of an impact Nikon can make in an already saturated area of the camera market at a time when camera sales are perpetually in decline.

The new Z50 is undoubtedly a promising start, though, and one which we look forward to fully reviewing in the near-future.

Until then,why don't you share your thoughts on the new Nikon Z50 and Nikon's move into cropped-sensor mirrorless cameras by leaving a comment below?

Hands On

Want to see exactly what the new Nikon Z50 APS-C DX format mirrorless camera looks like in the flesh?

Check out our extensive hands-on gallery of photos of the Nikon Z50 APS-C DX format camera now, including the new NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR and NIKKOR Z DX 50-250mm f/4.5-6.3 VR lenses and a side-by-side comparison with the Nikon Z6 camera.

A gallery of hands-on photos of the Nikon Z50 APS-C DX format mirrorless camera.

Image Gallery

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Preview Images

Ahead of our full review, here are some sample JPEG and Raw images and movies taken with the brand new Nikon Z50 mirrorless camera.

A gallery of sample images taken with the new Nikon Z50 mirrorless camera.

Nikon Z50 Sample Images

Sample RAW Images

The Nikon Z50 enables users to capture RAW and JPEG format files. We've provided some Nikon RAW (NEF) samples for you to download (thumbnail images shown below are not 100% representative).

Sample Movies & Video

This is a sample movie at the highest quality setting of 3840x2160 pixels at 30 frames per second. Please note that this 25 second movie is 378Mb in size.

This is a sample movie at the quality setting of 3840x2160 pixels at 25 frames per second. Please note that this 19 second movie is 301Mb in size.

This is a sample movie at the quality setting of 1920x1080 pixels at 120 frames per second. Please note that this 14 second movie is 222Mb in size.

This is a sample slow motion movie at the quality setting of 1920x1080 pixels at 30 frames per second. Please note that this 62 second movie is 240Mb in size.

This is a sample slow motion movie at the quality setting of 1920x1080 pixels at 25 frames per second. Please note that this 49 second movie is 162Mb in size.

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