The Nikon Z50 ii is one of the best all-around values of any digital camera we’ve ever used! The competition is fierce, however, and we have a lot to talk about in this Nikon Z50 ii review.
Should you buy a Sony A6700 instead? What about a Fujifilm X-S20? The alternatives do have allure, especially when you consider the abundance of APSC lenses available for the other system mounts. However, the Nikon Z50 II has at least one thing that other brands don’t: Nikons are some of the most intuitive, easiest to use cameras on the market. Furthermore, the Z mount as a whole offers one of the most seamless transitions between APSC and full-frame systems, too!
In this article, I will compare the Nikon Z50 II against its competition in key areas such as image quality and autofocus reliability. Honestly, though? If you’re shopping for a compact, affordable digital camera that delivers professional results, I sincerely believe you should try out this camera before any others.
For both photography and video, the Nikon Z50 II is a compelling choice. Whether your world is that of a wanderlust traveler, or a stay-at-home parent, all types of content creators should consider it. Even if you’re a working pro who is looking for a complimentary camera for your flagship full-frame setup, the Z50 ii does not disappoint!
So, without any further ado, let’s dive in…
Nikon Z50 II Specifications
- SENSOR: 20.9 megapixel APSC CMOS sensor
- LENS MOUNT: Nikon Z (Nikkor DX) APSC (1.5x crop)
- STILL IMAGES: 5568×3712 px
- VIDEO: 4K 30p H.264/H.265 8/10-bit, 1080p @ 120 fps
- ISO: 100 to 51200
- AUTOFOCUS: 231-point hybrid AF, 3-D Tracking, Subject Detection
- SHOOTING SPEED (FPS): 30 FPS @ 1.2x add. Crop & JPG
- SHUTTER SPEEDS: 1/4000 sec to 900 sec, max flash sync 1/250 sec
- STABILIZATION: no
- VIEWFINDER: 2.36M dot OLED, 1.02x magnification
- LCD: 3.2 in, 1.04M dot LCD Touchscreen, fully articulating (side)
- CONNECTIVITY: Wifi & Bluetooth using “SnapBridge” app
- STORAGE: SDXC/SDHC, UHS-II
- BATTERY: EN-EL25 (1250 mAh)
- BODY CONSTRUCTION:
- SIZE: 5 x 3.8 x 2.6 in. (127 x 96.8 x 66.5 mm)
- WEIGHT: 17.46 oz / 495 g (body only)
- PRICE: $906.95
(B&H | Adorama | Amazon)
Nikon Z50 II Review | Who Should Buy It?
The Nikon Z50 ii is one of the most well-spec’d digital cameras priced under $1,000. In fact, it’s one of the most professional-feeling “entry level” cameras I have ever held! So, right away, if you’re looking for maximum value, the Nikon Z50 ii is one of my top recommendations.
We do need to break down the details of exactly which types of photographers, videographers, and content creators ought to consider the Z50 ii, and why…
All-Around Content Creator (Photo & Video)
At its core, considering the 20-megapixel sensor, the impressive all-around build quality, and the overall feature set, the Nikon Z50 is a perfect choice for the content creator who needs to do a little bit of everything.
I like it more than all of the dedicated vlogging cameras for two huge reasons… Firstly, because it has a viewfinder, and I absolutely need one for the times when I just want to take photos in a traditional manner. Secondly, I appreciate the all-around build quality & design, from the durability to the ergonomics. The Z50 ii is equally “effortless” to use no matter which way you are holding/aiming the camera.
Having said that, there’s a reason why I’m listing “content creator” first and foremost on what will be a long list of recommendations. Simply put, this camera’s 20-megapixel sensor is behind all of its competitors in terms of resolution. The alternatives are at 24, 26, ~30, and even 40 megapixels! So, if you’re making a lot of huge prints from your imagery, this might not be the best choice for you. However, the resolution is perfect for everyone who primarily shares their images on digital platforms.
(NOTE: considering the sharpness of Nikkor lenses, you’re still going to be able to make considerably large prints from the Z50 ii images; A 16×20” or 20×30” print should be no problem!)
Travel Photography & Video
Again, for those who are focused on either just photography, or both photo and video, the Z50 ii is an excellent camera for travel. Family vacation, or wilderness adventure; either way, you want a camera that is portable, durable, and just lets you focus on the moment at hand…
Everyday Candid & Street Photography
Even those of you who don’t travel much, or at all; if you really like photography and just want to have a camera with you every day, the Z50 is a great choice. We’re getting into the territory where style and fashion can become a topic, however, and this causes me to mention the Nikon Z fc. If you really want a stylish retro looking camera, then the Nikon Z fc has basically the same sensor, but in an even smaller package. (Presumably, a hypothetical Nikon Z fc II might also include the desirable updates to autofocus and overall performance that the Z50 II has, by the way…)
All in all, though, what I like about the Z50 II is that it just “gets out of the way” of letting you take pictures. The ergonomics and menu interfaces are excellent. (It seems that ALL retro style digital cameras, unfortunately, have multiple “quirks” that either require a lot of getting used to, or are simply inferior. More on this later…
Real Estate, Commercial, & Editorial Photography
On the one hand, if you photograph real estate for clients that mostly use digital media for their listings, the Z50 II is a perfect example of how you can pay your bills with a truly modest professional tool. Just get the right lens for the job, (my Nikon Z 12-28mm review is coming soon!) …add a tripod… and you’re all set!
The same thing applies to a lot of other high-end pro work. Maybe you do food photography, or apparel; the Z50 II is a well-rounded camera. It can start you off in a new career as a photographer, and then it can act as a seamless transition to a flagship pro camera, and remain a useful 2nd or backup camera, too.
On the other hand, if the client does require high-resolution images, then the Z50 II is at a distinct disadvantage, of course.
Portrait & Wedding Photography
Here is where I have to recommend an alternative, at least for working pros. For most photographers who do work such as weddings or portraits, features like dual card slots and sensor stabilization become highly necessary. Indeed, I would be doing you a disservice if I didn’t recommend saving up for a camera like the Nikon Z5 II, even though it’s nearly double the price.
Having said that, here’s the deal: if you’re just starting out, the Z50 II is still one of the best beginner cameras for an aspiring pro. In fact, I dare say that no other “upgrade path” on the market will feel as seamless as the Nikon system. You can jump to a Z5 II and barely have to change anything about how the camera feels & operates. I’ll discuss this more later, but other entry-level cameras just don’t offer quite the same user experience.
Action Sports & Wildlife Photography
The same theme of my advice goes well here too: if you’re a wildlife photographer who mainly uses a Z6 III, you might want a 2nd camera with a different lens. So, again, I cannot emphasize enough how helpful it is to have two cameras that are as similar as possible when it comes to how the ergonomics feel, where the buttons are, etc.
All that is to say, the Z50 II is more than adequate for high-speed action sports & wildlife; especially if you’re okay with JPG capture, you’ll get up to the new (insane, in my opinion) industry standard of 30 FPS.
Landscape & Nightscape Photography
With just 20 megapixels at its disposal, I would like to lump together all of the photography genres in which you might be making enormous prints. Maybe it’s landscape photography, or maybe it’s back to portraits & weddings. Either way, there’s no avoiding this reality: 20 megapixels is plenty for most things, but it’s still the lowest-resolution sensor on the market.
The Z50 II does have excellent image quality, however, with dynamic range and high ISO image results that make it one of the best APSC sensors we have ever reviewed. All you need to do is keep the resolution in mind if you’re an adventurous landscape photographer who makes “huge” prints measured in feet or yards/meters.
Nikon Z50 II Review | Pros & Cons
Now that we’ve talked about genres of photography, let’s briefly go over the nitty-gritty details of how the Nikon Z50 II actually performs. Spoiler alert: The image quality for both video and stills is incredible. The (digital) sensor stabilization, when combined with a lens that has optical stabilization, is shockingly good. The autofocus performance is impressive, and overall, as I’ve been saying, the camera is just a delight to use.
Image Quality (Stills)
Although its resolution is clocked at 20 megapixels, resolution is, of course, just a number. How do the images out of the Nikon Z50 II actually look? Gorgeous. Colors and contrast are vibrant and clear. Dynamic range is impressive, almost on par with full-frame sensors though not quite. In fact, even the high-ISO noise levels are almost on par with full-frame sensors, too! This is one of the most impressive aspects of the Z50 II, and indeed the 20-megapixel sensor that Nikon has been sticking with for a while now. It’s an incredible sensor, and hard to beat.
Dynamic Range Test, ISO 100
I dare say that if you’re not really a pixel-peeper, you’ll be hard-pressed to notice a difference between the Z50 II images and those from any full-frame Nikon camera. The dynamic range at ISO 100 is incredible; its shadow recovery (and highlight recovery) will drop your jaw. The noise levels at high ISOs are also virtually indistinguishable from full-frame, as long as you keep it modest and correctly expose your images around ISO 3200 or so.
That’s how good this sensor is. Most folks, in my opinion, ought to consider this much more strongly, than any megapixel comparison. (SIDE NOTE: 30-40 megapixels on APSC is severely hampered by diffraction, anyways! 20-24 MP on APSC is the approximate sweet spot for those who care about per-pixel detail.)
Video Quality
Of course, 20 megapixels is more than enough for impressively sharp 4K video footage. To be specific: You can get extra-sharp 4K 30p video from the sensor’s full width, or if you want 4K 60p video, you’ll have to use the crop mode. (It’s still rather sharp!)
Furthermore, the Z50 II offers HLD and Log video formats, as well as a waveform display, and even a headphone port for audio monitoring. All this, when combined, really makes the Z50 II stand out from any ~$1K peers; indeed it is aimed squarely at giving the ~$1,400 APSC cameras a run for their money!
Design & Durability
I’ve never hidden the fact that I love how Nikon cameras feel; ergonomically they have always been my favorite. Thankfully, the Z50 II did not disappoint. Usually, lightweight cameras make a lot of painful compromises in terms of the ergonomics & handling. Especially as someone with large hands, I really fumble with most cameras in this size/weight category.
The Z50 II does no such thing. It’s got a full-size grip, a full-size viewfinder, and it feels very rugged and durable in-hand. In fact, the Z50 II looks and feels nearly identical to the Nikon Z5 II, and even quite close to the Nikon Z6 III!
Autofocus Performance
Honestly, the original Nikon Z50 was already truly impressive. Now, autofocus performance is one of the biggest leaps forward for its replacement. Nikon has added the much better subject tracking interface that we’ve seen on flagship cameras such as the Z6 III and Z8, known as 3-D tracking.
It performs incredibly well, and furthermore, the overall implementation is just infinitely better than the older interface for subject tracking.
All in all, reliable, fast autofocus makes the Nikon Z50 II a great choice for new photographers, AND a worthwhile upgrade for existing Z50 users.
Overall Performance
Here’s where I get to really sing praise to Nikon’s overall user experience. Not only is the Nikon Z50 ii decently fast and reliable, but also, there is just an effortlessness to the handling in general. So, before we talk about exact speed tests & spec sheets, keep this in mind: when a camera just seems to be easy to use, you miss fewer moments than if you carefully choose whichever camera is a few nanoseconds faster in one metric or another.
With that in mind, the Nikon Z50 ii offers an impressive 11 FPS with its mechanical shutter. You can get up to 30 FPS with the electronic shutter, which is common for flagship pro cameras. However, the caveat is that you also get bumped into JPG only capture when you go beyond 11 FPS. This could be a deal-breaker for some, but I’ve honestly never encountered a scenario in which I needed 30 FPS but didn’t also actually prefer the significant file savings of capturing JPG.
Features & Customizations
The Nikon Z50 II gives a balance of user-friendliness and advanced customizability. On the one hand, you can just pick up the camera, press all the buttons, and figure everything out almost effortlessly. On the other hand, you can also dive into the menus and customizations, and rapidly achieve a highly optimized camera that operates like a professional tool.
Indeed, that’s one of the main things I really like about the Z50 II. It’s got dual command dials for easy manual control, and as many dedicated buttons as they could have possibly crammed onto such a small camera!
It does lack two key features that stop me from recommending it as a full-time pro camera; there’s no sensor stabilization and no dual card slots. If you’re looking for a truly flagship- featured APSC camera, you’ll have to spend a bit more money and get something like a Fujifilm X-T5, …or maybe wait and see if Nikon releases a Z60 or Z70? 😉
Ergonomics & Portability
Speaking of how awesome the handling of this camera is; I’d like to point something out: side-by-side, the Nikon Z50 II appears almost identical to the Nikon Z5 II which costs twice as much, and even the Nikon Z6 III which is a full-fledged pro camera!
That’s is what I’ve been talking about repeatedly throughout this review; You just don’t get this level of synchronization from any other brand. We’ll talk about specific competitors soon, but simply put, just glance at the oddball design & ergonomics of a Sony A6700 or a Canon R7, and compare them against their own full-frame siblings. To put it nicely, it’s ergonomic chaos.
This makes the compactness and light weight of the Z50 II all the more impressive.
Battery Life
Hey, I finally found something to complain about! In short, Nikon made a notable compromise with the Z50 II’s battery capacity, in order to save weight and make the camera as compact as it is. The EN-EL25A battery is only rated to about 230 clicks.
Now, keep in mind that if I’m shooting in high-speed burst mode then I can easily get double, triple, or quadruple that number. Either way this rating is still about 65% of the battery life that you can expect from Nikon cameras with the EN-EL15c battery. An extra OEM battery costs ~$70, but a brand-name 20,000 mAh USB battery costs ~$50 and the Z50 II can operate directly via USB-PD power, or rapidly charge the battery via USB when the camera is off.
Value
For the price, you won’t find any other APSC camera on the market with the same feature set and overall quality. The Z50 II stands quite alone in its sub-$1K price range, offering a professional control layout and full-frame image quality.
If you want even more of the features that really set a pro camera above the rest, you’ll need to pay ~$1300 or more to get IBIS, dual card slots, etc. (Even the highest-end Micro Four Thirds cameras cost a lot!)
This should come as no surprise, because value has always been one of Nikon’s greatest strengths overall. Their entire line of camera bodies offers an excellent balance of performance and affordability. Furthermore, their lens lineup also offers an equally balanced range from very affordable options to the most exotic, flagship glass.
Nikon Z50 II Review | Compared To The Competition
The competitors that are better than the Z50 II are going to cost hundreds more. Cameras such as the Sony A6700, the Canon EOS R7, or the Fujifilm X-S20, all offer at least one or two key advantages: sensor stabilization, and in the case of the R7, dual card slots as well.
However, those cameras will set you back $1,300 to $1,400. Furthermore, as I’ve mentioned, I dislike the ergonomics (and menus) of all those cameras; none of them feel similar to their respective professional siblings.
If you’re looking for a truly flagship APSC camera, you’ll have to pay $1700 for a Fujifilm X-T5, or $2000 for a Fujifilm X-H2. Honestly? At that point, I see a Nikon Z5 II (~$1700) as a better option, of course.
This certainly depends on how much video you do, by the way. The Z50 II’s video capabilities are comparatively “modest”, and some of the Fujifilm and Panasonic (Micro Four Thirds) options out there do indeed offer superior video capabilities. Honestly, though, I found the Z50 II’s video files to be absolutely beautiful, so I have no complaints there.
One trend that I would like to address is that of the retro style cameras. We’ve seen a ton of them from Fujifilm over the years, and Nikon has had the Z fc as well as the Zf. Should you consider the Zfc instead of the Z50 II? Well, first of all, no; if I want a retro style camera, I’ll wait for a Zfc II that offers the same AF system improvements. Having said that, as much as I love the look of retro style cameras, they always seem to have too many compromises in practical functionality for me. I absolutely love the grip of the Z50 II, as well as its modern control layout, and I’d dearly miss those things on any retro style camera.
Last but not least, there are only a few other cameras that cost the same as, or less than, the Z50 II. I won’t even mention them, because I honestly would rather not recommend them. Even if you’re on an extremely tight budget, the Z50 II is the mirrorless interchangeable lens camera you should just save up for!
The only caveat to this is, of course, the fact that if you’re ENTIRELY a vlogger, (meaning, you absolutely do not need a viewfinder on your camera) …then the Nikon Z30 is essentially a Z50 II but without the viewfinder. (Plus a few other subtle differences that make it a better vlogging camera, but with the same durable build quality and overall design.)
Nikon Z50 II Review | Conclusion
With the Nikon Z50 II, you can confidently capture photos and video of a rather wide variety of subjects. It’s not the absolute fastest camera, and its resolution is indeed modest by today’s standards. But the images are gorgeous, and the camera itself just feels effortless to use.
As both a working professional and a hobbyist, I like Nikon’s whole approach to this camera and the lenses available for it. Want a pro level camera and lenses, without feeling compelled to upgrade to something 2-3X more expensive someday? Grab the Z50 II and 2-3 of the right Nikkor lenses for your genre of photography / video, and you’ll be happy for a lifetime of content creation. Want a backup or 2nd camera that perfectly complements your flagship pro body & lenses? The Z50 II is it.
I’m still looking forward to seeing more DX lenses available for the Nikon Z mount, both name brand and third party. Maybe an 8-16mm f/4 DX for landscape photographers, or a 33mm or 57mm f/1.2 DX for serious portrait photographers. Honestly, though? The existing options are already excellent, and I really can’t think of any other reason to hesitate. (Oh, except it will probably go on sale for ~$100 off sooner or later!) 😉
Nikon Z50 II Pricing & Availability
The Nikon Z50 II is available for $906.95 as a body only, for those who are upgrading and already have existing Nikon Z-mount lenses. There are also many other lens kits available, including my personal favorite for all-around casual photography, the Nikon 24mm f/1.4 DX. ($1183.90 kit)
