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Home → Comparison

Nikon Z50 vs Nikon Z9: Worth the Upgrade?

By Jason Polak No Comments
Last Updated On September 27, 2024

The Nikon Z50 and Nikon Z9 are two very different cameras. Although it is unlikely you will be deciding between these two head-to-head, if you’re a Z50 user, you might be wondering whether it’s worth upgrading to the Z9. In this article, we’ll highlight the differences between these two cameras to help you make your decision!

Nikon Z50 Sample Image #44
NIKON Z 50 + NIKKOR Z DX 50-250mm f/4.5-6.3 VR @ 110mm, ISO 100, 1/1250, f/8.0

Nikon Z50 vs Nikon Z9 Specifications Comparison

Camera FeatureNikon Z50Nikon Z9
AnnouncedOctober 2019October 2021
Camera TypeMirrorlessMirrorless
Sensor TypeBSI CMOSStacked CMOS
Image ProcessorEXPEED 6EXPEED 7
Resolution20.9 MP45.4 MP
Pixel Dimensions5568×37128256×5504
Sensor Dimensions23.5 x 15.7 mm (APS-C)35.9 x 23.9 mm (Full Frame)
Sensor Pixel Size4.22µ4.35µ
Low Pass FilterNoNo
IBIS (In-Body Image Stabilization)NoYes
Base ISOISO 100ISO 64
Max Native ISOISO 51,200ISO 25,600
Extended ISOs100-204,80032-102,400
High-Resolution Sensor ShiftNoNo
Focus Stack BracketingNoYes
Fastest Shutter Speed1/40001/32000
Longest Shutter Speed30 seconds900 seconds
Continuous Shooting (Mechanical Shutter)11 FPSNo mechanical shutter
Continuous Shooting (Electronic Shutter)11 FPS20 FPS
Notes for High FPS Shooting12-bit raw only at 11 FPS (14-bit raw is available at 9 FPS)20 FPS figure is for .NEF files (full-res JPEG at 30 FPS; DX JPEG at 60 FPS; 11 megapixel JPEG at 120 FPS)
Buffer Size (Raw)35 (11 FPS)Over 1000
Autofocus SystemHybrid PDAFHybrid PDAF
Autofocus Points209493
Low-Light AF Sensitivity (f/2 Lens, ISO 100)-4 EV-7 EV
Standard Flash Sync Speed1/2001/200
Curtain to Protect Sensor at ShutdownNoYes
Video Features
Maximum Video Bit Depth (Internal)8 bits12 bits
Maximum Video Bit Depth (External)8 bits12 bits
Raw VideoNoYes
8K Maximum FramerateN/A60 FPS
4K Maximum Framerate30 FPS120 FPS
1080P Maximum Framerate120 FPS120 FPS
Additional Video Crop FactorNoNo
Chroma Subsampling4:2:04:2:2
Video Recording Limit30 min125 min
Physical and Other Features
Card Slots12
Slot 1 TypeSD (UHS-I)CFExpress Type B
Slot 2 TypeN/ACFExpress Type B
Rear LCD Size (Diagonal)3.2 in3.2 in
Rear LCD Resolution1.04 million2.1 million
Articulating LCDSingle AxisDual Axis
TouchscreenYesYes
ViewfinderEVFEVF
Viewfinder Magnification1.02x (0.67x FF equiv.)0.8x
Viewfinder Resolution2.36 million3.69 million
Viewfinder Coverage100%100%
Voice MemoNoYes
Headphone JackNoYes
Microphone JackYesYes
Built-in FlashYesNo
GPSNoYes
BluetoothYesYes
WiFiYesYes
USB TypeType B 2.0Type C 3.2 Gen 2
Battery TypeEN-EL25EN-EL18d
Battery Life (Viewfinder)280 frames700 frames
Battery Life (Rear LCD)320 frames740 frames
Weather SealedYesYes
Weight (Body Only w/ Battery + Card)450 g (0.99 lbs.)1340 g (2.95 lbs.)
Dimensions (LxHxD)127 x 94 x 75 mm (5.0 x 3.7 x 2.9″)1149 x 150 x 106 mm (5.9 x 5.9 x 4.2″)2
Price Comparison
MSRP, Body Only$860 (Check Current Price)$5500 (Check Current Price)
Used PricesNikon Z50 Used PricesNikon Z9 Used Prices
1, 2 The Nikon Z50 and Z9’s official dimensions do not include the depth of the protruding viewfinder. To match the standards of other manufacturers, 15mm were added to both depth measurements in this table.

Summary and Recommendations

Looking at the table above, you can see that the Z9 will give you many, many features over the Z50. In a few words, these differences could be summed up as speed, autofocus, and image quality. Thus, the upgrade could be worth it if you started with the Z50 but are starting to have trouble with photographing fast action, or if you want to jump up a level in image quality.

Dragonfly taken with Nikon Z9 pre-releast burst 2
NIKON Z 9 + NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S @ 400mm, ISO 800, 1/8000, f/5.6

The Z9 is also a full-frame camera with a 45.4MP sensor, over the Z50’s 20.9MP APS-C sensor. Thus, you will also get better detail and low-light performance in many cases. In terms of video, it’s not even close – the Z9 can shoot a whopping 8K video, and it even has internal Raw video capabilities.

The downside of the Z9 is its weight. The Z50 is a pretty compact camera that can be put in a small bag, whereas the Z9 is a gripped camera that weights three times as much. Thus, even if you do upgrade to the Z9, you may wish to keep your Z50 for times when the Z9 is just too much camera.

As to the final question, is it worth it? Personally, I really like the Nikon Z50 and find it highly capable, especially for the size and price. The Nikon Z9 is a serious professional beast, but then again, it should be – it costs over 6x as much! I would typically suggest a photographer grow more slowly, maybe to a camera in the Nikon Zf, Z5, Z6, Z7, or Z8 line instead of jumping directly from the Z50 all the way to the Z9.


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Tagged With: Nikon, Nikon Mirrorless, Nikon Z, Nikon Z50, Nikon Z9

About Jason Polak

Jason Polak is a bird and wildlife photographer from Ottawa, Canada. He has been interested in photography ever since he received a disposable film camera as a small child. His career as a mathematician led him to move to Australia in 2016, where he started seeing colorful parrots. A few casual shots with a lens completely unsuitable for birds got him hooked, and now wildlife photography is his biggest passion. Jason loves to show the beauty of animals to the world through photography, and one of his lifelong goals is to photograph five thousand species of birds. You can see more of Jason's work on his website or on his YouTube channel.

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