Now that Nikon has announced the retro-themed Zfc mirrorless camera, a number of photographers may be wondering how it compares to Nikon’s other DX mirrorless camera, the Z50. The two have very different designs but many similar specifications. This article covers what you need to know.
Let’s start by taking a look at both cameras side by side. Here’s the front view, to scale:
Top view, to scale:
And rear view, to scale:
As you can see, the designs are very different overall. The Zfc has many more dials along the top of the camera, while the Z50 has Nikon’s usual Z-series control layout (though a less advanced version than on some Z cameras, with no AF-On button or joystick). The Nikon Zfc doesn’t have a built-in grip, which may make it uncomfortable for using heavy lenses for long periods of time, but Nikon has said that an optional grip attachment will be available when the camera ships at the end of July.
Despite the surface differences, the two cameras have nearly the same specifications. Here’s how they compare:
Nikon Zfc and Z50 Specifications
| Camera Feature | Nikon Zfc | Nikon Z50 |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | June 29, 2021 | October 10, 2019 |
| Sensor Resolution | 20.9 megapixels | 20.9 megapixels |
| Low-Pass Filter | No | No |
| Sensor Type | CMOS | CMOS |
| In-Body Image Stabilization | No | No |
| Sensor Size | 15.7 × 23.5 mm | 15.7 × 23.5 mm |
| Image Size | 5568 × 3712 | 5568 × 3712 |
| Pixel Size | 4.22 µ | 4.22 µ |
| Native ISO Sensitivity | 100-51,200 (204,800 extended) | 100-51,200 (204,800 extended) |
| Image Processor | EXPEED 6 | EXPEED 6 |
| Viewfinder | Electronic / EVF | Electronic / EVF |
| Viewfinder Resolution | 2.36 million dots | 2.36 million dots |
| Viewfinder Coverage | 100% | 100% |
| Viewfinder Magnification | 1.02× (0.68× FX equiv.) | 1.02× (0.68× FX equiv.) |
| Built-in Flash | No | Yes |
| Flash Sync Speed | 1/200 | 1/200 |
| Storage Media | 1× SD, up to UHS-I compatible | 1× SD, up to UHS-I compatible |
| Max Continuous Shooting Speed | 11 FPS (12-bit raw), 9 FPS (14-bit raw) | 11 FPS (12-bit raw), 9 FPS (14-bit raw) |
| Shutter Speed Range | 1/4000 to 900 seconds; time and bulb modes | 1/4000 to 30 seconds; time and bulb modes |
| Electronic Front-Curtain Shutter | Yes | Yes |
| Exposure Metering Sensor | TTL metering using camera image sensor | TTL metering using camera image sensor |
| Autofocus System | Hybrid PDAF | Hybrid PDAF |
| Focus Points | 209 | 209 |
| Eye AF | Yes; includes animal eye AF | Yes; includes animal eye AF |
| Eye AF in Wide Area AF Mode | Yes | No |
| Autofocus Detection Range (Standardized to f/2 Lens, ISO 100) | -4.2 to +19.3 EV (-2.7 to +19.3 EV without Low-Light AF) | -4 to +19 EV (-2 to +19 EV without low-light AF) |
| Video Maximum Resolution | 4K UHD @ 30p | 4K UHD @ 30p |
| 4K Video Crop Factor | 1.0× | 1.0× |
| HDMI Out / LOG | Yes / No | Yes / No |
| HLG / HDR Out | No | No |
| Eye AF in Video | Yes | No |
| Articulating LCD | Yes, fully articulating | Yes, tilt only |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes |
| LCD Size | 3.0″ diagonal | 3.2″ diagonal |
| LCD Resolution | 1.04 million dots | 1.04 million dots |
| Continuous External Power | Yes | No |
| Built-in GPS | No | No |
| Wi-Fi / Bluetooth | Yes / Yes | Yes / Yes |
| Battery | EN-EL25 | EN-EL25 |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 300 shots | 300 shots |
| Video Battery Life | 75 minutes | 75 minutes |
| Control Layout | Retro; two command dials; dedicated shutter speed, ISO, and exposure compensation dials; hand grip available separately | Low- to mid-range; two command dials; built-in hand grip |
| Weight with Battery and Card | 445 grams (0.98 lbs) | 450 grams (0.99 lbs) |
| Dimensions (L×H×D); Depth Excludes Protruding Viewfinder | 135 × 94 × 44 mm (5.3 × 3.7 × 1.7 in.) | 127 × 94 × 60 mm (5.0 × 3.7 × 2.4 in.) |
| MSRP As Introduced | $960 body only; $1100 with 16-50mm lens | $860 body only; $1000 with 16-50mm lens |
| Lowest Price Seen | $960 body only (see current sales) | $900 with 16-50mm lens (see current sales) |
The Nikon Zfc and Z50 are very similar cameras. Most of the specifications above are exactly the same, with the two biggest differences being the Zfc’s retro theming and fully articulating rear LCD. The only meaningful advantage to the Z50 (other than price) is the inclusion of a pop-up flash.
Other advantages in favor of the Zfc include extended shutter speeds in manual mode (up to 900 seconds), slightly better low-light AF detection, and eye AF in wide-area and video modes. None of these features are going to be critical for most photographers, but they might help justify spending the extra $100 on the Zfc rather than the Z50.
Which One Should You Get?
Even though some specifications differences exist here and there, the biggest and most obvious reason to get the Zfc over the Z50 is if you want the retro styling and the dedicated shutter speed, ISO, and exposure compensation dials. On the flip side, the biggest reason to get the Z50 over the Zfc is price.
While both cameras are currently selling at similar prices new ($960 for the Zfc and $860 for the Z50), the Z50 has been out for much longer than the Zfc. If you’re willing to buy used or refurbished, you can save hundreds of dollars on the Z50, while the Zfc is so new that it won’t have similar exposure on the used market for a while.
If you’re going to buy either one new, I suggest the Zfc over the Z50. It’s not much more expensive but adds useful handling features (the dedicated dials) as well as a few other advantages here and there, like the fully articulating rear LCD. However, you’re certainly not giving up much if you opt for the slightly cheaper Z50, so there’s no need to agonize over the decision either way. Find a good price on either and move on. (Or consider the full-frame Nikon Z5 instead in the first place.)
What about weather sealing?
Both of them are weather sealed, according to Nikon. The level of sealing should be about the same, but we’ll know for sure once the Zfc starts shipping and we can test it.
I pre-ordered the Zfc right away, but the more I think about it I might actually hold off for now. I already own a Z50 which is pretty great in it’s own right. I’d be lucky if I got $500 for my Z5 after eBay fees and then to turn around and spend twice that on the Zfc body… not sure it’s worth it. I might just wait for the non-SE version of the 28mm to drop and buy that instead.
Soencer. Does the Zfc not bracket flash and exposure like the Z50. I bought the Z50, and it’s a terrific camera in many respects, but I was disappointed to find this restriction. My older DSLRs all bracket flash and exposure. I’m pretty sure the full frame Zs do too … This has meant that the Z50 has not been as useful to me as it might have. Also can you comment on any U1/U2 ability in the menus if not in hardware ?
Hi Fred, According to Nikon UK:
Z 50 Bracketing types
Exposure, white balance, ADL
Z fc Bracketing types
Exposure and/or flash, white balance, ADL
www.nikon.co.uk/en_GB…tech_specs
You’re right that the current specs on Nikon’s site don’t say the Zfc has AE or flash bracketing. But Nikon’s press release for the Zfc also incorrectly said that it only has 9 megapixels… so it’s not hard to imagine that the bracketing omission is just a typo. I’d be very surprised if the Zfc doesn’t have it.
Spencer, I answered Fred’s question, but it’s awaiting moderation: any idea what caused this?
Regarding the press release stating a 9 MP sensor: the wording was changed to 20.9, however, the “209-point hybrid AF” was also changed to “20.9-point hybrid AF” :-) This error has been corrected as of 2021-07-03.
www.nikonusa.com/en/ab…-TECH.html
Hi Pete, I restored your comment. Something seems wrong with our comment plugin at the moment – several comments have been erroneously deleted, including yours. Working on fixing that now.
I own a Z50 as well as a Z5. Each for different purposes. I am very happy with the Z50. So much so I sold a Leica CL and lenses and now use the Z50 for crop sensor work (using the 24-200 zoom and soon the upcoming 28mm lens introduced alongside the Zfc). I plan on using the new 50mm macro on my Z5.
If I had to pick again I’d maybe consider the Zfc only because it has the articulating rear LCD. Otherwise the Z50 if perfectly fine and would still be my first pick for a small sensor Nikon body.
Glad you’re liking the Z50! These are all great cameras and it’s hard to go wrong.
I’m so ticked that they took the flash off the Zfc. To me, that’s a must and a deal breaker. How else are you supposed to stop action inside a house at night? Or fill in a face with light at dusk or a backlit sunset on vacation?
What ticks me off even more is that this proves that with a firmware update that Nikon could provide the Z50 with better AF and shutter speed so that it’s on par with the Zfc.
Why oh why Nikon did you remove the flash?!! Spending $$$ on an external flash that’s half the size of the camera that i have to lug around and hope I have time to dig out when I need it is totally not the same as having a convenient pop-up flash already included in the camera. My 10yo said it just shows that the aim is for video instead of photographers. I know that was the case with the Sony a6600 (which I also thought was a dumb decision to remove the flash since it prevented me from upgrading to that camera when it came out) but the tactile design of the Zfc should appeal to photographers first, I would think. I guess I need to hope that Nikon will push those firmware updates to the Z50.
I’m trying very hard to go back to Nikon but they are not making it easy. There’s not even a single prime lens in the DX lineup. They need a prime that’s somewhere in the 18-23mm range for walking around. And something like the old cheap 50mm 1.8mm that was a great entry level prime portrait lens that i had for my D90 and D7000 back in the day. And Nikon expecting consumers to use big, expensive FX glass doesn’t bode well for making DX consumers happy.
I thought I was a target consumer for APS-C, as just a mom who likes to take photos of her kids and family and vacations (and have the ability to take video but doesn’t need fancy 4K that takes up an insane amount of memory), but every year that goes by, it seems like that’s not what they are going for anymore. 😪
I’m thinking of going back to Fuji again. A xt4 arrives tomorrow for a test. I own the Z6ll and tried the Z50 for a week. I liked the built-in flash but the camera was too slow for my needs. I mostly want a travel-size system. I have a Fuji X100F – fixed 23mm lens – with built-in flash. It’s a joy to use. I think the smaller Fuji, the X 30 I think, was just compared to the Nikon Zfc and it was rated far higher overall. Best of luck in your photo journey.
If you think the Z50 is slow, I think you’re going to be disappointed with Fuji. As someone who owns Fuji and Nikon gear, I feel like the Nikon stuff is just overall more responsive. The AF system alone on the Nikon is much better… the EyeAF mode on my X100V is a joke compared to even the Z50. However, if you like single-point they’re both about the same.
Ben, thanks for the info. I’ll certainly consider that when I take it for a test drive. Mostly, I like the Fuji lens options for overseas travel, and I do like the Fuji retro ergonomics as compared to my Df way back then. I’ll still have my Nikon Z6ll which is awesome (just lacking glass).
Cheers
You could try the Leica S system. I used that for nearly 5 years. Takes great pictures of kids and family members. Not so great however for fast moving subjects.
“… but doesn’t need fancy 4K that takes up an insane amount of memory”
Both cameras can be set to record 1920×1080 (Full HD) video.
“I thought I was a target consumer for APS-C, as just a mom who likes to take photos of her kids and family and vacations (and have the ability to take video but doesn’t need fancy 4K that takes up an insane amount of memory)”
Why not use your smartphone for these purposes?
I mean… if we’re arguing 4k, my iPhone shoots 4k60.
Dear Mum,
I understand your predicament but to be honest, over the years of having a pop up flash on my cameras, I’ve hardly ever used them. I much prefer the look and results using off camera flash or bounce flash from a dedicated on camera flash, that is much more powerful than the pop up one.
Failing that, I’m sure you will enjoy the challenge and satisfaction of finding suitable flattering natural light.
Nothing is perfect but enjoy the journey.
Dear E House
you don’t need the flash, because the camera takes good photos with ISO 12800.
Just try it! Maybe in a month or two when you have the opportunity in a photo store to test the camera, do it!
With kind regards
Toni
The why I like and why I dislike Zfc camera:
-I love the retro design, it’s quite beautiful and has several handling benefits over the z50. It has a small upgrade in some features too.
-I don’t understand why Nikon felt the need to create a camera with this styling that goes into the same market as the Z50, making it more difficult for a buyer to choose from the Dx pool of mirrorless cameras. Still in terms of the design, I’m not sure it will grab many people that want a Nikon that just looks like what Fuji has been doing successfully for years (which also have all those retro lenses with manual apperture to go with them!!). Also, the lack of grip makes it worse for handling in all but street occasional photography situations, making it even more front ended with bigger/heavier lenses.
All in all, I can’t understand why Nikon felt the need to release a stilish Z50 II, when the DX lineup is lacking soooo many other cameras ( like D3500 or D500 mirrorless replacements), and it seems like they’re beating around the bush with these sort of releases. Now, I know this camera will be pretty cool, and a new camera is always great for a company that is lagging behing in terms of new releases, and maybe I’m biased because I really want to see new great products from Nikon soon!! :)