Meanwhile, there has been a successor, the Z 50 II, but I found it a bit disappointing that Nikon, in order to keep the price below the $1,000 threshold, have decided not to fit the Z 50 II with an IBIS. In all honesty, that is exactly what is keeping me from replacing the Z 50 with the Z 50 II. The AF has been vastly improved, that has to be considered, but the other changes are not worth purchasing the new model.
Scott
December 23, 2023 11:28 pm
Santa brought me an early Christmas present from my precious wife…a new Z50! For me, I can read specs all day long, but what sold me on it was Nasim’s photos. In April, we went on a rapid-paced trip to Egypt, Jordan and Israel. Though I got some excellent photos from my iPhone XR, the Z50 would have been perfect for that trip. I considered my Fuji X-H1, which I still love even approaching 2024, but even that system with the 16-80mm f/4 and 55-200, is not exactly a light kit. I will always keep my X-H1 for it’s excellent IQ, especially of foliage, flowers and faces. However, I also decided to gradually move into the Nikon system (FF) (dynamic range+wonderful native Z lenses) and I thought the Z50 would be a great camera to learn the Nikon way for a year or so and then see what they’ve put out by then. I’m eyeing the Z8, but thought that would be a bit much for a walk-around, street, travel cam set-up. Now that I’m retired and as much as I love the IQ of FF or my “medium-frame” Mamiya RZ67 Pro II, traveling with those internationally would be a burden on this ol’ back! Your photos of the camels and bedouins made me feel nostalgic to go back to Egypt and Jordan. I could spend a month in Wadi Rum with just my backpack and Z50 and be a very content, happy man. One thing travel has taught me is that I don’t need nearly as many possessions as I thought I did. They just encumber me and keep me from going out and taking pictures.You are a most consistently excellent travel photographer and I love your reviews. Nasim, once again, a great review with superb sample photos! Keep up the great work!
Steve
March 10, 2022 12:21 pm
You said this about battery life:
“When I was shooting time-lapses, I turned off both LCD and EVF on the camera (with no image previews), which allowed me to get past 1000 shots on a single charge, with some battery life still left.”
I turned off the rear monitor with the button on the backside upper left and can only get about 330 shots in my time lapse before the battery dies.
Can you explain your settings in more detail?
Thanks.
Paul
March 9, 2022 10:16 am
I’m looking at buying a new camera for work (I’m a surveyor). I’m looking for a camera that will perform well in low light levels (dark churches, roof voids, etc). Would you suggest the Z50 is the camera for this environment? I’m very careful, but it needs to be pretty robust too! All advice greatly and gratefully received!
edward hyde
November 15, 2021 8:16 am
Why Fuji? Because it is the only manufacturer in the group that created a truly appealing line-up of high-performance lenses that are specifically designed for the camera mount and sensor size.
Game.Set.Match.
Raisins
June 20, 2021 9:51 am
Weak battery, lack of wide-angle optics without an adapter. Now I have a d5500, it suffers from a shutter shock in places. big run of 50 thousand frames. I use it in mountaineering, technical ascents, I cannot afford a full frame because of the weight. Now in thought, Z50 has many weak points.
First hearing a D5500 user thinking the Z 50 is not enough. Its mirrorless….so much less battery life per charge. My D7500 was way better…but I have 2 batteries for the Z 50 and that is enough. Z 50 over D5500….2 assignable function buttons…front abd rear control dials…better AF…slightly better high ISO ..much better video and live view …and more
SmgUk
June 15, 2021 4:26 am
I have the Z50 with the two kit lenses and it’s a fantastic camera but I am interested in photographing airshows when the world goes back to normal hopefully next year and I was thinking of getting a bigger lens when Nikon decided to release a native 100-400 or 200-600 but I am wondering if I should have instead gone the Sony mirrorless route for the superior autofocus and larger selection of lenses. But I dunno how well I will get on with the ergonomics and menus.
Or would you buy something like a Sony Rx10iv instead of a longer lense
SmgUK, I shot an airshow including the US Air Force Thuderbird flight demonstration team and I used my Fuji X-H1 with my 55-200mm! I’m not claiming to be a great photographer, but that system made me look better than I am! I think the Z50 would do fine if proper settings and technique are used, plus some practice! Enjoy your journey.
I am shooting Nikon 200-500mm f5.6 with a FTZ adapter for the air show. This set us is very affordable, and results are fantastic!
Christoph
April 12, 2021 10:54 am
Besides the as-always excellent review, I just want to say: Phenomenal images! Thank you again for sharing your expertise and skills with us.
Mrs C Byrne
April 10, 2021 6:07 am
This is a brilliant review. Thank you. What I was really looking for was right at the end tilted screen that cannot be used on a mount. Till then I was ready to buy. That’s the main feature I need, so Nikon please sort this out.
Ramses Olivares
February 6, 2021 8:10 am
Thank you verry much for this awesome review, it helped me to decide to get the z50 among others like the sony a6600 wich is almost same price, but with the disadvantage that I will have to get new lenses and I allready have a few nikon dx lenses from my old d5500. So the best choice was too get a nice and new nikon dx mirorrless camera, and by the way it works great with the ftz adaptor on my old lenses cause are af-p so no problems with auto focus.
Meanwhile, there has been a successor, the Z 50 II, but I found it a bit disappointing that Nikon, in order to keep the price below the $1,000 threshold, have decided not to fit the Z 50 II with an IBIS. In all honesty, that is exactly what is keeping me from replacing the Z 50 with the Z 50 II. The AF has been vastly improved, that has to be considered, but the other changes are not worth purchasing the new model.
Santa brought me an early Christmas present from my precious wife…a new Z50! For me, I can read specs all day long, but what sold me on it was Nasim’s photos. In April, we went on a rapid-paced trip to Egypt, Jordan and Israel. Though I got some excellent photos from my iPhone XR, the Z50 would have been perfect for that trip. I considered my Fuji X-H1, which I still love even approaching 2024, but even that system with the 16-80mm f/4 and 55-200, is not exactly a light kit. I will always keep my X-H1 for it’s excellent IQ, especially of foliage, flowers and faces. However, I also decided to gradually move into the Nikon system (FF) (dynamic range+wonderful native Z lenses) and I thought the Z50 would be a great camera to learn the Nikon way for a year or so and then see what they’ve put out by then. I’m eyeing the Z8, but thought that would be a bit much for a walk-around, street, travel cam set-up. Now that I’m retired and as much as I love the IQ of FF or my “medium-frame” Mamiya RZ67 Pro II, traveling with those internationally would be a burden on this ol’ back! Your photos of the camels and bedouins made me feel nostalgic to go back to Egypt and Jordan. I could spend a month in Wadi Rum with just my backpack and Z50 and be a very content, happy man. One thing travel has taught me is that I don’t need nearly as many possessions as I thought I did. They just encumber me and keep me from going out and taking pictures.You are a most consistently excellent travel photographer and I love your reviews. Nasim, once again, a great review with superb sample photos! Keep up the great work!
You said this about battery life:
“When I was shooting time-lapses, I turned off both LCD and EVF on the camera (with no image previews), which allowed me to get past 1000 shots on a single charge, with some battery life still left.”
I turned off the rear monitor with the button on the backside upper left and can only get about 330 shots in my time lapse before the battery dies.
Can you explain your settings in more detail?
Thanks.
I’m looking at buying a new camera for work (I’m a surveyor). I’m looking for a camera that will perform well in low light levels (dark churches, roof voids, etc). Would you suggest the Z50 is the camera for this environment? I’m very careful, but it needs to be pretty robust too! All advice greatly and gratefully received!
Why Fuji? Because it is the only manufacturer in the group that created a truly appealing line-up of high-performance lenses that are specifically designed for the camera mount and sensor size.
Game.Set.Match.
Weak battery, lack of wide-angle optics without an adapter. Now I have a d5500, it suffers from a shutter shock in places. big run of 50 thousand frames. I use it in mountaineering, technical ascents, I cannot afford a full frame because of the weight. Now in thought, Z50 has many weak points.
many?! where?
First hearing a D5500 user thinking the Z 50 is not enough.
Its mirrorless….so much less battery life per charge. My D7500 was way better…but I have 2 batteries for the Z 50 and that is enough.
Z 50 over D5500….2 assignable function buttons…front abd rear control dials…better AF…slightly better high ISO ..much better video and live view …and more
I have the Z50 with the two kit lenses and it’s a fantastic camera but I am interested in photographing airshows when the world goes back to normal hopefully next year and I was thinking of getting a bigger lens when Nikon decided to release a native 100-400 or 200-600 but I am wondering if I should have instead gone the Sony mirrorless route for the superior autofocus and larger selection of lenses. But I dunno how well I will get on with the ergonomics and menus.
Or would you buy something like a Sony Rx10iv instead of a longer lense
Not at all
SmgUK, I shot an airshow including the US Air Force Thuderbird flight demonstration team and I used my Fuji X-H1 with my 55-200mm! I’m not claiming to be a great photographer, but that system made me look better than I am! I think the Z50 would do fine if proper settings and technique are used, plus some practice! Enjoy your journey.
I am shooting Nikon 200-500mm f5.6 with a FTZ adapter for the air show. This set us is very affordable, and results are fantastic!
Besides the as-always excellent review, I just want to say: Phenomenal images! Thank you again for sharing your expertise and skills with us.
This is a brilliant review. Thank you. What I was really looking for was right at the end tilted screen that cannot be used on a mount. Till then I was ready to buy. That’s the main feature I need, so Nikon please sort this out.
Thank you verry much for this awesome review, it helped me to decide to get the z50 among others like the sony a6600 wich is almost same price, but with the disadvantage that I will have to get new lenses and I allready have a few nikon dx lenses from my old d5500. So the best choice was too get a nice and new nikon dx mirorrless camera, and by the way it works great with the ftz adaptor on my old lenses cause are af-p so no problems with auto focus.
Thanks again
don’t see the point of going mirrorless with legacy lenses…