Should I buy A Nikon Z50?

[Diesel Von Ivan Hause]

I have a Nikon D500 & Nikon D7500. Is there any reason for me to buy the Z50? I would like to get the Nikon Z series to start using mirrorless but the price on the better models is more than I want to spend right now.

 

[MikEm13]

I can't see what you would gain over the D500 and D7500 with a Z50. Maybe look at a Z5 with a kit lens to get a good start into the Z series. Also a lot of good preowned Z6/Z7's available.

 

[Hymie023]

I agree with MikEm13, I think a FF Z5 would be a better fit if you have any FF lenses. I have a Z50 and I love it as a walk around camera, but I also have 2 full frame cameras. It may be you might like a FF option. If you get a Z50, be sure to get the 16-50 lens and a 50-200. It’s a great little camera.

 

[Rodamu]

The disadvantage of the Z50 is that its lenses aren't full frame so if you upgrade later to a high end Z model, the lenses may not give you the performance you want. Oth the other hand, I like my Z50 with 16-50mm & 50-250mm lenses. The camera and lenses are very compact and light. You will get good photos; but you may be in a deadens for upgrades. Maybe if you sell both Nikons you can afford a Z6ii. Here is a comparison of the D500 & Z50:

Nikon D50 vs Nikon D5000: What is the difference?

What is the difference between Nikon D5000 and Nikon D50? Find out which is better and their overall performance in the camera ranking.

versus.com

 

[Whiskeyman]

... I would like to get the Nikon Z series to start using mirrorless but the price on the better models is more than I want to spend right now.

Then save your money until you can purchase one of the mirrorless cameras that you want. Buying less than that will just lead to you eventually spending more money to get what you really want. Several years ago, I "settled for" a camera less with less capability than what I really wanted. If I had just purchased the camera that I really wanted at the time, instead of the lesser one, I would have saved myself $2400 US in the long run. I've done the same for lenses, too, so the cost of my impatience is well north of $3500 US, up front, and over $2500 US after I traded a couple of those purchases in on trade.

The only reason to not follow this path is if you absolutely need a piece of gear right now and what you want isn't available. And by needing it, I mean that it will cost you money to not have it!

 

[eaj101]

Nikon may (probably) come out with a Z version of the D500, but the Z50 is a respectable camera in its own right. Full frame lenses will work, including F mount lenses via the FTZ. (Full frame Z lenses that don't have in lens VR may be problematic since the Z50 doesn't have IBIS). I used to carry a D5300 on long hikes and climbs, so small and light has a place. The kit lenses for the Z50 are excellent, better than kit lenses have a right to be

 

[DougC]

If you are buying It for nature photography, my advice is don’t do it. I have a Z50 and really like it for family pictures. I stupidly bought a Z6 recently and I am on a 5 day south Texas shoot and as a result, the Z6 will probably be for sale in the next week or so. Poor AF performance, slow response and the EVF all drive me crazy. I’m using my D500 exclusively for the last 3 days.

 

[Diesel Von Ivan Hause]

Much respect to all your comments. Selling my D500 is not really an option as I really love that camera. The D7500 I could, but I would miss that one too as it has it's place. I agree that I need to save my money for the higher end Z camera. If the D500 comes out in mirrorless, that I will definitely buy but still hold on to what I have. Thank you all for responding. You helped me make up my mind and not make a purchase that I would regret.

 

[Rassie]

The Z50 is not a match for the D7500 in terms of performance when shooting action and fast-moving subjects. It has a slower burst rate and weaker subject tracking than the D7500. It does have the same sensor as D7500 and D500 so it's capable of the same dynamic range and noise performance. Image quality is the same. The Z50 also has weaker weather sealing than the D7500.

Benefits of the Z50 are a smaller and lighter body, and the benefits of using an electronic viewfinder cannot be overstated. I've grown so enamored with the EVF on my Z6II and my wife's Z50 I'll never go back to a DSLR again. I swapped my D7500 for the Z6II, but I would not do that for a Z50. In my view it's a step backward in camera capabilities. Having said that, if I also had a D500 like you, then swapping the D7500 for a Z50 may make more sense since you have the D500 for serious action work.

 

[Diesel Von Ivan Hause]

The Z50 is not a match for the D7500 in terms of performance when shooting action and fast-moving subjects. It has a slower burst rate and weaker subject tracking than the D7500. It does have the same sensor as D7500 and D500 so it's capable of the same dynamic range and noise performance. Image quality is the same. The Z50 also has weaker weather sealing than the D7500.

Benefits of the Z50 are a smaller and lighter body, and the benefits of using an electronic viewfinder cannot be overstated. I've grown so enamored with the EVF on my Z6II and my wife's Z50 I'll never go back to a DSLR again. I swapped my D7500 for the Z6II, but I would not do that for a Z50. In my view it's a step backward in camera capabilities. Having said that, if I also had a D500 like you, then swapping the D7500 for a Z50 may make more sense since you have the D500 for serious action work.

Thank you for your help. I may look into the Z6II and sell my D7500.

 

[Ken Miracle]

My wife likes her Z50 but is not an bird in flight photographer but she likes to do close ups of bugs n flowers, land scapes, bird photos etc.. She uses the FTZ adapter and has a Tamron 18-400 on it and that is her do it all light and portable camera for her. Not my cup of tea but I like to shoot BIF and other actions stuff ... but she loves it.

 

[Ado Wolf]

The only reason I would buy a Z50 would be compactness. It is much lighter and compacter as the D7500..
The only issue is the lack of good DX S Lenses. Once you have to use the FTZ adapter you lose the light / compact effect.
I personally would save my money for better glass or maybe the upcoming Z9

 

[Schotzke]

Like Ken, my wife also uses the Tamron 18-400 with the FTZ on a Z50. She needed a camera that was light, like her 5500, but could focus better in on song birds in twigs. She gets a greater number of keeper shots. She is having difficulty adapting to the EVF. You might want to check out the EVFs on other mirrorless bodies if weight is not a limiting factor to see if they work better for you.

 

[Anjin San]

I have a Nikon D500 & Nikon D7500. Is there any reason for me to buy the Z50? I would like to get the Nikon Z series to start using mirrorless but the price on the better models is more than I want to spend right now.

It is shockingly good...and very small and light so if a light travel camera is something you need I would get one. Replaced my wife’s D7100 with one and she is thrilled...and I’ve used it enough to decide I will get one when we nan start traveling agin for trips where photography isn’t the top priority. I’ve used it with my 500PF as well...with excellent results so for a slightly larger travel kit with some reach would likely Z50 and PF. For more photo heavy trips...I would take my Z7II assuming B&H ever delivers it. If Nikon introduces a mirrorless D500 at about the same size and weight as the 50 but more features I would get that over the 50...probably.

 

[eaj101]

The FTZ weighs almost nothing so the only drawback to using it is the @1-1/2" increase in length. The 16-50 kit lens is excellent (though rather slow at f6.3 at the long end), sharp, and amazingly small. The kit 50-250 is optically excellent but only small in comparison to FX lenses. I think this is where the DX sensor size makes it hard to make lenses as compact as Olympus' which have to cover a much smaller image circle. It's not your best high-speed birds-in-flight camera but as a general nature photography camera it's excellent, especially at its price. (The EVF seems to bother some people while some people love it. I generally don't even notice it).

 

[Hermann]

I'm still on the fence about getting a Z50. But I had a chance to try one out for a couple of days, and I agree with what most people here wrote: A very nice camera - but no replacement for a DSLR if you're into action stuff.

One reason for getting a Z50 that hasn't been mentioned here is that it works very well with older manual lenses. I still use a 2.8/55mm and a 4/105 quite a lot for macro work, and focusing is a lot easier and more precise with the Z50 than any modern DSLR. It also works nicely with longer manual lenses like the 5.6/400 IF-ED.

 

[eaj101]

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I'm still on the fence about getting a Z50. But I had a chance to try one out for a couple of days, and I agree with what most people here wrote: A very nice camera - but no replacement for a DSLR if you're into action stuff.

One reason for getting a Z50 that hasn't been mentioned here is that it works very well with older manual lenses. I still use a 2.8/55mm and a 4/105 quite a lot for macro work, and focusing is a lot easier and more precise with the Z50 than any modern DSLR. It also works nicely with longer manual lenses like the 5.6/400 IF-ED.

Focus peaking is a big help with manual focus lenses.

 

[BFinkelstein]

I bought a Z50 with FTZ when my D500 shutter blew out and was out for repairs (like months and months of repairs) because the lenses I had make that a no-brainer. I figured I would use that as the back-up body for my D500. (Did I mentioned that it died on the 2nd last day of a Peruvian Amazon-Machu Picchu trip.). I am more than impressed with the Z 50 with either the Tamron 18-400 or the Sigma 150-600 lenses that I use for my birding and nature photography. Like others who noted, when matched with the Tampon 18-400 this is a terrific walk-about camera for all purposes. I have had fairly good luck with birds in flight (as long as they are not little ones) and finally captured a dragonfly in full flight with the Z 50. I am not a professional photographer, just a avid traveler who loves to shoot birds and other animals in the wild. See some examples. Eastern Pondhawk....Black-necked Stilt....Ruddy Turnstone. Now its in the camera bag permanently.

 

[Ph1tom]

I bought a az50 two lens kit to have something lighter than my D750. I really enjoy the Z50 and the image quality is more than enough for my needs. The kit lenses are terrific and I have the ftz for a pair of dx lenses I kept from my D7100, as well as my fx lenses, including a 79-200 and 200-500. For a fun, easy to carry around camera, I would recommend it.

 

[Engineer1972]

I have been shooting Nikons for fifty years and I love the Z50. My only problem is that I am left handed. The Z 50 is all right handed controls. Also, if you shoot through the eyepiece with your left eye, as I do, you will constantly change settings with your nose unless you remember to shut off the touch screen. A definite pain. Just sayin!

 

[ccirelli]

For me, I found many advantages moving to mirrorless. I had a Z50 as my first venture into mirrorless (now I'm using the amazing Z6II). I actually loved that little Z50 with it's pancake lens, for walk-around / family events / video grabs. It paired really well with my 70-300 and the FTZ. I kind of regret selling it. But, if you shoot primarily wildlife and you have some nice F glass - my suggestion is to hang on to that D500 for a while, unless you can swing a Z6II or Z7II.

One quick note on the Z50 DX kit lenses - they are plastic mounts (I hate plastic mounts...). But - their image quality / sharpness is outstanding.

BTW, regarding the Z5 suggestions, it's currently on sale at B&H (and other vendors) for $995 - great buy. You can also get a kit with the 24-200 Z, a super lens.

 

[Essok]

I purchased a Z50 a week ago. I haven't had a chance to read the manual to learn where any settings are at, but if it's helpful this is representation of images after opening the box and just pushing the button. I was on the fence about buying it because the reviews seemed not terribly flattering. For the price (with 2 lens kit), maybe these don't cut it for Sports Illustrated, but as a dad I am pleased with the colors and ability to stop action for my kids' ball games and to capture an owl in roadside pasture on the way home.

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[stanvdw]

Looking for buying one as a backup camera for my Z6ii, trip to Costa Rica and other places.

 

[billtils]

I recently posted some images on the wildlife thread here ( https://bcgforums.com/index.php?threads/isle-of-may-puffins.7929/ ). They were taken on what was my third trip to the island, the first with a D7100, the second with the D810, and this time with the D500. I can assure you that the D500 won hands down for fast focus lock, burst speed (I would almost certainly have missed those in-flight shots with the others) and image quality. To be fair to the 810 in regard to the IQ, it was used in DX mode, but it was with the same lens as this outing with the 500.

The D500 is 5 years old and I had toyed with going for the Z50 but based on how it works for me, I'm glad I went with the D500. Personal preferences come in to play of course: some people prefer the Z50 because it's smaller and lighter - that's a bit of a no-no for me, as I've used my son's Sony mirrorless and miss the stabilisation that comes from the heavier (but not overly heavy) D500 body. I'm also wedded (or welded!) to the Nikkor 300mm PF and 70-200 lenses and don't see the point in buying the Z-mount adapter so that I can use them on a body that offers me no advantages over what I have.

 

[ccirelli]

Looking for buying one as a backup camera for my Z6ii, trip to Costa Rica and other places.

Same here (well, no Costa Rica trip for me). I actually just grabbed another Z50 & 16-50 kit to replace the one I sold last year Took advantage of current rebates. Picked up the 24-200 as well, which is already exceeding my expectations.