Nikon Z50 II Launched

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With the Z system maturing, Nikon has redrawn what it means by its Entry Level camera. Not many years ago, Entry level DSLRs had the simpler menus and controls, with more automation, and were mass produced. Markup is assumed to have been low. AF worked, but was behind the Enthusiast DSLRs eg D7*00. In fact, only the flagship had the leading AF in the latest AF CPU, although this was also available latterly with the D500 and D850 .

Enthusiast DSLRs did well enough with the 4 year old AF engine of the previous flagship. Mirrorless on-sensor AF with dedicated software makes it more affordable to port the flagship into more affordable cameras. Besides perhaps the EVF and sensor, the biggest component cost is Nikon's propriety SoC (System-on-Chip) CPU, currently the ubiquitous and powerful EXPEED7.
Anyways, everyone wins, as we see in the remarkably capable, yet affordable, Z50 II.

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fcotterill said:
Latest take on the Z50 II in the Z System


Link fixed!
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Interesting article. To be honest, in this new series of all Expeed 7, i.e. Z50ii, Zf, Z6iii, Z8, Z9, the Zf feels like the outlier, as Zfc is on the old processor. I think that's where most of the buying confusion will be, as it's not the same sensor as Z6iii just different controls, but it's actually - do you want slightly higher DR _and_ different controls, or slightly lower DR and better viewfinder and FPS?

Other than that, I fully agree that it's a winning series by Nikon. I gave up and bought a Z50ii to replace my Zfc, since it's cheap enough and the lack of grip is really problematic. So far, the Expeed 7 works very well for my small tests even with the old sensor, and I'm quite happy with it.
 
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Count me as one of those waiting, still waiting, for the Z system replacement for the D500. There is something distinctive about the camera, a combination of burliness, solid feel, weatherproofing, versatility, and decent speed. The Z50 II reminds me of Honda Civic Si with a nice engine and some racy paint accents, but still a Civic—just enough to convince budget buyers it is an Audi or Beemer replacement. If I had to strip down my needs in a mirrorless, as a dedicated birder with a camera, I would go for modest file sizes, 10+ fps, and sticky focus, and the Z50 II would seem to equal that. But I also take trips to the tropics, weeks at a time in humid and wet conditions, banging around in vehicles and days on the trail, and I can't see this little camera lasting very long with its flash and flippy screen and little battery. Or in winter conditions with gloves and frost, when you need something substantial to hold with decently sized and spaced controls. In other words, a pro body (though I am not a pro). But, for $910, Nikon might be calculating correctly that it will get people like me to "sample" the Z system and eventually upgrade to a Z8, which is the only camera that feels like a real heir to the D500.
 
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Ted’s Camera here in Melbourne/AU has a Christmas Spevial running on the Z50II body since this morning, equivalent to $795 USD, so I decided to grab it for my Wife. I am sure she will love it, when paired with the 24-200 Z lens I have lying around.

It will be a lot lighter vs her D500 and 18-300 DX combo ;)
 
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beano said:
Ted’s Camera here in Melbourne/AU has a Christmas Spevial running on the Z50II body since this morning, equivalent to $795 USD, so I decided to grab it for my Wife. I am sure she will love it, when paired with the 24-200 Z lens I have lying around.

It will be a lot lighter vs her D500 and 18-300 DX combo ;)
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i used al lot my Zfc with the 24-200 for Holiday
its a great combination and with the z50II even better😉
 
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beano said:
Ted’s Camera here in Melbourne/AU has a Christmas Spevial running on the Z50II body since this morning, equivalent to $795 USD, so I decided to grab it for my Wife. I am sure she will love it, when paired with the 24-200 Z lens I have lying around.

It will be a lot lighter vs her D500 and 18-300 DX combo ;)
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Haha, I picked it up this morning. Now sitting in a shopping mall, sipping a latte, and playing with the body, whilst the Missus is murdering my credit-card. Christmas shopping, sigh.

At least I can set the body up for her, similar to my z8/z9 for portraits, and she can fine tune to her liking. Will be a bit of a learning-curve coming from the d500, let’s see how she adjusts. Got the Voigtländer 40 Z MF with me, let’s see what this little thing can do. Happy days.
 
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