I think the Z50ii delivers as a D500

[Kenny88]

Hi folks - as a longtime D500 user, from my very limited use of the Z50ii at this point, I'm going to say that the camera meets my expectations as a 'D500' replacement. AF is fast and furious, and bird detection mode appears to be working among other AF modes. Focus on eye on bird locks and that's already a winning situation - The D500 didn't have such focus mode detection algorithms so this is a step up by far. The FPS is 1 higher in shooting RAW so that's a bonus. I know many are looking for a true D500 replacement in the Z line, and in many ways the Z50II is delivering more than what a D500 had at the time, and it's as good as it's going to get for now in the Nikon line of APSC for now. For this price point and delivering so much more capability I think this is a bargain!

Hopefully, in the upcoming days in the field will solidify my early claims - sure it doesn't have CF or dual cards, but that doesn't make the camera inferior - using a reputable and fast write SD UHS-II card helps with the write speed to the card minimizing the lack of CF card implementation.

 

[StefanSC]

Enjoy your purchase and hope you get a lot of fun usage out of your camera.

For me, the launch of the Nikon Z50 II made me even happier with my choice of moving from my D500 with 170000+ shots to the Olympus OM-1 one year ago .

 

[Kenny88]

I too looked at the OM-1 but the cost of switching systems was way way too much, so I'm stuck with N

 

[tclune]

Hi folks - as a longtime D500 user, from my very limited use of the Z50ii at this point, I'm going to say that the camera meets my expectations as a 'D500' replacement. AF is fast and furious, and bird detection mode appears to be working among other AF modes. Focus on eye on bird locks and that's already a winning situation - The D500 didn't have such focus mode detection algorithms so this is a step up by far. The FPS is 1 higher in shooting RAW so that's a bonus. I know many are looking for a true D500 replacement in the Z line, and in many ways the Z50II is delivering more than what a D500 had at the time, and it's as good as it's going to get for now in the Nikon line of APSC for now. For this price point and delivering so much more capability I think this is a bargain!

Hopefully, in the upcoming days in the field will solidify my early claims - sure it doesn't have CF or dual cards, but that doesn't make the camera inferior - using a reputable and fast write SD UHS-II card helps with the write speed to the card minimizing the lack of CF card implementati

I confess that the Z50ii is the first camera that has made me think about moving on from my beloved D500. The AF modes and pre-capture of Z cameras are attractive, but the cost of the z8/Z9 is absurd to me. And I would expect to do my birding in DX mode anyway. Furthermore, I really like a couple of my DX lenses (Nikon 17-55 f/2.8 and Sigma 50-100 f/1.8) that I would want to continue to use, along with those wonderful Nikon F-mount pf lenses. So the Z50ii seems like the best of both worlds. If it did pre-capture in raw, I'd be out of excuses. It's actually possible that I might pry open my wallet for the Z50iii.

 

[fcotterill]

The Z50 II has rapidly become a Marmite Camera (to use an expression from this side of the pond). Love it or Reject it.

Photographers will vote with their wallets, regardless.

This camera outperforms the D500 in Autofocus and faster fps* notwithstanding its different haptics and ergonomics. It's impossible to deny it's a compact light powerhouse for wildlife and similar genres, which will outperform the D500 where it matters and the Subject Recognition with eye detection plus high fps will even outperform the D6. Silent shutter is an added bonus.

The Z50 II should sell very well, and it will work surprisingly well as a light weight camera for photographing wildlife, aircraft, sports etc. It will be straightforward to carry spare batteries with a portable compact power pack for PD charging on a USB C cable.

* The practicable frame rate(s) is still subject to field testing, and includes uncertainty about where and when rolling shutter effects become visible. On paper, the fps is listed as :
Continuous high-speed (extended): Approx. 11 fps (in silent mode: Approx. 15 fps)

High-speed frame capture + (C15): Approx. 15 fps

High-speed frame capture + (C30): Approx. 30 fps

 

[Alistair]

Many were expecting a $2,000 camera and Nikon produced a $1,000 camera so it's boo hoo hoo. It actually looks a very interesting camera, Z9 processing power in a Z50. Sensor QE plateaued 10 years ago so complaints of an old sensor are moot, it has the same pixel density as Z9 and IQ is beautiful. Stabilisation would be nice but we have to do with lens only VR, OK. Faster readout would be nice not going to happen at this price.
Put a 400/4.5 on this for a seriously capable, light, small rig with amazing AI based AF and beautiful IQ and you keep both kidneys.

 

[StefanSC]

Put a 400/4.5 on this for a seriously capable, light, small rig with amazing AI based AF and beautiful IQ and you keep both kidneys.

Unless heavily invested in Nikon system, why would you choose a Z50 and 400mm f4.5 over a Sony A6700 and a Sigma 500mm f5.6 Sport or an OM-1 and 300mm f4? All 3 set-ups are in the same ball-park wrt to weight, cost and image quality...

 

[Tiago C]

Unless heavily invested in Nikon system, why would you choose a Z50 and 400mm f4.5 over a Sony A6700 and a Sigma 500mm f5.6 Sport or an OM-1 and 300mm f4? All 3 set-ups are in the same ball-park wrt to weight, cost and image quality...

The Fujifilm X-H2s (or X-H2, X-T5, X-S20...) with the new XF 500mmF5.6 is also quite interesting

 

[Alistair]

Unless heavily invested in Nikon system, why would you choose a Z50 and 400mm f4.5 over a Sony A6700 and a Sigma 500mm f5.6 Sport or an OM-1 and 300mm f4? All 3 set-ups are in the same ball-park wrt to weight, cost and image quality...

Why wouldn't you, they are all excellent. With the Nikon you have the added bonus of a lens that can be used on full frame bodies and at unlimited frame rates. On the other hand, if you already have a 400/4.5 etc. the addition of a Z50ii adds much for a trifling sum.

 

[Lee R]

Unless heavily invested in Nikon system, why would you choose a Z50 and 400mm f4.5 over a Sony A6700 and a Sigma 500mm f5.6 Sport or an OM-1 and 300mm f4? All 3 set-ups are in the same ball-park wrt to weight, cost and image quality...

For me starting fresh I would pick the Z50ii for Nikon's lens ecosystem. OM-1 is pricey, Sony is also 500 dollars more. That's lens money.

If someone's after a Z50ii I don't think they would be looking at a very expensive prime as a first choice to pair it with so access to the 180-600 or Tamron 150-500, 50-400, older FTZ options like a Sigma 160-600C on FTZ can make a wildlife combination that can come in for for less money or using a Sigma, barely more than the A6700 body by itself. Used Sigma 150-600C's are not very expensive (500-600 dollars) and the center portion is not far off the 180-600 for sharpness.

The Z50ii also has a much better buffer than the Sony and while it has jpeg only precapture, it has it and it's useful for a lot of things even in JPEG. Not every shot needs to be RAW if you're comfortable with SOOC results.

Remember the Z50ii is a $900 camera which for some reason keeps getting compared with cameras 50% or 100-200% more money which is silly. For someone on a budget of @1500 dollars the Sony and OM-1 are not even options.

For someone not on a budget what justify's the price difference of the Sony or OM-1. For me I can get the shots on the Z50ii and keep money in my wallet so they don't offer something compelling enough to justify the price.

Sigma 150-500C is capable of this level of detail below (Shot on the Sigma) if you do your part. Paired with a $900 dollar Z50ii you'll be delivering great results. Add a lens hood rain cover and your in business in all weather. The lens has no issues with the FTZ and is still plenty quick enough to grab any subject your after. It doesn't have the corner sharpness of the Z, but center/mid it's barely different.

This is what you can get off a $500-600 telephoto and $900 dollar Z50ii in 2024 if you buy the lens used. Taken with a DX crop on the Z8, which is extremely similar to the output you would get with a Z50ii attached.

 

[Anjin San]

I think the Z50 II is as close as we will get to seeing a mirrorless D500. Over on Thom’s site he talks about it not being a 1:1 replacement nd mentions the 4 I think things the Z70/90 would need. Chief among those are IBIS and a higher MP faster sensor to help with rolling ahutter…and both of those are going to cause battery life issues unless they make the body bigger. And the overall price those improvements will cause puts the price up towards the Z6 III thus cannibalizing sales of it.

Both of those bodies are smaller than the D500 and bracket its weight. What the D500 has going for it are the DX crop to extend reach of whatever lens is mounted and 10FPS and good AF. Both Z FX bodies have faster framerate and better AF…and I would argue that for almost all purposes the Z 1.4 TC provides the extra reach and compensates for the DX reach since Z lenses are better and the Z TCs are much more forgiving than the F ones…and the sensors in the Zs are better as well. I just don’t see room price wise for a high end Z crop body…a new D500 is 1500 or so and based on the price of the Z50 II I don’t see my way they can match that price while adding the higher end sensor that a pro DX would need. The Z6 III and TC seem to match up pretty well with what people say they want in the mythical Z70/90…and Nikon would then have a new, expensive DX sensor that likely won’t sell enough to justify the development cost. Nikon is looking at crop bodies as entry level inexpensive gear…and an expensive low sales body doesn’t fit that lineup.

Of course…they’ll introduce something next week now that I’ve said that…but I think if we were going to see that body it would have been long ago.

 

[Lee R]

I think the Z50 II is as close as we will get to seeing a mirrorless D500. Over on Thom’s site he talks about it not being a 1:1 replacement nd mentions the 4 I think things the Z70/90 would need. Chief among those are IBIS and a higher MP faster sensor to help with rolling ahutter…and both of those are going to cause battery life issues unless they make the body bigger. And the overall price those improvements will cause puts the price up towards the Z6 III thus cannibalizing sales of it.

Both of those bodies are smaller than the D500 and bracket its weight. What the D500 has going for it are the DX crop to extend reach of whatever lens is mounted and 10FPS and good AF. Both Z FX bodies have faster framerate and better AF…and I would argue that for almost all purposes the Z 1.4 TC provides the extra reach and compensates for the DX reach since Z lenses are better and the Z TCs are much more forgiving than the F ones…and the sensors in the Zs are better as well. I just don’t see room price wise for a high end Z crop body…a new D500 is 1500 or so and based on the price of the Z50 II I don’t see my way they can match that price while adding the higher end sensor that a pro DX would need. The Z6 III and TC seem to match up pretty well with what people say they want in the mythical Z70/90…and Nikon would then have a new, expensive DX sensor that likely won’t sell enough to justify the development cost. Nikon is looking at crop bodies as entry level inexpensive gear…and an expensive low sales body doesn’t fit that lineup.

Of course…they’ll introduce something next week now that I’ve said that…but I think if we were going to see that body it would have been long ago.

A modern D500 in spirit would need a 40mp APS-C and at least 30FPS RAW. They would need to price it high because it will cannibalize sales of all the models including the Z9.

Honestly if they do that they might as well price it at Z8 levels and truly go for it. Stacked 40+ megapixel APS-C and 30+ fps with RAW precapture. Make it the most capable APS-C anyone’s ever seen.

Something that any A1ii, Z9 or R5ii owner wouldn’t be able to deny adding to their kit for the crop factor at high megapixel.

A DX offer you can’t refuse performance wise.

That camera would be a wildlife shooters dream.

 

[Anjin San]

A modern D500 in spirit would need a 40mp APS-C and at least 30FPS RAW. They would need to price it high because it will cannibalize sales of all the models including the Z9.

Honestly if they do that they might as well price it at Z8 levels and truly go for it. Stacked 40+ megapixel APS-C and 30+ fps with RAW precapture. Make it the most capable APS-C anyone’s ever seen.

Something that any A1ii, Z9 or R5ii owner wouldn’t be able to deny adding to their kit for the crop factor at high megapixel.

A DX offer you can’t refuse performance wise.

That camera would be a wildlife shooters dream.

And that’s why I said we will never see it. I think of the Z8/9 sensor and processor could support 30 RAW we would ready see that…so it will likely be a long time until they build a new sensor and processor to get there…but frankly I haven’t found any need for faster than 20…I would rather see a half second precapture RAW in the Z8 than a faster RAW rate.

 

[Lee R]

And that’s why I said we will never see it. I think of the Z8/9 sensor and processor could support 30 RAW we would ready see that…so it will likely be a long time until they build a new sensor and processor to get there…but frankly I haven’t found any need for faster than 20…I would rather see a half second precapture RAW in the Z8 than a faster RAW rate.

I’m totally content at 20fps honestly. Precapture RAW would be great for convienience but I’m honestly just using the forever buffer of the Z8 to do the same thing. It just takes some scrolling on the back LCD to get the moment I wanted and flagged. I don’t ever copy all shots to my MacBook for further editing (just flag potential keepers and upload wirelessly) so the thousands of shots aren’t a big deal for me. I look at it like I shot short 1-4 minute video clips and I’m pulling a 45mp screen capture.

If the Z8 didn’t have the amazing buffer it does have this wouldn’t be possible and I’d be much more annoyed without RAW precapture. But as it stands it would add convienience but no actual capability I don’t already have to get the shot.

If the Z50ii is like my ZF, with a fast UHSii and HE RAW it should fire at 15FPS for a long long time.

 

[Kenny88]

Back in the day the D500 was king it was crowned as a wildlife/action camera of the time - it had no IBIS yet in today's world the Z50ii is being knocked down because it doesn't have it - didn't need it back then and don't necessary need it today. The AF in the Z50ii I believe it surpasses the D500 based on my initial tests. The CMOS sensor is the same as the D500 - back in the day, the sensor was also king and it delivers excellent IQ - the same applies today and for this DX body. I think Nikon knows something that the public doesn't know about perhaps and they have their reasons.

 

[Lee R]

Back in the day the D500 was king it was crowned as a wildlife/action camera of the time - it had no IBIS yet in today's world the Z50ii is being knocked down because it doesn't have it - didn't need it back then and don't necessary need it today. The AF in the Z50ii I believe it surpasses the D500 based on my initial tests. The CMOS sensor is the same as the D500 - back in the day, the sensor was also king and it delivers excellent IQ - the same applies today and for this DX body. I think Nikon knows something that the public doesn't know about perhaps and they have their reasons.

The Z50ii is honestly a sweet feature set for $900 dollars. Anyone here can for sure capture some stunning images with it of that was the budget limit for a camera or if it’s a second camera you just don’t stress about on vacation with a 50-400. You’d be very well covered for about $2000.

People pay a LOT of money for that last small difference with about any hobby. Often it’s not even much of a difference.

 

[Nimi]

A modern D500 in spirit would need a 40mp APS-C and at least 30FPS RAW. They would need to price it high because it will cannibalize sales of all the models including the Z9.

Honestly if they do that they might as well price it at Z8 levels and truly go for it. Stacked 40+ megapixel APS-C and 30+ fps with RAW precapture. Make it the most capable APS-C anyone’s ever seen.

Something that any A1ii, Z9 or R5ii owner wouldn’t be able to deny adding to their kit for the crop factor at high megapixel.

A DX offer you can’t refuse performance wise.

That camera would be a wildlife shooters dream.

That sensor isn't available yet. The closest would be the 40mp BSI one (Sony sensor for Fuji). There was talk about a Sony camera with a stacked APS-C in the 32mp range to replace the 6700. I think the pixel pitch is just too low at 40mp for dynamic range and noise reasons which could be computationaly-improved, but at a cost; that's how cell phones do it.

 

[Lee R]

That sensor isn't available yet. The closest would be the 40mp BSI one (Sony sensor for Fuji). There was talk about a Sony camera with a stacked APS-C in the 32mp range to replace the 6700. I think the pixel pitch is just too low at 40mp for dynamic range and noise reasons which could be computationaly-improved, but at a cost; that's how cell phones do it.

I doubt we will ever see a camera from Sony Canon or Nikon with a high megapixel stacked sensor just because of how damaging it would be to the flagship cameras if it was at all good.

Fuji might do it, they have the 26mp stacked sensor in the H-2S and may go for it with the 40 megapixel version.

 

[Nimi]

I doubt we will ever see a camera from Sony Canon or Nikon with a high megapixel stacked sensor just because of how damaging it would be to the flagship cameras if it was at all good.

Fuji might do it, they have the 26mp stacked sensor in the H-2S and may go for it with the 40 megapixel version.

I agree. That's a Sony sensor in that body and it's X-tran, not Beyer. I think Fuji is selling enough cameras to warrant the effort. But I don't know how they'll get around the IQ issues associated with that pitch (stacked degrades it further).

 

[Lee R]

I agree. That's a Sony sensor in that body and it's X-tran, not Beyer. I think Fuji is selling enough cameras to warrant the effort. But I don't know how they'll get around the IQ issues associated with that pitch (stacked degrades it further).

The dynamic range issues would be a problem. I’d assume the same drop we saw in full frame coupled with the difference in APS-C might drop to a point where it’s not worth it.

Or they can learn from Canon and apply noise reduction so the photons to photos charts don’t show it and the influencers don’t parade it around like they did with the Z6iii. Nikon probably learned that lesson.

 

[Nimi]

The dynamic range issues would be a problem. I’d assume the same drop we saw in full frame coupled with the difference in APS-C might drop to a point where it’s not worth it.

Or they can learn from Canon and apply noise reduction so the photons to photos charts don’t show it and the influencers don’t parade it around like they did with the Z6iii. Nikon probably learned that lesson.

Rule of thumb is a -1 bump going down in size and -1 going from BSI to stacked. Not sure how much loss due to decrease in pitch, maybe -1/2. Reduction in noise has been accomplished at processor level, not sensor. So 40mp stacked would be about the same as a modern MFT (around 9.5 - 10 stops). Which is real, noticable reduction. Might be fine and worth it for the gain in readout speed. I wouldn't use it, having been spoiled by the FF and MF of the past 10 years.

 

[Luskentyre]

A modern D500 in spirit would need a 40mp APS-C and at least 30FPS RAW. They would need to price it high because it will cannibalize sales of all the models including the Z9.

Honestly if they do that they might as well price it at Z8 levels and truly go for it. Stacked 40+ megapixel APS-C and 30+ fps with RAW precapture. Make it the most capable APS-C anyone’s ever seen.

Something that any A1ii, Z9 or R5ii owner wouldn’t be able to deny adding to their kit for the crop factor at high megapixel.

A DX offer you can’t refuse performance wise.

That camera would be a wildlife shooters dream.

Exactly. I’m still on a D500/D850 combo and am looking to switch to mirrorless when they bring out the z9ii and/or a “true” D500 successor (30+ mp & 20+ fps- I’m quite happy to pay £3k+ for such a body!). In my opinion, the Z50ii isn’t “it”, for D500 was a pro/semi pro body in its heyday whereas I consider Z50ii to be more of an entry level one. I think we are missing the point when we say Z50ii performs as well as/better than a D500- no different to claiming that a 2024 Dacia equals/performs better than an 80’s Mercedes SL…..

 

[Lee R]

Exactly. I’m still on a D500/D850 combo and am looking to switch to mirrorless when they bring out the z9ii and/or a “true” D500 successor (30+ mp & 20+ fps- I’m quite happy to pay £3k+ for such a body!). In my opinion, the Z50ii isn’t “it”, for D500 was a pro/semi pro body in its heyday whereas I consider Z50ii to be more of an entry level one. I think we are missing the point when we say Z50ii performs as well as/better than a D500- no different to claiming that a 2024 Dacia equals/performs better than an 80’s Mercedes SL…..

Yeah the Z50ii is great performance for $900, no complaints I think it’s a solid camera that is all many people would ever need.

The D500 would be a $2500 camera today at its original launch price adjusted for inflation.

I think the initial launch was a bundle with a lens and that would be $3800 today.

People would be crying insanity if that’s what Nikon launched instead of the z50ii.

I think there’s this feeling of “give me a $1500 dollar Z9” that shoots RAW precapture at 30fps which is not realistic. There’s this weird expectation of a sub 2000 dollar A-1ii APS-C model spec for Nikon to replace the D500.

 

[Alistair]

I doubt we will ever see a camera from Sony Canon or Nikon with a high megapixel stacked sensor just because of how damaging it would be to the flagship cameras if it was at all good.

Fuji might do it, they have the 26mp stacked sensor in the H-2S and may go for it with the 40 megapixel version.

I'm more optimistic. Such a camera is the D500 replacement and I feel such a thing would sell well alongside a Z9 or Z7iii, as the D500 did alongside the D850. A crop sensor is a lot cheaper to make.

 

[Anjin San]

I’m totally content at 20fps honestly. Precapture RAW would be great for convienience but I’m honestly just using the forever buffer of the Z8 to do the same thing. It just takes some scrolling on the back LCD to get the moment I wanted and flagged. I don’t ever copy all shots to my MacBook for further editing (just flag potential keepers and upload wirelessly) so the thousands of shots aren’t a big deal for me. I look at it like I shot short 1-4 minute video clips and I’m pulling a 45mp screen capture.

If the Z8 didn’t have the amazing buffer it does have this wouldn’t be possible and I’d be much more annoyed without RAW precapture. But as it stands it would add convienience but no actual capability I don’t already have to get the shot.

If the Z50ii is like my ZF, with a fast UHSii and HE RAW it should fire at 15FPS for a long long time.

Me too…20 is fine and I will just settle for jpeg if I want to use Precapture although RAW would be nice to have.