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.
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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