Nikon Z50 II Launched

If you would like to post, you'll need to register. Note that if you have a BCG store account, you'll need a new, separate account here (we keep the two sites separate for security purposes).

Member's gallery
I don’t see this camera as any way a replacement for a d500 which was basically a pro body aimed at semi professional and up shooters. It won’t be as durable with a pop up flash and for me only 21mp is a deal breaker. I would like to see at least 26mp in a DX body to gain reach over a z8-9. No ibis sucks and The cost is only half of a d500 new. It’s clear that it’s aimed at beginning shooters.
there is one thing though that it would be excellent for. People who do macro and photograph things like caterpillars that often require holding the leaf with one hand and using the pop up flash to take the shot. This comes in really handy. It’s probably a good starter camera. It will also be light weight.
 
Member's gallery
Sensor readout speed is a critical variable. It determines how the electronic shutter records fast moving subjects.
"...the Z8 and Z9 arguably do quite well with this test, effectively giving you the same result as you'd have with a mechanical shutter. The second best camera in this regard is the Z6 III, with the Z50 being the surprising third best..."

Z50 — 24.6ms (1/41)
Z5 — 100ms (1/10)
Z6, Z6 II — 50.8ms (1/20)
Z6 III — 14.4ms (1/69)
Z7 — 66.7ms (1/15)
Z7 II — 65.6ms (1/15)
Z8 — 3.7ms (1/270)
Z9 — 3.7ms (1/270)
Zf — 50.5ms (1/18)

Source: https://www.zsystemuser.com/z-mount-cameras/z-camera-articles/sensor-read-out-speeds.html
 
Member's gallery
Fcotterill,

Well done finding that info.

That means that the readout speed is about the same as a Sony A74, not as good as the Canon R5 @ 15.5ms but considerably better than the Canon R7 at 32.3ms. It has been reported that the R5 (15.5) rarely suffers from rolling shutter while the R7 (31.3) sometimes does. My interpolation is that rolling shutter will occasionally be an issue with a Z50-2 which is really great for a sub $1K camera. The electronic shutter will have some value after all.

Tom
 
Member's gallery
It will some time before we have robust information about how the Z50 II performs in the wild. Finding the thresholds to rolling shutter effects - compared against a Z6 III particularly. This is an important question.

To repeat, the tabulated features of this camera are seriously impressive at its price. A glass half-full situation, which fills up when the Z50 II is evaluated as a Traveller's and Outdoor camera.

What Did I Want in a Z50 II? | Thom Hogan

What features did we all want in a Z50 II?
www.zsystemuser.com
 
Member's gallery
The original Z50 was not designed as an Entry level camera (a product Nikon stopped making at the D3*00, D5*00 lines) - explain by @EricBowles link below. The Z50 approximated the D7*00 designs as the affordable Hobbyist - Enthusiast Tier. The just announced upgrade repeats the design of a capable Enthusiast aka Hobbyist camera, and it now has powerful Pro features.


At its launch, similar in some ways to the D300, the D500 was unique as a fully Pro DSLR, albeit DX. Nikon designed it as the Baby D5. Arguably, the Z equivalent will need be similar to the Z9 in body chassis, menus and not least the stacked sensor.

D5 / D500 | Works | Nikon About Us

Introducing the design of Nikon's SLR cameras "D5/D500", our pride in a flagship model and our tireless pursuit of the best design.
www.nikon.com

With its improved haptics, the expanded Custom menus and Autofocus push the Z50 II into the Pro-Hobbyist Tier, even though it lacks IBIS and vertical grip. In terms of capabilities, the Custom menu options with Z9 AF far exceed the feature sets of a Z6 II and Z7 II (or the D7*00) designs.

 
Last edited:
Member's gallery
The only reason I would buy it is for the weight, for travel purposes. However, even though it's lighter than my Z6iii and Zf though, put a long lens on it and I'm not sure I'd really be served as well as I could be by instead bringing my Z6III, investing in a lighter Nikon lens and engaging the crop sensor mode. See how I'm trying to talk myself out of a new purchase?? ;)
 
Member's gallery
I've been shooting primarily birds with the Z50 / 200-500 f5.6 for several years now and definitely have been itching for new gear and feeling like I've squeezed everything I can out of this combo. I was debating about the Z6iii but the Z50ii looks interesting to try for the price point. I am not too optimistic the bird mode AF on the Z50ii is going to be a huge game changer for this camera, and suspect that even without the dedicated bird mode, the Z6iii has a more reliable AF system for birds. There are some other nice upgrades I am noticing about the Z50ii: More buttons and customization options, additional AF modes, addition of a U3 slot on the mode dial, UHS-II card support, and the new file system. Not a big deal, but I am wondering if the 11 fps requires using the high-efficiency format, similar to how the Z50 requires 12-bit instead of 14-bit raw to reach 11 fps, but maybe not and the combination of the new UHS-II sd card compatibility with the Expeed 7 processor can handle it without all the caveats.
 
Member's gallery
The main advantage of the Z50ii is its small size but the Z30 is smaller and apparently just as good. The two DX lenses for the cameras are very small, lightweight and give acceptable images. For wildlife photographers who want the best possible images, I believe one of the FX cameras is a better choice.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top