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
Ralph said:
Why would anyone expect Nikon or any other manufacturer to put BIF subject detection in a $900 equal to their flagship models. That would be really dumb on their part from a business perspective. If I were just starting out in photography, I would seriously consider this camera from what I have been reading.
Click to expand...

I agree. You can get this camera for the same price as a good quality used d500. There's no question about which I'd choose if I was just starting out. It gets someone into the z system at a decent price.
It's a camera that will work well for kids sports, great for good light wildlife, and general photography. Once the customer is hooked, they can step up to a z6iii, z8 or z9. It's a great introductory camera.

Thanks for the great write-up @ElenaH . I'll be interested in your further impressions.
 
Member's gallery
Just got my Z50ii from Nikon. If the weather cooperates I will test it at Conowingo Dam with the eagles on Wednesday. I’ve never been there and my Z8 and 180-600 will be my main setup.
Hopefully the battery in the Z50ii can be charged by usb with my Apple adapter. The manual says use the EH-8P ac adapter but it’s not provided.
Vinny (y)
 
Member's gallery
VinnyH said:
Just got my Z50ii from Nikon. If the weather cooperates I will test it at Conowingo Dam with the eagles on Wednesday. I’ve never been there and my Z8 and 180-600 will be my main setup.
Hopefully the battery in the Z50ii can be charged by usb with my Apple adapter. The manual says use the EH-8P ac adapter but it’s not provided.
Vinny (y)
Click to expand...
As long as the Apple power adapter delivers power to the PD standard, you're good. Any recent Apple USB-C adapter which delivers 20 watts or more should be okay.

Have fun at Conowingo. I'll probably be there on Saturday morning.
 
Member's gallery
JAJohnson said:
As long as the Apple power adapter delivers power to the PD standard, you're good. Any recent Apple USB-C adapter which delivers 20 watts or more should be okay.

Have fun at Conowingo. I'll probably be there on Saturday morning.
Click to expand...
My younger buddy will be driving (3.5hrs) Tues night so I pop for the motel. Hoping to have a relatively clear Wed sunrise to sunset.
PS: Apple adapter seems to work, took about an hour to get near full from 10%
 
Member's gallery
My first issue, hopefully it's just a simple thing I'm overlooking.
When I mount my Z180-600 the "Mechanical Shutter" option is grayed out. I can only get RAW 5FPS so far. How do I get 11FPS? I tried Googling but I guess the 50ii is too new.
Thanks for any help,
Vinny
PS: Basic setup started with RAW, AFS-C, in Manual
(y)
 
Last edited:
Member's gallery
Vinny,
from Steve's book on the Nikon Z6iii wildlife settings describing the d6 menu option 'shutter type', it is stated:
"This option allows you to select the mechanical shutter as your primary
shutter - although the option is almost universally grayed out for Z series
lenses. Normally, if you want to access the mechanical shutter, you need
to select the Auto option and let the camera do its thing. It will then select
either the full mechanical shutter or use the Electronic Front Curtain
Shutter, mostly depending on the shutter speed."
...
"
Overall, the mechanical shutter is a solid, safe decision that’s stood the
test of time and will work well for almost everything. However, it’s noisy
and limits your frame rate to 8 FPS on Continuous High and 14 FPS on
Continuous High Extended."

I assume this will also be the case for the Z50ii. Around 1/250s, it will change from an electronic shutter to a mechanical shutter.
 
Member's gallery
Sorry but tried Continuous Extended, no go. Also tried Auto Shutter and Electronic Shutter to no avail. I'm used to computer issues that end up being one dopey setting somewhere, just haven't found it yet.
Vinny :unsure: :)
 
Member's gallery
VinnyH said:
My first issue, hopefully it's just a simple thing I'm overlooking.
When I mount my Z180-600 the "Mechanical Shutter" option is grayed out. I can only get RAW 5FPS so far. How do I get 11FPS? I tried Googling but I guess the 50ii is too new.
Thanks for any help,
Vinny
PS: Basic setup started with RAW, AFS-C, in Manual
(y)
Click to expand...
Set Release mode to Continous High (extended). See the link below to the Z50II Reference Guide for more information.

 
Member's gallery
VinnyH said:
Sorry but tried Continuous Extended, no go. Also tried Auto Shutter and Electronic Shutter to no avail. I'm used to computer issues that end up being one dopey setting somewhere, just haven't found it yet.
Vinny :unsure: :)
Click to expand...
Vinny, when you've set Continuous High (extended), do you see the corresponding icon on the rear screen or the viewfinder? It should be at the top and towards the left.

cfe.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.

If you're not seeing that, what's there?
 
Member's gallery
No option to set for more, not even grayed out.
In one Google blurb someone mentioned that some DX lenses may not allow higher rates. I've seen YouTube test videos with the 180-600 but so far no mention of using the 11FPS.
 
Member's gallery
VinnyH said:
No option to set for more, not even grayed out.
In one Google blurb someone mentioned that some DX lenses may not allow higher rates. I've seen YouTube test videos with the 180-600 but so far no mention of using the 11FPS.
Click to expand...
Can you post a image of the menu screen where the option is?
 
Member's gallery
VinnyH said:
No option to set for more, not even grayed out.
In one Google blurb someone mentioned that some DX lenses may not allow higher rates. I've seen YouTube test videos with the 180-600 but so far no mention of using the 11FPS.
Click to expand...
I just tried on my Z50ii and see what you mean - the Mechanical Shutter is greyed out, but if you set it the Automatic, I'm assuming it'll default to 11fps. I don't think it's going to 5fps. To 'hear' the difference, you can force the camera to go to L shooting mode, L(5fps) and see if it sounds different ....

[Continuous L]The camera takes photographs at a selected rate while the shutter-release button is pressed.
  • Choose from rates of from 1 to 5 fps. To choose the frame rate, hold the c (E) button and rotate the sub-command dial.
  • If the built-in flash is used, only one picture will be taken each time the shutter-release button is pressed.
 
Member's gallery
VinnyH said:
Still Googling... View attachment 101806
Click to expand...
This is CL mode, which max out at 5fps. by design. The screenshot you shared is normal

U[Single frame]The camera takes one photograph each time the shutter-release button is pressed.
V[Continuous L]The camera takes photographs at a selected rate while the shutter-release button is pressed.
  • Choose from rates of from 1 to 5 fps. To choose the frame rate, hold the c (E) button and rotate the sub-command dial.
  • If the built-in flash is used, only one picture will be taken each time the shutter-release button is pressed.
W[Continuous H]The camera takes photographs at up to 5.6 fps (up to 9.7 fps in silent mode) while the shutter-release button is pressed.
  • If the built-in flash is used, only one picture will be taken each time the shutter-release button is pressed.
X[Continuous H (extended)]The camera takes photographs at up to 11 fps (up to 15 fps in silent mode) while the shutter-release button is pressed.
  • If the built-in flash is used, only one picture will be taken each time the shutter-release button is pressed.
r[C15]The camera takes photographs at 15 or 30 fps while the shutter-release button is pressed (High-speed frame capture + (C15/C30)).
 
Member's gallery
Misery? likes company, thanks for adding to the search for 11FPS. It's dark here so I haven't tried going outside to test run the setup. Somehow I think we shouldn't have to assume and try to listen to the content sound of one second. I'm starting to wonder if a firmware update is in the pipeline to fix a few things.
Thanks,
Vinny
 
Member's gallery
zzz.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.

It doesn't change with an option for more than 5FPS in any of the Continuous modes.
 
Last edited:
Member's gallery
VinnyH said:
Yep, and tried all settings around it.
Click to expand...
I'm pretty sure that d1 only comes into play when you've set release mode to Continuous Low. Since you've set it to HE+ and the shutter speed is such that the mechanical shutter is going to be used, I think @Kenny88 is right: You're getting 11 fps.

A good way to find out: shoot a burst for one second and count the number of images you get. :)

I checked this out on my Z6III which works similarly. Unfortunately, this is one of those things Nikon makes much harder to understand than it should be. ☹️
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top