Z50 for wildlife, AF on par with Z6? weather sealing?

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Ado Wolf

Ado Wolf

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Since prices of the Z50 + FTZ adapter have dropped to reasonable levels, I am considering getting the Z50 as a backup for my D7500.
Internet is filled with Reviews on Z6/7.. but not so much on the Z50.

I know Z6ii is the top gun now.. I however need the Crop Factor (and cannot afford a Z7 to crop later).
I would also like to use the Z50 for travel: backpacking, so size and weight is important.
I intend to use it with F glass (to make use of what I have bought over the years).

Is the Z50's AF on par with the Z6? how is the speed and accuracy using FTZ with AFC and single point AF (I know it's slower than DSLR, but vs a Z6?)
How is the weather sealing? can it handle well in a desert? rainforest with occasional rain?

I was planning on waiting till the next Z50ii.. but rumors has it that Nikon might release an inferior Z30.. that's why I decided to act now (Holiday discounts)
 
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A year ago we bought two new Z cameras: A Z50 for my wife, and a Z6 for me.
I have used both Z cameras in the last year. My impression is that the Z50 autofocusing system is about the same as the Z6 so I would be comfortable using any one of the two interchangeably. I have seen nothing that makes me believe the Z6 focusing is in any way better than the Z50. The new Z6ii focus ability, however, is better than both the Z50 and Z6.

When I compare the Z50 with my D7500, the Z50 is less capable in a couple of respects:
1. I can't say this for sure, but from what I've read on the Internet the weather sealing on the D7500 is better than the Z50. So make sure the sealing on the Z50 is up to what you expect to encounter during wet or dusty shoots.
2. Autofocus tracking of fast-moving subjects is better on the D7500. So is the continuous usable frame rate. Z50 goes faster in continuous high extended but then you run into EVF lag and blackout which limits you to a slower continuous frame rate.

Generally autofocus on the Z50 is more accurate in terms of sharpness than the D7500 WITHOUT FINE-TUNING AUTOFOCUS. Once the D7500 is fine-tuned the focus accuracy is about the same as my wife's Z50 with the same F-mount lenses. The native Z-mount lenses are just sharper and more accurate compared to their equivalent F-mount lenses.

Not too many folks mention this, but for me a huge draw to mirrorless is the fact that I can go into the field with the Z cameras and leave my reading glasses at home. Once the viewfinder diopter is set for my eye I can do everything I need in the mirrorless EVF. Histogram, shooting data, image review, digging into the menus to make changes, all possible in the EVF. I don't have any reason any more to review anything using the back LCD screen. For me, this is a huge advantage. No more taking the camera away from my eye to look at the back, etc. No more needing eyeglasses on a shoot.

Lastly, the advantage of silent shutter capability of the Z cameras cannot be overstated. It is an absolute blessing when shooting skittish wildlife or anywhere shutter noise can be problematic.
 
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Rassie summed up my thoughts pretty well. :)

The Z50 is a nice little camera, but it's AF isn't on par with the new Z6ii - or D7500 - in my estimation. It's not bad and very useable for many subjects.
 
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Rassie said:
When I compare the Z50 with my D7500, the Z50 is less capable in a couple of respects:
1. I can't say this for sure, but from what I've read on the Internet the weather sealing on the D7500 is better than the Z50. So make sure the sealing on the Z50 is up to what you expect to encounter during wet or dusty shoots.
2. Autofocus tracking of fast-moving subjects is better on the D7500. So is the continuous usable frame rate. Z50 goes faster in continuous high extended but then you run into EVF lag and blackout which limits you to a slower continuous frame rate.
Click to expand...

Thank you. That's very helpful. Considering the weather in my neck of the woods I think I'll stick to the D7500 for the time being as my main body. And the slower autofocus tracking is also something to take into account.

Rassie said:
Not too many folks mention this, but for me a huge draw to mirrorless is the fact that I can go into the field with the Z cameras and leave my reading glasses at home. Once the viewfinder diopter is set for my eye I can do everything I need in the mirrorless EVF. Histogram, shooting data, image review, digging into the menus to make changes, all possible in the EVF. I don't have any reason any more to review anything using the back LCD screen. For me, this is a huge advantage. No more taking the camera away from my eye to look at the back, etc. No more needing eyeglasses on a shoot.
Click to expand...

That's a very important point I hadn't thought of. Thank you. I find I often need my glasses to check a shot on the rear display of the D7500, and that's really getting on my nerves. Too much of a hassle.

Another aspect I'm interested in is using the Z50 with my ancient AIS lenses. I've still got a few old manual lenses, like the 5.6/400 IF-ED and the 5.6/600 IF-ED. Did you ever use old glass on the Z bodies?
 
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@Rassie thank you so much for the comprehensive review and comparison.
To be honest, the silent shooting is my one and foremost reason why I want to switch to mirrorless, since I enjoy mostly sneaking up on wildlife and taking silent pictures. I was able to do this to a certain level with the D7500 but I was only able to shoot three or four frames before they ran away. I am mostly shoot while/in their comfortable state, that’s why high frame Shooting capability is more of luxury than a necessity.

As for not wearing glasses, this is something I will benefit from in the next couple of years as I just turned 40 and my eyes are starting to remind me of that 🙈

@Pistnbroke thank you for the tip. I had already seen it, and it was her video that convinced me to consider this camera.

@Hermann Thank you for the link. I will check it out.

@Neil Laubenthal Thanks in advance. I look forward to it

have a nice weekend and happy shooting!
 
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Hermann said:
Thank you. That's very helpful. Considering the weather in my neck of the woods I think I'll stick to the D7500 for the time being as my main body. And the slower autofocus tracking is also something to take into account.



That's a very important point I hadn't thought of. Thank you. I find I often need my glasses to check a shot on the rear display of the D7500, and that's really getting on my nerves. Too much of a hassle.

Another aspect I'm interested in is using the Z50 with my ancient AIS lenses. I've still got a few old manual lenses, like the 5.6/400 IF-ED and the 5.6/600 IF-ED. Did you ever use old glass on the Z bodies?
Click to expand...
Sorry, no, I did not. I only started using Nikon in 2005 so I never had older lenses.
 
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I got lucky and was able to borrow a Z50 from a friend (who owns the Z6 and Z50).

What I liked:
- silent shooting is amazing.. so amazing I was wondering why my critter didn't run or fly away.
- light weight even when using the FTZ adapter
- EVF when it gets dark (blue hour) you see more..

What I disliked:
- AF with the 300 PF via FTZ adapter was twice slower than the D7500 (missed shots)
- wake up time (from Standby) took ages (missed shots)
- 16-50 Kit lens is not usable @ 50 mm due to F6.3 (@ 16 mm it was fine)
- Lack of IBIS makes using Z full frame lenses a waste of money since they lack VR

so.. for now.. I will stick with my D7500 / D7200 combo and will wait for the next iteration (Z60, Z50 ii or what ever it will be called).
If that doesn't work, then I am left with no option other than save for a Z7 ii.. or consider Sony + Nikon solution (like Steve)
 
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So I had another run with the Z50 this time taking landscape and family photos.
I was positively surprised at the ease of taking photos, particularly of my 4 and 6 year old daughters jumping all over the place.
The eye detection worked like a charm, even with my kids wearing glasses! I only had to frame the shot and shoot photos.
It beats using Center point on my DSLR and the effort of keeping it on the eyes -> much higher keeper rate with Z50.
I will still wait for the next iteration (Z50ii / Z60), but I now know I will stick to DX and Nikon. So that's a relief 😅
 
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Ado Wolf said:
What I disliked:
- Lack of IBIS makes using Z full frame lenses a waste of money since they lack VR
Click to expand...
That's true for the short focal length lenses. Many full frame S-mount lenses have built-in vibration reduction, and the Nikkor Z 70-200mm F/2.8 also has. These will work on the Z50.
The expectation is that the newer longer focal length Z-mount Nikkor lenses will also have VR built in.
 
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Ado Wolf said:
I will still wait for the next iteration (Z50ii / Z60), but I now know I will stick to DX and Nikon. So that's a relief 😅
Click to expand...

I'm still on the fence about getting a Z50 now. I also tried one last weekend, and I really like using it with my old AIS lenses, especially the 5.6/400 IF-ED. Focus peaking makes focussing so easy, even with a TC-14B on the lens.
 
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