The Nikon Z50 II, the successor to the Nikon Z50, is a compact mirrorless camera featuring an APS-C or DX format. It is designed for content creators and aspiring photographers who wish to transition from smartphone photography or simpler cameras. Although the Z50 II is more compact and budget-friendly, it incorporates some advanced technology found in the flagship Nikon Z9 and the similarly capable Nikon Z8. Even with a five-year interval between models, the Z50 II retains the same 20.9-megapixel DX-format CMOS sensor as its predecessor. However, it is now equipped with Nikon’s EXPEED 7 processor, which is also utilized in the brand’s top-tier cameras. This enhancement boosts performance and facilitates advanced subject recognition capabilities.
Design
The Nikon Z50 II is marginally larger than its predecessor, the Z50, yet it maintains a compact form factor. It is 70g heavier, with a total weight of 550g including the battery and memory card, making it an excellent option for travel. The grip has been slightly thickened compared to the Z50, enhancing comfort during use.
Nikon claims that the Z50 II offers the same level of weather sealing as the original Z50. However, without a specific rating, the exact weather resistance remains uncertain. The Z50 was capable of withstanding heavy rain, suggesting that the Z50 II may offer similar durability. The control layout has been subtly revised to align more closely with models like the Nikon Z6III.
Similar to the Z6III, the back panel of the Z50 II features two buttons (shutter mode and delete) positioned at the top left corner, along with four buttons (zoom +/-, menu, and playback) located at the bottom right. These buttons are situated just below the navigation pad and the central OK button. The viewfinder/screen selection buttons, along with the Display AE-L/AF-L and I (info) buttons, are positioned above the display, adjacent to the thumb rest.
Regrettably, the Z50 II lacks a joystick on its rear, a feature found in higher-end Nikon models. This omission is unfortunate, as joysticks typically facilitate quicker adjustments of the AF point. However, the enhanced subject recognition in the Z50 II may mitigate this concern compared to the Z50.
While there are few modifications to the top panel, the new model introduces a unique Picture Control button, a first for Nikon cameras. This button allows for quick access to various options that can impart distinctive styles to photos and videos, potentially inspiring users to explore their creativity. Notably, the Z50 II provides a live view of the scene as users navigate through these options.
Object recognition and autofocus
The Z50 II is equipped with the same 20.88-megapixel APS-C sensor found in its predecessor. However, its pairing with Nikon’s most advanced processor to date results in notable performance enhancements, such as the capability to recognize, focus on, and track nine different subject types.
These subjects encompass people (including eyes, face, head, and upper body), dogs, cats, birds, cars, motorcycles, bicycles, trains, and airplanes. This selection mirrors that of the Nikon Z9, Z8, and Z6III. It is essential to note, though, that the Z50 II lacks a multi-layer sensor (or even a partially multi-layer sensor like the Z6III), which means its subject detection and focusing capabilities are not as swift as those found in higher-end models.
The Z50 II utilizes a hybrid focal-plane autofocus system that integrates both phase-detection and contrast-detection, featuring 209 focus points. In addition to its subject detection modes, it offers various autofocus point selection options, including Spot, Single Point, Dynamic, Wide, Auto (with 97%/85% sensor coverage), and 3D tracking.
Screen and viewfinder
The electronic viewfinder (EVF) of the Nikon Z50II matches the size and resolution of the Z50, yet it boasts nearly double the brightness at 1,000 nits. This enhancement facilitates easier and more comfortable operation in bright lighting conditions. Additionally, the 3.2-inch touchscreen retains the same 1.04 million-dot resolution as the Z50’s display and is equipped with a tilt-adjustable hinge.
This design allows the screen to rotate towards the camera, ensuring a clear view for both landscape and portrait shooting. It can also be turned to face forward, making it ideal for vlogging or taking selfies. This represents a notable upgrade from the Z50’s tilting screen, which is ineffective in portrait mode and obstructs the view when facing forward while the camera is mounted on a tripod.
Continuous shooting and creative possibilities
The Nikon Z50II, despite featuring a newer processor, maintains the same maximum continuous shooting speed of 11 frames per second as its predecessor, the Z50. It introduces a pre-shooting mode that captures images for one second prior to fully pressing the shutter button. This mode can record at either 15 or 30 frames per second, although it is limited to JPEG format and does not support RAW.
Additionally, the Nikon Z50II is compatible with the Nikon Cloud service, which was launched alongside the Nikon Z6III. This service enables users to download and apply Nikon recipes, enhancing the aesthetic of images and videos beyond the standard Picture Control options. Nikon has also implemented a feature that allows users to restrict the visible Picture Control variations on the Z50II to only those they select.
This means you can avoid scrolling through unused picture controls to find your preferred option. Furthermore, instead of merely viewing a preset thumbnail with a Picture Control applied, you can now see a real-time preview of the scene with the effect, simplifying the decision-making process for your settings.
Video shooting
The Nikon Z50 II offers an intuitive user experience for video recording while producing impressive quality. It oversamples 5.6K video to deliver 4K output at frame rates of up to 30p. Additionally, there is a 4K 60p option available, although it comes with a 1.5x crop factor on top of the inherent crop from the APS-C sensor format.
This means that shooting at 16mm will yield a field of view equivalent to a 36mm lens on a full-frame camera. For those interested in capturing even more dramatic slow-motion footage, a 120p option is available in Full HD. Notably, the Nikon DX Z50 II introduces support for 10-bit N-Log and Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG), enhancing color grading capabilities.
The camera also features Nikon’s Hi-Res Zoom, which leverages 4K resolution to ensure Full HD quality during zooming while recording. Users can adjust the zoom speed across 11 different levels. A dedicated Product View mode allows the camera to focus on foreground objects, making it particularly beneficial for vloggers who highlight products or items in their content. While the Nikon Z50 II lacks built-in optical image stabilization, its electronic stabilization for video is regarded as an improvement over that of the Z50.
Battery
The Nikon Z50 II is equipped with a new EN-EL25a battery, which has a capacity that has been raised from 8.5 Wh to 9.4 Wh. Although this represents a 10 percent increase, the CIPA ratings for the Z50 II indicate it can capture 250 shots per charge when using the rear screen and 230 shots when utilizing the viewfinder. This marks a decrease of approximately 20 percent compared to its predecessor, likely attributed to the enhanced processing power.
Connections
The SD card slot is now optimized for the enhanced performance of UHS-II cards. The USB port has been upgraded to the Type C standard, offering a data transfer speed of 5 Gbps. Additionally, it supports UVC and UAC USB video and audio standards, allowing it to function as a webcam without requiring any additional drivers or software. The camera is equipped with both a headphone jack and an external microphone jack. The Micro HDMI port remains the same. It also supports Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) and Bluetooth 5.0.
Conclusion
The Nikon Z50 II stands out as an excellent versatile mirrorless camera, enhancing Nikon’s DX series with advanced processing, enhanced autofocus, and features tailored for creators. It boasts a brighter electronic viewfinder, upgraded video functionalities, and customizable photo controls, including a dedicated button, making it an attractive choice for anyone in search of a compact interchangeable lens camera. Additionally, the introduction of a higher-resolution sensor further elevates its appeal.
Nikon Z50 II Specifications
| Sensor | |
| Type | CMOS |
| Effective Pixels | 20.9 MP |
| Format | APS-C DX |
| Size | 23.50mm x 15.70mm |
| CPU | Expeed 7 |
| Focal multiplier | 1.5x |
| Aspect ratio | 1:1, 3:2, 16:9 |
| Color filter | RGBG |
| LPF | No |
| Self-cleaning | No |
| Image stabilization | No |
| Photography | |
| Permission | 5568 x 3712 (20.7 MP, 3:2) … 1856 x 1856 (3.4 MP, 1:1) |
| File format | HEIF, JPEG, RAW 14 bit |
| Continuous shooting | 11 fps mechanical shutter, 30 fps with electronic shutter |
| Video shooting | |
| Permission | 3840×2160 (30p / 25p / 24p) |
| 1920×1080 (120p / 100p / 60p / 50p / 30p / 25p / 24p) | |
| File format | H.264/H.265 8/10 bit |
| Max. recording time | 125 min |
| HD video output | Yes |
| Autofocus | |
| Type | Hybrid phase/contrast with 209 points |
| Focus points | 209 (Single-point AF) 231 (Auto-area AF) |
| Backlight lamp | Yes |
| Manual focus | Yes |
| Viewfinder | |
| Type | 2.36 million dots XGA OLED, 100% coverage, 1.02x magnification, 20mm field of view, -3 … +3 diopters, eye sensor |
| Focus peaking | Yes |
| Display | |
| Diagonal | 3.2 inches |
| Permission | 1036800 dots (345600 pixels) |
| Sensory | Yes |
| Turning | With variable angle of inclination |
| Tiltable | Yes, selfie mode |
| Exposition | |
| ISO | 100 … 51200, expandable to 204800 |
| Auto ISO mode | Yes |
| White balance | 17 presets |
| Excerpt | 1/4000 … 30 s |
| Hand-held excerpt | Yes |
| Compensation | +/- 5.0EV step 0.3EV |
| Auto Exposure | Yes |
| Creative modes | 28 sets |
| Self-timer | 2/5/10/20 s |
| Flash | |
| Built-in | Yes |
| Guide number (ISO 100) | 7.0 m |
| Sync speed | Max 1/250 sec |
| Exposure compensation | -3 … +1 EV step 0.3 EV |
| External | Hot shoe |
| Data storage | |
| Maps used | SD/SDHC/SDXC |
| UHS support | UHS-II |
| Double slot | No |
| Uncompressed format | .NEF (RAW) 12 or 14 bit; RAW+JPEG |
| Connections | |
| Wi-Fi | Built-in |
| NFC | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes, v5.0 |
| Microphone mini jack | Yes |
| Headphone output | Yes |
| USB | Type C |
| HDMI | Micro (Type-D) |
| Nutrition | |
| Stock of photos | 230 |
| Battery type | EN-EL25, lithium-ion |
| Charger included | Yes |
| Internal charging | Yes, via USB |
| Dimensions and weight | |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 127 x 96.8 x 66.5 mm |
| Weight (without lens) | 495 g |