Nikon reveals the Z50 II – a modest update of its hobbyist mirrorless camera with an identity crisis

2 weeks ago

Nikon Z50 II mirrorless camera connected a grey aboveground pinch agleam reddish background

(Image credit: Nikon)

Nikon has updated its four-year-old Z50 pinch nan Z50 II. The mini-DSLR-style successor comes pinch nan aforesaid 20.9MP APS-C sensor, but packs Nikon's latest Expeed 7 processor, which delivers a raft of performance-based improvements.

Nikon says nan Z50 II has nan aforesaid taxable discovery autofocus options arsenic its master Z8 and Z9 mirrorless cameras, pinch 9 taxable types to take from, 3D tracking, custom-size autofocus areas, positive a smarter AF-A action (autofocus auto). It besides debuts a Product Review mode, which easy switches attraction betwixt group and objects, overmuch for illustration Sony's Product Showcase autofocus mode.

Burst shooting now comes pinch 1 2nd pre-capture for a 15fps aliases 30fps High-speed Frame Capture+ mode (JPEG only), while 4K video up to 30fps is now oversampled from 5.6K, which intends it should beryllium bully and sharp.

After nan Z6 III, nan Z50 II is Nikon's 2nd camera that useful pinch Nikon Cloud. In summation to online image upload and retention services, users tin upload civilization colour profiles straight to nan Z50 II from nan Nikon Cloud organization (Nikon calls them Picture Profiles), successful a akin measurement to nan caller Panasonic Lumix S9, complete pinch a caller Picture Profile fastener for speedy access. Neat.

Then location are nan improvements to nan handling of nan Z50 II. It has an updated EVF pinch doubly nan brightness of nan Z50, a larger 3.2-inch vari-angle touchscreen pinch a caller hinge for twist and rotate movements, a larger manus grip, while it's portion of Nikon's only bid of mirrorless cameras to characteristic a built-in flash.

The Z50 II costs £849 assemblage only, £999 pinch nan 16-50mm lens, aliases £1,199 for a copy lens kit that adds nan 50-250mm lens (US and Australia pricing to follow). Sales commencement astatine nan extremity of November.

The Z50 II looks for illustration a decent beginner mirrorless camera for photographers, but Nikon is billing nan camera for contented creators, truthful does it deed nan people for them?

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Nikon Z50 II mirrorless camera slung complete someone's enarthrosis and resting by their hip

A camera pinch an personality crisis?

Nikon is heavy trading its caller Z50 II for contented creators, but successful my book it's nan slightest evident exemplary of each its mirrorless cameras pinch APS-C sensor for specified purposes.

The Z50 II looks for illustration a bully camera to sprout pinch for photographers, acknowledgment to its mini-DSLR shape facet pinch an improved grip and brighter viewfinder. But for contented creators who worth a camera's looks and trust connected its video flexibility? The cheaper Z30 aliases nan retro-styled Z fc make much sense, arsenic do rival models specified arsenic nan Fujifilm X-M5 and Sony ZV-E10 II.

That's not to return distant from nan Z50 II. It becomes Nikon's astir tin mirrorless camera pinch APS-C sensor because it utilizes Nikon's latest processor, which delivers an all-round speedier performance, including a faster start-up time, says Nikon.

Nikon Z50 II mirrorless camera successful nan hand

It besides has improved video features, specified arsenic 4K 10-bit video up to 30fps from oversampled 5.6K, positive Nikon's N-Log colour profile. It's besides Nikon's first camera that tin livestream via USB-C, not requiring Nikon's Webcam Utility software.

However, location are nary vertical video modes for societal for illustration you get successful nan X-M5, a camera that features higher solution 6.2K video (which makes vertical video possible), positive multi-directional soul mics that tin beryllium isolated aliases utilized together. That camera feels much purpose-made for contented creators; it's smaller, it looks nan part, and it has Fujifilm's Film Simulation modes connected tap.

It looks for illustration Nikon has created a highly tin hobbyist camera successful nan Z50 II - 1 that we will complete an in-depth reappraisal of soon. I conscionable deliberation it's not nan contented creator's camera that Nikon's trading suggests it is. A successor to nan Z30 feels for illustration a much evident fit.

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Tim is nan Cameras editor astatine TechRadar. He has enjoyed much than 15 years successful nan photograph video manufacture pinch astir of those successful nan world of tech journalism. During his clip arsenic Deputy Technical Editor pinch Amateur Photographer, arsenic a freelancer and result editor astatine Tech Radar, Tim has developed a profoundly method knowledge and applicable acquisition pinch cameras, educating others done news, reviews and features. He’s besides worked successful video accumulation for Studio 44 pinch clients including Canon, and volunteers his spare clip to consult a non-profit, divers stories squad based successful Nairobi. Tim is curious, a keen creative, avid footballer and runner, and mean level achromatic drinker who has lived successful Kenya and believes we person overmuch to bask and study from each other.

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