IN FOCUS
Ever since Nikon announced the
full-frame (FX) format Z 6 and Z 7,
we’ve been expecting an APS-C (DX)
format camera to join them. Now the wait is
over, as Nikon has announced the 20.9MP
Z 50. Unlike Canon, Nikon has given the new
camera the same lens mount as its full-frame
mirrorless cameras. This means that it can
use any of the Nikon S-Line (Z-mount) lenses.
The new mirroless camera’s sensor has
phase detection pixels embedded in it for use
by the Hybrid AF system. This is a first for a
Nikon DX (APS-C) format camera, and the
209 AF points cover approximately 90% of the
vertical and horizontal space on the sensor.NIKON Z 50
ARRIVES
An APS-C format mirrorless camera for the masses?
The Z 50 also features Subject Tracking and
Eye AF modes.
Nikon has paired the Z 50’s sensor with
its EXPEED 6 processing engine, enabling
it to shoot at up to 11fps with continuous
autofocussing and exposure metering. It can
also record 4K video at 30p.
The Z 50 has a 0.39-inch 2.36 million-
dot OLED electronic viewfinder that shows
100% of the image. There’s a 3.2-inch screen
with 1.04 million dots, tiltable for waist-level
shooting or down through 180 degrees for
selfies – not ideal if you put the camera on a
tripod. The screen is touch-sensitive and can
be used to make quick menu adjustments.We got a first look (and hold) of the Z 50
at its launch, and found it to be much more
than a scaled down version of the Nikon Z 6
and Z 7. Nikon has done a remarkable job
with such a small camera, and the two lenses
to accompany the Z 50 – the Nikkor Z DX
16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR pancake lens and the
Nikkor Z DX 50–250mm f/4.5–6.3 VR – were
also impressively lightweight.
The Z 50 has a price of £849/$859 body
only, with deals for a single or both lenses.
Body only, the Z 50 already costs less than
its chief APS-C rivals, the Sony A6400 and
Fujifilm X-T30, but the price tag for the kit lens
and twin lens bundles seems quite remarkable.Above
First look
We were impressed
by the new
16-50mm pancake
lens, one of the
slimmest APS-C kit
lenses we’ve seenBelow
Lens usage
The Z50 is
compatible with the
Nikon FTZ Mount
Adapter, which
means you can use it
with F-mount lensesLeft
Battery design
The Nikon Z 50
takes an EN-EL
battery that is
said to have a
300-shot life in
CIPA testingbit.ly/DP-DOWNLOAD THE
SAMPLE SHOTSIN FOCUS
EversinceNikonannouncedthe
full-frame(FX)formatZ 6 andZ7,
we’vebeenexpectinganAPS-C(DX)
formatcameratojointhem.Nowthewaitis
over,asNikonhasannouncedthe20.9MP
Z50.UnlikeCanon,Nikonhasgiventhenew
camerathesamelensmountasitsfull-frame
mirrorlesscameras.Thismeansthatitcan
useanyoftheNikonS-Line(Z-mount)lenses.
Thenewmirrolesscamera’ssensorhas
phasedetectionpixelsembeddedinitforuse
bytheHybridAFsystem.Thisisafirstfora
NikonDX(APS-C)formatcamera,andthe
209 AFpointscoverapproximately90%ofthe
verticalandhorizontalspaceonthesensor.NIKON Z 50
ARRIVES
AnAPS-Cformat mirrorless camera forthemasses?
The Z 50 also features Subject Tracking and
Eye AF modes.
Nikon has paired the Z 50’s sensor with
its EXPEED 6 processing engine, enabling
it to shoot at up to 11fps with continuous
autofocussing and exposure metering. It can
also record 4K video at 30p.
The Z 50 has a 0.39-inch 2.36 million-
dot OLED electronic viewfinder that shows
100% of the image. There’s a 3.2-inch screen
with 1.04 million dots, tiltable for waist-level
shooting or down through 180 degrees for
selfies – not ideal if you put the camera ona
tripod. The screen is touch-sensitive and can
be used to make quick menu adjustments.Wegotafirstlook(andhold)oftheZ 50
atitslaunch,andfoundittobemuchmore
thanascaleddownversionoftheNikonZ 6
andZ7. Nikon has done a remarkable job
with such a small camera, and the two lenses
to accompany the Z 50 – the Nikkor Z DX
16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR pancake lens and the
Nikkor Z DX 50–250mm f/4.5–6.3 VR – were
also impressively lightweight.
The Z 50 has a price of £849/$859 body
only, with deals for a single or both lenses.
Body only, the Z 50 already costs less than
its chief APS-C rivals, the Sony A6400 and
Fujifilm X-T30, but the price tag for the kit lens
and twin lens bundles seems quite remarkable.Above
First look
We were impressed
by the new
16-50mm pancake
lens, one of the
slimmest APS-C kit
lenses we’ve seenBelow
Lens usage
The Z50 is
compatible with the
Nikon FTZ Mount
Adapter, which
means you can use it
with F-mount lensesLeft
Battery design
The Nikon Z 50
takes an EN-EL
battery that is
said to have a
300-shot life in
CIPA testingbit.ly/DP-DOWNLOAD THE
SAMPLE SHOTS