01(^0304)
05
06
02
LONG-TERM TEST
pleasing, but there are some
niggles. The screen doesn’t
articulate sideways, and that
makes things awkward for
vloggers self-shooting with
a gimbal as the screen is blocked
when it’s flipped, although Nikon
say a handle is in the works.
The absence of a top display
and joystick has been an issue too,
and it’s a shame considering the
latter is our favourite way to select
focus points. Images also start to
get incredibly grainy once you get
into the higher ISO numbers.
DAY 14
Studying the specs again, the Z50
is clearly mightier in the hand than
it looks on paper. Borrowing some
of the best features from the Z6
and Z7 without the physical or
financial heft of those models
is an eye-catching proposal for
beginners. Some might see this
as the ideal travel snapper, with
that little pancake lens perfect
to take everywhere... although
if you’re going on safari, remember
to stare directly into the eyes of
that threatening leopard.
Overall, though, the Z50 is much
more than that and could be your
first ‘proper’ camera. And with
more lenses coming, it’s only
going to improve along with your
photography skills.
DAY 02
I’m out shooting stills today and
the colours are vibrant yet still
true to reality, offering excellent
dynamic range – plus the metering
really balances exposures. The
Z50 has no trouble finding detail
when photographing architecture
against bright skies: it’s adept at
capturing the most awkward of
light, and that’s a testament to
the optics and processor. It also
performs well in low light with a
telephoto lens.
DAY 05
I’m going after living subjects
today. The face-seeking Eye AF
locks on immediately and keeps
hold when the person moves.
Sadly it’s no good for animals, so
you’ll have to focus on your pet’s
eyes yourself. Start to zoom and
things look a touch grainy, but hey,
this isn’t a Fujifilm X-T30.
Silent mode is useful for sneaky
street photography missions,
while 4K can be shot across the
full sensor width with a timelapse
option and a cool slo-mo mode.
DAY 10
I’ve found Nikon’s estimated
300-shot battery life to be on
the conservative side, which is
STUFF SAYS
One of the best
APS-C options
around, with
a multitude of
pro features at
a non-pro price
+++++
01 Practical and portable for
everyday use
02 Processor and optics from
far pricier cameras
03 Great starter lenses and
more to come
04 Excellent in daylight and
low light
05 The impractical display
won’t please vloggers
06 Zooming and high ISO
get grainy
Donut of Truth™
Sensor 20.9MP
APS-C CMOS
Displays 0.39in
EVF, 3.2in tilting
LCD touchscreen
ISO range 100 to
51,200 (extended
100 to 204,800)
Burst shooting
Up to 11fps
AF points 209
Video 4K @ 30fps,
Full HD at 120fps
Dimensions
127x94x60mm,
395g
Tech specs