Digital Photographer - UK (2020-05)

Left

Fastfocusing

TheAFsystemcopesvery

wellwithgloomyconditions,

evenwhenthesubjectis

movingquickly

Opposite

Dynamicrange

Whileitcan’tquitematch

thefull-frameZ 6 and

Z7,theZ 50 hasagood

dynamicrange

Above

StandardPicture

Control

Thisisagooddefault

setting,givingimagesmore

contrastandsaturation

TALKINGPOINT...

SubjectTracking

TheZ50’sSubjectTrackingmode,whichcan

beactivatedinAuto-areaAFmode,isvery

usefulwithsubjectsthatmoveerratically.

OnceAuto-areaAFmodeisselected,just

presstheOKbuttonandawhitesquare

appearsinthecentreoftheframe.Youjust

needtopositionthisoverthesubject,and

thenpressOKagain.Thesquareturnsyellow,

anditwillfollowyourtargetasitmoves

aroundtheframe.

TheSubjectTrackingisexcellentonmany

occasions,butit’sliabletogetconfused

ifthere’smorethanoneobject(suchas

multiplerugbyplayers)movingaroundthe

frame,andit’sbesttoswitchtoSingle-point

AF,Wide-areaAF(Small)orWide-areaAF

(Large)tohavemorecontroloverthelocation

oftheactiveAFpoint.Wide-areaAF(Small)

andWide-areaAF(Large)workverywellfora

widerangeofsubjects.

JOINTHEDEBATEONOURSOCIALMEDIANOW: @DPhotographer facebook.com/DigitalPhotographerUK

than the captured image, but on the whole it

still gives a good preview of the image you are

about to capture.

Considering the small size of the Z 50, it’s

impressive that there’s a 3.2-inch screen on

the back. Helpfully, this can be tilted up or

down for viewing from above or below eye

level. It can also be tipped down through 180

degrees so it can be looked at from in front of

the camera. The only problem with this is that

if you mount the camera on a tripod, you can’t

see the screen.

Nikon has once again done a great job

with the control layout and implementation

of touch control. The Z 50’s interface is

unmistakably Nikon, with a well-thought-out,

modern twist. The only disappointment is the

lack of a joystick to set the AF point when

the viewfinder is in use. A joystick also makes

more efficient use of the space on the back

of the camera than a navigation pad, so it

would have been preferable. As yet, it’s also

impossible to use the screen to set the AF

point while the viewfinder is in use.

Minor grumbles aside, the Z 50 gets an

emphatic thumbs up for its handling and

control layout. Happily, this positive vibe

extends to the camera’s performance. Its AF

system is fast and effective, even managing

to cope with fast-moving subjects in dull

conditions – it can be relied upon to shoot

sport and action.

The Z 50 captures a good level of detail

that is maintained well throughout the native

sensitivity range (ISO 51,200), but it’s worth

trying to stick to ISO 12,800 or lower.

REVIEWS