Expert review of the Nikon Z50
In short
-
Thanks to the light-sensitive sensor, you can take sharp photos during day and at night.
-
The eye recognition of the autofocus makes the camera suitable for portrait photography.
-
With the advanced autofocus system, you can quickly and accurately focus on your object.
-
There's no image stabilization in the camera body, there is in the lens.
-
The aperture of f/3.5 isn't very large.
First impression
The first thing I notice when I grab the camera is the weight. It feels very light and the design is compact. The rubber grip makes the camera comfortable to hold. The camera has a large, foldable screen that I can tilt 180 degree downwards. This is useful when you take selfies. When I bring the camera to my eye, the electronic finder is being activated automatically. That way, I'll know exactly how my photos and videos will turn out.
Image quality
The Nikon Z50 has a large mount of 55mm that lets more light into your camera. You can capture vibrant and sharp photos thanks to the 20.9-megapixel sensor. The AF points cover almost all of the screen, which allows me to choose the focus point very precisely. In addition, I'm surprised by the video quality of 4K ultra HD and slow motion images of 120 fps. Even with low light, the 4K videos are detailed and colorful.
Creative effects
With the "EFCT" option on the menu button, you'll get access to creative options like photo illustration, miniature effect, and silhouette. These are fun effects that you can use for unique selfies or portraits. But, you can only use these effects in the Effects mode. With this mode, you can't control other options like the aperture and shutter speed. You can use the Creative Picture Control options in every recording mode, including video. For example, you can use modes like black and white, sepia, and vibrant.
Connect wirelessly
I install the Nikon Snapbridge app on an iOS or Android phone. That way, I can control the camera remotely via my smartphone. This is useful when I'm on vacation, if you want to take a selfie, for example. While taking photos, I can easily change the camera settings via my phone. I can also directly transfer photos and videos from the camera to my phone thanks to the built-in WiFi and Bluetooth. I can then share them on social media.
Lenses
Are you currently a Nikon user? With the FTZ adapter for the Nikon Z50, you can continue to use your current lenses on the camera. The Nikon DX lenses are compatible with the adapter too. In addition, you can choose from new compact lenses for the Nikon Z50. For example the 16-50mm and 50-250mm lenses, which have a large zoom range to capture wide landscapes and sharp portraits.
Conclusion
The Nikon Z50 is a user-friendly camera for the novice photographer. It's compact and lightweight, which allows you to take it anywhere with you. The tiltable screen makes this lightweight device suitable for vlogging too. The endless, creative effects allow you to create unique photos for your social media account. You can also record in 4K resolution and focus precisely for more advanced usage. The Snapbridge app is very convenient to share your photos with your friends and families right away.