Nikon Announces Z 50II Mirrorless Camera

Today, Nikon has announced the next generation of its DX line of cameras with the new Nikon Z 50II.

In the days of DSLR dominance, the D500, for many, the perfect camera, especially for those wanting to capture sports and wildlife on a budget. They could get great images for a fraction of the price. The only trade-off, which was worth it for many, was that the camera featured a DX sensor (cropped) versus a full frame one. But, for that trade-off, you got all the power of the full frame line in a smaller package, at a great value.

As it’s made its transition into the mirrorless world, Nikon has already announced a number of terrific cameras with DX sized sensors. The original Z 50 was its first DX mirrorless camera to hit the market from the manufacturer.  Shortly after that, the retro style Z fc brought many of the same features into a more stylish body. I owned the Zfc, and it was a great everyday walkabout camera I got a lot of use out of, even among a kit closet that included many of the more professional Nikon mirrorless bodies.

And now, after several years of releasing feature rich FX (full frame) bodies such as the Z9, Z8, Z 6III, and Z f, Nikon has returned its attention to the cropped sensor market by announcing the new Z 50II.

The difference this time around is that the Z 50II can take advantage of the new EXPEED 7 processing engine, the same found in the Z 8 and Z 9. This newer technology produces a 20.9-megapixel image that records to a single SD card slot (no CFexpress like its full frame counterparts). The camera has both electronic and mechanical shutter modes with a shutter speed range between 1/4000 and 30 seconds (extendable to 900 seconds in M mode). ISO sensitivity ranges from 100 to 51,200. The camera borrows its autofocus modes from its predecessors and can track humans, pets, vehicles, and more. It can shoot up to 11 fps in raw or 30 fps in JPEG in stills mode. The camera also includes a built-in pop-up flash.

For video, the camera can shoot up to 4K (downsampled from 5.6K) at up to 60 fps. It does not have the N-raw video capabilities of the bigger cameras, but it does include the internal log format missing in some early Z models. You can record in either MOV or MP4 in 10-bit H.265/HEVC or 8-bit H.264 (with an option for 8-bit H.265/HEVC as well). For external recording, the camera uses a micro HDMI connection. It has built-in waveforms for judging exposure and provides a red tally light while recording. For those familiar with larger Nikon models, the Z 50II includes the Hi-Res Zoom, which allows users to zoom in and out with the press of a button, even when using fixed focal lengths. Maximum recording time is 125 minutes, and the camera features a fully articulating vari-angle LCD screen for occasions when you need to step in front of the camera.

Some added features include a wide range of built-in Picture Controls and the optional use of the MC-DC3 Remote Cord, which connects to the camera's headphone/remote cord connector to trigger the shutter for remote photography.

Most importantly, the camera is expected to retail for just $909.95 for the body only. A kit including the Z 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens will retail for $1,049.95, and a two-lens kit with both the 16-50mm and the 50-250mm f/4-5.6 VR lenses will sell for $1,299.95. The optional MC-DC3 will retail for $36.95.

The Z 50II is expected to hit shelves this month, with the remote cord available later this year.

So what do you think? Is this the type of kit, from a performance and price standpoint, that you’ve been waiting for?