Review: Nikon Z50 - A beast at launch

When Nikon launched the Z50 in 2019, it immediately caught my eye as a compelling option in the mirrorless camera market. Having been a satisfied user of the Nikon D7100 for several years, I was ready to embrace the advantages of mirrorless technology while staying within the Nikon ecosystem. The Z50, with its lightweight body, high-resolution 20.9-megapixel sensor, and a suite of features tailored for enthusiasts, seemed like an ideal upgrade for my passion for nature and portrait photography. Since purchasing it at launch, I’ve taken the Z50 on numerous photography adventures, from capturing the intricate details of wildlife to creating stunning portraits with beautiful bokeh. In this review, I’ll share my hands-on experience with the Z50, highlighting its strengths and areas where it could improve, to help you determine if it’s the right camera for your photography journey.

Nikon Z50

Source: fStoppers

Design and Build Quality

From the moment I unboxed the Nikon Z50, I was hooked—there’s just something magical about holding your first mirrorless camera. After years of lugging around my trusty Nikon D7100, the Z50 felt like a revelation. I loved the way it sat in my hands; it’s compact, lightweight, and yet somehow manages to feel substantial. At just 450g, it’s a dream to carry, and when I paired it with the massive Nikon AF-S 200-500mm f/5.6 lens for some nature shots, the handling was better than expected. The balance was spot on, and it didn’t feel like I was wrestling with my gear like I sometimes did with the D7100. For an entry-level camera, it’s impressive how premium it feels—nothing about it screams “cheap,” and that’s a big win in my book.

That said, it wasn’t all perfect. I’ve got huge hands, and while Nikon nailed the button placement (everything’s right where I’d expect it), my pinky constantly dangled off the bottom. It’s not a huge deal, but it bugged me during longer sessions. The tilting screen was another mixed blessing—I loved using it for tricky angles, like low-down nature shots or overhead portraits, but it scratched way too easily since there’s no way to flip it inward for protection. After a few months, it started showing some battle scars I’d rather have avoided. And then there’s the ISO situation. I really missed having a dedicated dial; having to press a button and then twist the aperture dial felt clunky when I needed to adjust settings on the fly.

Still, the Z50’s design and build quality won me over. It’s a huge leap from my D7100 in terms of portability and comfort, and it handles everything from lightweight primes to hefty zooms with ease.

Captured with: Nikon Z50, 35mm F1.8

Image Quality

I’ve always been a huge fan of Nikon’s color science, and the Z50 absolutely lived up to my expectations. The colors it produces are stunning—vibrant yet natural, with skin tones that really stand out. Whether I was shooting portraits or capturing the delicate shades of a sunrise in nature, the images felt rich and authentic. On top of that, the file sizes were a dream to work with. Compared to higher-megapixel cameras, the Z50’s 20.9-megapixel RAW files were smaller and so much easier to handle in post-processing. It made my editing workflow smoother and faster, which was a huge plus, especially as I started exploring video.

The 4K video capabilities on the Z50 was revolutionary to my creativity. It opened up a whole new world for me, especially in nature photography. I found myself diving into video work more than ever before, and the footage was crisp with colors that translated beautifully from stills to motion. It also performed impressively at weddings, delivering great results for such a compact camera. That said, I did notice some overheating during longer shoots. It wasn’t a deal breaker for me, but it’s worth keeping in mind if you’re planning extended video sessions.

While I loved the smaller file sizes for most of my work, there were times—particularly with wildlife photography—when I wished for a bit more resolution. Those extra megapixels would’ve been handy for cropping in on distant subjects without losing detail. The Z50 still got the job done, but I occasionally felt a little constrained in those scenarios.

When it comes to noise, the camera handled it really well up to ISO 6400. Beyond that, color images started to suffer, and the noise became pretty noticeable. If you’re pushing the ISO higher, I’d recommend switching to black and white or embracing a grainy, film-like look—it’s not ideal for clean color shots, but it can work stylistically. For anyone shooting in low light often, that’s something to consider. Overall, the Z50’s image quality is fantastic, with just a few trade-offs depending on your specific needs.

Captured with: Nikon Z50, 200-500mm F5.4

Autofocus and Performance

The Nikon Z50’s performance blew me away, especially the 11fps burst rate, which was a huge upgrade from my old setup. It completely changed how I shoot, sparking a love for capturing high-speed sports and wildlife like birds in flight. Whether I was snapping athletes tearing across a field or birds mid-soar, that burst rate made it feel effortless. The 1/4000s shutter speed was plenty fast for everything I threw at it, freezing motion perfectly every time—honestly, I couldn’t ask for more there.

The autofocus, though, was a bit of a mixed bag. For casual shooting, the subject detection was solid—good enough that I never worried about getting people in focus for everyday shots. But when it came to fast-moving subjects, like rugby players darting around, it didn’t always keep up. The tracking struggled to stick to the people I wanted it to, often losing them in the chaos. I ended up switching to spot AF to nail those shots, which worked but wasn’t as seamless as I’d hoped. For casual shooters, this probably won’t be a big deal, but if you’re chasing action, it’s a quirk to note.

Other reviewers tend to agree on some key points. On the plus side, the Z50’s autofocus gets a lot of praise for being accurate in good lighting—great for most daytime shooting. But in low light, it can hunt a bit, taking longer to lock focus. The eye detection is decent and handy for portraits, though it’s not as spot-on as what you’d find in Sony or Canon systems, which might bug perfectionists. Another common gripe is the buffer—it fills up fast during continuous shooting, so if you’re firing off long bursts, you might hit a wall sooner than you’d like. Still, for most folks, the Z50’s mix of speed and focus handles a ton of situations really well.

Captured with: Nikon Z50, 50mm F1.8

Conclusion

The Nikon Z50 is a fantastic choice for enthusiasts upgrading from beginner cameras, delivering a great mix of features and portability. However, for those pursuing more professional photography, its battery life and image quality at higher ISOs are outclassed by newer models like the Nikon Z6 II, Sony A7 III, or Fujifilm X-T4, which provide the endurance and IQ professionals need. Alternatively, second-hand options like the Canon EOS R, Fujifilm X-T3, or Nikon D750 offer similar improvements at a price close to the Z50, making them excellent budget-friendly steps toward a pro-level setup.