Nikon Z50II

Nikon's updated APS-C mirrorless model aims to bring top-level technology to a much wider market, but how does it measure up?

- Andy Westlake

Nikon’s Z50II is an updated version of its APS-C (or DX) format Z50 mirrorless camera, which appeared back in 2019. It’s designed to appeal to first-time camera buyers who have previously been using a smartphone, but now want to take a step up in terms of image quality and interchangeable lenses. It sits roughly alongside the retro-styled Zfc in Nikon’s line-up, although with the latest tech on board, it’s somewhat more expensive. Both are above the entry-level Z30, which lacks an electronic viewfinder.

In many respects, the Z50II shares the same photographic specifications as its predecessor. However, it gains an updated body design, brighter viewfinder, much-improved autofocus, and more advanced video features.

In line with the latest trend, it has a dedicated button for accessing in-camera colour profiles, which Nikon calls Picture Controls.

The Nikon Z50II costs £849 body-only; £999 with the Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR zoom; and £1,199 in a twin-lens kit that adds the Nikkor Z DX 50-250mm f/4.5-6.3 VR telephoto zoom. It sits within a competitive sector that includes the Canon EOS R10, Fujifilm X-T30 II, Sony Alpha A6400, and Panasonic Lumix G97. It’s the most expensive of these cameras, but it includes the most up-to-date technology. So does that make it the best camera available for beginners?

Features

While the Z50II employs the same long-running 20MP DX-format sensor as before, it’s now powered by the same Expeed 7 processor as the firm’s latest full-frame models. This allows the camera to offer all the same autofocus options as the flagship Z8 and Z9, including subject detection and 3D tracking. But most of the major specifications remain unchanged.