Nikon's first APS-C Z-mount body, since replaced by the Z50II. Launched at $859.95 in 2019 (body only). Still good in 2026: yes, for travel, family and everyday shooting with a small Z kit.
Nikon Z 50, shown with the NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR (not included with the body). Photo: Thilo Parg via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)
HIGHLIGHTS
Nikon announced the Z 50 on October 10, 2019 as its first DX-format (APS-C) camera for the Z mount, and Nikon Inc. priced it at $859.95 body-only in the US. It pairs a 20.9MP DX CMOS sensor with EXPEED 6 and a 209-point hybrid AF system covering about 87% of the frame horizontally, with Eye-Detection AF. It shoots about 11 fps with AF/AE and records 4K UHD at up to 30p using the full width of the sensor.
Why it exists. The Z 50 brought the large Z mount to a smaller, lighter body: about 450 g with battery and card, with a deep grip, a 2.36M-dot OLED viewfinder at about 1.02x, a pop-up flash and a 3.2-inch tilting touchscreen that flips down 180° for selfies. F-mount lenses fit through the FTZ adapter. There is no in-body stabilization: stills rely on VR lenses, and Nikon adds electronic VR for movies. It launched in 2019 and has since been succeeded by the Z50II, so this is a Classic.
Our gallery comes from six photographers: open fields near Waldstetten, a long exposure of a forest stream in Czechia, the hills from the Hoher Dörnberg at sunset, peaks in the Caucasus near Sochi, a coyote in Santa Teresa County Park and a hay bale at Nowton. Still good in 2026? Yes, as a small Z-mount body for travel and everyday shooting. Its limits: no IBIS, one UHS-I slot and about 320 shots per charge (CIPA, screen).
The story
Nikon Corporation announced the Z 50 on October 10, 2019, as the first DX-format camera for the Z mount and the first Nikon DX camera with on-sensor phase-detection AF, along with two NIKKOR Z DX zooms (Nikon).
Nikon Inc. set the US price at $859.95 body-only (Nikon Inc.).
Nikon Japan now lists the Z 50 among its older mirrorless products (旧製品), which it no longer sells in Japan; its successor is the Z50II.
Specifications
Key specs for the Nikon Z 50, from Nikon's Z 50 product page, Nikon's October 10, 2019 release and the Z 50 online manual. Source for each row in brackets.
100–51200; expandable to ISO 204800 equivalent; movies up to ISO 25600 [Nikon]
Autofocus
Hybrid phase/contrast AF, 209 points (about 87% horizontal, 85% vertical coverage); Eye-Detection AF; down to −4 EV with low-light AF [Nikon]
Stabilization
No in-body stabilization; lens VR for stills; electronic VR for movies [Nikon manual]
Bursts
About 11 fps (High-speed continuous, extended); 5 fps (High-speed) [Nikon]
Viewfinder
0.39-inch OLED, about 2,360k dots, about 1.02x [Nikon]
Screen
3.2-inch tilting touchscreen, about 1,040k dots; flips down 180° [Nikon]
Video
4K UHD at 30/25/24p using the full sensor width; Full HD up to 120p [Nikon]
Card / connectivity
One SD (UHS-I); Micro-B USB; Wi-Fi and Bluetooth (SnapBridge); pop-up flash [Nikon]
Battery
EN-EL25; about 320 shots (monitor) / 280 (viewfinder), CIPA; 350 / 310 with the EN-EL25a [Nikon manual]
Size / weight
About 126.5 × 93.5 × 60 mm; about 450 g with battery and card (395 g body only) [Nikon]
Announced / price
Oct 10, 2019; $859.95 body-only (US) [Nikon, Nikon Inc.]
Sample photos
Six photos taken with the Nikon Z 50 by six photographers, shared on Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons licenses or in the public domain. Each caption gives the settings the file records. Select a photo to enlarge it. More samples from Wikimedia Commons
f/5.6, ISO 200, 1/250 s, 16mm: open fields near Waldstetten, Germany (NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR). Photo: Thilo Parg via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)f/8, ISO 100, 6 s, 16mm: a long exposure of the Úpořský stream, Czechia (NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR). Photo: Ted Moravec via Wikimedia Commons, CC0 (resized)
f/11, ISO 100, 1/320 s, 16mm: the view from the Hoher Dörnberg at sunset, Germany (NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR). Photo: Lernin71 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)f/5, ISO 720, 1/4000 s, 110mm: peaks in the Caucasus near Sochi, Russia (NIKKOR Z DX 50-250mm f/4.5-6.3 VR). Photo: Oleg Afonin via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 (resized)
f/5.6, ISO 2000, 1/800 s, 300mm: a coyote in Santa Teresa County Park, California (a 70–300mm f/4.5–5.6 zoom). Photo: Don DeBold via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 (resized)f/14, ISO 400, 1/800 s, 10mm: a hay bale on a stubble field at Nowton, England (a 10–20mm f/4–5.6 zoom). Photo: Martin Pettitt via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 (resized)
Nikon: Launched at $859.95 in 2019 (US, body only).
Verdict
Who it's for: travelers and everyday shooters who want a small, light Z-mount body with a good grip, a viewfinder, Eye-Detection AF and full-width 4K.
Look elsewhere if you want in-body stabilization or two card slots: the full-frame Z 5 has 5-stop in-body VR and two SD slots.
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