Home / Compare / Nikon Z fc vs Z50II
Nikon Z fc vs Z50II
Nikon's two current DX Z-mount bodies. Both use the 20.9MP sensor, a 2,360k-dot OLED finder, a vari-angle touchscreen and about 11 fps bursts. The Z fc wraps them in a heritage body with dials for shutter speed, ISO and exposure compensation; the Z50II adds EXPEED 7 subject detection, 4K/60p in 10-bit, a headphone jack, a pop-up flash and a UHS-II slot.
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Side-by-side specs
| Nikon Z fc | Nikon Z50II | |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Heritage design after the FM2: shutter-speed, ISO and exposure-compensation dials; top display panel; round eyepiece | Grip body with a PASM mode dial; dedicated Picture Control button |
| Sensor | 20.9MP DX-format CMOS | Same |
| Processor | EXPEED 6 | EXPEED 7 |
| ISO | 100–51200; expandable to ISO 204800 equivalent | Same |
| Autofocus | 209 points; eye and face detection for people and animals | 209 points (single-point) / 231 (auto-area); nine subject-detection types |
| AF low-light limit (Nikon's figure) | −4.5 EV with low-light AF | −9 EV (with an f/1.2 lens) |
| Bursts | About 11 fps (high-speed, extended) | About 11 fps (high-speed, extended); 30 fps High-Speed Frame Capture+ with Pre-Release Capture |
| Stabilization | None in body; electronic VR for movies | Same |
| Viewfinder | 0.39-inch OLED, about 2,360k dots, about 1.02x | Same |
| Screen | 3.0-inch vari-angle touchscreen, about 1,040k dots | 3.2-inch vari-angle touchscreen, about 1,040k dots |
| Video | 4K UHD up to 30p; Full HD up to 120p; H.264 | 4K UHD up to 60p; Full HD up to 120p; H.265 10-bit, N-Log and HLG |
| Card slot | One SD (UHS-I) | One SD (UHS-II) |
| Audio jacks | Mic input | Mic input and headphone/remote jack |
| Built-in flash | None listed (hot shoe only) | Pop-up (guide number about 7) plus hot shoe |
| Battery (CIPA, monitor, EN-EL25a) | About 400 shots | About 230–250 shots |
| Weight (with battery and card) | About 445 g | About 550 g |
| Size | 134.5 × 93.5 × 43.5 mm | 127 × 96.8 × 66.5 mm |
| Launch price | Jun 29, 2021; $959.95 body-only (US) | Nov 7, 2024; $909.95 body-only (US) |
Specs from the Z fc and Z50II online manuals (Specifications and Battery endurance) and Nikon's June 29, 2021 and November 7, 2024 releases. US launch prices from Nikon Inc. Battery figures are CIPA, monitor, with the EN-EL25a on both. ✓ = advantage; blank = tie or not directly comparable.
Sample photos
Four photos taken with the Nikon Z fc and four with the Nikon Z50 II, shared on Wikimedia Commons under open licenses.
Who should buy which
Buy the Z fc if…
- You want real dials for shutter speed, ISO and exposure compensation, and a top display panel.
- You want the slimmer, lighter body: 43.5 mm deep and about 445 g with battery and card.
- You want more shots per charge: about 400 vs 230–250 with the EN-EL25a (CIPA, monitor).
Buy the Z50II if…
- You shoot people, pets, sport or birds: EXPEED 7 subject detection and 30 fps Pre-Release Capture.
- You shoot video: 4K up to 60p, 10-bit N-Log and HLG, and a headphone jack.
- You want a deeper grip, a pop-up flash and a UHS-II card slot.
Both bodies share the 20.9MP DX sensor, the 2,360k-dot finder, a vari-angle touchscreen and about 11 fps, so the choice is dials, size and battery life versus autofocus, video and a flash. The −4.5 EV and −9 EV figures are each Nikon's own and use different test conditions, so they aren't directly comparable. See our full Z fc and Z50II guides, or all comparisons.
Where to buy
Nikon Z fc
Nikon Z fc: Launched at $959.95 in 2021 (Nikon Inc.'s US launch price, June 29, 2021).
Check priceRead the full Nikon Z fc guide
Nikon Z50II
Nikon Z50II: Launched at $909.95 in 2024 (Nikon Inc.'s US launch price, November 7, 2024).
Check priceRead the full Nikon Z50II guide
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