Home / Compare / Nikon Z 50 vs Z50II
Nikon Z 50 vs Z50II
Two generations of Nikon's DX Z-mount body, five years apart. They share the 20.9MP sensor, a 2,360k-dot OLED finder, a 3.2-inch touchscreen, about 11 fps and a pop-up flash. The Z50II adds the EXPEED 7 engine with nine subject-detection types, 4K up to 60p with N-Log and HLG, a side-opening vari-angle screen, a UHS-II slot and USB-C; the Z 50 is about 100 g lighter and rated for more shots per charge.
Side-by-side specs
| Nikon Z 50 | Nikon Z50II | |
|---|---|---|
| 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-Detection AF | 209 points (single-point) / 231 (auto-area); nine subject-detection types |
| AF low-light limit (Nikon's figure) | −4 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 | 3.2-inch tilting touchscreen, about 1,040k dots; flips down 180° | 3.2-inch vari-angle touchscreen, about 1,040k dots |
| 4K video | 4K UHD at 30/25/24p from the full sensor width | 4K UHD up to 60p; 30/25/24p oversampled from 5.6K; N-Log and HLG |
| Card / USB | One SD (UHS-I); Micro-B USB | One SD (UHS-II); USB-C |
| Audio jacks | Mic input | Mic input and headphone/remote jack |
| Built-in flash | Pop-up | Pop-up (guide number about 7) |
| Battery (CIPA, monitor, EN-EL25a) | About 350 shots | About 230–250 shots |
| Weight (with battery and card) | About 450 g | About 550 g |
| Size | About 126.5 × 93.5 × 60 mm | 127 × 96.8 × 66.5 mm |
| Launch price | Oct 10, 2019; $859.95 body-only (US) | Nov 7, 2024; $909.95 body-only (US) |
Z 50 specs from Nikon's Z 50 product page, October 10, 2019 release and online manual, as cited in our Z 50 review; Z50II specs from the Z50II online manual and Nikon's November 7, 2024 release. 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 Z50 and four with the Nikon Z50 II, shared on Wikimedia Commons under open licenses.
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Who should buy which
Buy the Z 50 if…
- You want the lighter body: about 450 g vs about 550 g with battery and card.
- You want more shots per charge: about 350 vs 230–250 with the EN-EL25a (CIPA, monitor).
- You mostly shoot landscapes, travel and other still subjects, where the shared sensor and finder do the work.
Buy the Z50II if…
- You shoot people, pets, birds or vehicles: EXPEED 7 brings nine subject-detection types and 30 fps Pre-Release Capture.
- You shoot video: 4K up to 60p, N-Log, HLG and a headphone jack.
- You want a screen that flips to the side, a UHS-II card slot and USB-C.
Both bodies share the 20.9MP DX sensor, the 2,360k-dot finder, the 3.2-inch screen size and about 11 fps, so the choice is subject detection, video and the side-opening screen versus weight and battery life. The −4 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 50 review and Z50II guide, or all comparisons.
Where to buy
Nikon Z 50
Nikon Z 50: Launched at $859.95 in 2019 (Nikon Inc.'s US launch price, October 2019).
Check priceRead the full Nikon Z 50 review
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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