Nikon Z50 II with Wide-Angle Zoom Lens | Compact mirrorless Stills/Video Camera with Easy Color presets and Wireless Photo Sharing | Nikon USA Model

Improved Auto Focus and a More Features than Original Z50
The original first generation Nikon Z50 camera was a very good camera but suffered from a less than ideal focusing system for fast moving subjects like birds, wildlife, or sports. While it was possible to get good photos of fast moving subjects with the Z50, there was more of a learning curve to understanding the focusing system (especially if you were using a DSLR camera) and it might take longer (more shots) to get a great action photo you were looking to get.The Nikon Z50II has a much more advanced focusing system. Equipped with Nikon’s latest Expeed 7 processor, the Z50II has inherited most of the focusing system from the much larger and much more expensive Nikon Z9, Z8, Z6III, and Zf full frame cameras. Focusing is now very fast, and, with focusing options like 3D (and subject detection modes, including pets, birds, airplanes, and cars) the camera locks on to the subject very quickly and stays with it.The Z50II, which is a little larger and heavier than the first generation Z50, but still pretty small, also has Pre-Release, which allows you to hold down the shutter and capture a number of stills before the photo is taken, great for capturing birds as they take off from a branch or pole.The camera also has a dedicated Picture Control button, for changing picture profiles quickly, and it connects to the new Nikon Imaging Cloud, where you can download and load on to the camera more picture profiles.For video, the Z50II can shoot full-width UHD 4K at 30fps, but requires a 1.5x crop to hit 60fps. It has video-focused features like a tally light, waveform monitoring, N-Log, and headphone and microphone jacks, and a flippy screen that makes it much easier to shoot selfies or video. The screen on the first generation Z50 just pulled out; the flippy screen provides more options.What the Z50II does not have is IBIS (In Body Image Stabilization), which is very useful for video. Most of Nikon’s APS-C lenses have vibration reduction, which does helps with image stabilization. Nikon also did not change the battery meter in the Z50II, so the battery only shows three bars (when full) and not a percentage of how much power is left. With mirrorless cameras and a general battery meter like this, it is always best to carry two batteries, as the meter is not always an accurate indication of how much power is left.Nikon also does not include a charger with the camera. The camera can be charged with a USB-C cable, which is included. The camera charged with the adapter I use to charge my Samsung S24 phone, as well as via my laptop, so it should charge with most modern power adapters and a USB-C cable.Bottom line, the Nikon Z50II is a worthy upgrade from the original, and for anyone looking for an affordable, solid performing mirrorless camera for photos and video. The autofocus system is outstanding, and the detection modes seem to work particularly well.The camera, either with the 16mm-50mm kit lens or body only, is priced well, and the Z50II has many of the characteristics of the more expensive full frame cameras.Highly recommended!

Worth it
Wife loves this camera. I love that she is happy. Oh and the photos are fabulous.

Limited Lens Selection (in DX format) Remains a Challenge
I had the older Z50 until I gave it to my daughter.Just like the Z50, the battery for the Z50 can be charged with the battery inserted into the camera. Use the included cable and an appropriate wall power adapter (or you can buy the Nikon wall power adapter).Image quality for the pictures taken was excellent. Focusing system was pretty good although my Canon and Sony cameras focused better in some circumstances.Ergonomics of this camera was excellent. Camera is solidly well-built, most of the core settings (i.e. aperture, shutter speed, iso, white balance, drive mode) can be easily accessed by using a dial or pressing a single button. No joystick but otherwise very similar to the more expensive Nikon bodies.The native lenses (Nikon Z 16-50mm and 50-250mm) were very impressive. For most of the pictures I took, portrait photos, city landscapes and nature landscapes, this camera worked very well.But finding lenses that help the camera operate better in low light (i.e. lenses with larger apertures) is a challenge with this camera unless you use Nikon Z full frame lenses. Nikon makes one lens in the DX format that has a maximum aperture larger than 3.5 (the Nikon Z 24mm f/1.7). That 24mm is also the only Nikon DX lens that does not have VR (image stabilization), which can be important since the camera body does not offer image stabliization except for electronic stabilization but only in video mode and only when shooting with selected settings.

I’m a photographer by heart. I’m the type of person that cringes when people shoot landscape videos on mobile phones in portrait mode. You know the ones .. they have to scan to see edges (shaky) and if shown on TV they use blurred filler to make the image fill a TV screen….Anyway I digress.I love photography using a real camera. I’ve no interest in “photo” manipulation to improve a shot after it’s been taken. I also want the minimum fuss with lenses when on holiday (en vacance) and did not want a camera costing £2700 , well I did but could not really warrant the cost as I’m not a pro where the cost is absorbed in my business, which is why I compromise.The Z50ii is not a full frame image but I’ve plenty of saved photos using the cropped ‘C’ image size that offer brilliant results for capturing “stuff”. I thus bought this camera with a single lens as a kit and was surprised at the lack of weight with this lens fitted when compared to a similar set up on my previous Nikon D3300..a great budget SLR by the way.For those familiar with 35mm film the kit supplied zoom lens equates to a 70mm zoom lens and offers a wide, not fish-eye, lens for landscapes.Stick it on auto and go on holiday , you still have to push a button :-). , and get auto focused pictures that capture great moments of visits to holiday destinations.Take time out to understand the other options. Too many here to list. Do use manual modes occasionally to set speed and aperture as you will then understand a little more about lighting subjects and landscapes better.Play with the built in filters, you can set these to take black and white images without after processing using software, and generally have fun using this.This camera will take exceptionally good photos and videos and I’ve not read the manual yet but I’ve had no problem working out where everything is, menus are set in folders and you can normally easily find an option to set something on the camera.This is an ideal camera to take the first steps in digital mirror less photography.Feel free to take those often shaky videos on a mobile phone but just take time out to realise what you’re missing. This camera is quick. Get those sporting shots you always miss when using a mobile phone camera.After you’ve had a play with this, en vacance, do consider buying alternative lenses. Do you want to see craters on the moon get yourself that 200mm lens or alternatively watch a bee on a flower with a suitable macro lens.I’ll add here that if you have lenses from a previous F series Nikon camera there is an adaptor (expensive!) to convert to the Z lens fitting, it’s simply called FTZ ii and I think other adaptors for.lenses from other manufacturers are available too.This camera will also help to stop the “shaky” images you may take. This is dependent on the lens you use.Go mirror less with this and have fun. I recommend it.