With my Google Pixel 9, I like to think of myself (delusionally) as a Peter Lindbergh-type photographer—capturing my subjects raw and honestly and a master of visual composition. In reality, I let the phone do all the work without touching a single setting.
That is to say, I’m a novice in photography - but it is something I’ve always enjoyed and wanted to learn more about. In the past, I’ve found the sheer varieties of models available, vernacular like aperture and shutter speed and the cost make it feel inaccessible. So when the Nikon Z50II launched, I was keen to give it a try.
The second generation of the Nikon Z50 mirrorless camera has many notable updates from its predecessor which was released in 2019. It has a new updated processor, a brighter electronic viewfinder and a dedicated Picture Control button. These updates have earned the camera praise from specialist publications like Digital Camera World dubbed it “the most advanced DX-sensor camera that Nikon has in its range, while The Verge suggested that the latter feature was the standout: “That dedicated Picture Control button — the first on any Nikon camera — is the Z50II’s most exciting upgrade.”
The camera was created with beginners in mind so the brand has paid close attention to the Auto mode. It is aimed towards content creators with advanced vlogging features. But can a complete novice really get to grips with it? I put it to the ES Best test.
Tech specs
Set-up
In the box sits the Nikon Z50II body. Setting up requires entering a memory card, popping in the battery and turning it on: so far, so simple. While you can shop the body alone, a lens is needed. This is not a problem if you have owned a Nikon camera in the past as the majority of lenses should be compatible but if you’re just starting out, it is worth going for one of the kits so you can start snapping right off the bat.
The lens has a tactical white dot that is lined up with the camera and it affixes by twisting. Once you have switched it on and focused, you can start taking pictures immediately.
Design
The Nikon Z50II is not going to be the difference between slipping your bag through airport controls and paying overweight charges. Firstly, it is a good size and not particularly heavy. Plus it comes with a strap that really helps channel the professional photographer aesthetic.
Functionality
As this is a beginner camera, you could easily just keep to the Auto mode and take impressive holiday pictures and videos. The Nikon Z50II is a 20.9MP offering with full-width 4k video that does the hard work for you — but as you get more proficient, you can create customised modes as presets, so you can always slip back to being a professional food capturer or budding sports videographer with a twist of the dial.
This camera shines with autofocus. The smart tracking locates the subject and locks in, providing the same image processing technology - Expeed 7 - as well as subject detection as the brand’s flagship Z9 (that will set you back £5,000). YouTubers will appreciate the product review mode that focuses on an item held up to the camera.
The same question is always asked with any new camera — how is this an improvement on my phone? Well, it’s all about the imaging sensor and in the Nikon Z50II, it’s 13 times larger than an iPhone while remaining about half the size of a fingernail. This crucial element controls the light and detail in every shot so, the larger it is, the better the picture, especially in low-light situations.
There is flexibility in editing on the camera itself, before you even export with built-in filters like the old Photobooth favourite sepia as well as colour tints - be it blue, red or more. Honourable mention goes to the 3.2-inch flip-out screen that can rotate for selfies or tilt so you can hold the body camcorder-style and try out different angles. The resolution is brighter (twice that of the Z50 at 1,000 nits) so you can always see what you’re doing no matter how bright the setting.
Verdict
Nikon Z50II
When words like aperture and shutter speed aren’t in your vernacular, the world of digital cameras — especially mirrorless, interchangeable-lens cameras — can feel like a minefield. And with that in mind, Nikon has unveiled its intuitive Z50II camera for beginners, content creators and aspiring photographers just finding their footing in the confusing camera landscape.
The same question is always asked with any new camera; how is this an improvement on my phone? Well, it’s all about the imaging sensor and in the Nikon Z50II, it’s 13 times larger than that of the iPhone while remaining about half the size of a fingernail. This crucial element controls the light and detail in every shot so the larger it is, the better the picture, especially in low-light situations.
It is a 20.9MP offering with 4k video that does the hard work for you with its exemplary auto functionality — but as you get more proficient, you can create customised modes as presets, so you can always slip back to being a professional food capturer or budding sports videographer with a twist of the dial. This camera shines with autofocus. The smart tracking locates the subject and locks in, providing the same image processing technology as the brand’s flagship Z9 (that will set you back £5,000). There is flexibility in editing, with filters like the old Photobooth favourite sepia. Honourable mention goes to the flip-out screen so you can hold the body camcorder-style and get creative with your angle.
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