Within the Nikon wildlife pictures neighborhood, it has turn into a dead-horse subject of pub discussions whether or not we’ll ever see a successor to the legendary Nikon D500. Some have succumbed to skepticism and whispered despairingly, “There’ll by no means be something prefer it once more.”
However would we acknowledge a Z-mount successor of the D500 if it appeared? I had a day within the discipline to see if Nikon’s newest APS-C digital camera, the Z50 II, might exchange the D500. Listed below are my first impressions.
The D500
Earlier than I dive in, let me say why the D500 was so particular. It got here from a complete evolutionary department beginning with the D100, which was a extra inexpensive and compact various to skilled cameras just like the Nikon D1. Equally, Nikon launched the D200 and D300 to match the D2x line and D3 respectively. There was a short hiccup on this course of with the D4, with no corresponding D400.
However with the discharge of the D500 in the identical yr because the D5, Nikon’s skilled APS-C line regained huge power. The D500 has an expert construct, giant battery, nice ergonomics, uncompromising autofocus, and distinctive picture high quality for its APS-C format. Many think about the D500 to be the best APS-C DSLR ever made.
Then got here the blow. With the appearance of Nikon’s new Z-mount, APS-C was relegated to the realm of entry-level. Full-frame cameras grew to become the one alternative if one wished all of Nikon’s superior options. The APS-C line grew to become restricted with a small battery and weak autofocus efficiency.
However on the finish of 2024, Nikon gave us the Nikon Z50 II. Though these anticipating a transparent successor to the D500 could also be a bit dissatisfied, I’ll present you that the Z50 II is definitely nearer to the D500 than lots of people suppose.
Z50 II: Design and Dealing with
Design-wise, the Z50 II is far totally different than the Z50. The rounded form of the Z50 has been changed by a extra mature design, much like the Z6 III. The speaker is now positioned on the left facet of the viewfinder, and the place of the stereo microphones has additionally shifted barely. For vloggers, there’s a REC lamp on the prime of the digital camera.
The again of the digital camera has additionally modified. Now, the rear controls are much like these of the Z6 III and Z8, and thus extra usable. Certainly, the one variations are the positions of the monitor mode button and the photograph/video swap and, after all, the absence of the joystick (sub-selector). It’s also possible to customise the habits of particular person buttons. For instance, you’ll be able to have three autofocus modes immediately accessible underneath three totally different buttons (in my case, AE-L/AF-L, DISP and Fn1) like I’ve on my Z9.
Close to the shutter button, rather than the previous microphone, an image management button has been added. Primarily, that is much like the BW swap on the Zf, besides you could select from a complete vary of preset profiles.
The mode dial has additionally been upgraded. The EFCT (results) mode is gone, being changed by a 3rd customized setting (U3). Having three positions for customized settings is one thing I discover rather more helpful. Solely the Nikon Z8, Z9, and D500 have three or 4. Nonetheless, the SCN place for switching scene modes stays.
The rear show has not modified in measurement (3.2 inches) nor in its decision (1.04 million dots), though it’s now fully-articulated. Personally, I most popular the earlier tilting design for ground- or water-level taking pictures, as a result of a side-flipping show is tough to see and will get in the best way. Nonetheless, the articulating show will assist with vertical taking pictures angles and vlogging.
In contrast to the D500, the Z50 II doesn’t have a joystick. Nonetheless, just like the Zf and Z6 III, you’ll be able to choose a spotlight level or zone by sliding your finger throughout the display screen, and it really works nicely even along with your eye to the viewfinder. As a bonus, you in all probability gained’t have to interchange the joystick after 5 years like I did with my D500.
General, I just like the ergonomics and design of the Z50 II. It could be small, however it’s a mature digital camera that any photographer can tailor to their very own preferences and wishes. Nonetheless, I might have appreciated backlit and barely bigger buttons (particularly the AE-L/AF-L), in addition to a unique design for the tilting show.
Z50 II: Autofocus within the Subject
After all, I used to be most curious in regards to the Z50 II’s autofocus efficiency! So, I eagerly dashed by way of the gates of the Prague Zoo, able to topic the autofocus to my normal torturous exams. For many of the day, the solar remained hidden behind a thick blanket of low inversion clouds, leaving little gentle to work with. So how did the digital camera deal with the troublesome mixture of animals and low gentle?
The Z50 II carried out surprisingly nicely, and undoubtedly past my expectations. Not even probably the most weird chicken might confuse the Z50 II’s algorithms. It locked on to the eyes of herons, geese, and even a Palm Cockatoo with the boldness of a scientific biologist from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. On this regard, this digital camera isn’t any much less succesful than my Z9! Even throughout steady taking pictures, the main target level stayed glued to the attention.
The digital camera even carried out admirably with topics for which its algorithms weren’t explicitly educated: reptiles. It shocked me to the extent that I discovered myself questioning if my Z9 would have acknowledged that individual lizard or snake. I’ll need to examine subsequent time.
What about birds in flight? Success in capturing birds in flight relies upon not solely on dependable autofocus, but in addition on the viewfinder. The Z50 II lacks a stacked sensor (no shock at this value level), so capturing quick wing actions requires utilizing the mechanical shutter.
This ends in the viewfinder going darkish throughout steady taking pictures, however at the least there’s no show lag, a typical drawback with earlier Z fashions. The shortest shutter pace of 1/4000s could seem limiting, however that is extra of a problem when utilizing quick prime lenses on a sunny day than when photographing birds in flight.
With regards to taking pictures motion, buffer depth additionally performs a vital function. Whereas the unique Z50 had a buffer capability of 35 photos, the Z50 II can retailer as much as 200 RAW recordsdata. At 11 fps, that is greater than sufficient. I can’t recall a scenario the place I held the shutter down for greater than 18 seconds in real-life eventualities. As well as, the supported SD UHS-II card normal ensures that the buffer will empty as quick as your abdomen throughout an Amazonian ayahuasca ritual.
Z50 II: Different Usability Remarks
Concerning the viewfinder, I used to be happy to see the d12 choice, which is acquainted from the Nikon Z9. This function is particularly helpful for evening pictures, because it makes use of purple tones to show down the blinding brightness of the show and viewfinder. This small however welcome addition makes it much less probably that you just’ll stroll nose-first right into a tree after checking your digital camera’s settings at nighttime. For lengthy exposures, you’ll additionally recognize the flexibility to set shutter pace as much as 900 seconds.
Sadly, like its predecessor, the Z50 II doesn’t have in-body picture stabilization (IBIS). Nonetheless, with a stabilized lens just like the Nikon 180-600mm, I didn’t miss IBIS an excessive amount of. At 600mm, with a gradual hand, I discovered 1/60s to be comparatively secure. With IBIS, I might need achieved 1/30s, possibly even 1/15s. Luckily, most Nikon DX lenses and longer full-frame lenses are stabilized.
Whereas I can reside with out IBIS, there may be one factor in regards to the Z50 II that basically bothers me—the battery. I perceive that the compact design of the Z50 II necessitated a small battery, however I nonetheless want it used the EN-EL15. Its capability is 45% greater than the EN-EL25a of the Z50 II, and it’s been the usual battery for almost all Nikon DSLRs and full-frame mirrorless cameras since 2010.
Certainly, though I managed over 800 photographs per cost with my typical taking pictures type, simply establishing the digital camera to my liking drained a complete battery. The bigger EN-EL15 would make the Z50 II way more sensible as a second physique to a full-frame digital camera.
The Z50 II’s picture high quality is superb however not revolutionary. The sensor stays the identical because the earlier technology and is, actually, shared with the whole present DX (APS-C) Nikon Z lineup. That doesn’t imply the picture high quality hasn’t improved just a little.
Certainly, the Z50 II is the primary DX digital camera to get the highly effective EXPEED 7 picture processor, which can have an effect on its dynamic vary and noise dealing with considerably. Though I gained’t provide a direct comparability of noise efficiency with the unique Z50 or the D500, a head-to-head comparability might seem in a future article. However, the pattern photos ought to provide you with a good suggestion of what the Z50 II is able to.
Whereas taking pictures, I intentionally pushed the ISO greater than normal within the dimly lit zoo enclosures, and to keep away from masking the digital camera’s true efficiency with superior software program, I’ve left the noise within the images untouched (besides for 2 photos, as famous). In my view, even photos taken at ISO 20,000 are fairly usable.
Conclusion
Many people nonetheless look as much as the wonderful D500 and count on its successor to make a grand, triumphant entrance. However maybe it’s price contemplating whether or not that successor is already right here, sneaking in with out fanfare.
Sure, there are some elements of the Z50 II that make it lower than what we’d count on from a D500 successor. In comparison with the D500’s rugged magnesium and carbon-reinforced development, the plastic Z50 II feels delicate. The Z50 II additionally has a smaller battery, and it doesn’t have a few of the superior options of the flagship full-frame cameras just like the Z8 and Z9.
Nonetheless, the dealing with of the Z50 II is just not distant from the flagships. The button format and the near-total freedom of customization mark an enormous leap ahead. On this respect, the Z50 II not solely holds its personal towards the D500, however even surpasses it in some areas.
However most significantly, the autofocus efficiency of the Z50 II is so good that I used to be truthfully shocked. The mere proven fact that I’m evaluating a $907 fanatic digital camera to the $5,497 skilled Z9 means one thing. Little doubt about it, the Z50 II is an interesting second physique for any of Nikon’s present full-frame cameras, and for the primary time, we now have a Nikon APS-C mirrorless digital camera that may sustain with the D500.
