Introduction- a personal tale
In September 2020, when everyone was weary of the COVID-19 pandemic, travel restrictions in California were lifted, allowing people to venture out. My birthday was approaching, and I asked Jeff, my late husband, to buy me a “mirrorless Nikon.” I didn’t have high hopes, though—Jeff wasn’t one to “waste” money on equipment. As a guitarist, he had owned the same guitars for 40 years, believing that “equipment needs to pay for itself.” He wasn’t very sympathetic to my desire to upgrade my camera gear before it had proven its worth as a financial investment, and it barely ever does.
On the morning of my birthday, I woke up early, intending to sneak out of our hotel room for some sunrise photography. As I tried to leave quietly, I heard Jeff murmur from beneath the cozy sheets, “There’s something on the counter you might want to take with you.”
On the counter, I found the most beautiful sight: a box containing a tiny Nikon Z50 and a Nikon Z lens adaptor! I was ecstatic. I started jumping around the room in excitement, charged the battery, made some coffee, and as soon as the battery was ready, I headed out for a fun morning of shooting.
I had my Z50 for almost four years and it has become my camera of choice for most still and street shooting situations. Last weekend, when I accidentally dropped it from a height and saw it shatter on the rocks below, I was heartbroken. After much consideration about what to buy as a replacement, I decided to… well, I decided to buy another Nikon Z50. And the reasoning behind this decision is the subject of this blog post.
Below are my reasons I bought the Z50 again.
Price
Everyone likes a brand new expensive toy full with bells and whistles but, quite frankly, you don’t need to spend $5,000 in a camera to enjoy photography. Unless you are shooting for the industry, in which case it’s your duty to show up with high end equipment, any SLR camera these days will produce exceptional photographs. I have a small photography business licensing images and selling prints, and I have never spent more than 1,000 on a camera.
Below are the approximate prices of cameras in the Z-line. Of course, the priciest cameras have more megapixels and more bells and whistles. Of those listed, the Z50 has a cropped frame, whereas the rest of the models (Nikon Z5, Z6 II, Z7 II, Z8, and Z9) are full-frame (FX) cameras.
Nikon Z50: $850; Nikon Z5: $1,400; Nikon Z6 II: $2,000; Nikon Z7 II: $3,000; Nikon Z8: $4,000; Nikon Z9: $5,500
Nikon offers two other cropped frame mirrorless, the Z30 and the Zfc, at equivalent prince points. I have not evaluated those cameras in depth and will not try to convince anyone that the Z50 is better than either. If you like a vintage look on your camera body, however, go for the Zfc. If ergonomics is favored, go for the Z50.
If you are not familiar with the differences between cropped and full frame cameras, Adobe has a good explanation.
Portability: Travel Light, Shoot Smart
One of the key factors that make the Nikon Z50 ideal for travel is its portability. Weighing just 395 grams (without the lens), it’s significantly lighter than most DSLRs and other mirrorless cameras. For comparison, the lowest end full frame Z-camera, the Z5, weights 675 g.
Discreteness: Capture Candid Moments with Ease
Travel, streets and event photography involves capturing candid moments and authentic experiences without drawing attention to yourself. The Nikon Z50’s discreet design is perfect for this. Its compact body doesn’t scream “professional camera,” allowing you to blend into the crowd and take photos without disturbing the scene.
The compact size of the Z50 also means that it easily fits into a purse, a small bag, or even large pockets, making it convenient to carry around discretely. In places where it is not too safe to hang out flashing an expensive camera, like San Francisco in CA (near where I live), or Rio de Janeiro (which I visit often), the Z50 allows me to shoot without calling much attention to myself, then clear the scene after putting the camera back into my purse.
Quality of the Kit Lens: Versatility and Excellence
The Nikon Z50 typically comes with the NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR lens as part of its kit. This lens is a game-changer for travel and casual photographers, offering a versatile zoom range that covers most shooting scenarios. Here’s what makes it exceptional:
- Wide to Standard Zoom Range: The 16-50mm focal length range (equivalent to 24-75mm on a full-frame camera) allows you to capture everything from wide landscapes to standard portraits. This versatility means you can travel with just one lens and still cover a wide range of photographic needs.
- Compact and Lightweight: Despite its zoom capabilities, the kit lens is impressively compact and lightweight, perfectly complementing the Z50’s portable design. Its retractable mechanism further reduces its size when not in use, making it easy to pack away.
- High Optical Quality: I’ve owned my share of crappy kit lenses, but this Kit lens delivers sharp, high-contrast images with minimal distortion, thanks to its advanced optical design. Although it does NOT deliver the same level of detail as a Z-lens prime, it is satisfactorily sharp, particularly around the edges (where other crappy zoom lenses tend to fail). This ensures that travel photos are crisp and vibrant, capturing the true essence of places. Furthermore, VERY SHARP IS NOT ALWAYS BETTER. This lens is great for family portraits, because it does not show every pore, hair, or skin blemish in great detail. People love it because this lens makes them look a bit younger.
Additional Features: Enhancing Your Travel Experience
The Nikon Z50 is packed with features that make it an excellent travel companion beyond just its portability and lens quality:
- Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth: These connectivity options make it easy to transfer photos to your smartphone for quick sharing on social media or with friends and family.
- 4K UHD Video: Capture your travel memories in stunning 4K resolution, with various frame rates to suit different shooting styles.
- Excellent Ergonomics: Despite its small size, the Z50 boasts a comfortable grip and intuitive controls, making it easy to use even during extended shooting sessions.
- Weather Sealing: The Z50’s durable construction offers some resistance to dust and moisture, giving you peace of mind when shooting in different environments.
- When paired with a Z prime lens, the Z50 delivers detailed, great quality images.
Where would I not take the Z50
Although the Z50 is a powerful camera for regular still photography, and I have taken about 1/3 of my portfolio (including my stock portfolio) with it, this is NOT a camera intended to shoot for the industry. The 21 megapixels may not be enough for professional photo shoots. It is also not a good camera to shoot wildlife, sports, or events such as moving parades, musicians in action, or anything that would be better served with AF tracking. For that I would take the Z8 or Z9, which have greater AF tracking capabilities, more megapixels and more bells and whistles.
Conclusion
The Nikon Z50 combines lightweight (395g) portability, discreteness, and high-quality performance, making it an ideal still photography and travel camera for photographers. Its lightweight design ensures you can carry it effortlessly, while the discreet appearance allows for candid and natural shots. The versatile kit lens enhances its usability, ensuring you’re prepared for a variety of shooting situations. With the Z50 and the kit lens in your bag, you’ll be ready to capture the world, one beautiful moment at a time.
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Wall Art landscapes and miscellaneous
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It is all about the light 
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