Nikon Z50 Is The Maker's First DX-Format Mirrorless Camera

Nikon has expanded its Z Series camera line with the new Z50, the company's first DX-format mirrorless camera. The new model comes with a much lower price tag than the previously launched Nikon Z 6 and Z 7 models. The new Z50 mirrorless camera packs a number of notable features, including the Z mount for compatibility with Nikon's NIKKOR Z DX and Z FX lenses, as well as a large touch display and more.

The Nikon Z50 features the APS-C camera format alongside a 20.9-megapixel CMOS sensor offering a maximum resolution of 5,568 x 3,712 pixels. Users can capture stills in 1:1, 3:2, and 16:9 aspect ratios, as well as video at resolutions ranging up to 4K UHD 3,840 x 2,160 pixels.

Nikon has packed a number of features into this 'budget' shooter, including digital image stabilization for video recording, ISO 100 to 51200, electronic shutter speeds ranging from 1/4000s to 30 seconds, a self-timer, support for interval recording, and continuous shooting at speeds up to 30fps at 8MP and 11fps at full resolution (20.9MP).

Users are able to record videos up to just under half an hour in length in both NTSC and PAL varieties. The camera has a built-in microphone for capturing audio, but there's also an external input for using a third-party microphone. Users have access to both manual and autofocus; there are 209 phase-detection autofocus points, plus autofocus sensitivity ranging from -2 to +19 EV.

Nikon calls the Z50 both compact and lightweight — it measures 4.98 x 3.68 x 2.36-inches and weighs just under 14 ounces. Despite the small size, Nikon equipped this model with a built-in 3.2-inch tilting LCD touchscreen, an OLED electric viewfinder with a 2.3m-dot resolution, and a built-in flash alongside a hot shoe for using external lighting systems.

Unlike its Z 6 and Z 7 siblings, the new Nikon Z50 comes in under four figures at $856 USD (body only). The camera is available to preorder now with shipping scheduled to start in late November.