Nikon Z50 II: Z9 Features in a Tiny 1K Camera Body!

[@Austographer]

If you're looking for a camera in that price range x3

[@Spagel69]

Was genuinely wondering if we were being trolled ha

[@RichardFraser-y9t]

If you are looking for a camera in that price range...

[@rhalfik]

@@RichardFraser-y9t Still looking for a camera in that price range?

[@SingleTrack66]

You can say that again

[@eburneentertainment9903]

@@RichardFraser-y9t If you are looking for a camera in that price range

[@Sainty-0]

As a bird photographer, the tracking of the bird as it walks behind trees and foliage at 5:01 is way more impressive than anything else in this video. The number of shots I've lost because my camera front focussed on a stray leaf or something is unbelievable.

[@alphaandomega2709]

Wait till you try Sony or Canon, won’t go back to Nikon.

[@Sainty-0]

@@alphaandomega2709 I'm already on Sony.

[@Sainty-0]

@@alphaandomega2709 I'm already on Sony.

[@loboptlu]

@my canon r7 front focus on anything and everything except what i want in focus and having tried a loaner r6 and r5 to compare i say with absolute certainty that canons af is totally overrated.

[@natedagreat90]

​@@alphaandomega2709 shoo fan boy shoo

[@chetanmall1816]

Please upload often. We miss you from the old days. Thank you for your contribution so far

[@chuawee]

This video really made me wonder if I'm looking for a camera in that price range.

[@starbase218]

I feel there's potentially a lot of demand for this camera. If there were more lenses for it, like an f/2.8 standard zoom.

[@jozosaravanja1626]

​@@starbase218agreed. Nikon is slow putting out DX lenses. But there's plenty of third party ones. And tamron is putting our more and more of their lenses for z mount.

[@k3n12ock]

Nikon definitely told these reviewers to say its a "tiny z6iii" because ive seen a few reviews saying that already ...

[@alexanderkapsiotis8050]

In reality, it is worse than a pocket 3 for video!

[@AnonWalrus]

The bird photo with the whole flock as leaves of a tree goes hard.

[@Ben_Stewart]

I loved the Z50 when I had it. I actually sold it almost 2 years ago in anticipation of the mark 2 but it has taken this long. I might still bite on this lightweight powerhouse even though I have Z8 and Z6iii.

[@bradtrounson]

Wow, there’s a lot about this camera that makes it feel geared toward entry-level. Max shutter speed of 1/4000, a single SD card slot (no CFexpress Type B), and no sub-selector for focus, even with some Z9 features carried over. Plus, the battery life is typical of mirrorless, with the EVF draining power continuously. It even has an in-built flash. I get that the price reflects these compromises, but when you think about it, the D500 wasn’t that much more in today’s terms-and it still a beast of a APS-C camera for still photography, particularly in wildlife and sports. Although Nikon no longer sells the D500 they sure haven't come up with a replacement for it either.

[@angeloplayforone]

Yes, still no replacement for the D500 top of the line APS-C. I have a feeling that Nikon will not release such a camera anymore.

[@BlackwolfS359]

"The D500 wasn't much more" The D500 cost $2000 body only when it was released in 2016, adjusted for inflation that's around $2600 body only. The Z50 is around $900 body only...

[@bradtrounson]

@@BlackwolfS359 Interestingly, in Australia I bought the D500 for around $2000 AUD new (was normally approx 2500). This was around 3-4 years ago. The Z50ii body is approx $1500 AUD.

[@b.2221]

Thank you for sharing this with us all Sir.

[@villLe]

Looks compelling for the price. AF looks great for birds and the built-in flash is underrated.

[@bsc001]

Cheers for the review, Kai, appreciated. Good to see you’re still active.

[@vacuumandgaspressurecoexisting]

But can it run Crysis?

[@yourtallness]

That 400mm is taking a beating 😱

[@ruchirsrivastava4828]

Thanks for the video, this is the combo I'm looking for. Wondering how well balanced (handling wise) is the 400mm F4.5 + z50ii as z50ii isn't really that much heavy.

[@gelade]

I do remember his random seagull test shots lol

[@EricLouisYoung]

the market wants a z30 II, with ibis, and with modern things like open gate, real time lut(and lut stacking), usb UVC(webcam), and vertical video awareness. nikon, you'd sell millions of these, and everything I mentioned is trivial to implement.

[@Bayonet1809]

This Z50II has USB UVC. That is one of the new features over the Z50.

[@GrainOnTheGo]

I imagine this camera is a last shot to make DX lenses worthwhile, and imagining they do then yea a Z30ii should happen.

[@boryslo]

Who needs an IBIS if you can use a gimbal for serious video content creation ?

[@adrianvanleeuwen]

Rotate the screen before inserting the headphone jack and you are fine. Like the tally light. For $900 USD for body you get a lot of camera with updated faster processor.

[@steevewhitehead1416]

I have a question for the person reviewing the Nikon Z50 mark 2 camera. I am trying to find out whether this camera works well on F to Z adapted lenses, particularly, Sigma 150 to 600mm F mount, Sigma 100 to 400mm F mount, Sigma 18 to 35 mm F mount apsc. Also EF to Z adaptor with autofocus, so I can add my canon EF glass to my Nikon set up?

[@ThierryWasserman]

What's that thing on his sleeve?

[@SuicideNeil]

The lens cap, attached to a holder that you can mount to clothing, bags, straps etc etc.

[@johnwalker1474]

It’s the emblem for C P Company which is the brand of jacket he’s wearing.

[@STANDRDUSER]

2:01 Kai, that mic didn’t look like a mic at first glance, it initially looked a lot like a toy for alone time. 🤣

[@robert_may]

Ah yes, the reveal we all expected: Kai is secretly a birding enthusiast. Interesting camera and a great price, shame there's a bit of a lack of good crop sensor lens options on Z mount currently. I wonder if we'll get a high-end crop-sensor camera at some point 🤔

[@SingleTrack66]

As Mat said, there are plenty of great FX lenses with VR that will happily work on the apsc cameras.

[@robert_may]

@@SingleTrack66 Yeah just a shame there's few compact crop options. Canon's got the Sigma DC lenses arriving on their mount now, feels a bit weird that Nikon is missing out on that.

[@NicMediaDesign]

Did you release it at the wrong time of day? It is 5am in central Europe and 11pm on the east coast of the US.

[@DigitizedChaos]

Nah, I think the "embargo" has just been lifted, a bunch of camera-centric KZbinrs released it at the same time.

[@cjcog37]

My anxiety as he rests the 400mm lens on the ledge..

[@littlfire]

I enjoyed the review Kai 03:18 LOL , Could you review SAMYANG Remaster Slim lenses?

[@keima1110]

They didn't fly you to japan?

[@ScottJWaldron]

In this sorta price range Nikon should have tried to add more value so people will give them a chance. It feels like a short time gap refresh to the camera, which is fine, but it's been 5 years. Not saying the other camera makers are doing much better. Sony has been tragically slow at updating their APS-C lineup too. In my area Nikon's retail presence has dropped a lot. We lost the one local camera store and Best Buy barely has any Nikon gear on display. Target and Walmart stopped carrying them around here.

[@George182Stuff]

It's a good upgrade from my old D7500? Worth it?

[@NFradamantyz]

Where are the photos in this camera preview? xD?

[@RichardFraser-y9t]

Well, that's been a long time coming ...

[@ghalibsworld]

No touch screen???

[@tonyferrell3456]

According to the Nikon web page it does have a touch screen.

[@ghalibsworld]

@@tonyferrell3456 Yes but only for autofocus.

[@8806gavin]

Nikon needs to rethink their flip screens. The Z( style is still their best for photographers but if they really want to cater to the video crowd then they need to adapt the hybrid style that Sony has been using that gives you the best of both worlds.

[@WizardOfCheese]

good to see you're still around on youtube. i had so much fun watching your reviews (a decade ago) when you were with that HK company

[@mareius]

This fine difference between an anemic face color and a sunburn. 🥵

[@stevenyu5680]

Wouls this be comparable to sony a6700?

[@Juwellz18]

I might get this instead of a full frame Z body

[@JoeMaranophotography]

Good to see APSC still being treated like the ginger step child so it's still m43 if you want crop sensor.

[@simonmaduxx6777]

But nobody wants m43 either.

[@JoeMaranophotography]

@simonmaduxx6777 I would beg to differ. It's really rather popular for outdoors and travel photography/videography.

[@SMGJohn]

@@simonmaduxx6777 60% of Japanese TV and movies are shot on m43 LOL

[@simonmaduxx6777]

@SMGJohn I'm very sure this isn't true and it doesn't matter anyway. You can try to mix in industrial uses but we are consumers. If you represent a film production studio then you're having different conversations. Here's the thing though it's not the same thing. If you want to use a 2X crop factor and lack of support from The Big Three camera manufacturers in run with that, and die on that hill, then you do that. Everybody else knows that it is absolutely worthless because nobody wants those as consumer products. If m43 was so amazing then all the journalists would be using it also right? But they're not because nobody wants it. Literally it doesn't sell so that tells you nobody wants it. That being said you can like if not love m43 that's up to you. But as a consumer segment it is dead dead dead dead dead and it doesn't stack up well against aspc competition anyway

[@JoeMaranophotography]

@@simonmaduxx6777 It stacks up better than most APSC cameras LOL dynamic range and low light performance.

[@replaygoplay7919]

9:40 you've repeated the same sentence 3 times

[@abfutrell]

Does it have IBIS?

[@Relativity_Space-SFS]

no

[@vampirolepis]

No ibis and the same huge crops in video modes above 4k30p.

[@RichardFraser-y9t]

No IBIS?

[@anoopmohanan3944]

No ibis

[@johnbunani1341]

3:20 My Chemical Ro-Kai

[@drdr.8282]

Need Z90!

[@SAMSONAKINYEMIAKOREDE]

how much Nikon camera

[@northofbrandon]

Why not show the video in 10 bit or graded log with new RED Luts???

[@RudiZimmerer]

The Nikon Z50 was missing a good Auto-focus system, I hated that the Single-focus was changed by the shutter and that you could not easily move the focus point, that the Contiguously focus was so bad... And now everything is perfect with the Nikon Z50II, even you get a full articulating Display.... You can move the focus point with the finger on the display when looking through the EVF and you can adjust that the shutter doesn't change the focus, and the Automatic Focus (combines single focus with cont. Focus) mode is the best, here I can choose Group focus points, the face detection is working and even adjust for the best exposure... Honesty is what get you more for the money. Disadvantages until today Lightroom and DXO can not process the Raw files... We have to wait... Endless video and $K with 60frames per second... What you want more?

[@EricLouisYoung]

increasing the size that much and not getting ibis is ridiculous

[@StillAliveAndKicking_]

It would be even bigger with IBIS, quite a bit bigger, and heavier.

[@OllieOtterOxen]

​@@StillAliveAndKicking_fujifilm isn't that big and has ibis

[@StillAliveAndKicking_]

@ This isn’t Fujifilm, the Z50 II would be noticeably bigger if you added IBIS.

[@UncleIroh.]

I've been waiting

[@StillAliveAndKicking_]

You don’t want to whack a jack. Especially if you are chasing duck backsides.

[@NCSTalkid]

They should add ibis and ws with price increase 200 bucks at least?

[@davidsentanu7836]

Zfc II when?

[@oyxogphd69]

shutter speed edge 1/4000? crap if so. How to shoot on a sunny day at f1.2

[@mountainpandabear]

just buy a nd filter

[@razorimages]

yeah.... but no IBIS !!! i wonder if i'm going to buy it as a spare camera for birding. I don't think it's worth it (unless you're shooting at 1/1250...)

[@smileinurhand]

I have been a fan of Nikon until have the Sony a7Riii. I was expecting more updates in Z50ii. But it is a very old sensor & without IBIS 👎. There are nothing improvement in dynamic range.

[@JuanSanchez-zz3me]

It's already at the top of the dynamic range heap though? It's on par with the R7 in terms of DR. It's also not an R7 competitor. It's an R10 competitor

[@smileinurhand]

@@JuanSanchez-zz3me Really it agint Sony R10 !! The six years old sensor without IBIS?

[@JuanSanchez-zz3me]

@@smileinurhand the Sony r10? Did you mean the canon R10? And yes, because the R10 also doesn't have ibis. And if you take a look at photons to photos, you would see that the Z50 sensor is dead even in performance with the canon apsc mirrorless cameras, from r50 to R7. The difference between the R10 and Z50ii being that the Z50ii is weather sealed, and is 70 less than r10 msrp

[@762joe]

sad that even this time Nikon did not insert an image stabiliser in the camera. Also did not improve the battery life and the megapixels Very dissapointed

[@yerbolyespol]

Kai, good to see your review. Is the focusing speed and accuracy on z50ii better than on the first version of z50?

[@robertluxamafreethinker]

Great video review! I don't know! But it seems the Fuji X-M5 is the new king of "Best bang for buck" in this sub $1000 USD market price range, and it's really difficult to beat for now for other brands!

[@Janihonkalaxx]

No its not😂😂😂 that is only stupid fuji fanboy comment😂🤷‍♂️ 😂😂👎👎👎

[@mareius]

@@robertluxamafreethinker yes. Fuji as a better non grip non IBIS option with the M5 and a better plus grip and plus IBIS and not really more expensive option with the XS Series… and really nice colors… the autofocus might be inferior though

[@robertluxamafreethinker]

It seems in this sub-$1000 price range market, no brands offer IBIS (just digital, and with a massive crop), no brand offers a good grip (a tiny thing, just something to fight with, to make it work), and all the brands offer "something" from their best they known for to show off a little bit (Sony & Canon: Autofocus & just standard specs, like the EOS R10 and ZVE10 II; and Fujifilm: Color science, retro design, and great video specs, and 6K open gate and B-Raw, like the X-M5). But, until Lumix comes with something (the last hope), but something that can break this pattern somehow, like Fujifilm did with the X-M5, but with Lumix IBIS (known for being the best), its new AF system, and very good video specs like, with maybe an update version of the Lumix G and Lumix GX series, that is maybe the last hope for this market segmentation. But, until now, all the brands just offer a taste of what they known for to just prove their recipes, but nothing noticeable.

[@aengusmacnaughton1375]

Is it my imagination, or does Kai need a haircut????

[@JojoJoget]

Its none of those because they are still using the old sensor

[@stephanweiskorn6760]

Buy instead a Fujifilm XT30ii or xs10 with IBIS. Less money and better. Also loads excellent of ASP-C Fujifilm and third party lens lens. Nikon has not made new DX lenses for ages. Sigma has no DX Nikon lens. It's a dead end road for Nikon users 😮.

[@paintspirationsunlimited]

Woa. Hold it there. If you have never tried an expeed 7 processor body like a z6iii or z8, Fujifilm is still frustrating in terms of subject and AF locking. Z50 is a compelling camera. In due time z system will adopt sigma lenses. In the mean time there are others like tamron and viltrox who have wonderful 27mm, 75mm, 50mm, 13mm f1.4 primes. Until fuji can get their AF atleast working I'll get this over any fuji dx body

[@angeloplayforone]

@@paintspirationsunlimitedHe is talking Xs10 pricesegment cameras and you compare it with Z8 price level cameras. People who buys in this price ranges don’t need complex Continous AF. The Fuji AF in XS10 is sufficient for them. Besides that you have a great range of native lenses and an IBIS. When you go IBIS you gone not go back.

[@marcusbraun8889]

Sigma has three Z Dx primes.

[@veeaa]

X-S10 autofocus sucks. I had it and went Z50 instead. A used X-S20 is only slightly more expensive than the Z50II and it DESTROYS the Z50II on paper, but I pulled the trigger on Z50II regardless, because I just won't deal with that AF mess again.

[@kingghidorah8106]

sony should learn from this

[@RobustArid379]

[@mrdarryljones1]

Yup.👍🏽

[@cassiacries]

Hey nikon I wanted ibis!

[@MattMurddock]

Pls don't cry, Cassia😕

[@carlosandreviana9448]

No ibis no thank you.

[@GrandHuevotes]

Why does Kai say “Kah-ruh”? I’d like to hear him, just one time, fully and slowly say the word camera lol

[@jasonf.s]

woa

[@shuttersounds__jpg]

I was so excited for this camera but came away from this video very let down by Nikon to say the least. No updated sensor 🤷🏻‍♂️🙄, the mode dial wasn’t replaced by a top screen and they added a useless picture control button for a useless piece of software that no one uses seriously, if you’re going to do that atleast be like Fujifilm and have the recipes already in camera. Yes it has better video with internal 10 bit but it honestly looks super underwhelming aince they’re still using a decade old 21mp sensor 😐. People that have the Z50 weren’t waiting for an incremental upgrade they were expecting something more like the Xpro or XT line of cameras from Fujifilm. I have and iPhone 15 Pro Max and there have been some instances where i take a photo with my phone and upload it to lightroom and forget i took it with my phone and think i took it with me Z50 (i have really good expensive glass btw). This is not going to pull people away from their phones when they see how underwhelming it is and then just but a proper apsc camera like a Fujifilm.

[@АнтонБруев-в4к]

engaged

[@shang-hsienyang1284]

More like a Z51

[@WOZCINEMA]

Price???

[@davidsentanu7836]

Yes.

[@NFradamantyz]

yes

[@vampirolepis]

$906 body only on NikonUSA

[@busydadscooking001]

by default this camera seems to make things look dark! moody, extra contrasty, lot of blacks. when you switched it was super noticeable. seen in other examples floating out there too. not a fan - i had a canon like this once - you can obviously fix but fixing the default look is annoying ..

[@macbaar6073]

sports!!!!

[@cynthiamomokoharper8100]

Looking very young and very very handsome. Like the new haircut.😘

[@Zeddicus65]

I'd buy one if it had at least 30 mpixels. I just don't want the same amount of pixels as my 7 year old camera. Plus it's only 4 fps quicker... I think I'm done with Nikon

[@simonmaduxx6777]

Just a sensor alone makes this an absolute non-starter. 20 megapixel what 6-7 + year old sensor or something They lost the plot.. and these ASPC cameras are not small enough. Fuji is the only ones doing this right. Ironically Cannon makes them so small they're handling goes out the window. And they make sure to slap old sensors on there also. This whole thing of graduating to full frame by limiting choices for crop sensors is just ridiculous now.

[@bsc001]

I mean, Sony A1 II is using the same old original A1 sensor. Nothing wrong with that, if it’s a good sensor. The old D500 sensor repurposed here is a great sensor, I,ho, one of the best, if not the best, ASPC sensor.

[@simonmaduxx6777]

@bsc001 I'm sorry everything doesn't equate so simply. That sony sensor is not a 20mp aspc. My 5d3 that I used for a decade still makes amazing pictures, with a look that I like better than the current r62 that I am selling just because of that. Fact of the matter is that a 20 megapixel sensor that's like 6 years old is a very tough sell. With Canon we are used to them extending crop sensor tech for a decade or so because they're just lazy like that. But that doesn't mean that Nikon should be doing it. The worst part comes down to the consumer itself, you're not going to get excited for some ancient sensor that's only 20 MP when the average has been 24 or 25 for the last 5 years.

[@bsc001]

@@simonmaduxx6777 Fair points, the market will tell if it is a success or failure. At least from my POV, this will be a wonderful addition for my wife to compliment her current D500. She knows the camera very well, especially regarding exposure, and the Z50II will be very easy for her to adjust to. This sensor is something special, and personally, between it and the 24MP FX sensor used in the z6/zf, they are my favourites. YMMV, hopefully there;s something out there that satisfy your needs ;)

[@murthybhai]

underwhelming for video, but otherwise looks fine

[@AvonNabors]

another banger

[@ashiish4739]

I was waitng for the upgrade but This is the useless camera for upgrade from z50. Its good for first time buyers only. I was expecting the atleast ibis and duel card like canon r7. Nikon you disappointed me.

[@danysunify]

No Touch buttons, faster AF, Flip Screen.. I like it ;) No IBIS.. yes, but probably would have made it more expensive. Dual card.. hmm, do you need that in this price range? I think some people are waiting for a higher end APS-C from Nikon (that existed in the past). But why not going full frame then..

[@ashiish4739]

@danysunify your are right I am a aps-c user don't need full frame at all happy with aps-c camera. So waiting for the flagship aps-c from Nikon like canon and Fujifilm did. Let's see what happened. I will not upgrade for faster AF, flip screen UHS ii card etc. I don't need these things Z50 works better for me till then Nikon next launch. I only need Ibis bcz I do video works so waiting Nikon to make a camere like canon R7 will pay more bucks if they fulfill it. Thakns a lot.

[@VantaBlackhole]

For the same price?

[@JuanSanchez-zz3me]

This isn't an R7 competitor. It's an R10 competitor. It's 900 new. The R10 MSRP is 979, and is currently 879. It's not a camera for you, but that doesn't mean it's useless

[@MB-dq2gz]

​@@ashiish4739sounds like you're describing a D500 when they provide that for $1,400 you will complain about the price then buy a Z5 or Z5II

[@veeaa]

Sorry Kai, but the battery life is like 100 shots less on the Mk II despite the bigger battery. Yes, 100 less even compared to the miserable battery life of Mk I.

[@Old-School-Liberal]

You’re nothing more than a sales guy doing commercials.

[@KonicaHexanon]

0:24 Cringe🙈

[@budthecyborg4575]

This is really disappointing when you can get the R7 for just a few hundred dollars more (top spec IBIS, top spec AF, twice the battery life, dual card slots, the R7 is actually a professional body and and an amazing value).

[@bsc001]

If that’s the type of body you’re after, then the R7 will suit your needs better. This one is an entry-level camera, I doubt anything from Sony or Canon will offer anything better at this price-point. I stand to be corrected.

[@AKB50dayo]

Long awaited bird recognition mode　　 \(^o^)/　😍🐦🐦🐦😍

[@xcrack6364]

Not all that impressive really.

[@umadyasserhakim8911]

If anybody have that much money maybe they will more likely find z6 or z5 on ebay

[@angeloplayforone]

Does the Z5 and Z6 has 3D AF with birds, animal subject detection? Does they have 10 bit video with fully articulated screen?

[@umadyasserhakim8911]

@angeloplayforone nobody does that with beginners camera, place your self as an amateur that buy camera for the first time and learn about photography. If they wanna 3D AF or animal / subject detection for professional they will not looking for this camera

[@umadyasserhakim8911]

@angeloplayforone nobody does that with beginners camera, place your self as an amateur that buy camera for the first time and learn about photography. If they wanna 3D AF or animal / subject detection for professional they will not looking for this camera

[@alphaandomega2709]

Sony or Canon have better autofocus.

[@Tvojangel2000]

хрень какая-то, а не камера, нет стаба, 20мп в эру нейронок просто смешно. Чем больше МПикселей тем лучше нейронки давят шум. Вдобавок ко всему на Z-байонет нет нормальной оптики для кропа. Где 16-80mm f2.8-4 для Z? Если уж брать кроп, то либо сони, либо фуджи. Кроп на z-байонете мертворождённый

[@Cestariarts]

Meh, still a Nikon

[@landyshserebristyy2493]

Nikon is already ten years late, in fact all manufacturers in Japan have no competitors, they can produce crap.