Nikon Z-Platform Adds APS-C Mirrorless Camera

2019.10.11

Today Nikon introduced an APS-C mirrorless digital camera along with two specifically designed lenses based on their Z system. Launched just last year, the Z system is based around a wide-diameter fully-electronic lens mount. The platform started with a pair of Full-Frame Mirrorless Digital Cameras which are now joined by an APS-C one. Using the same terminology as their DSLR platform, this is referred to as a DX sensor.

The new Nikon Z50 features a 20 megapixels APS-C CMOS sensor with a builtin 209-point Phase-Detect AF system. This sensor offers an ISO 100-51200 sensitivity-range which is expandable to 204,800. It supports a continuous drive speed of 11 FPS and 4K Ultra-HD video capture. The shutter mechanism supports speeds from 1/4000 to 30s, plus Bulb exposures of an unspecified duration.

Notably absent from this new mirrorless is builtin image-stabilization which is present on the Z6 and Z7 full-frame mirrorless cameras. Instead, the Z50 relies on optical image-stabilization inside the two DX lenses launched at the same time. Following their traditional naming, these lenses are labelled VR for Vibration Reduction.

This digital camera slots itself below the more costly full-frame offerings yet clearly remains an advanced model aimed at prosumers. It offers efficient controls with dual control-dials, a traditional mode dial and multiple customizable buttons. The cameras features a built-in 0.39" EVF with 2.4 megapixels. This viewfinder shows 100% coverage and has a magnification of 1.02X relative to the sensor-size which is equivalent to 0.68X on full-frame. The new body has is mid-size with a deep handgrip and weighs in under 400g.

Together with the Z50, Nikon added the new Nikkor DX 16-50mm F/3.5-6.3 VR and Nikkor DX 50-250mm F/4.5-6.3 VR lenses. These highly compact lenses cover an incredible focal-range of 24-75mm plus 75-375mm at just 540g for the both of them combined. With the camera, this is less than one kilogram for an APS-C system!

The DX 16-50mm is a collapsible zoom which folds down to 3.2cm of depth and still manages to include a 4.5-stop optical image-stabilization system. This lens supports 46mm filters but no lens hood. It covers 83 - 31° angle-of-view which is wider than most kit-lenses.

Telephoto coverage is provided by the DX 50-250mm lens. It has a slightly dimmer F/4.5 maximum aperture at the 50mm end and closes down to F/6.3 at the long end, similarly to its wider counterpart. Vibration Reduction in the 50-250mm can compensate for 5-stop of shake. The lens barrel of this one is not collapsible yet remains quite compact. These lenses offer both a zoom and focus ring, although switching between AF and MF is left to the camera body.

The new DX mirrorless camera and lenses are expected to ship next month. The Z50 comes at a retail price of $900 USD or $1170 CAD. It will also come as a single-lens kit or dual-lens kit for $1000 USD or $1400 CAD and $1350 USD or $1880 CAD, respectively.

Follow these product links for full specifications and preordering options:

• Digital Camera
• Lens