Big test
PERFORMANCE: ISO The Z 50II’s APS-C sensor showed itself to be very capable despite its age. This set of ISO images was shot with a tripod-mounted Z 50II fitted with the Z 26mm f/2.8 prime lens. The base ISO 100 exposure was 1/1.6sec at f/13 with all in- camera noise reduction turned off, and the Raws processed through Nikon’s NX Studio software. Images looked clean and noise-free up to ISO 800 and were still very acceptable at ISO 1600. By the time we get to ISO 2500, grain became more noticeable but wasn’t overly distracting until ISO 4000, where image quality
SPECS › Prices £849 Z 50II body only, £999 with 16-50mm VR lens, £1199 with 16-50mm VR and 50-250mm VR kit, £1219 with 18-140mm VR kit › In the box Z 50II, body cap, USB-C cable, strap, EN-EL25a battery › Resolution 20.9 megapixels › Sensor APS-C DX format CMOS sensor 23.5x15.7mm, 5568x3712 pixels › Image processor Expeed 7 › Image formats 14-bit Raw, JPEG, HEIF › Storage media Accepts 1x SD UHS-II card › ISO range Native ISO range 100- 51,200, expansion to ISO 204,800 equivalent › Shutter Mechanical/electronic front curtain, electronic 30secs to 1/4000sec, extendible to 900secs in M, B, T. Flash sync at 1/200sec or 1/250sec, up to 1/4000sec with FP high-speed sync › Exposure system PASM modes. Matrix, centre-weighted, spot, highlight-weighted. 16 scene modes, +/-5EV exposure compensation › Monitor 3.2in vari-angle screen, 1.04m dots › EVF 1cm with 2.36m dots, 13 brightness levels up to 1000 nits › Focusing Hybrid phase detection/ contrast AF with AF assist. 209 focus points in single-point AF, 231 in auto area AF. Pinpoint (photo only), single point, dynamic area (photo only), wide area, auto area, 3D tracking (photo only), subject tracking AF (video only). Nine subject recognition modes including auto, birds, human, cats/dogs › Drive modes Up to 15 and 30fps (JPEGs only) with electronic shutter, up to 11fps mechanical shutter, up to 15fps in silent mode › Pre-release Yes, up to one second › Video MOV, MP4, 3840x2160 (4K UHD): 60p/50p/30p/25p/24p, 1920x1080: 120p/100p/60p/50p/30p/25p/24p, 1920x1080 slow motion: 30p (x4)/25p (x4)/24p (x5) › Video compression H.265/HEVC (8-bit/10-bit), H.264/AVC (8-bit) › Picture Control system Auto, Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Flat Monochrome, Deep Tone Monochrome, Portrait, Rich Tone Portrait, Landscape, Flat, Standard, Monochrome and Flat when HLG used. Creative Picture Controls: Dream, Morning, Pop, Sunday, Somber, Dramatic, Silence, Bleached, Melancholic, Pure, Denim, Toy, Sepia, Blue, Red, Pink, Charcoal, Graphite, Binary, Carbon. The selected Picture Control can be modified › Integral flash Yes, GN 7m (ISO 100) › Battery One EN-EL25a for 250 shots, EN-EL25 can be used › Connectivity HDMI Type D, USB-C, 3.5mm headphone and microphone mini jacks, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth › Other key features Vignette control, multiple exposure, flicker reduction, auto distortion control, diffraction compensation, focus shift, interval timer, portrait impression balance, time-lapse video recording, electronic vibration reduction, recording lamp, N-Log and HDR (HLG) video › Dimensions (wxhxd) 127x96.8x66.5mm › Body weight 550g with battery and SD card
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remained good with fine detail still looking crisp. Digital noise only becomes a serious issue if you venture to ISO 6400 and beyond, but with the latest denoising options available – even at sky-high ISO speeds – the APS-C format Z 50II proved to be a fine high-ISO performer. For comparison’s sake, I shot the same scene with the Z 50. Both cameras may have the same sensor, but the Z 50II’s updated processing system delivers better digital noise performance, as can be seen in the ISO 1600 and ISO 3200 samples here.
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practical than others, users can tinker with various parameters, allowing for personalised settings. Scrolling through the full list of options is slow – arranging them in alphabetical order would have been helpful. However, you can cherry- pick your favourites, reducing the list to as few as two: A (auto) and another you use regularly, saving time when navigating. As with other picture modes, Nikon’s Picture Control modes apply to JPEGs only. Although, if you shoot Raws (either alone or with JPEGs simultaneously) and use Nikon’s free NX Studio software, the chosen colour setting is embedded. This allows you to fine-tune the effect, pick another mode or opt for normal full colour before exporting as usual. Log onto the Nikon Imaging Cloud, and up to nine image presets can be downloaded, appearing as new Picture Control profiles. A fully articulating monitor is an essential component on any camera with ambitions of being considered a hybrid. A forward-facing monitor makes vlogging a breeze, and the Z 50II offers this feature – a real step up from the Z 50, which only had a tilt monitor.
ISO FAR SO GOOD The Z 50II offers solid ISO performance. The Raw files respond well to highlight and shadow recovery, as demonstrated in this handheld night shot. The exposure was 1/100sec at f/2.8 and ISO 1600, with the Raw file processed through Adobe Lightroom without using AI Denoise
20 Photography News | Issue 120
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