The Nikon Z50 has now been announced along with two new DX Z Mount lenses

The rumours have been coming thick and fast on the Nikon Z50 lately, but now it’s official. Nikon has today announced the new Nikon Z50 DX format mirrorless camera. They’ve also announced two new DX Z Mount lenses along with it, The Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR and the Nikkor Z DX 50-250mm f/4.5-6.3 VR.

The Z50 appears to be more of a D5x00 series continuation than a D7x00 series follow up, although it features a similar (perhaps the same) 20.9-megapixel sensor to that found in the Nikon D500, shoots 11 frames per second stills, 4K UHD video, and supports High Speed Sync flash.

The Nikon Z50 houses a 20.9-megapixel DX sized sensor, the same resolution as that found in the Nikon D500 and D7500 bodies. And like the two aforementioned DSLRs, and unlike its larger sensor Z siblings, it’s not stabilised. But the Z50 does inherit some features from the Z6 and Z7 bodies, namely the autofocus.

Mount	Nikon Z
Format	DX (1.5x APS-C)
Sensor	CMOS
Resolution	5,568 x 3,712
Bit-depth	14-Bit
ISO Range	100-51,200
Mechanical shutter	1/4000 to 30 sec
Flash Sync	1/200, AutoFP High Speed Sync supported
Continuous shooting	11fps
Focus type	Hybrid phase-detection/contrast AF with AF assist
Focus modes	Single-servo AF (AF-S), Continuous-servo AF (AF-C), AF mode auto-switch (AF-A; available only in photo mode), full-time AF (AF-F; available only in movie mode) ; predictive focus tracking, Manual focus (M): Electronic rangefinder can be used
AF points	209 (single-point AF, photo mode, DX image area)
AF sensitivity	-4 to +19 EV ( -2 to +19 EV without low-light AF, single-servo AF, photo mode, ISO 100, f/2.0 lens, 20 °C/68 °F)
Stabilisation	None
Viewfinder	0.99-cm/0.39-in. approx. 2360k-dot (XGA) OLED electronic viewfinder with color balance and auto and 7-level manual brightness controls
LCD	8-cm (3.2–in.) diagonal; Tilting TFT touch-sensitive LCD with 170° viewing angle, approximately 100% frame coverage, and 11-level manual brightness controls; Approx. 1040k-dot
Internal video	H.264/MPEG-4 Advanced Video Coding
External video	4:2:2 8-Bit 4K UHD & 1080p HD
Memory card slots	SD, SDHC (UHS-I compliant), SDXC (UHS-I compliant)
Connectivity	Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Dimensions	Approx. 126.5 x 93.5 x 60 mm (5 x 3.7 x 2.4 in.)
Weight	Approx. 450 g (15.9 oz.) with battery and memory card but without body cap; approx. 395 g/14 oz. (camera body only)

The specs are quite impressive, although it does appear to be more of a D5x00 replacement in Nikon’s lineup, given the 1/4000th max shutter, 1/200th flash sync, and the price, a mere $856.95. By comparison, the regular retail price on the D5600 is $696.95 (although it’s currently seeing a $200 discount) and the D7500 is normally $996.95.

It definitely offers some advantages over the D5x00 series, though. Like the D7500, the Z50 sports an articulating display that only goes up and down, rather than the flippy out LCD of the D5x00 series. The Z50 also supports High Speed Sync flash, which the D5x00 series doesn’t. And it shoots 4K UHD video at up to 30fps and 1080p up to 120fps.

But it falls short of the D7500’s 1/8000th shutter and 1/250th flash sync – speeds also found in the rest of Nikon’s higher-end DSLRs. The Z6 and Z7, though, also only offer a flash sync speed of 1/200th, but they do have a 1/8000th maximum shutter speed. The Z50 also lacks the top LCD found on the D7x00 series bodies.

It’s possible that Nikon has decided to combine both D5x00 and D7x00 series bodies, compromising between the two with the Z50 and is planning to replace both of them with a single product line in their mirrorless lineup. After all, Nikon’s DSLR range was starting to get a little confusing with four different DX format four more full-frame FX product lines – especially when some of them have had several iterations available simultaneously.

Wherever it ends up sitting in Nikon’s mirrorless lineup, it looks like it’ll be a pretty decent camera for the money. My only issue with it is that LCD. Why couldn’t it flip out like the D5x00 series?

Along with the Z50, Nikon announced two new DX format Z Mount lenses. The two new lenses are the Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR and the Nikkor Z DX 50-250mm f/4.5-6.3 VR.

Focal Length	16-50mm (24-75mm 35mm field of view equivalent)
Max aperture	f/3.5-6.3
Mount	Nikon Z
Format	APS-C
Focus Type	Autofocus
Stabilisation	Nikon VR
Filter Diameter	46mm

Focal Length	50-250mm (75-325mm 35mm field of view equivalent)
Max aperture	f/4.5-6.3
Mount	Nikon Z
Format	APS-C
Focus Type	Autofocus
Stabilisation	Nikon VR
Filter Diameter	62mm

These mark the first of Nikon’s Z mount DX format lenses, but they likely won’t be the last. Whether we’ll start to see some higher end DX format lenses like the F Mount 17-55mm f/2.8 remains to be seen. Nikon might just expect people to buy FX format glass even if they’re shooting a DX Format body if they want the good stuff.

The Nikon Z50 is available to pre-order now for $856.95 (body only) and is also available for $996.95 with the 16-50mm lens or $1,346.95 with both of the two new lenses. The lenses will be available to purchase separately if you decide not to go with a package. The Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR is available to pre-order now for $296.95 and the Nikkor Z DX 50-250mm f/4.5-6.3 VR is also available to pre-order now for $346.95.

All items are expected to ship in November.