Nikon Z50 vs D7500: Should You Buy a DSLR or Go Mirrorless?

It seems that mirrorless cameras like the Nikon Z50 are the future of the medium, but DSLRs will still create amazing images, and some of them are dropping in price.

If you’ve been looking at buying a new camera in the past year or two, you’ve almost certainly been confronted with the dilemma: mirrorless or DSLR? And if you’ve been considering the Nikon D7500, the introduction of the Nikon Z50 should bring that issue to the forefront. They’re both excellent cameras, each with its own advantages. There are two main grounds that should decide the issue for you: camera performance, and the viability of the overall system. Let’s start with performance.

The Basics

Before going on, here’s a look at the basic specs of the two cameras, with the major differences highlighted in green where one camera has an obvious advantage.

Nikon Z50Nikon D7500
Price (body)
$856.95$896.95
Price With Kit Lens
$997 with 16-50mm VR$1,196.95
Lens MountZ-MountF-Mount
Viewfinder Type2.36 million dot OLED electronic viewfinderOptical Viewfinder (pentaprism)
Viewfinder Coverage100% Frame
1.02x Magnification
100% Frame
.94x Magnification
Body MaterialMagnesium AlloyPlastic Monocoque Body
Dust/Weather Sealed BodyYesYes
Sensor Resolution20.9 Megapixel20.9 Megapixel
Optical Low Pass Filter
(Reduces sharpness, prevents moire)
NO
(Confirmed 12/16/2019)
NO
ISO Range100 - 51200100 - 51200
Total AF Points20951
AF Light Level Range-2 to +19 EV-3 to +19 EV
Autofocus Fine Tuning
Adjustments
Not NecessaryYES
Shutter Speed Range1/4000th - 30 sec.
+bulb
1/8000th - 30 sec.
+bulb
Max Frame Rate11 fps8 fps
Max RAW Burst
(buffer size)
?50 shots 14-bit compressed
Max JPG Burst
(fine, Large)
?100
Flash Sync Speed1/200th sec.1/250th sec.
Wireless Flash With
Built-in Commander
YesYes
Nikon RADIO Wireless Flash Compatible?YES
Auto FP Flash Mode
(High Speed Sync)
YesYes
Media Slots1 SDXC (UHS-I)1 SDXC (UHS-I)
Quick Access User Modes
(Saved U1, U2 programs)
YESYES
LCD Size3.2"
1,040,000 dots
3.2"
922,000 dots
LCD ArticulatedYESYES
LCD TouchscreenYESYES
BluetoothYES YES
Built-in WiFiYES
(2.4, 5GHz)
YES
Body Weight395g (no battery)
450g (with battery & card)
640g (no battery)
720g (with battery)
Body Size126.5mm x 93.5mm x 60mm135.5mm x 104mm
x 72.5mm
Battery Life300 Shots CIPA Standards
(EN-EL25 Battery)
950 Shots
CIPA Standards
Full Sensor 4K YesNo
Video Resolutions3,840 x 2,160 (4K: 30, 25, 24 fps)
1920 x 1080 (120, 60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps)
1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps)
640 x 424 (30, 25 fps)
3,840 x 2,160 (4K: 30, 25, 24 fps)
1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps)
1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps)
640 x 424 (30, 25 fps)
Headphone JackNoYES
ConnectivityUSB 2.0USB 2.0

The Major Differences

There are two major differences between the cameras that first need to be considered: the lens mount, and the viewfinder.

The “mirrorless” part of the discussion comes from the lack of mirror between the lens and the sensor which normally reflects an image up to the (optical) viewfinder in an SLR1the “R” in SLR stands for “Reflex”, for the reflection of the image up to the viewfinder from a mirror. The mirror allows you to look directly through the lens to compose and focus, but then has to flip up out of the way when you take a picture to allow light to reach the sensor. All of those extra moving parts slow down the camera, introduce vibrations, and increase the risk of camera-failure.

Images by Nikon

With a mirrorless camera like the Nikon Z 50, that mirror is gone. Instead, the light passes through the lens and directly onto the sensor, and the sensor feeds the image to an electronic viewfinder (rather than an optical viewfinder). This also means that the light falling on the sensor is used to focus the lens (while a DSLR uses light reflected from the mirror to focus, and an assumption of how that light will be focused on the sensor when the mirror moves out of the way when the picture is taken).

The electronic viewfinder can give you a very good preview of what your exposure will look like, and it can provide more information than a standard viewfinder, but it does require more battery power.2For more information about the advantages of each type of viewfinder, see my article on the subject, here. Since a mirrorless camera has to constantly power an LCD or OLED monitor, their battery life is often rated at about 1/3rd that of a DSLR. In real use, though, you could get thousands of shots on a single charge if you shot them quickly; the problem comes when you are shooting those shots over a long period of time. If you shoot a lot of long events, you’ll want a battery grip or a couple of spare batteries.

The Nikon Z50 uses the new Nikon Z mount, which is significantly larger than the F mount, and as it is new, there are far fewer lenses made for it (though older lenses can be attached with a Nikon adapter). The larger mount provides the potential for better data transmission between the body and lens and allows for larger maximum apertures (like f/1.2, or even f/0.95) that allow more light to get to the sensor.

It also means that there are only a handful of lenses available for Nikon Z mount right now, and only two specifically designed for DX sensors (though FX lenses can also be used).

The Other Differences

Images by Nikon

Size & Body

Probably the most obvious difference between the cameras will be in their size and weight. Although the Nikon Z50 has a partial magnesium alloy body (like the old D7200) and only looks a bit smaller than the D7500, it weighs about HALF as much (54%, to be precise). This makes the Z50 an excellent camera for travelers, hikers, and street photographers who want to be discreet and lightweight.

Comarison of the magnesium inner frames of the Nikon Z50 and Nikon D7500 cameras
Images by Nikon This illustration shows the magnesium skeleton of the Nikon Z50, which is much more similar to the Nikon D500 than the plastic body of the D7500. The back plate of the Z50 is not metal.

There are also numerous differences in the controls as a result. The Z50 does not have a camera-top LCD screen, and the mode dial has been moved to the right of the viewfinder. However, the dial does retain the U1 and U2 user modes.

Images courtesy of Nikon Back controls the of the Nikon Z50 and D7500

Autofocus

I’ve had a limited amount of time to shoot with the Nikon Z50, but the conditions were good for testing autofocus (ie, poor lighting), and I was favorably impressed with how it performed, though I was not allowed to insert an SD card or keep any images.

Nikon AF Point diagram
Matthew Gore | Light And Matter The Nikon D7500 AF points.

The Nikon Z50 has more than four times the number of autofocus points as the D7500, and they cover a larger portion of the viewfinder3Keep in mind that not all AF points are created equal: many of the D7500’s points are cross-type, which means that they’ll focus on horizontal OR vertical lines (non cross-type points will focus on one or the other). See my video on cross-type points for more info. Of course, even if we count each of the D7500’s as two points, the Z50 has twice as many.. Another advantage of a mirrorless autofocus system is that implementation of eye-detection and subject tracking is much easier4Currently, the Canon 90D is the only DSLR with eye detection, as far as I know. Face and eye-AF is available on the Z50 (but not the D7500), dramatically improving your chances of getting sharp focus on your subject’s eyes.

Nikon Z50 Eye AF Simulation
Matthew Gore | Light And Matter The electronic viewfinder of the Nikon Z50 will track the eye or face of a subject, showing the focus point with a yellow box overlay (simulated here; actually shot on Sony a6600). The triangle next to the yellow box indicates that focus can be switched to the other eye, if desired.

Nikon’s eye detection AF is implemented somewhat differently than Sony’s; in a Sony camera, when you focus the camera (either using the back button or by pressing the shutter button halfway down), the camera starts detecting and tracking the eyes of your subject. On the Nikon, though, as you’re looking through the viewfinder, the camera begins tracking the eyes, but if you press the shutter button halfway, it locks focus at that particular point in the frame, whether or not the eye remains there.

That said, Nikon users will be familiar with the fast, accurate AF performance of their DSLRs like the D7500. Focus is reliable and unquestionably suitable for professional use, even without eye detection.

Speed For Action Photography

While the Z50 is small, it packs a punch, shooting 11 frames per second with autofocus tracking (matching the Sony a6400), besting the action-oriented D7500 by 3 frames per second.

Matthew Gore | Light And Matter

That said, the shutter speed range of the Z50 only extends to 1/4000th second, while the D7500 reaches 1/8000th. Only the most dedicated action photographers will care, though; even 1/1000th sec. is enough to stop the action in most sports. The minor-league baseball shots above were all captured at 1/2000th of a second (with a Sony camera).

Image Quality for Portraits and Landscapes

Image Courtesy of Nikon

Both cameras house a 20.9 megapixel sensor, so RAW shooters should get virtually identical image quality and color. However, the sensors are not identical; the Z50′s sensor includes phase-detection autofocus pixels.

I’ve just finally confirmed5As of (12/16/2019), I’ve updated this article to reflect the fact that the Z50’s sensor has no OLPF; the previous version stated that it might have one and consequently not be as sharp as the D7500. That is not true. that the Z50’s sensor also does not have an optical low-pass filter (OLPF), so it’s the same as the D7500 in that regard, and should be equally sharp.

Video

First: I’m a photographer, and hardly shoot video at all. I recommend that you look elsewhere for a full review if video is one of your main concerns for these cameras. That said…

However, the Nikon Z50 has some very clear advantages when it comes to video. While the Z50 shoots 4K video with the full sensor, the D7500 crops to the central 8 megapixels of the frame, making it very difficult to shoot wide angle.

Nikon D500 4K video area crop
Matthew Gore | Light And Matter 4K Recording Area: The central rectangle is the only recording area available when shooting at 4K resolution with the Nikon D7500 (the 1.3x area is available with some cameras). The Nikon Z50 uses the full frame to record 4K.

Perhaps more importantly, though, is that the D7500 has seriously limited autofocus functionality when shooting video. The D7500 relies on the slow, old system of contrast detection (which requires the sensor to focus slowly to the focal plane, then focus past it, and then return to the point with the best contrast; this is a separate system from the phase detection AF system that it uses for photography, which is excellent, but relies on the mirror to operate.

The Z 50, on the other hand, uses the same phase detection autofocus system to focus photographs and video, which is fast and reliable.

The Overall Systems

Currently, the Nikon Z system is only about a year old, and although older lenses are compatible with adapters, that’s a hassle that not everyone wants to deal with (even if there really is no performance loss with the adapter, which is doubtful), and the lens choices for Nikon Z are still limited.

Image Courtesy of Nikon The Nikon Z system as it stood a few months ago, with only two bodies and a few lenses. The backdrop is made of F-mount lenses.

However, the Nikon Z system is the company’s future. Though they say that they’ll continue to develop DSLRs along side their mirrorless cameras, it’s clear that their focus will be on the Z system, and the Z-mount offers much more room for development. As I’ve said before, the days of DSLRs are limited (and sales of DSLRs have dropped dramatically over the past few years).

Images Courtesy of Nikon While both cameras have articulated rear monitors, only that of the Z50 can flip down far enough to be forward-facing.

Conclusion

If you can do it, this is the time to make the switch to mirrorless.

However, make sure that the lenses exist to meet your needs in the Z-system, or that adapted lenses will be sufficient for you. If you need long telephoto lenses to shoot birds, for example, there are no native Z-lenses available. In my experience with the FTZ adapter, the lenses focus just as quickly as native, but I haven’t tested super telephotos… and the FTZ adapter also doesn’t work very well with Sigma and Tamron lenses, which cuts down your options. To wrap up:

Get the Nikon Z50 if you want:

  • the smallest, lightest camera, with equally good image quality
  • a blazing fast frame rate for shooting sports
  • to get the latest features, such as eye-detection focusing
  • a viewfinder preview of your exposure, and a larger viewfinder image
  • to future-proof your purchase and get into Nikon’s newest camera system
  • If you don’t mind using adapted lenses for those that are not yet made in Z-mount
  • Support my work by ordering from Amazon, Adorama, or B&H : $856.95

Get the Nikon D7500 if:

  • you’re already heavily invested in Nikon F-mount bodies or lenses and you don’t want to use them with an adapter, or want the option to buy less expensive older lenses
  • you absolutely need a to use shutterspeeds that are higher than 1/4000th second
  • you prefer the comfort of a larger camera
  • you prefer an optical viewfinder
  • you need the longest battery life possible
  • Support my work by ordering from Amazon, Adorama, or B&H : $896.95

Still not sure? Just ask!

If you’re having trouble deciding which one to get, feel free to ask me any further questions that you might have in the comment section below. I generally try to respond within a few hours (when I’m not traveling or on a shoot of my own).


Editor-in-Chief
  1. Z50 has the same sensor so image quality is the same. Difference is mainly the buttons. If you prefer swiping in menu’s to quickly change camera settings when taking pictures or use the scenes or auto then the z50 is fine. I like working with my d7500, I’m afraid swiping would drive me crazy.

  2. Hi, Matthew im not sure what camera to get. The z50 or d7500 both are really solid, I use a nikon d3100 for my photography business and looking to upgrade soon

    1. At this point, it’s very hard to recommend anything other than a mirrorless camera like the Z50. Nikon have gone all-in on mirrorless and are not developing for DSLRs anymore, so even though you can still get excellent images with DSLRs, they’re always going to be old technology now. If you have a budget for which it makes more sense to buy a good DSLR and older Nikkor lenses, then great… but otherwise, I’d recommend making the switch to Z-mount.

  3. thank you so much for this comparison. I usually shoot on auto mode, I have a nikon 5300, that I really like, but need to upgrade. usually inside shots of puppies, and dogs. which camera do you recommend for me ?

    1. Hi Cindy,
      At this point, Nikon’s DSLRs are all but discontinued… they’re only developing new cameras and lenses with the Z mount, now, so I’d definitely get the Nikon Z50

      1. thank you so much for your reply. I had a Sony 6400. sometimes it will not take pictures when I press the button down. so It has kind of turned me off of sony’s. do nikons seem to be better ?

        1. The Z50 in particular is an excellent camera… like any brand, there are good Nikon models and not so good ones. I’m mostly a Sony user now, and I love their cameras… I haven’t had any problems with the shutter, so I can’t speak to that… but the Z50 is very well regarded. Regardless of brand, most cameras won’t release the shutter if the camera can’t focus… so it sounds like you might have been experiencing an autofocus problem, ultimately. I’ve never encountered anything like that with the Z50, so that shouldn’t be a major concern.

          1. thank you so much for helping me. is there a mirrorless sony camera with a pop up flash ? you would recommend for me ?

            1. Well, the a6000 series cameras have a pop-up flash, but it sounds like you weren’t happy with the a6400, so maybe those won’t be a good fit for you… I would have recommended the a6400 otherwise. None of the full-frame models have a pop-up flash. The Z50 and a6400 are both excellent cameras with the right lens on them.
              Regardless of the camera, it’s really the lens that makes the biggest difference in the quality of your images these days. Using a lens that lets in a lot of light is a huge help. You might want to take a quick look at my video about the Tamron 17-70 f/2.8 for a better explanation… I shot the photos there with an older Sony a6300. Ultimately, no matter what camera you own, it takes experience to get the most out of it, so whichever one you choose… practice practice practice.

  4. Hi Matthew, I am shopping for a new camera. I presently have a Nikon CoolPlix L310 but would like to improve on my photography skills. I am new and not familiar with Lens and mounts, so just looking for a good camera to learn and grow from. I have looked at Nikon Z50. Canon T7 and Nikon 3500 but notice most people reference the D series of Nikon D7500 or 7100. Any suggestions to help me make the best choice will be greatly appreciated. i would like to use the Fade-out feature and change lens on the camera

    1. Hi Lesa,

      The D series (like the D7500) are Nikon’s older series of cameras, and they will not be making new lenses for them… they’ll slowly be phased out. The Z50 is newer technology, but it’s also the first model of its type. I’m not sure what you mean by “fade out” unless you’re talking about video… and in that case, definitely don’t get the D series camera. The Z50 is miles ahead in terms of video shooting.

      In some ways, the older D7500 is a little better, but they’re not going to be important for most people… instead, I’d say, stick go with the Z50. The other option I’d recommend is the Sony a6400.

  5. Hello! I always took photos with my analog cameras (rolleiflex and nikon fm) and now i want one for when im travelling and my daily life.
    I was between the nikon d5600 and the z50…
    I know the prices are almost the same… but my big question is about the quality.
    Is really much difference between both?

    1. Well, the image quality will depend on the lens you choose and, of course, your technique… but beyond that, there will be little to no appreciable difference in image quality. The sensors are both excellent, with the same resolution and very good dynamic range. The Z50 will have better compatibility with new lenses and equipment moving forward, but the D5600 will have access to cheap second-hand lenses, so it just depends on what you’re looking for. Good luck!

      1. Thanks for answering Matthew! I understand.
        But, with the same quality and everything… maybe is better to buy more lenses. For example, i saw image photos comparison of Z and F lenses or D5600, D3500 with z50 and is almost the same… and the 50mm for the Z50 cost me 3 times the one with F mount, with almost the same quality.
        The real difference is when i have one of those cameras and i compare with a Full frame right?
        Or what you think about that?
        I trying to read, see and asking the most i can before buying one.

        1. It is true that there will be a significant difference in image quality in some situations when you use a full frame camera. The high pixel density of an APS-C sensor can reveal some optical flaws in some lenses that are not seen with a full frame with the same number of megapixels, and at ISO1600 and above there will be a big difference in noise levels. If you shoot with large aperture lenses, these differences can often be avoided.

  6. Thanks Matthew for the comparison between the Z50 and the D7500.
    I’m a newbie and unlike others in your college of knowledge, I’ve gone away schooled and reassured on the differences so, much appreciated.
    After many favourable reviews on the Z50 my concern is the availability of a third party 8mm lens.
    My main interest is for 3D 360 Construction Site Tours in possibly lower light and photos of site progress so no need for the features that make photographing glamour, sports or creatures easy.
    Assuming I can get an 8mm lens, will the Z50 meet my needs or am I better going the Sony alpha or Fuji X-T30 route.
    The MFT Panasonic G9 has excellent reviews but would it cope with lower light on a site?
    Images will be for screens only and any printouts will be no larger than an A4 pdf.
    Thanks for your time and knowledge.

    1. Hi Konrad,

      8mm is extraordinarily wide, even for an APS-C sensor… it will be hard to find one for any system :-) There are some lenses in the 10-12mm range for Sony, I’m sure (Samyang, manual focus probably, and at least one Sony zoom), but I can’t think of anything for Nikon. There are also 10 and 12mm lenses for Fuji from Rokinon/Samyang.

      Anyway, unless you’re shooting in very, very dark conditions, even an MFT camera like the G9 would be just fine for your purposes… especially with a lens that wide (which is much easier to hand-hold and keep blur-free). You’ll just need to make sure that your camera or lens has good stabilization, and keep the shutter speed above 1/20th of a second.

      1. Hi Matthew
        Thanks for your reply and advice.
        8mm is the recommended lens for 360 panoramas when used with a Nodal Ninja.
        SAMYANG 8MM F3.5 MC FISHEYE CSII NIKON is available but for the Z50 the FTZ converter will be needed.
        All work will be on a tripod anyway and manual focus.
        Thanks again for your advice.

  7. With all my respect this is another one superficially review. A lot VERY important details are not even mentioned!

    1) D7500 has 3 axis Electronic stabilization in Video, Z50 does not.
    2) D7500 AF is superior for fast erratically moving objects.
    3) 11 FPS for Z50 is only for JPEG and 12 bit RAW. In 14 bit raw it is 9-8.5 frames on par with D7500.
    4) AF options that can be found in Z6/Z7 and even D7500 such as release priority, tracking speed for stills are missing and many more “small” but yet important settings;
    5) Built-in flash cannot act as a commander..

    I can continue with the facts that are not mentioned, but there are many of them and no Z50 is not in the same segment as D7500. D7500 has many small advantages that are not mentioned in the review and therefore can be a game changer for many photographers.

  8. Nice post Matthew! One point that I don´t agree is that images on both are the same and is not. I had DSLRs and now I´m just staying with Z6 and Z50 and the diference between Z50 and D7500 is the Expeed 6 Processor. Images end up with better ISO and sharper details such as in the Z6 and Z7 cameras. Salute from Uruguay!

    1. Thanks! The image quality will certainly be different if you’re shooting JPG… that will always change from camera to camera… but in my experience, if you shoot RAW, they look the same to me. Enjoy your cameras! I hope I make it to Uruguay some day.

  9. Hi Matthew….!!! with a limited budget, and having to choose between the z50 and the d7500… which of the two is better for shooting night skies , milky way, stars etc…

    thanks in advance for the advice!!!

    1. Hello Jose,

      There will not be much difference between these two cameras, since they have the same size and resolution sensors. The most important thing will be to use a lens with a large aperture (f/2.8 or larger… like f/1.8 or f/1.4). The problem is that the 24mm f/1.8 lens for Z-mount costs about $1000, while you can get all sorts of great large aperture lenses for F-mount for hundreds less.

      Good luck!

  10. Hi Matthew –
    I currently own a D3100 (since 2011) (I have 18-55 kit lens, 55-300, & 50mm lenses) and can finally budget for an upgrade. My head was set on the D7500 with the Nikkor 18-140 mm lens. The wide angle to somewhat telephoto without having to change lenses is appealing. The D7500 with that kit lens was out of stock in many of the national retailers and the Nikon site. I happened upon a local camera shop and went in to see the D7500 body and lens (sold separately, only one left). That’s when they introduced the Z50 kit with 16-50 and 50-250 lenses (same price for either camera). The 2 lenses defeats my quest for the one 18-140 lens. But I know mirrorless is the future and your comparison of the 2 cameras is well taken, so now I’m undecided between the D7500 and the Z50. I shoot mostly landscape, and enjoy shooting sunrises and sunsets. But I also like to get closer without having to change lenses. I’m leaning towards the Z50 hoping an affordable lens similar to the 18-140 (Nikkor, of course) will be out soon. What are your thoughts?

    1. Hi Fern,

      Another option is to buy the Z50 and use the FTZ adapter and use the F-mount 18-140mm lens on it (until there’s a native lens, which will probably be within the next year or two). With the Nikon adapter, the F-mount lenses are as fast an accurate as native lenses, so it shouldn’t be a problem. You can get the FTZ bundled with the Z50 for about $900 on Amazon, and you can then use your existing lenses and/or buy the 18-140 to go along with it.

      Anyway, beyond that, I’m not sure what I can add that I haven’t already said in the article above :-) I’d lean towards the Z50; that’s the direction Nikon is going… but the D7500 is also an excellent camera.

      Good luck!

      • Matthew
    2. Rumor has it that Nikon will be announcing the 18-140mm in Z-mount very soon. Perhaps as soon as Tuesday, when the Nikon Z5 is expected … that is, rumored… to be announced. Just rumors, of course.

  11. Hi Considering the 7500 and Z50 but specifically for wildlife photography. On the face of it the Z50’s looks okay but concerned about low light performance. Currently have a D500 and mainly DS lenses. Considering the D7500 or Z50’s for my better half as she keeps taking my D500, would appreciate your practical response, many thanks

  12. I am currently researching both of these cameras. I want to take close up shots of marijuana. Which would you say is the better camera for macro? Or is it all in the lens. I have a bit of experience with photography from high school but it’s been about 10 years.

    1. Hi Ronnie,
       
      It’s basically all in the lens (and the camera settings). For photographing any sort of buds/blooms, the ideal option is a Macro lens. Nikon makes some good ones for “N” mount and there are some good 3rd party options, but for the Nikon Z50, you’d have to use an “N” mount lens with a Z-mount converter. The Nikon AF-S 60mm Micro is a good option and costs under $600. The Tokina 100mm Macro is optically very good and costs $399, but the focusing motor is a little slow… but since you’ll probably want to work from a tripod and set your camera to a small aperture like f/8-f/16 to get more in focus, focus speed might not really be a big deal.
       
      Anyway, the lens recommendations will be the same whichever body you decide on. I would probably go with the Z50 at this point… since Nikon is no longer developing for their DSLRs like the D7500, but they’re both awesome cameras, and you’d probably be happy either way.
       
      Good luck!

  13. Hi Mathew Gore
    I’ve been using Nikon D5100 since 7 years purely for amateur photography which includes family, tours etc. Now I want to upgrade as I miss a lot of features available in new cameras.

    I have zeroed onto Nikon Z50 and Sony A6400 but unable to decide.

    Please offer your suggestions.

    Regards

    1. That’s a hard choice, and the answer will probably depend heavily on what lenses you already have and what lenses you will want in the near future.

      The a6400 and Z50 are both excellent cameras, and the specs are pretty even, although the a6400 has a higher resolution sensor and slightly lower resolution rear LCD display. I still generally like a higher resolution sensor, but neither of these things is really a significant issue.

      At this point, there’s a large collection of a excellent native lenses for the Sony, including lenses by 3rd parties (Sigma, Tamron, Samyang, etc), including some excellent primes from Sigma. For the Nikon Z, you’ll be able to use your existing Nikon lenses with an adapter (performance is actually very good), but you’ll be limited to a modest number of Nikon Z lenses, for now, and no 3rd party lenses.

      So, decide on what lenses you’ll want to use, see what’s available for each system, and decide whether you want to continue using your F-mount lenses.

      I switched from Canon to Sony a few years ago, before the R and Z mounts were announced, and I have been really happy with the Sony cameras, but I’m also a big fan of Nikon’s Z-mounts. Ultimately, these cameras are all so good these days, the important thing is to get something that you like and then practice, practice, practice.

      Good luck!
      Matthew

  14. Hi Mathew Gore,

    First of all, so kind that you are replying to our questions free of cost. So, I’m a 15 year old wildlife/sports photographer.I got into photography through my father.I started using his backup camera (which was a nikon) from the age of 12. My dad used to work for fox sports and nat geo. Now i wanna do the kind of stuff my dad did.He gave me the 70-200,200-500 and the 600mm lens.Iam sure i’m gonna buy the z50 but considered about battery life. Since i know nikon hasn’t released a battery grip for z50,should i buy the d7500.My main camera is the d850.So this is gonna be my backup. Which should i buy?

    1. Hi Raj,

      That’s a good question. I can’t tell you which to buy, but here are a couple of things to think about. First, are you interested in switching over to the Nikon Z system, eventually? It might seem like a stupid question, with your current lens collection, but I’ve switched systems a few times over the years, so it’s worth being sure before you get a Z system camera… Sony also makes some good cameras, and Canon’s R5 looks like it will be pretty amazing, too.

      More importantly, though, is this: how often are you out shooting and don’t have 30 seconds of free time to switch batteries? I can honestly say that when I’ve shot weddings, there have been a few times when a free minute has been hard find (though, not many, and I wasn’t shooting with a mirrorless camera back then). When I’m shooting sports, I don’t think I’ve ever had that problem… usually I can change batteries between periods or between games (if I’m at a tournament), so it’s more important for me to just have a few extra batteries with me.

      I can generally shoot 1000 shots during a basketball game, for example, on a single battery with no problem.

      And of course, you’ll have to know yourself: are you the kind of person who will be able to do your work and also keep an eye on where your battery level is so that you don’t run into trouble? If not, then you might think twice about the Z50.

      That said, aside from the faster frame rate of the Z50 and some of the focusing featres, there’s nothing much to recommend it over the D7500 (which has faster shutter speeds available, which can be important when shooting wildlife and sports). Either way you go, I think you’ll be happy with the camera, and you’ll be able to get down to shooting pretty quickly.

      Good luck!
      – Matthew

  15. I own a Nikon 200-500 f/5.6 lens. I mostly do wildlife photography, mostly birding to be precise. My top priority is fast AF of moving objects (birds in flight). I usually don’t shoot videos with my camera so that’s not a priority. In most of the places, I’m not getting a definite answer to which camera is better at action photography. Any advice from you?

    1. The Z50 is better for birding in most of the ways that matter; the autofocus system is excellent and it has higher frame rate for shooting bursts, you can go completely silent (electronic shutter) if you need to, and it’s likely that Nikon will add animal eye AF in the near future like it just did for the Z6 and Z7, which is awesome (I use it on Sony).

      The only real advantage for the D7500 is the top shutter speed of 1/8000th sec (vs 1/4000th) in the Z50, which is a minor issue. And of course, you’ll have to buy the FTZ adapter to use F-mount lenses.

  16. Is is easy using a Z50 be used handheld with a F mount 200-500mm. Not talking in terms of optics but in terms of weight balancing of the Z50 being a lighter body almost 450 gms and 200-500mm being bulkier at 2.7 kgs.
    Also let me know if I should wait for other Z Mount lens in the coming line such as 100-400 instead of 200-500.
    Hopefully that would be lighter option.

    1. Hi Kartik,

      I have not used the Z50 with that exact lens combination, but I have used it with some other large glass, and I personally don’t find it to be a problem at all. With a large lens, the weight is going to be in the glass no matter what body you use, you’ll be supporting that weight with your tripod/monopod or off-hand, and your camera-hand will just be working the controls… and that’s no problem with the Z50. However, that’s completely a matter of personal taste. I’ve also used Sony a6000 series cameras with a 600mm lens, and I had no problem with it, but I’ve heard that other people do. For me, personally, these are all just tools to get used to, not objects of art to appreciate for themselves, and I can get used to a broad range of tools when needed.

      As for upcoming Z-mount lenses, there I’m afraid that I don’t have any inside information that isn’t already out there. The next three lenses on the Nikon Z-mount roadmap are a 70-200 f/2.8, a 100-400, and a 200-600. I’d expect the first two of these within the next 12 months, but who knows when they’ll really be on the market.

      – Matthew

  17. Hi, I layout a magazine and I am forced to take photos of dinners or events in large and poorly lit spaces, without flash. I have a Pentax K7 and it doesn’t behave well in this situation. I would like to buy a low-budget Nikon, I was thinking of the D7500 or the Z50. I am not sure that they are superior to the one I have. I see that there are no new DSLRs from Nikon. I like the battery life of the d7500 and the weight doesn’t bother me, but I wouldn’t want to buy something obsolete. Thanks for your advice.

    1. Hi Stella,
      Low light photos are always the hardest for any camera, and although a good camera can help a bit, a good lens is really necessary, too. The Pentax K7 used a 14 megapixels sensor (Sony, I believe, like the Nikon D7000).The newer sensors of the D7500 and Z50 will have a modest advantage in image quality, but it won’t be dramatic.

      It will be several years… maybe a decade… before the Nikon D7500 is truly obsolete. Nikon will probably continue to produce some new lenses for the platform, and 3rd parties are still making new lenses in F mount… and there is a ton of good glass available. But you will miss out on some of the mirrorless-specific features (eye AF, speed, etc)

      If you’re shooting in low light, the biggest improvement you can make is to get large aperture lenses. (Sorry if you know all this, but I want to make sure we’re on the same page) A kit lens, for example, like the 18-55 f/3.5-5.6 is common. Zoomed to 55mm, the maximum aperture is f/5.6… that’s the most light that it can let through. The smaller the f-number, the more light that it will let through, so an f/4 lens lets in twice as much light, f/2.8 twice as much again, f/2 twice as much again, and f/1.4 twice as much again. So, if you shoot with an 50mm f/1.8 (about $180) lens instead of the kit lens, you’ll get more than 8 times as much light on your sensor, which will give you a dramatic improvement in image quality.

      Nikon makes inexpensive large aperture prime lenses at f/1.8 in F mount, but at f/1.4 they get much more expensive.

      So, whatever camera body you get, you’ll want to make sure that you get the necessary lenses for it. If you get the Z50, the Z mount lenses are going to be much more expensive ($500 for a 50mm f/1.8). You can also get the F mount and use the adapter, or just get the F mount and use the D7500.

  18. I have a Nikon D7100 and using it for last 5 years. Last week, I purchased a Z50 thinking it would give me some good sharp snaps. But im really sad to say that, this camera is not performing well. Compared to D7100 the photo quality is really bad. There is no richness in the photo and most of the photos look like it was taken using an ordinary camera.

    Only good thing which i see about Z50 is the small and convenient size for travelling. Overall im really disappointed with this camera and now I feel like it was not a good choice for the money i spent :-( :-( :-(

    1. I’m sorry to hear that you’re not happy with the image quality, but also curious about what you mean, exactly… “richness” is pretty subjective. Is it a color issue? Are you shooting RAW or JPG? What lenses have you been using (on the Z50 and your D7100… have you tried the adapter and the same lenses?)

  19. I’m wondering about the image quality compared to a D7500 (which I own). Not having the low pass filter on the D7500 did wonders for sharpness. In contrast, my D7100 images look soft in comparison.

    Does the Z50 image quality compete with a D7500?

    1. Hi David,

      I’m still getting conflicting information about whether the Z50 even has an OLPF; Nikon won’t confirm or deny, and some media outlets claim that it does not, others assume that it does. It makes sense for them to use the same sensor as the D500 and D7500, on the one hand, but it may be that using the sensor for autofocus creates the need for the OLPF.

      In my shooting experience with the Z50, the images looking wonderfully sharp. I was shooting mostly expensive, with full-frame Nikkor glass which may have contributed to that, but I didn’t have a chance to do a side by side comparison… or to keep images to examine in detail on my computer. So I’m afraid that I can’t offer you any definitive help there, at this point, but I can say that I was not remotely concerned about a loss in image quality with the Z50 while shooting with it. I’ve just sent out another email to Nikon; I’ll update info here if I get something definitive.

    2. Hi David,

      I finally just heard back from Nikon about the low-pass filter, and they have confirmed that the Z50 also does NOT use a low-pass filter, so it’s just like the D7500. So, image quality should be identical, if not better from the Z50 (with the same lenses, of course).

  20. I have a D5100 with a Tamron lens 18-270. It worked fine for about 5 years then out of nowhere I got a small black spot on each photo. Nikon checked it for repair but the repair cost would have been almost the cost of the camera body. During checking they made a mistake which I noticed only a few months later in short it doesn’t function anymore. I used the camera mainly for work (e.g. transmission line towers), travel and wildlife and was satisfied. Due to the weight I only used it when necessary. Now I want to buy a Nikon again simply because I want to use my Tamron lens. I am not an expert at all, just want to take shots of details (for work) and travel (mostly wildlife during safaris in Africa). I read your comparison D7500 vs Z50 and now I am scratching my head which one I should buy, and of course I want to continue using the Tamron 18-270 lens. Your advice?

    1. Hi Helmut,

      First of all, I believe that the Tamron 18-270 will work just fine with the FTZ adapter (according to someone who owns a Nikon Z6 and that lens), so you should be able to go either way.

      Personally, I’d go with the Nikon Z50, but it sounds as though your needs are limited enough that you’d probably be just fine either way you go. If you can’t find a deal with the Z50 and FTZ adapter included, you can also get a 3rd party adapter for about $15 (Fotasy).

      So, go with the Z50 if you think you’d appreciate something that it does, but if you were perfectly happy with the old camera, then get a Nikon D7500 (or D5600), or really even an older camera in either of those two lines.

      – Matthew

      1. Hi Matthew, I just checked my past emails with your comments and noticed that since 1 year I have not received any message on the subject. I hope you are fine!

  21. I have Nikon the D7200 and Nikon d3400 for the best picture quality (DxO rating 87 and 86)… One camera is too less, changing lenses when traveling needs too long time… I use the d3400 for my Tokina 12-24mm and my D7200 for the Tamron 18-400mm. For traveling is this the best combination… The Z50 has a worse sensor (only 20.900 Mpixel) and bad battery life and even only one SD-card … It never can compete with the D7200… For super-fast focusing and video is the Z50 much better… Honesty, my focus system is good enough for bird photography… I can prove that. Today the new cameras have a super-fast focus system with a bad sensor… That they call progress! The future will show that 50% of the consumer are going to the mirrorless system… and not so the professional… If you can’t carry 200 grams more, even the Sonny full-frame cameras with lenses and battery are heavier than DSLR, I feel very sorry for you!!!

  22. Very interesting review.
    I got a Nikon D7000 and intended to update to a Nikon D7500. Until the Z50 was announced. I’m in doubt : as I’m esssentially into landscape photography (daytime and astro), zoo photography and sports (badminton and gymnastics – my kids :-)), will the Z50 be a wise choice? And the biggest question: will the adapter allow me to use my Sigma and Tamon lenses?
    I guess that I will have to rent a Z50 in order to find out.

    1. Hi Xavier,

      It sounds like your interests are pretty well-rounded, so a well-rounded camera like the Z50 will probably be a good choice. It will certainly be a step up in resolution for landscape work, and the AF system will be a big help for sports and wildlife.

      There’s some question about the Tamron and Sigma lenses, but in general, those two companies keep updating their firmware for their lenses to work with the FTZ adapter. Sigma basically says that all of their lenses are compatible. You can check the Sigma list and the Tamron list for your specific lens models… though it looks like the Tamron list is pretty incomplete.

      – Matthew

  23. I’d jump for the Z50 if it had IBIS, but it doesn’t, and hardly any S lens have VR, so who do you think would like to switch?! Hardly studio guys, as they either got a D850, or Z7 already, The amateur wants sharp images and good anti-shake, and here you are offering nothing, or at most, in some years time, a handful of lenses?!

    The E-M5 III is like I had wanted the Z50 to be but I am a Nikon user so not an option.

    Sales are falling badly for Canon (was it 56% down in profits?!), lets hope Nikon does a bit better.

    1. Hi Tord,

      Yes, I’d also really prefer an APS-C Z-mount camera with IBIS. I talked to Nikon’s reps about this at PhotoPlus, and they implied that future APS-C models would likely have IBIS, but of course, that won’t help out the Z50. On the other hand, both of the DX lenses for the Z50 have stabilization, and a good portion of Nikon’s existing lenses for F-mount DX have stabilization, which will also work with the FTZ adapter… and obviously none of the DSLRs have IBIS.

      Canon has worked themselves into a nasty spot, with two different lens mounts for their mirrorless cameras. It’s hard to see how they’ll get around that without dropping M-mount entirely, which seems unlikely since it is a market leader in Japan and would mean a big loss. If Nikon can get their act together with lenses, I still think that this is a big chance for them to take back a big chunk of the market, though they still have a lot of competition from Sony.

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