Nikon Z 50?

Jay Hemdal · Nov 16, 2024

Hi folks,

I just picked up a Nikon Z 50 mirrorless camera with the two lenses. I'm going to a public aquarium that I work for next Tuesday to try it out. In order to speed up the "learning process", I was wondering if anyone using one of the Nikon Z series could share their basic settings with me to use as a starting point.

I usually use a Nikon D800, but that is so heavy and bulky, I thought the Z 50 would be better for "walking around"....

Thanks,

Jay

Fish Styx · Nov 16, 2024

Following along, as I have my eye on the same camera.

Reefing_addiction · Nov 16, 2024

I want one…..

Jay Hemdal · Nov 16, 2024

Fish Styx said:
Following along, as I have my eye on the same camera.

I just checked eBay where I got a new Z 50 and two lens kit, with US warranty for $749. the seller doesn't have any more of them listed though, sorry.

Nikon just released the Z 50II, so the Z 50 may have some price cuts from other vendors.

maroun.c · Nov 17, 2024

I would just do the same setup you had on your D800, the main difference is focus mode on the Z cameras and that takes a bit of getting used to on people or bird modes where you have the new subject detection modes in focusing. I have played with the people, animal and bord modes on fish shots yet didn't really find a preference so far. Basically the above options either had slow lock on, on fish shots which caused me to loose initial shots when fish went into frame , or couldn't keep track of the fish as it moved which caused me to not be able to track and shoot. So far I find myself going back to single focus where I focus on the fish and take a couple good shots before it moves then refocus if needed. The continuous mode always had its issues for me on fish shots with focus going on to another fish and if I set it to be too sticky then it would take time to unfocused and go back to my fish I'm shooting, setting it to not be sticky on subject causes u to lose focus if another fish or subject goes into frame closer than ur fish and it's tricky !
I'm.not sure about the D800 vs Z50 as I came from the D750 to the z7ii and z8
But believe ur z50 might have a bit better performance at higher iso ? If so then u might benefit from a bit more iso without getting much noise. Which lenses are u shooting with ? The new 50mm for mirorless is great for fish shots but it got double or triple the price of the old 50 mm for non mirorless. The macro 105 for mirorless also got an improvement, I'm also very happy with the 24-70 2.8 but uts a more expensive one. The 24-120F4 which came with the Z7ii was a good lense for the price but focus and sharpness on thr 24-70 2.8 was much better so i switched to the 24-70.
Take many shots and experiment with different settings to get used to the canera , it'll be tricky first few times as button placement is different but you'll get used to it rather quick.

maroun.c · Nov 17, 2024

There is a technique bird photographers use and switch between two different focusing modes or areas, one for initial focus and another mode for tracking, they shift focus mode by setting up the vackfocus button or another button to do that's and use 2 different modes based on the scenario, i still need to experiment with that. Ur focusing might be a bit tricky with thicker glass in public aquarium tanks and lower light level normally in public aquarium tanks so that might add som challenge, let us know how it goes.

Jay Hemdal · Nov 17, 2024

maroun.c said:
I would just do the same setup you had on your D800, the main difference is focus mode on the Z cameras and that takes a bit of getting used to on people or bird modes where you have the new subject detection modes in focusing. I have played with the people, animal and bord modes on fish shots yet didn't really find a preference so far. Basically the above options either had slow lock on, on fish shots which caused me to loose initial shots when fish went into frame , or couldn't keep track of the fish as it moved which caused me to not be able to track and shoot. So far I find myself going back to single focus where I focus on the fish and take a couple good shots before it moves then refocus if needed. The continuous mode always had its issues for me on fish shots with focus going on to another fish and if I set it to be too sticky then it would take time to unfocused and go back to my fish I'm shooting, setting it to not be sticky on subject causes u to lose focus if another fish or subject goes into frame closer than ur fish and it's tricky !
I'm.not sure about the D800 vs Z50 as I came from the D750 to the z7ii and z8
But believe ur z50 might have a bit better performance at higher iso ? If so then u might benefit from a bit more iso without getting much noise. Which lenses are u shooting with ? The new 50mm for mirorless is great for fish shots but it got double or triple the price of the old 50 mm for non mirorless. The macro 105 for mirorless also got an improvement, I'm also very happy with the 24-70 2.8 but uts a more expensive one. The 24-120F4 which came with the Z7ii was a good lense for the price but focus and sharpness on thr 24-70 2.8 was much better so i switched to the 24-70.
Take many shots and experiment with different settings to get used to the canera , it'll be tricky first few times as button placement is different but you'll get used to it rather quick.

Thanks,

I got the two "kit" lenses with my Z 50: the 16-50mm DX and the 50-250 mm DX. I'm probably not going to get the FTZ adapter to use my FX lenses, since the whole idea for me to get the Z 50 was smaller size and lighter weight.

Now that I'm retired, I'm not really able to replace my D800 with a full frame mirrorless and all of the lenses. My plan is to keep my D800 and all the lenses just for old times sake, and then use the Z 50 as my "walk around" camera. I have a D5500 set up that I should be able to sell on eBay and recoup the cost of my Z 50 (or so I told me wife!).

Jay

maroun.c · Nov 18, 2024

Which old lenses have you got?

Jay Hemdal · Nov 19, 2024

maroun.c said:
Which old lenses have you got?

I have 3 Opteka manual lenses (6.5, 15 and 85 mm) a 35 and 50 mm Nikkor, and a DX Tamron 16-300. I’m going to sell all those. For my D800, I’m keeping my Sigma 105mm macro, a Tokina 16-28 wide angle and my Nikkor 28-300. I don't have any classic Nikon glass - too expensive for my more limited abilities.

Reefer911 · Apr 14, 2025

@Jay Hemdal

How’s that Z50? I’m considering one myself

Jay Hemdal · Apr 14, 2025

Reefer911 said:
@Jay Hemdal

How’s that Z50? I’m considering one myself

I love it! It’s so much easier to tote around than my D800. It’s great for high quality quick grab shots, much better than my phone. I’d still use my D800 for publication quality or studio shots. The stock lens are slow, but the vibration reduction helps a lot.

Reefer911 · Apr 14, 2025

Jay Hemdal said:
I love it! It’s so much easier to tote around than my D800. It’s great for high quality quick grab shots, much better than my phone. I’d still use my D800 for publication quality or studio shots. The stock lens are slow, but the vibration reduction helps a lot.

What do you think about the Z50 vs Z50II? Granted I have almost zero photography experience and just want something to showcase my candy basslets, corals, and a classic Porsche 911.
I’m trying to talk myself out of a full frame

Jay Hemdal · Apr 15, 2025

Reefer911 said:
What do you think about the Z50 vs Z50II? Granted I have almost zero photography experience and just want something to showcase my candy basslets, corals, and a classic Porsche 911.
I’m trying to talk myself out of a full frame

I bought my Z50 right when the Z50II came out, in order to get a price break. I got the two lens kit with tax and shipping for $842. At that price, the Z50II wasn't even a contender. The Z50II is now only about $100 more than the Z50 (around $1300 for the two lens kit). My only issue with the Z50II is that it weighs 3 1/2 ounces more, and for me, the light weight was the most important factor. I hear the the Z50II was a better autofocus for nature shots, I'm not sure how that translates to aquarium shots though.

Here is a side by side comparison:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/compare/Nikon_Z50_vs_Nikon_Z50+II/BHitems/1511294-REG_1860621-REG?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwh_i_BhCzARIsANimeoHJHCW8-HfZhqoHeZ4qLMqwB_SiHJWoo9pdjxiPmA2BvKpKz3IDGOgaAoJNEALw_wcB