(refurb) Nikon Z50 Mirrorless Camera + 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR Lens $697 + free s/h @ Adorama

KevinS1971

Oct 14, 2020 04:17 PM

49 Posts

Joined Jun 2019

KevinS1971Oct 14, 2020 04:17 PM

49 Posts

Anyone have any experience with the z50? Been eyeing a hybrid camera for "potential" vlogging/vacation video stuff. This or the panasonic g85. Currently have nikon DSLRs and lenses, but the lack of any decent autofocus in video is kind of a pain.

1

lchocolate238

Oct 14, 2020 04:59 PM

94 Posts

Joined Feb 2012

lchocolate238Oct 14, 2020 04:59 PM

94 Posts

How would this compare to a canon 6d in terms of specs/professional use?

PNUCKLE

Pro

Oct 14, 2020 05:09 PM

1,034 Posts

Joined May 2007

PNUCKLE

Pro

Oct 14, 2020 05:09 PM

1,034 Posts

Crop vs FF for starters. For stills, the 6D is still a solid performer, but is not mirrorless. Video, the 6D is seriously lacking as it doesn't have any type of AF during video mode.

Quote from lchocolate238

:

How would this compare to a canon 6d in terms of specs/professional use?

lchocolate238

Oct 14, 2020 05:10 PM

94 Posts

Joined Feb 2012

lchocolate238Oct 14, 2020 05:10 PM

94 Posts

Quote from PNUCKLE

:

Crop vs FF for starters. For stills, the 6D is still a solid performer, but is not mirrorless. Video, the 6D is seriously lacking as it doesn't have any type of AF during video mode.

Thanks. Probably want to stick with full frame. I guess it's more of an entry level camera

jimji

Oct 14, 2020 05:13 PM

292 Posts

Joined Oct 2014

jimjiOct 14, 2020 05:13 PM

292 Posts

I have a z50 with the two kit lenses. Really good for what they are, though they don't have any other crop sensor lenses out yet. Both lenses have stabilization, and are very light and quite sharp

2

brokenarcher

Oct 14, 2020 05:19 PM

462 Posts

Joined Apr 2016

brokenarcherOct 14, 2020 05:19 PM

462 Posts

Quote from KevinS1971

:

Anyone have any experience with the z50? Been eyeing a hybrid camera for "potential" vlogging/vacation video stuff. This or the panasonic g85. Currently have nikon DSLRs and lenses, but the lack of any decent autofocus in video is kind of a pain.

While the camera itself is decent, Nikon's Z line lenses, especially crop sensor front, has been fairly lackluster. Your only lens option for Z50 right now would be 1) kit lens, including this 16-50 and a 50-250, both excellent for the size and price; 2) full frame Z mount lenses, essentially paying more money than you should be on a crop sensor; 3) FTZ adapt existing F mount lenses, more bulky and noisy plus you need to buy the adapter. People that love the Z50 mostly either only use the kit lenses or have other Z mount lenses because quite frankly, the ergonomic and menu system are much better than Sony which is industry leading on mirrorless. Nikon Z will eventually add a lot more lenses for APS-C, but that will take time; at that point, you're probably better off buying Z51 or Z50 II or whatever Nikon will call it.

2

methodz

Oct 14, 2020 05:24 PM

987 Posts

Joined Oct 2011

methodzOct 14, 2020 05:24 PM

987 Posts

Quote from KevinS1971

:

Anyone have any experience with the z50? Been eyeing a hybrid camera for "potential" vlogging/vacation video stuff. This or the panasonic g85. Currently have nikon DSLRs and lenses, but the lack of any decent autofocus in video is kind of a pain.

Screen on this flips down so kind of sucky for vlogging. Look at the new m50 or Sony a6400. I have a Canon m6 ii and love it. You could go the full frame route as well but you'll be paying full frame prices and lugging around bigger gear. Honestly check out the Sony ZV-1 point and shoot it's great!

1

jimji

Oct 14, 2020 06:32 PM

292 Posts

Joined Oct 2014

jimjiOct 14, 2020 06:32 PM

292 Posts

Quote from methodz

:

Screen on this flips down so kind of sucky for vlogging. Look at the new m50 or Sony a6400. I have a Canon m6 ii and love it. You could go the full frame route as well but you'll be paying full frame prices and lugging around bigger gear. Honestly check out the Sony ZV-1 point and shoot it's great!

I'd say the opposite tbh, flip down screen is great for vlogging. It also looks more natural when you look at the camera screen on the bottom -- looks like you're looking at the viewer more. (Check out the Kai W video on it to see what they say about that)

You also get to put a mic in the hot shoe without blocking anything. Downside is that you might get some blockage if you use a cage or other tripod mount accessories

RangerJay

Oct 14, 2020 06:36 PM

2,544 Posts

Joined Mar 2014

RangerJayOct 14, 2020 06:36 PM

2,544 Posts

Canon M50 refurb deal is probably better for any starters out there and significantly cheaper. Also the since mark II is out with only incremental improvement, I suspect that there will be more M50 deals coming in the holiday season and that's gonna make it even sweeter. M50 is still a very capable camera and probably the best (at least cost effective) entry-mid level crop mirrorless out there. Also Canon has couple very affordable yet impressive EOS-M mount lenses

Last edited by IcyJ October 14, 2020 at 11:44 AM.

1

methodz

Oct 14, 2020 06:40 PM

987 Posts

Joined Oct 2011

methodzOct 14, 2020 06:40 PM

987 Posts

Quote from jimji

:

I'd say the opposite tbh, flip down screen is great for vlogging. It also looks more natural when you look at the camera screen on the bottom -- looks like you're looking at the viewer more. (Check out the Kai W video on it to see what they say about that)

You also get to put a mic in the hot shoe without blocking anything. Downside is that you might get some blockage if you use a cage or other tripod mount accessories

It's not for everybody I guess. You can't really set it down and if you have it on like a manfrotto you'd need that offset bracket. Not for me but could appeal to others apparently.

grapeman4000

Oct 14, 2020 06:43 PM

90 Posts

Joined Nov 2017

grapeman4000Oct 14, 2020 06:43 PM

90 Posts

Quote from KevinS1971

:

Anyone have any experience with the z50? Been eyeing a hybrid camera for "potential" vlogging/vacation video stuff. This or the panasonic g85. Currently have nikon DSLRs and lenses, but the lack of any decent autofocus in video is kind of a pain.

I've been using it since the end of August. Love it. You'd definitely want this over the G85 if you're also into stills, and for the larger sensor.

My take? I actually tried this camera in January and sent it back because the autofocus was so annoying unreliable, especially in dim settings. I bought it in August when I discovered that through a few firmware updates, the autofocus actually works quite well now.

I record all the videos in 4K 30 FPS 144 Mbps and downsample in PowerDirector after and it's gorgeously sharp. Recording in 1080p produces utter trash output.

Definitely get the two lens bundle that includes the 50-250 zoom.

The only thing better than this would be the Fuji XT-3 or XT-4 if you were willing to spend the extra money to cover the APS-C (roughly) 16-250mm zoom range. Better than that and you're talking FF, but then you lose too much zoom from the reduction in crop factor -- if that's important to you.

1

grapeman4000

Oct 14, 2020 06:48 PM

90 Posts

Joined Nov 2017

grapeman4000Oct 14, 2020 06:48 PM

90 Posts

Quote from brokenarcher

:

While the camera itself is decent, Nikon's Z line lenses, especially crop sensor front, has been fairly lackluster. Your only lens option for Z50 right now would be 1) kit lens, including this 16-50 and a 50-250, both excellent for the size and price; 2) full frame Z mount lenses, essentially paying more money than you should be on a crop sensor; 3) FTZ adapt existing F mount lenses, more bulky and noisy plus you need to buy the adapter. People that love the Z50 mostly either only use the kit lenses or have other Z mount lenses because quite frankly, the ergonomic and menu system are much better than Sony which is industry leading on mirrorless. Nikon Z will eventually add a lot more lenses for APS-C, but that will take time; at that point, you're probably better off buying Z51 or Z50 II or whatever Nikon will call it.

One thing that I would respectfully warn about is that the full frame Z lenses (almost?) all lack VR because the Z6 and Z7 have in-body IS. So if you get a lovely Nikkor Z 50mm 1.8f, it's going to be shaky-town on the Z50, which lacks in-body IS.

Also, from my experience with the FTZ, you quickly come to appreciate how silent the new Z lenses are and how loud the older F lenses were. Not a problem for stills, but super annoying for video where your mic will pick up focus AND VR noise.

Avatar77

Oct 14, 2020 07:18 PM

656 Posts

Joined Aug 2009

Avatar77Oct 14, 2020 07:18 PM

656 Posts

Quote from grapeman4000

:

One thing that I would respectfully warn about is that the full frame Z lenses (almost?) all lack VR because the Z6 and Z7 have in-body IS. So if you get a lovely Nikkor Z 50mm 1.8f, it's going to be shaky-town on the Z50, which lacks in-body IS.

Also, from my experience with the FTZ, you quickly come to appreciate how silent the new Z lenses are and how loud the older F lenses were. Not a problem for stills, but super annoying for video where your mic will pick up focus AND VR noise.

This is true, though "shaky town" is a bit silly to say as amazingly for years people took sharp pictures without VR! That said, some of the longer Z lenses have VR, such as the 24-200 and 70-200 f/2.8

ckrueger

Oct 14, 2020 07:40 PM

46 Posts

Joined Jul 2012

ckruegerOct 14, 2020 07:40 PM

46 Posts

Quote from brokenarcher

:

While the camera itself is decent, Nikon's Z line lenses, especially crop sensor front, has been fairly lackluster. Your only lens option for Z50 right now would be 1) kit lens, including this 16-50 and a 50-250, both excellent for the size and price; 2) full frame Z mount lenses, essentially paying more money than you should be on a crop sensor; 3) FTZ adapt existing F mount lenses, more bulky and noisy plus you need to buy the adapter. People that love the Z50 mostly either only use the kit lenses or have other Z mount lenses because quite frankly, the ergonomic and menu system are much better than Sony which is industry leading on mirrorless. Nikon Z will eventually add a lot more lenses for APS-C, but that will take time; at that point, you're probably better off buying Z51 or Z50 II or whatever Nikon will call it.

I disagree, the lenses they have are almost universally fantastic. Some of the best in the market in some cases, like the 50, 85, and the 24-70/2.8. The 70-200 even somehow manages to remain sharp with the 2x teleconverter, which is unheard of if you're familiar with TCs.

There's definitely a shortage of selection right now, for DX and compact lenses. That'll probably take until end of 2021 to resolve, according to Nikon's roadmap, and like you said.

ckrueger

Oct 14, 2020 07:44 PM

46 Posts

Joined Jul 2012

ckruegerOct 14, 2020 07:44 PM

46 Posts

Quote from Avatar77

:

This is true, though "shaky town" is a bit silly to say as amazingly for years people took sharp pictures without VR! That said, some of the longer Z lenses have VR, such as the 24-200 and 70-200 f/2.8

VR definitely increases keepers for me for any shutter speeds anywhere near 1/focal. I can get sharp photos without VR (at least at <300mm), but the percentage goes up with VR, and lets me cheat more on ISO in low light.

(refurb) Nikon Z50 Mirrorless Camera + 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR Lens $697 + free s/h @ Adorama

$697

$900

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