Nikon Z50

[Eric Mc]

I'm looking at getting a decent camera to replace my old (15 years) Fuji bridge camera (which is looking more and more obsolete by the day).

In particular, I want something that takes decent video as well as stills. From what I can see, unless you want to spend thousands, most video cameras these days give you no proper viewfinder nor do they give you any manual control over shutter speeds.
So, these new DSLR or mirrorless cameras seem to be a better option for shooting video than a video camera.

I've been looking at various reviews of the Nikon Z50 mirrorless camera and it seems to fit the bill. Has anybody any experience of using the Z50 or similar?

[alock]

I you're looking at a crop sensor mirror-less, I would also include Fuji in the shortlist. Specifically the T30 or T3/T4.

I say this as a Nikon DLSR owner, but Fuji have a great range of crop sensor designed lenses, whereas with Nikon you have cheap kit zooms, and full frame pro lenses.

[Eric Mc]

I don't want to spend too much money. At the moment you can get a Z50 with standard lens and an additional Zoom 50-200 zoom lens for around £1,100.

I really want the flexibility of being able to shoot video as well as stills. Unless you are willing to pay LOTS of money, modern video cameras no longer feature proper viewfinders or manual lens control (zoom, aperture and, most importantly for video, shutter speed). My old Sanyo Video 8 camcorder that I bought in 1990 had all these features.

I was thinking a mirrorless camera that does decent video would be an ideal compromise - with the option of good stills photography too.

Edited by Eric Mc on Monday 24th February 11:02

[Simpo Two]

alock said:

Fuji have a great range of crop sensor designed lenses, whereas with Nikon you have cheap kit zooms, and full frame pro lenses.

I presume you can't get F-mount lenses onto this new Z-mount then?

This any use? https://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/mirrorless/lense...

[Eric Mc]

I was watching his vids.

It looks like you can get an adaptor for existing Nikon lenses - although I'd most likely go with the lenses available specifically for the Z50.

[Simpo Two]

Eric Mc said:

I'd most likely go with the lenses available specifically for the Z50.

If your change your business card to say 'Accountant and Photographer' you can put them though the business which would take some of the sting out of it

[alock]

Simpo Two said:

I presume you can't get F-mount lenses onto this new Z-mount then?

This any use? https://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/mirrorless/lense...

As far as I know you can adapt. I was just commenting on the fact that the Z50 is a crop sensor and Nikon don't have a good range of crop specific lenses.

My opinion is if you're going to use the cheap kit lenses then it doesn't matter.
If you want mid-level crop lenses then Fuji have a much better choice.
If you want high end full frame lenses (especially long tele) then Nikon have a better choice via the adapter.

[Eric Mc]

alock said:

As far as I know you can adapt. I was just commenting on the fact that the Z50 is a crop sensor and Nikon don't have a good range of crop specific lenses.

My opinion is if you're going to use the cheap kit lenses then it doesn't matter.
If you want mid-level crop lenses then Fuji have a much better choice.
If you want high end full frame lenses (especially long tele) then Nikon have a better choice via the adapter.

Thanks for the info. I am really out of touch with the modern world of digital; photography. The last time I bought an SLR was way back in 1982 - so well before the digital era. I have been using a Fuji Finepix bridge camera since the mid 2000s but that doesn't have interchangeable lenses, it gobbles batteries - which aren't rechargeable and its video is poor quality by modern standards.

I thought it was time I looked at hat's available now but the world has certainly moved on since 1982.

[Eric Mc]

Simpo Two said:

Eric Mc said:

I'd most likely go with the lenses available specifically for the Z50.

If your change your business card to say 'Accountant and Photographer' you can put them though the business which would take some of the sting out of it

Now would I do such a thing ?

But, as we all have to comply with money laundering regulations these days, a prudent accountant always takes a photo of his clients for his files.

[Simpo Two]

Eric Mc said:

Thanks for the info. I am really out of touch with the modern world of digital; photography. The last time I bought an SLR was way back in 1982 - so well before the digital era. I have been using a Fuji Finepix bridge camera since the mid 2000s but that doesn't have interchangeable lenses, it gobbles batteries - which aren't rechargeable and its video is poor quality by modern standards.

I thought it was time I looked at hat's available now but the world has certainly moved on since 1982.

It certainly has, but light and the laws of physics, aperture and shutter speed, focal length and ASA/ISO are the same, so all you have to add is the 'tech' of digital imaging and remember what all the extra buttons do.

Any reason for going mirrorless? A DSLR might be easier to relate to from where you are.

[Eric Mc]

I want to be able to use the viewfinder when in video mode. I can’t get on with LCD screens for outdoor video use. I just can’t see the image on the screen.

[Simpo Two]

Eric Mc said:

I want to be able to use the viewfinder when in video mode. I can’t get on with LCD screens for outdoor video use. I just can’t see the image on the screen.

Video, ah. Well you could make life a bit easier with a bigger monitor that fits on the hotshoe and add a sun shade. Random hit on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/VILTROX-DC-70EX-1024x600-...

[Eric Mc]

Interesting - didn't know such things existed.

[Sophisticated Sarah]

Z50 is fantastic. Only downside is that it’s quite small. Might be worth heading to Wex or somewhere like that to get one in your hands and see how it feels.

[Eric Mc]

Do you use it for video and, if you do, how does it perform?

[Simpo Two]

Sophisticated Sarah said:

Z50 is fantastic. Only downside is that it’s quite small. Might be worth heading to Wex or somewhere like that to get one in your hands and see how it feels.

A friend of mine recently bought a Blackmagic 6K camera from them and got 30 days to try it out - handy as he decided to swap it for the 4K version instead.