Decision tools · Compare
1 J5 vs Z50 II
Quick take: The Z50 II has the highest resolution at 21MP; the 1 J5 is the most affordable; only the Z50 II is weather sealed.
Where the 1 J5 wins
- Cheaper new: £93 vs £939
- Burst Rate: 20fps
- Weight: 265g (with battery)
Where the Z50 II wins
- Resolution: 20.9MP
- Battery Life: ~330 shots (CIPA)
- Weather Sealed: Yes
- Portrait: 7.2 vs 3.9
- Wedding & Events: 6.3 vs 2.9
16 specs side by side·15 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video, Clifton Cameras, MPB, eBay and Amazon UK
How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.
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Size comparedbody only, no lens · drawn to one scale
- 1 J5 98 × 60 × 32 mm · 265 g
- Z50 II 127 × 97 × 66 mm · 550 g
The 1 J5 is 29 mm narrower, 37 mm shorter, 34 mm slimmer and 285 g lighter than the Z50 II.
Drawn to scale from the makers' dimensions (W × H × D). Front shown, depth on the slanted edge.
Verdictwhich should you buy?
Z50 II — All-Round Photography: Nikon's updated APS-C body with 4K/60p, improved subject tracking, and a vari-angle screen — a solid all-rounder.
Who should buy what
Z50 II (2024)
is the right camera for you if…
- Beginners stepping into the Nikon Z system wanting improved autofocus
- Content creators who want APS-C Z quality with subject detection AF
- Z50 owners who want meaningfully better AF performance for people and pets
- Travel photographers wanting a compact, capable Z body at an accessible price
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | 1 J5Nikon · 2015 | Z50 IINikon · 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £93 usedBest | £939 |
| Sensor | 20.8MP 1-inch (CX) BSI CMOS | 20.9MP APS-C CMOS |
| Resolution | 20.8MP | 20.9MPBest |
| Video | 4K UHD/15p, 1080p/60 | 4K/60p uncropped, 1080p/120p, N-Log |
| Autofocus | Hybrid AF: 171 areas, 105 with phase detection; face detection, subject tracking | Phase-detect, 249 points, subject detection (human/animal/vehicle) |
| Stabilisation | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | No stabilisation |
| Burst Rate | 20fpsBest | 11fps mechanical, 30fps electronic |
| Battery Life | ~250 shots (CIPA) | ~330 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 265g (with battery)Best | 385g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 98.3 × 59.7 × 31.5mm | 127.0 × 96.8 × 66.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | YesBest |
| Viewfinder | None (rear screen only) | EVF, 2.36M dots |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Nikon 1 | Nikon Z-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single microSD slot | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB, micro HDMI, Wi-Fi, NFC | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.
How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
1 J5
Z50 II
Portrait
3.9/10
7.2/10
Street
6.7/10
6.4/10
Travel
6.1/10
6.1/10
Wedding & Events
2.9/10
6.3/10
Filmmaking
3.2/10
6.0/10
Documentary
4.1/10
7.0/10
Sports & Action
4.5/10
7.9/10
Landscape
3.9/10
5.5/10
Wildlife
4.3/10
8.1/10
Casual
5.1/10
6.4/10
Food
4.6/10
6.7/10
Macro
3.4/10
6.0/10
Architecture
3.4/10
5.5/10
Astrophotography
2.6/10
5.5/10
Vlogging & Video
—
6.8/10
Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →
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