Portraits & Studio Work — Nikon Z 50mm f/1.8 S (2018): One of the finest 50mm lenses ever made — the wide Z-mount throat enables edge-to-edge sharpness and stunning bokeh that rivals lenses twice the price.
Portrait & Wedding Photography — A7 IV (2021): The full-frame portrait benchmark — 33MP, AI Eye AF, and exceptional skin-tone rendering in a pro-grade hybrid body.
Who should buy what
A7 IV (2021)
Quick take: The nikon z 50mm f/1.8 s is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Nikon Z 50mm f/1.8 S (2018) | A7 IV (2021) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £549 | £2,299 |
| Sensor | f/1.8 (max aperture) | 33MP Full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS |
| Resolution | — | 33.0MP |
| Video | 40cm minimum focus distance | 4K/60p oversampled, 10-bit internal, S-Log3, S-Cinetone |
| Autofocus | STM (Stepping Motor Actuator) — fast and near-silent | 759-point phase-detect, AI subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | None (relies on body IBIS) | 5-axis IBIS, 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | — | 10fps mechanical, 30fps electronic |
| Battery Life | — | ~580 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 415g | 659g body only |
| Dimensions | 76.0 × 86.5mm | 131.3 × 96.4 × 79.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | — | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification |
| Screen | — | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen |
| Mount | Nikon Z | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | — | Dual slots: CFexpress Type A + SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | — | USB-C (3.2 Gen 2), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
More comparisons with Nikon Z 50mm f/1.8 S