Decision tools · Compare
Z50 II vs Z8
Quick take: The Z8 has the highest resolution at 46MP; the Z50 II is the most affordable.
16 specs side by side·15 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras
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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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.
Z8 — Sports, Wildlife & Hybrid Professionals: Z9 performance in a compact body — 45MP, 8K/60p RAW, and 20fps burst without the bulk or price of the flagship.
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
Z8 (2023)
is the right camera for you if…
- Professional photographers who want Z9 capability in a smaller body
- Wildlife and sports shooters who want 8K RAW and 120fps burst
- Z6 III or Z7 II owners upgrading to pro-grade performance
- Hybrid professionals who need the best Nikon video and stills in one body
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | Z50 IINikon · 2024 | Z8Nikon · 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £939Best | £3,499 |
| Sensor | 20.9MP APS-C CMOS | 45.7MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS |
| Resolution | 20.9MP | 45.7MPBest |
| Video | 4K/60p uncropped, 1080p/120p, N-Log | 8K/60p RAW, 4K/120p, ProRes RAW |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 249 points, subject detection (human/animal/vehicle) | Subject detection AF, 493-point phase-detect |
| Stabilisation | No stabilisation | 6-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 11fps mechanical, 30fps electronic | 20fps RAW / 120fps JPEGBest |
| Battery Life | ~330 shots (CIPA) | 330 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 385g (body only)Best | 910g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 127.0 × 96.8 × 66.5mm | 144.0 × 118.5 × 83.0mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots | 0.5" Quad-VGA OLED EVF, 3.69M dots, 120fps |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Nikon Z-mount | Nikon Z-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | CFexpress Type B / XQD + SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth |
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
Z50 II
Z8
Portrait
7.2/10
8.4/10
Street
6.4/10
5.8/10
Travel
6.2/10
5.6/10
Wedding & Events
6.3/10
8.2/10
Vlogging & Video
7.0/10
—
Filmmaking
6.0/10
7.8/10
Documentary
7.0/10
7.7/10
Sports & Action
7.9/10
9.2/10
Landscape
5.5/10
7.4/10
Wildlife
8.1/10
8.9/10
Casual
6.4/10
4.7/10
Food
6.7/10
7.4/10
Macro
6.0/10
7.0/10
Architecture
5.5/10
7.7/10
Astrophotography
5.5/10
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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