Decision tools · Compare

Z50 II vs PEN-F

Quick take: The Z50 II has the highest resolution at 21MP; the PEN-F is the most affordable; only the Z50 II is weather sealed.

Where the Z50 II wins

  • Resolution: 20.9MP
  • Burst Rate: 11fps mechanical, 30fps electronic
  • Weight: 385g (body only)
  • Weather Sealed: Yes
  • Portrait: 7.2 vs 5.1

Where the PEN-F wins

  • Cheaper new: £445 vs £939

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.

Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more

Size comparedbody only, no lens · drawn to one scale
0 25 50 75 100 Z50 II 127 mm 97 mm PEN-F 125 mm 72 mm
  • Z50 II 127 × 97 × 66 mm · 550 g
  • PEN-F 125 × 72 × 37 mm · 427 g

The PEN-F is 2 mm narrower, 25 mm shorter, 29 mm slimmer and 123 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 Z50 IINikon · 2024PEN-FOlympus · 2016
Price £939£445 usedBest
Sensor 20.9MP APS-C CMOS20.3MP Four Thirds Live MOS
Resolution 20.9MPBest20.3MP
Video 4K/60p uncropped, 1080p/120p, N-LogFull HD 1080p/60
Autofocus Phase-detect, 249 points, subject detection (human/animal/vehicle)Contrast-detect AF (FAST AF), 81 areas, face / eye detection
Stabilisation No stabilisationSensor-shift in-body stabilisation
Burst Rate 11fps mechanical, 30fps electronicBest10fps
Battery Life ~330 shots (CIPA)~330 shots (CIPA)
Weight 385g (body only)Best427g (with battery)
Dimensions 127.0 × 96.8 × 66.5mm124.8 × 72.1 × 37.3mm
Weather Sealed YesBestNot weather sealed
Viewfinder EVF, 2.36M dotsOLED EVF, 2.36M dots, 100%, 1.08-1.23x
Screen 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 1.04M dots
Mount Nikon Z-mountMicro Four Thirds
Memory Cards Single SD UHS-I slotSingle SD slot
Connectivity USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-FiUSB, micro HDMI, hot shoe + PC sync, 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
Z50 II
PEN-F
Portrait
7.2/10
5.1/10
Street
6.4/10
6.8/10
Travel
6.1/10
5.8/10
Wedding & Events
6.3/10
3.6/10
Vlogging & Video
6.8/10
3.9/10
Filmmaking
6.0/10
—
Documentary
7.0/10
3.3/10
Sports & Action
7.9/10
5.0/10
Landscape
5.5/10
5.0/10
Wildlife
8.1/10
5.7/10
Casual
6.4/10
4.4/10
Food
6.7/10
6.0/10
Macro
6.0/10
5.5/10
Architecture
5.5/10
5.7/10
Astrophotography
5.5/10
4.1/10

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 →

Next
More comparisons with Z50 II
Camera family history