Z50vs Nikon Z9
VS
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Beginner, Travel, Everyday — Z50 (2019): Nikon's Z system at its most accessible.
Professional Sports & Wildlife — Nikon Z9 (2021): The Z9 redefined what professional mirrorless could be — no mechanical shutter, 45MP stacked BSI, and 8K RAW in the most rugged Z body.
Who should buy what
Z50 (2019)
- Nikon DSLR users wanting a lighter mirrorless
- First-time enthusiast camera buyers
Nikon Z9 (2021)
- Professional sports, wildlife and photojournalism photographers
- Nikon D6 or D850 users making the final switch to mirrorless
- Those who need the fastest, most reliable AF Nikon has ever made
- Professionals who need a flagship body with no mechanical shutter
Quick take: The nikon z9 has the highest resolution at 46mp; the z50 is the most affordable; only the nikon z9 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Z50 (2019) | Nikon Z9 (2021) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £499 | £5,499 |
| Sensor | APS-C CMOS | 45.7MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS |
| Resolution | 20.9MP | 45.7MP |
| Video | 4K 30fps (1.5× crop), 1080p 120fps | 8K/30p RAW, 4K/120p, ProRes RAW |
| Autofocus | 209-point phase-detect hybrid AF | Subject detection AF, 493-point phase-detect |
| Stabilisation | None | 6-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 11fps | 20fps RAW / 120fps JPEG |
| Battery Life | 300 shots (CIPA) | 740 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 397g (body only) | 1340g body only |
| Dimensions | 126.5 × 93.5 × 60.0mm | 149.0 × 149.5 × 90.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF 0.68× 2.36M-dot | 0.5" Quad-VGA OLED EVF, 3.69M dots, 120fps |
| Screen | 3.2" downward-tilting touchscreen, 1.04M-dot | 3.2" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Nikon Z-Mount (DX) | Nikon Z-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I | Dual CFexpress Type B / XQD |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, Micro USB, Micro HDMI | USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, LAN |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Z50 | Nikon Z9 |
|---|---|---|
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Photojournalism | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Travel | — |
More comparisons with Z50
Camera family history