Z50vs ZV-E1
VS
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Beginner, Travel, Everyday — Z50 (2019): Nikon's Z system at its most accessible.
Video Creators, Vloggers & Filmmakers — ZV-E1 (2023): Full-frame video quality in a vlogging body — exceptional low-light performance and a genuinely compact form factor.
Who should buy what
Z50 (2019)
- Nikon DSLR users wanting a lighter mirrorless
- First-time enthusiast camera buyers
ZV-E1 (2023)
- Video creators who want full-frame low-light quality in a compact body
- Vloggers stepping up from APS-C who prioritise image quality over resolution
- Filmmakers who want S-Log3 and cinematic colour in a run-and-gun package
- A7S III users who want the same sensor in a smaller, lighter body
Quick take: The z50 has the highest resolution at 21mp; the z50 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Z50 (2019) | ZV-E1 (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £499 | £1,999 |
| Sensor | APS-C CMOS | 12.1MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS Exmor R |
| Resolution | 20.9MP | 12.1MP |
| Video | 4K 30fps (1.5× crop), 1080p 120fps | 4K/60p (S-Cinetone, S-Log3), 4K/120p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | 209-point phase-detect hybrid AF | Real-time Tracking AF with subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | None | IBIS — Active Mode for video |
| Burst Rate | 11fps | 10fps |
| Battery Life | 300 shots (CIPA) | ~570 shots (CIPA) / ~105 min video |
| Weight | 397g (body only) | 483g (with battery) |
| Dimensions | 126.5 × 93.5 × 60.0mm | 121.4 × 71.6 × 54.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No |
| Viewfinder | EVF 0.68× 2.36M-dot | None — screen only |
| Screen | 3.2" downward-tilting touchscreen, 1.04M-dot | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Nikon Z-Mount (DX) | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I | Single CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, Micro USB, Micro HDMI | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3.5mm mic, Multi-Interface Shoe |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Z50 | ZV-E1 |
|---|---|---|
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Low Light | — | |
| Travel | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Portrait | — | |
| Landscape | — |
More comparisons with Z50
Camera family history