Nikon Z50 First Impressions.

[OldMacs4Me]

Recently dug out the flash I bought last June. See this post:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/nikon-z50-first-impressions.2416173/page-3?post=33173547#post-33173547

Pleasantly surprised that the batteries were still holding enough charge to get the six frames I needed to shoot.

However I am still shopping for a camera strap. Finally figured out why nothing I find is screaming: "Buy me." My old film days strap had several loops to hold film canisters. Realized I am looking for something with a pocket for a spare battery and one to hold a spare memory card. Found one but sadly it is made of neoprene which is not a great choice of materials. Interestingly quick connect snaps are not needed as I am using small carabiners with the Nikon strap. I much prefer that over having dangling ends when I am doing copy work and not using a strap.

 

[mollyc]

Recently dug out the flash I bought last June. See this post:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/nikon-z50-first-impressions.2416173/page-3?post=33173547#post-33173547

Pleasantly surprised that the batteries were still holding enough charge to get the six frames I needed to shoot.

However I am still shopping for a camera strap. Finally figured out why nothing I find is screaming: "Buy me." My old film days strap had several loops to hold film canisters. Realized I am looking for something with a pocket for a spare battery and one to hold a spare memory card. Found one but sadly it is made of neoprene which is not a great choice of materials. Interestingly quick connect snaps are not needed as I am using small carabiners with the Nikon strap. I much prefer that over having dangling ends when I am doing copy work and not using a strap.

These are a little (maybe a lot) on the feminine side, but they do have a pocket. I like scarf style straps but don't have this brand.

CapturingCouture - Etsy

Shop Give your camera some STYLE! by CapturingCouture located in Rancho Santa Margarita, California. Rave reviews! Average review rating is 4.8 or higher

www.etsy.com

you might like this one better:

Companion Camera Strap Leather Camera Strap, Camera Strap, Camera Strap With Pockets for Lens Cap and Battery - Etsy

This Camera Straps item by StrappedCameraCo has 105 favorites from Etsy shoppers. Ships from Australia. Listed on Jul 10, 2024

www.etsy.com

 

[OldMacs4Me]

Thanks Molly, on the right track with the second one. Works out to about $70 with shipping.

Suspect my wife could build one of the scarf styles.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

I have very few slides as big prints was always my film interest. However my mom left me a very large supply of them. The results I am getting will allow me to dispose of those slides once I get them all digitized. What I am finding encouraging is that I am getting results that will allow me to digitize and sometimes print old negs and slides much more efficiently than via the scanner.

A no frills tripod that is definitely my favorite. Doesn't matter what they look like they get the job done. Mine gets very little use since the 4x5 went into storage, With todays smaller, lighter cameras coupled with the high ISOs that my Lumilux and even my little Oly TG-6 can use, almost all of my shots are hand held. Otherwise the light weight Slik Traveler can easily handle all three of these cameras, as long as I make sure the wind doesn't catch it.

The Z50 takes the ISO aspect to a new level. ISO 6400 shows minimal noise and for certain subjects I would even be willing to use 12,800. Having a long time hatred of grain I've set the ISO limit to 1600, but that's more or less personal taste.

As to keeping slide originals, there may be a dozen or two worth preserving. Thankfully 90+% of moms were on Kodachrome and have suffered almost no age degradation.

Did the post image processing on the color neg roll this afternoon. Once I had the routine down it went quickly. Results are certainly superior to prints a lab would have given me had I printed the roll back in 2004. It is important to look for the exposure where the histogram is closest to dead center.

I just noted you stated "...Results are certainly superior to prints a lab would have given me had I printed the roll back in 2004."
I have to strongly disagree. Whether done by a camera or by a scanner, digitizing unavoidably loses detail, period. The best drum scans are far better than any light box capture, but the best prints will always come printing from the original film.

 

[OldMacs4Me]

First of all I said 'a lab' not a top notch custom lab. Very few photographers used top end labs for anything but special prints. Most labs in the early 2000s did not produce great or even good results. When I ran my own lab (in the 1990s) I lost track of how many strips of film from other labs I loaded onto spindles and ran by hand through the bleach and fix to remove residual silver. Most labs failed to carefully monitor the SG of their C-41 developer. Typically it was much too strong, I know with the Agfa processor it typically took at least quart of water a day to compensate for evaporation. Fail to do that and the Bleach was rapidly diluted resulting in some of the exposed silver being retained in the film.

I am very fortunate in that I have 8x12 images that I printed myself from many of the negs I later scanned. At 12x18 or smaller it would take a very critical eye to notice any losses comparing my digitally copied image to an original. There are always minor differences, sometimes for the better, sometimes just different and occasionally worse. In all cases the differences are not something I would lose sleep over. Moreover working digitally I am better able to control contrast and shadow detail than I was in the lab.

I should clarify that at my own lab I hand processed film with a dip and dunk set-up. Working in other labs I used processors. And yes loading strips of 4 or 5 onto spindles was a royal pain in the wazoo and I charged accordingly. Usually it was only one strip. but once there were several entire rolls shot at a wedding, then developed at K-Mart.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

I must agree, the basic low end labs put out very low quality prints. And the Nikon scanners that I was using circa 2008 did a very good job of digitizing; good enough for 4-color glossy doubletruck ads or for 13x19 Epson inkjet prints.

My efforts at camera digitizing with a Nikon D3 and 105mm lens never came close to the quality that you achieve, but they were good enough for small ads and anything online. Mostly I camera-digitized solely for image databasing purposes; copied film was then archived for later [s l o w] scanning when needed for high-rez usage.

 

[OldMacs4Me]

So I notice the next generation of Z50 is on its way.

Improvements that might entice some buyers:
JPEG continuous new 30fps, old 11fps
New back is fully articulated, old was single axis articulation
Buffer is considerably larger
Low light AF sensitivity noticeably improved.
USBc Old was USBb
Same viewfinder but brighter setting available
Touch screen buttons now physical

As to back sliding:
Weight has gone from 450gms to 550gms
Battery life reduced by about 20%. A bit surprising as the new version uses a larger capacity battery.
Price is up about 7-8%

If the latter considerations outweigh the former, it might be a good time to purchase the original Z50 while they are still in stock or as they become available used.

I can find no indication that Nikon addressed what is perhaps my biggest beef and probably still lacks levels for shooting vertically instead of horizontally. I do sometimes photograph artwork on a flat surface. Hand held is best as any tower-swing arm support is likely to be cumbersome, the bigger the subject the more cumbersome the arm. The Z50 would be perfect were it not for the lack of levels. However my smaller cameras force me to look over the top and down instead of being able to use a more comfortable articulated back.

Fairly complete summary here:

Nikon Z50 II Announced: Autofocus and Video Improvements

Nikon just announced their follow-up to the original Nikon Z50 of 2019, the Nikon Z50 II. What's changed in the last five years? While the camera's 20 megapixel DX sensor is the same, we've seen big improvements in other areas, especially autofocus. Here's what you need to know about the Z50 II!

photographylife.com

 

[Allen_Wentz]

Nikon's Z50 II looks like a very good upgrade at good value. IMO Thom Hogan is by far the best camera person on the net and his initial prerelease comments are at
Z50 II Commentary by Thom

 

[bousozoku]

Too bad that they can't make your Z50 a Z50 Mk II with a firmware update. It looks like the camera body they should have produced at first, but it's good that it's here. The image quality is already fine on the one you have.

 

[OldMacs4Me]

I'm looking at the 20% weight increase and the 20% reduction in battery life.

I would like the physical buttons to control display and zoom, and the articulated back would be nice. However none of that would improve my images in the slightest, so I'll happily stay where I am. Those who are into the video end might be very well served by the update, but that ain't me!

I do expect to see some bargains on lightly used Z50s in the near future, up to the individual and their wallet if that's enticing enough to make them buy.

 

[bousozoku]

I'm looking at the 20% weight increase and the 20% reduction in battery life.

I would like the physical buttons to control display and zoom, and the articulated back would be nice. However none of that would improve my images in the slightest, so I'll happily stay where I am. Those who are into the video end might be very well served by the update, but that ain't me!

I do expect to see some bargains on lightly used Z50s in the near future, up to the individual and their wallet if that's enticing enough to make them buy.

If I was still on the D7200, I could see the Z50 Mk II as something I'd like to have. Given my other history, I went a totally different direction and could only be more pleased if someone else had paid for my new equipment.

 

[cjsuk]

Well I bought the Z50ii. Arrived a couple of hours ago. Am quite happy with it. I've had the Z50 for a while and it has some niggles. Some comments so far:

• The original Z50 control layout has some serious problems with it. For example the on display touch screen buttons getting poked with your nose when you're doing stuff. That is now fixed - the controls are much better and are all real buttons.
• AF and subject tracking is orders of magnitude better. I mean off the scale better.
• Can charge / power by USB-C without having to either turn it off to charge it.
• Grip is slightly larger and a lot more comfortable.
• Can flip the display around so it's facing the camera body and won't get damaged in transmit and/or won't power up when you don't want it to.
• It's heavier but it's not much.

I'll post any findings I have.

I don't expect miracles here on image quality changes. It's mostly convenience issues. The original Z50 is going on eBay in the new year so finances figure the old Z50 body cost me £7.56 a month over the lifetime. Not an expensive hobby 😂.

Back view - note controls. mk2 on left mk1 on right

Top view.