The Nikon Z50 II shoots 10-bit 4K60 N-Log video, but there’s a catch

Nikon has announced the new Nikon Z50 II ($906.95) APS-C mirrorless camera. It’s a lot like its predecessor, and many of the specs remain unchanged, but it has also seen some significant upgrades. For a start, it gains 10-bit 4K 60fps N-Log video, a first for Nikon’s APS-C lineup.

You also get the ability to use RED LUTs, now that Nikon owns RED. The Z50 II has Nikon’s newest EXPEED 7 processor for faster autofocus and general performance. It also shoots 4K60. But it still has the same 20.9-megapixel sensor as the Z50, and 4K60 has a second 1.5x crop stacked on top of the 1.5x DX crop.

Nikon Z50 II – Same sensor, new tricks

The Nikon Z50 II upgrades the original Z50 in a number of ways, although the sensor is not one of them. It’s still the same 20.9-megapixel sensor found in the Nikon Z50 and Nikon Zfc. But thanks to the new EXPEED 7 processor – the same processor that’s in the Z8 and Z9 – it does gain some new tricks.

The Z50 II gains 4K60 video, whereas the Z50 topped out at 4K30. But hold the celebrations because it’s got a 1.5x crop on top of the existing 1.5x Nikon DX (APS-C) crop factor. All in, that’s a 2.25x crop factor when shooting 4K60. That’s an even smaller section of the sensor than something like 2017’s Panasonic GH5 Micro Four Thirds camera – which also shoots 4K60fps, 10-bit Log.

4K30 is still oversampled from 5.6K with no crop, and the new processor should (in theory) provide some improvement to high ISO noise, so there’s that. 10-Bit N-Log.

There’s a new video self-timer, allowing you to hit the shutter, walk away, and then it’ll start recording after a few seconds. To help with this, there’s also a new LED light on the front of the camera when you’re recording, so you can see exactly when that timer kicks in and know it’s recording.

If the above wasn’t enough to tell you that this camera was being targeted towards influencers and YouTubers, it also has a new “Product Review mode”. This lets you shoot clips that smoothly shift the focus to products in the foreground for your b-roll. They’ve also swapped out the tilting LCD for a flippy-out articulating LCD.

Nikon Z50 II Specs

Price and Availability

The Nikon Z50 II is available to pre-order now, starting at $906.95 for the body only. A single lens kit, which adds a 16-50mm lens, is also available for $1,046.95. A dual-lens kit which includes both the 16-50mm and 50-250mm lenses is also available to pre-order now for $1,296.95. Units are expected to begin shipping before the end of November.