Nikon 1 V1 vs Nikon Z50: A Hands-On Comparison for Smart Camera Buyers in 2024

When deciding on a mirrorless camera, you want to make sure your choice fits your photography style, skill-level, and future ambitions. Today, I’m putting two Nikon mirrorless cameras head-to-head that are often mistaken for close alternatives but really serve quite different shooters: the Nikon 1 V1, announced back in 2012, and the more recent Nikon Z50 from 2019.

Both are entry-level mirrorless offerings from Nikon, but while the 1 V1 was a pioneering mirrorless attempt with a small sensor, the Z50 is a true APS-C mirrorless designed on the modern Nikon Z mount system. So, what practical differences can you expect if you’re eyeing either model? I’ve spent significant time with both cameras, running them through portrait setups, landscapes, wildlife scenarios, and video shoots, so let’s dig through their strengths, trade-offs, and who each camera really suits best.

First Impressions: Size, Feel, and Ergonomics Matter

Before you even fire up the shutter, how a camera feels in your hands can shape your entire shooting experience.

The Nikon 1 V1 is compact and sportingly diminutive - a rangefinder-style mirrorless with dimensions of 113 x 76 x 44 mm and tipping the scales at just 383 grams. Its minimalistic body, however, can feel a bit cramped if you prefer larger grips or thicker lenses. Controls are simple but sometimes less intuitive to reach quickly.

In contrast, the Z50 expands the grip bulk and body size noticeably (127 x 94 x 60 mm, 397 grams), adopting a more traditional DSLR-style profile. This isn’t a bulky rig by any means but feels sturdier and more comfortable during extended handheld shoots. The slightly larger weight supports that feeling, balancing well especially when paired with bigger Z-mount lenses.

Looking down from above, you’ll appreciate how these design philosophies unfold into the control layouts.

The Z50 brings a modern Nikon-style control ensemble: two command dials, dedicated video record button, and a mode dial that’s easy to operate without fumbling. The 1 V1 adopts a pared-down approach with fewer buttons and lacks a top LCD for quick info - something I sorely missed during my real-world walkthroughs. Speaking of screens...

Screen and Viewfinder: Getting the Framing Just Right

When composing images, your electronic viewfinder (EVF) and rear display play vital roles, especially in changing light scenarios or tricky compositions.

The 1 V1’s fixed 3-inch TFT LCD offers decent resolution (921k dots) but no touch functionality or tilting. It’s adequate for casual shooting but feels dated today, especially if you’re used to tilting or articulating touchscreens prevalent on mirrorless cameras.

The Z50, on the other hand, sports a 3.2-inch tilting touchscreen LCD with slightly higher resolution (1040k dots). This screen supports touch-based autofocus point selection, menu navigation, and swipe gestures. It benefits vloggers and those shooting at unconventional angles. The selfie-friendly flip screen was also a thoughtful addition not present in the older model.

Moving to the electronic viewfinders:

• Nikon 1 V1: 1440k-dot EVF, 100% coverage
• Nikon Z50: 2360k-dot EVF, 100% coverage

The Z50’s EVF offers much crisper detail, higher refresh rates, and smoother tracking - critical for fast-moving subjects or street photography. The 1 V1’s EVF is sufficient but feels less natural during event shoots or sports.

Sensor Technologies and Image Quality: The Heart of the Camera

Here’s where the cameras part ways significantly. Sensor size and tech dictate everything from dynamic range to noise handling - often the most crucial factor for image quality.

The Nikon 1 V1 features a 1-inch CMOS sensor sized at 13.2 x 8.8 mm, with a 10-megapixel resolution. This sensor places the V1 firmly in the compact-camera realm, akin to premium point-and-shoots but housed in a mirrorless body. The Nikon 1 system lenses carry a hefty 2.7x crop factor, resulting in longer effective focal lengths but some creative compromises for wide-angle work.

Conversely, the Nikon Z50 sports a 23.5 x 15.7 mm APS-C sized BSI-CMOS sensor delivering 21 megapixels. This represents a massive jump in sensor area (nearly three times larger), meaning better light gathering, higher resolution, and significantly improved dynamic range.

Pixely details from my hands-on lab tests confirm the Nikon Z50 outclasses the 1 V1 in color depth, noise handling, and shadow recovery. While the 1 V1’s sensor is respectable for daylight or well-lit scenes, you’ll quickly notice its limits in low light or when pushing ISO beyond 800.

Autofocus Performance: Tracking Your Subject Reliably

Autofocus can make or break a shoot, especially for fast sports or wildlife subjects.

The Nikon 1 V1 uses a hybrid AF system with 135 phase-detection points - impressive on paper for its sensor size and age. However, it only supports single autofocus and limited AF tracking modes, lacking touch-to-focus or face/eye detection capabilities.

The Nikon Z50 features 209 phase-detect AF points with on-sensor phase detection and contrast detection. It offers continuous AF, touch-based focus point selection, face and eye detection (including animal eye AF), and real-time tracking - features I put to test in wildlife and portrait sessions with excellent results. The AF lock-on accuracy stayed firm even in challenging light, which was a relief compared to the 1 V1’s occasional hunting.

For burst shooting, Z50 edges out slightly faster with 11 fps versus 10 fps on the V1, but Z50’s tracking prowess keeps more frames perfectly sharp over a sequence.

Real-World Photography Tests: How They Perform Across Genres

Now to the use-case specifics photographers care most about.

Portrait Photography

Good skin tone rendering, accurate eye detection, and creamy bokeh define a stellar portrait.

The Nikon 1 V1’s smaller sensor limits shallow depth of field capability - even with fast lenses, you find the background blur less pronounced. Its contrast-detection AF lacks in eye-tracking, forcing reliance on center-point focusing or manual fine-tuning. Skin tone reproduction is generally good but not exceptional in mixed lighting.

The Z50’s larger sensor delivers pleasing skin tones with natural colors and greater tonal subtlety. Coupled with the excellent eye and face detection autofocus, it’s a far more convincing portrait tool. Its ability to separate the subject from background with ample bokeh helps produce professional-looking shots with dynamic depth.

Landscape Photography

Landscape imaging demands high resolution and dynamic range to capture fine detail in shadows and highlights.

The Nikon 1 V1 manages decent dynamic range at base ISO but is quickly limited at higher ISOs, showing noise in darker areas. The pixel count is only 10MP, so large prints or detailed crops are limited.

The Nikon Z50 excels here with its 21MP sensor and wider dynamic range capabilities. I could push shadows and highlights aggressively, recovering considerable detail without visible noise. Combined with weather-sealed build quality (an advantage over the V1), the Z50 suits landscape photographers who work in variable environments.

Wildlife and Sports

Both cameras offer respectable continuous shooting speeds (10fps for 1 V1, 11fps for Z50), but autofocus sophistication hugely impacts use.

The Nikon 1 V1 struggles with continuous autofocus tracking and has no animal eye-detection, which limits success on wildlife in flight or fast sports. Its long effective focal lengths due to the 2.7x crop may help for reach but cannot compensate for focus reliability issues.

The Nikon Z50’s hybrid autofocus with eye detection and object tracking makes birds in flight and athletes easier to capture sharply. The 1.5x crop is a happy medium, offering effective telephoto reach while preserving image quality.

Street and Travel Use: Portability Meets Discretion

For street photography, size, quiet operation, and quick AF matter.

The 1 V1 benefits from its compactness but lacks silent shutter modes and advanced AF tracking. The fixed rear screen and absence of a tilting display make shooting from unconventional angles cumbersome.

The Z50 fares well with a quiet shutter, realistic viewfinder rendering, and a tilting touchscreen - great for candid street captures and selfies alike. Its weather sealing is also reassuring for travel shoots.

Battery life is roughly comparable: the 1 V1 offers about 350 shots per charge, whereas the Z50 delivers around 320. Both are fine for a day out but keep spares on hand.

Macro and Close-Up: How Do They Handle Small Subjects?

Both cameras have no specialized macro focus range but can focus decently close with suitable lenses.

The Z50’s modern autofocus and larger sensor provide sharper macro shots with better detail rendition and color accuracy. The 1 V1's sensor struggles slightly with fine texture detail, partly due to its lower native resolution.

Neither offers in-body stabilization, so lens-based stabilization or tripods are recommended for macro work.

Night and Astro Photography: Pushing the ISO Boundaries

Here the sensor technology difference really surfaces.

The 1 V1 maxes out at ISO 6400 but image quality deteriorates quickly beyond ISO 800, plagued with noise and reduced dynamic range.

The Z50 offers native ISO up to 51200 and boosted ISO up to 204800 - while expanding ISO helps with exposure flexibility, image quality beyond ISO 6400–12800 gets very grainy anyway. Still, it remains useable at higher ISOs compared to the 1 V1, making it a far better pick for night and astrophotography.

Video Capabilities: What’s Your Vlogging or Filmmaking Toolkit?

Video shooters will find major advances between these models.

The Nikon 1 V1 provides Full HD 1080p video at 60fps max with basic codecs (MPEG-4, H.264). It includes a microphone port but no headphone jack for monitoring, and no 4K modes.

The Z50 steps up to 4K UHD recording at 30fps (MPEG-4, H.264) with clean output and sharper details. It’s also packed with a microphone port and touchscreen AF controls during video. Absence of a headphone jack disappoints but is common in this class.

If serious video or vlogging is your focus, the Z50 is clearly superior.

Toughness, Connectivity, and Workflow Integration

The Nikon 1 V1 is essentially a consumer-level camera with no weather sealing and optional GPS.

The Z50 features splash and dust resistance (but not full waterproofing), Bluetooth wireless, and Wi-Fi built in for easy file transfer and remote control - key benefits for modern workflows. Storage-wise, both use SD cards, with Z50 supporting faster UHS-II cards.

Battery types differ: 1 V1 uses the EN-EL15 removable pack; Z50 integrates a built-in EN-EL25. While swapping batteries is easier on the V1, the Z50’s life suffices for most uses if you carry a charger.

What About Lens Ecosystems? Nikon 1 vs Nikon Z Mounts

Lens selection often makes or breaks your system investment.

• Nikon 1 system had about 13 native lenses, mainly prime and zooms tailored to the smaller sensor and 2.7x crop factor. Quality and variety are modest, with some increasingly rare or older optics.

• The Nikon Z mount, by comparison, boasts 15 and rapidly growing native lenses optimized for APS-C and full-frame sensors. You’ll find excellent fast primes, landscape zooms, macro lenses, and third-party options. Via FTZ adapters, the Z50 can also use Nikon F-mount DSLR lenses, enhancing its versatility considerably.

What Does the Benchmark Data Say?

Here’s an overall performance snapshot based on thorough testing:

The Nikon Z50 outperforms the 1 V1 in every major metric including sensor quality, autofocus speed, and video capabilities. The Nikon 1 V1’s strengths lie mainly in its compact size and beginner-friendly interface but fall short in advanced features.

For a more granular look across photography types:

The Z50 excels in portrait, landscape, wildlife, sports, and video. The 1 V1 registers moderately in casual travel and street photography due to its pocketability but generally underperforms elsewhere.

Seeing Is Believing: Image Quality Comparison

I invite you to examine sample images captured side-by-side to witness the real-world differences:

Nikon 1 V1 screen back Nikon Z50 front Nikon Z50 screen back

Look carefully at color fidelity, sharpness, noise levels, and bokeh rendition. The Z50’s larger sensor pushes images into a higher tier of photographic quality. The 1 V1 can still deliver pleasing snapshots but lacks the punch for professional-grade and demanding creative work.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

If you’re considering these cameras in 2024, here’s my distilled advice based on extensive hands-on experience:

• Choose the Nikon 1 V1 if:

  • You prioritize compactness and want a simple entry into mirrorless.
  • Your photography is casual, with good lighting and no immediate plans for professional workflows.
  • Budget constraints are tight and you can find a well-priced used model.
  • You need longer effective telephoto reach from the 2.7x crop for specific tasks like sports or wildlife at a distance (with caveats on autofocus).

• Choose the Nikon Z50 if:

  • You want higher image quality, substantial sensor size advantages, and superior autofocus.
  • Your photography spans portraits, landscapes, wildlife, or video where technical performance matters.
  • You desire modern connectivity, touch controls, tilting screen, and access to a richer lens ecosystem.
  • You’re ready to invest in a camera that will support your growth as an enthusiast or semi-professional shooter.

While the Nikon 1 V1 was an important stepping stone in Nikon’s mirrorless journey, the Z50’s combination of sensor tech, ergonomics, and features makes it a far more powerful and flexible tool today.

If you want an expert’s detailed evaluation for your specific style, or if budget and size are your main constraints, feel free to ask. I’ve tested both cameras extensively around varied lighting, RAW workflows, and key shooting scenarios - ready to share more nuanced insights.

Happy shooting, and may your next camera choice bring you joy and great images!