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Nikon Z50 vs Olympus E-M1 II

Portability
74
Imaging
68
Features
84
Overall
74
Nikon Z50 front
 
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II front
Portability
68
Imaging
60
Features
93
Overall
73

Nikon Z50 vs Olympus E-M1 II Key Specs

Nikon Z50
(Full Review)
  • 21MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Expand to 204800)
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon Z Mount
  • 397g - 127 x 94 x 60mm
  • Revealed October 2019
Olympus E-M1 II
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 574g - 134 x 91 x 67mm
  • Announced September 2016
  • Replaced the Olympus E-M1
  • Updated by Olympus E-M1 III
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Nikon Z50 vs Olympus E-M1 II Overview

The following is a thorough analysis of the Nikon Z50 and Olympus E-M1 II, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Pro Mirrorless by brands Nikon and Olympus. The image resolution of the Z50 (21MP) and the E-M1 II (20MP) is fairly well matched but the Z50 (APS-C) and E-M1 II (Four Thirds) have totally different sensor sizing.

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The Z50 was revealed 3 years after the E-M1 II which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have the same body design (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before delving into a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple overview of how the Z50 matches up vs the E-M1 II when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon Z50 over the Olympus E-M1 II

 Z50 E-M1 II 
AnnouncedOctober 2019September 2016Newer by 38 months
Display dimensions3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1040k1037kCrisper display (+3k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 II over the Nikon Z50

 E-M1 II Z50 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display

Common features in the Nikon Z50 and Olympus E-M1 II

 Z50 E-M1 II 
Focus manually Very exact focus
Selfie screen Both good for selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Nikon Z50 vs Olympus E-M1 II Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to travel with your camera often, you will need to consider its weight and proportions. The Nikon Z50 provides exterior measurements of 127mm x 94mm x 60mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.4") accompanied by a weight of 397 grams (0.88 lbs) while the Olympus E-M1 II has measurements of 134mm x 91mm x 67mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.6") with a weight of 574 grams (1.27 lbs).

Check out the Nikon Z50 and Olympus E-M1 II in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the Z50 against the E-M1 II.

Nikon Z50 vs Olympus E-M1 II size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the Z50 and E-M1 II is 74 and 68 respectively.

Nikon Z50 vs Olympus E-M1 II top view buttons comparison

Nikon Z50 vs Olympus E-M1 II Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very difficult to envision the difference between sensor dimensions only by looking at specifications. The image below will give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the Z50 and E-M1 II.

Plainly, the two cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The Z50 using its larger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field easier and the Nikon Z50 will resolve more detail because of its extra 1MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The younger Z50 is going to have an edge in sensor innovation.

Nikon Z50 vs Olympus E-M1 II sensor size comparison

Nikon Z50 vs Olympus E-M1 II Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon Z50 vs Olympus E-M1 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon Z50 Portrait photography highlights
Olympus E-M1 II Portrait photography highlights
80
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (21 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
76
has manual focus
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon Z50 Street photography advice
Olympus E-M1 II Street photography advice
73
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
comes with touch to focus
weather sealing
very good ISO range (51,200)
no image stabilization
heavier than competition (397g)
78
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
has touch to focus
environment sealing
lighter than others (574g)
good ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon Z50 Sports photography info
Olympus E-M1 II Sports photography info
75
decent sensor resolution (21MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
weather sealing
comes with phase detect autofocus
no image stabilization
75
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
high max fps (60.0 frames per second)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (20MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
environment sealing
has phase detect AF
bad battery power (350 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon Z50
Travel photography with Olympus E-M1 II
77
weather sealing
supports bluetooth
comes with touch to focus
decent sensor resolution (21 megapixels)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
heavier than competition (397g)
72
lighter than others (574 grams)
environment sealing
has touch to focus
megapixel count good (20MP)
selfie friendly display
bad battery power (350 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon Z50 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus E-M1 II as a Landscape photography camera
79
manual focus
swap lenses (Nikon Z mount)
decent sized screen (3.2 inch)
decent sensor resolution (21 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
very good ISO range (51,200)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
no image stabilization
76
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
has dual storage slots
bad battery power (350 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon Z50 Vlogging details
Olympus E-M1 II Vlogging details
71
screen is selfie friendly
touch screen
offers face detect autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
does have mic port
no image stabilization
heavier than competition (397g)
79
selfie friendly display
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect focusing
high quality video (4096 x 2160 pxls)
has mic jack
lighter than others (574 grams)
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Nikon Z50 vs Olympus E-M1 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon Z50 and Olympus E-M1 II
 Nikon Z50Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II
General Information
Make Nikon Olympus
Model type Nikon Z50 Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Revealed 2019-10-10 2016-09-19
Body design SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Expeed 6 TruePic VIII
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 17.4 x 13mm
Sensor area 369.0mm² 226.2mm²
Sensor resolution 21MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Maximum resolution 5568 x 3712 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 51200 25600
Maximum boosted ISO 204800 -
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW format
Minimum boosted ISO - 64
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 209 121
Lens
Lens mount type Nikon Z Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 15 107
Focal length multiplier 1.5 2.1
Screen
Display type Tilting Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3.2 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 1,040 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot 2,360 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.74x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Highest quiet shutter speed - 1/32000s
Continuous shooting speed 11.0fps 60.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (at ISO 100) 9.10 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings - Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM, 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 4096x2160
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MOV, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 397 grams (0.88 lbs) 574 grams (1.27 lbs)
Physical dimensions 127 x 94 x 60mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.4") 134 x 91 x 67mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 80
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.8
DXO Low light rating not tested 1312
Other
Battery life 320 pictures 350 pictures
Form of battery Built-in Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL25 BLH-1
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-II supported) Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots
Storage slots 1 Two
Retail price $857 $1,700