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Nikon Z50 vs Pentax K-1 II

Portability
74
Imaging
68
Features
84
Overall
74
Nikon Z50 front
 
Pentax K-1 Mark II front
Portability
55
Imaging
78
Features
82
Overall
79

Nikon Z50 vs Pentax K-1 II Key Specs

Nikon Z50
(Full Review)
  • 21MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Boost to 204800)
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon Z Mount
  • 397g - 127 x 94 x 60mm
  • Announced October 2019
Pentax K-1 II
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 819200
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF4 Mount
  • 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
  • Released February 2018
  • Earlier Model is Pentax K-1
Photography Glossary

Nikon Z50 vs Pentax K-1 II Overview

Here, we are evaluating the Nikon Z50 versus Pentax K-1 II, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Nikon and Pentax. There is a noticeable difference between the resolutions of the Z50 (21MP) and K-1 II (36MP) and the Z50 (APS-C) and K-1 II (Full frame) boast totally different sensor sizes.

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The Z50 was launched 20 months later than the K-1 II making them a generation apart from each other. The two cameras feature different body design with the Nikon Z50 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-1 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a short view of how the Z50 matches up versus the K-1 II when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon Z50 over the Pentax K-1 II

 Z50 K-1 II 
ReleasedOctober 2019February 2018More recent by 20 months
Display resolution1040k1037kClearer display (+3k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 II over the Nikon Z50

 K-1 II Z50 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display

Common features in the Nikon Z50 and Pentax K-1 II

 Z50 K-1 II 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Display size3.2"3.2"Same display dimensions

Nikon Z50 vs Pentax K-1 II Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you'll need to consider its weight and measurements. The Nikon Z50 enjoys outer measurements of 127mm x 94mm x 60mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.4") along with a weight of 397 grams (0.88 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-1 II has proportions of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") having a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs).

Look at the Nikon Z50 versus Pentax K-1 II in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are using at that moment. The following is a front view measurement comparison of the Z50 and the K-1 II.

Nikon Z50 vs Pentax K-1 II size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the Z50 and K-1 II is 74 and 55 respectively.

Nikon Z50 vs Pentax K-1 II top view buttons comparison

Nikon Z50 vs Pentax K-1 II Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to see the contrast between sensor measurements purely by going over specs. The graphic below will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the Z50 and K-1 II.

All in all, each of the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The Z50 due to its tinier sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field harder and the Pentax K-1 II will offer greater detail utilizing its extra 15 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos way more aggressively. The younger Z50 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Nikon Z50 vs Pentax K-1 II sensor size comparison

Nikon Z50 vs Pentax K-1 II Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon Z50 vs Pentax K-1 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon Z50 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-1 II as a Portrait photography camera
80
manual focus
megapixel count good (21 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
86
you can focus manually
fantastic megapixels (36 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
provides face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon Z50 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-1 II as a Street photography camera
73
tilting screen
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
features focus by touch
environment sealing
above average ISO range (51,200)
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than average (397 grams)
70
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
above average ISO range (819,200)
more heavy than average in class (1,010g)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon Z50 Sports photography advice
Pentax K-1 II Sports photography advice
75
megapixel count good (21 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
environment sealing
supports phase detect autofocus
lack of image stabilization
77
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
fantastic megapixels (36 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
provides tracking focus
weather sealing
supports phase detect autofocus
low frames per second (4.4 frames per second)
bad battery (670 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon Z50
Travel photography with Pentax K-1 II
77
environment sealing
supports bluetooth
features focus by touch
megapixel count good (21 megapixels)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
more heavy than average (397g)
53
weather sealing
fantastic megapixels (36MP)
bad battery (670 shots)
more heavy than average in class (1,010g)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon Z50 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax K-1 II Landscape photography highlights
79
manual focus
switch lenses (Nikon Z mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inches)
megapixel count good (21MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
above average ISO range (51,200)
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
lack of image stabilization
82
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF4 mount)
nice screen size (3.2")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
fantastic megapixels (36 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
above average ISO range (819,200)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
two card slots
bad battery (670 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon Z50 Vlogging information
Pentax K-1 II Vlogging information
71
selfie friendly display
touchscreen capability
provides face detection autofocus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
comes with external microphone socket
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than average (397 grams)
32
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with microphone socket
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
more heavy than average in class (1,010 grams)
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Nikon Z50 vs Pentax K-1 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon Z50 and Pentax K-1 II
 Nikon Z50Pentax K-1 Mark II
General Information
Make Nikon Pentax
Model type Nikon Z50 Pentax K-1 Mark II
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Announced 2019-10-10 2018-02-22
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Expeed 6 PRIME IV
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.7mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 369.0mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 21 megapixels 36 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 5568 x 3712 7360 x 4912
Max native ISO 51200 819200
Max boosted ISO 204800 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 209 33
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type Nikon Z Pentax KAF4
Available lenses 15 151
Crop factor 1.5 1
Screen
Display type Tilting Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3.2" 3.2"
Resolution of display 1,040k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 11.0fps 4.4fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash settings - Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/200 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Built-in
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 397g (0.88 lb) 1010g (2.23 lb)
Physical dimensions 127 x 94 x 60mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.4") 137 x 110 x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 320 photos 670 photos
Type of battery Built-in Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL25 D-LI90
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-II supported) Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I)
Card slots One Two
Retail price $857 $1,737