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Nikon Z50 vs Sony A9 II

Portability
74
Imaging
68
Features
84
Overall
74
Nikon Z50 front
 
Sony Alpha A9 Mark II front
Portability
62
Imaging
76
Features
93
Overall
82

Nikon Z50 vs Sony A9 II Key Specs

Nikon Z50
(Full Review)
  • 21MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Increase to 204800)
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon Z Mount
  • 397g - 127 x 94 x 60mm
  • Released October 2019
Sony A9 II
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Boost to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 678g - 129 x 96 x 76mm
  • Revealed October 2019
  • Replaced the Sony A9
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Nikon Z50 vs Sony A9 II Overview

Lets look more closely at the Nikon Z50 and Sony A9 II, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Pro Mirrorless by companies Nikon and Sony. The sensor resolution of the Z50 (21MP) and the A9 II (24MP) is very similar but the Z50 (APS-C) and A9 II (Full frame) enjoy different sensor sizes.

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The Z50 was introduced at a similar time to the A9 II and they are both of a similar generation. Both cameras come with the identical body type (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before getting through a thorough comparison, below is a short summary of how the Z50 scores vs the A9 II in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon Z50 over the Sony A9 II

 Z50 A9 II 
Display dimension3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Sony A9 II over the Nikon Z50

 A9 II Z50 
Display resolution1440k1040kSharper display (+400k dot)

Common features in the Nikon Z50 and Sony A9 II

 Z50 A9 II 
RevealedOctober 2019October 2019Similar generation
Manually focus More precise focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Touch display Easily navigate

Nikon Z50 vs Sony A9 II Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera regularly, you are going to need to consider its weight and measurements. The Nikon Z50 has got external measurements of 127mm x 94mm x 60mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.4") and a weight of 397 grams (0.88 lbs) whilst the Sony A9 II has proportions of 129mm x 96mm x 76mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 3.0") and a weight of 678 grams (1.49 lbs).

Analyze the Nikon Z50 and Sony A9 II in the latest Camera with 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 have attached at the time. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the Z50 against the A9 II.

Nikon Z50 vs Sony A9 II size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the Z50 and A9 II is 74 and 62 respectively.

Nikon Z50 vs Sony A9 II top view buttons comparison

Nikon Z50 vs Sony A9 II Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its difficult to picture the difference between sensor measurements purely by reading specifications. The photograph here will give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the Z50 and A9 II.

To sum up, both of the cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The Z50 with its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF trickier and the Sony A9 II will offer you more detail using its extra 3 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images somewhat more aggressively.

Nikon Z50 vs Sony A9 II sensor size comparison

Nikon Z50 vs Sony A9 II Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon Z50 vs Sony A9 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon Z50 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A9 II as a Portrait photography camera
80
has manual focus
resolution is good (21MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has face detect focus
supports RAW files
85
you can focus manually
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon Z50 Street photography details
Sony A9 II Street photography details
73
tilting screen
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
includes focus by touch
environment proof
very good ISO range (51,200)
no image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (397g)
78
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
big sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
supports focus via touch
environment sealing
above average ISO range (51,200)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon Z50
Sports photography with Sony A9 II
75
resolution is good (21 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has tracking focus
environment proof
has phase detect auto focus
no image stabilization
88
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet shutter (1/32,000 seconds)
fast continuous shooting (20.0 fps)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (24MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports tracking focus
environment sealing
better than average battery (690 per charge)
supports phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon Z50 Travel photography advice
Sony A9 II Travel photography advice
77
environment proof
connects via bluetooth
includes focus by touch
resolution is good (21 megapixels)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
more heavy than competition in class (397g)
73
better than average battery (690 shots)
environment sealing
supports bluetooth
supports focus via touch
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon Z50 Landscape photography details
Sony A9 II Landscape photography details
79
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Nikon Z mount)
screen is a good size (3.2 inches)
resolution is good (21MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
very good ISO range (51,200)
supports RAW files
environment proof
no image stabilization
86
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (24MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
above average ISO range (51,200)
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
better than average battery (690 CIPA)
two card slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon Z50 Vlogging factors
Sony A9 II Vlogging factors
71
display is selfie friendly
touch screen
has face detect focus
good video quality (3840 x 2160 resolution)
has microphone port
no image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (397g)
36
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect focusing
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
comes with microphone socket
display is not selfie friendly
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Nikon Z50 vs Sony A9 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon Z50 and Sony A9 II
 Nikon Z50Sony Alpha A9 Mark II
General Information
Brand Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon Z50 Sony Alpha A9 Mark II
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Released 2019-10-10 2019-10-03
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Expeed 6 BIONZ X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.7mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 369.0mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 21 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 5568 x 3712 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 51200 51200
Max boosted ISO 204800 204800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Lowest boosted ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 209 693
Lens
Lens mount type Nikon Z Sony E
Total lenses 15 121
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display size 3.2" 3"
Display resolution 1,040 thousand dots 1,440 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots 3,686 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.78x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Maximum quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 11.0fps 20.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash options - Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution 3840x2160 3840x2160
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 397g (0.88 lb) 678g (1.49 lb)
Dimensions 127 x 94 x 60mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.4") 129 x 96 x 76mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 3.0")
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 shots 690 shots
Type of battery Built-in Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL25 NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes Yes (2, 5, 10 secs + continuous, 3 or 5 frames)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-II supported) Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible)
Card slots 1 2
Retail cost $857 $4,498