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Nikon Z50 vs Sony ZV-1

Portability
74
Imaging
68
Features
84
Overall
74
Nikon Z50 front
 
Sony ZV-1 front
Portability
88
Imaging
55
Features
86
Overall
67

Nikon Z50 vs Sony ZV-1 Key Specs

Nikon Z50
(Full Review)
  • 21MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Bump to 204800)
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon Z Mount
  • 397g - 127 x 94 x 60mm
  • Launched October 2019
Sony ZV-1
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 294g - 105 x 60 x 44mm
  • Revealed May 2020
  • Renewed by Sony ZV-1 II
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Nikon Z50 vs Sony ZV-1 Overview

Below, we are matching up the Nikon Z50 and Sony ZV-1, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Large Sensor Compact by competitors Nikon and Sony. The sensor resolution of the Z50 (21MP) and the ZV-1 (20MP) is fairly close but the Z50 (APS-C) and ZV-1 (1") enjoy different sensor size.

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The Z50 was announced 7 months before the ZV-1 so they are both of a similar generation. The two cameras come with different body type with the Nikon Z50 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony ZV-1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before delving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple summation of how the Z50 grades versus the ZV-1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Nikon Z50 over the Sony ZV-1

 Z50 ZV-1 
Display dimension3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1040k922kClearer display (+118k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony ZV-1 over the Nikon Z50

 ZV-1 Z50 
RevealedMay 2020October 2019More recent by 7 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display

Common features in the Nikon Z50 and Sony ZV-1

 Z50 ZV-1 
Manually focus More accurate focus
Selfie screen Both are selfie friendly
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Nikon Z50 vs Sony ZV-1 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you are going to need to take into account its weight and volume. The Nikon Z50 offers outer dimensions of 127mm x 94mm x 60mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.4") having a weight of 397 grams (0.88 lbs) whilst the Sony ZV-1 has sizing of 105mm x 60mm x 44mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.7") with a weight of 294 grams (0.65 lbs).

Compare the Nikon Z50 and Sony ZV-1 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the Z50 against the ZV-1.

Nikon Z50 vs Sony ZV-1 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the Z50 and ZV-1 is 74 and 88 respectively.

Nikon Z50 vs Sony ZV-1 top view buttons comparison

Nikon Z50 vs Sony ZV-1 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be hard to imagine the difference in sensor measurements purely by viewing a spec sheet. The visual underneath will help offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the Z50 and ZV-1.

As you can see, both of those cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The Z50 using its larger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh easier and the Nikon Z50 will result in more detail with its extra 1MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The older Z50 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Nikon Z50 vs Sony ZV-1 sensor size comparison

Nikon Z50 vs Sony ZV-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon Z50 vs Sony ZV-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon Z50 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony ZV-1 as a Portrait photography camera
80
focusing manually
MP count good (21 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection focusing
exports RAW files
73
you can focus manually
good megapixels (20MP)
good sensor size (1")
comes with face detection focus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon Z50 Street photography advice
Sony ZV-1 Street photography advice
73
has a tilting screen
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
comes with touch focus
weather proofing
great high ISO (51,200)
does not have image stabilization
heavier than competition (397g)
85
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good sensor size (1")
delivers RAW files
has focus by touch
lighter than competition in class (294 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon Z50 Sports photography information
Sony ZV-1 Sports photography information
75
MP count good (21 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
weather proofing
comes with phase detect AF
does not have image stabilization
71
quiet mode (1/32,000 seconds)
fast continuous shooting (24.0 frames/s)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
comes with tracking autofocus
has phase detect auto focus
low battery life (260 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon Z50 Travel photography features
Sony ZV-1 Travel photography features
77
weather proofing
connects via bluetooth
comes with touch focus
MP count good (21 megapixels)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
heavier than competition (397g)
81
lighter than competition in class (294g)
connects via bluetooth
has focus by touch
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
decently wide (24mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
low battery life (260 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon Z50 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony ZV-1 as a Landscape photography camera
79
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Nikon Z mount)
screen size is good (3.2")
MP count good (21 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
great high ISO (51,200)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
does not have image stabilization
70
you can focus manually
decently wide (24mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20MP)
good sensor size (1")
delivers RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
low battery life (260 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon Z50 as a Vlogging camera
Sony ZV-1 as a Vlogging camera
71
selfie friendly display
touch screen
provides face detection focusing
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
does have external mic support
does not have image stabilization
heavier than competition (397 grams)
86
decently wide (24mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
has external microphone jack
lighter than competition in class (294 grams)
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Nikon Z50 vs Sony ZV-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon Z50 and Sony ZV-1
 Nikon Z50Sony ZV-1
General Information
Company Nikon Sony
Model Nikon Z50 Sony ZV-1
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Launched 2019-10-10 2020-05-27
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Expeed 6 Bionz X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1"
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.7mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 369.0mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 21 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 5568 x 3712 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 51200 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO 204800 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 125
RAW images
Lowest enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 209 315
Lens
Lens mount Nikon Z fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-70mm (2.9x)
Largest aperture - f/1.8-2.8
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Amount of lenses 15 -
Crop factor 1.5 2.7
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3.2 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,040 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Fastest quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 11.0 frames per second 24.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash modes - Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Rear Sync, Flash Off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 60 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 60 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 60 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 120p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 120p / 60 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 100p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 100p / 60 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 50 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 28 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 28 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital1920 x 1080 @ 60i / 24 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital1920 x 1080 @ 60i / 17 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital1920 x 1080 @ 50p / 50 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p / 28 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 397 grams (0.88 lbs) 294 grams (0.65 lbs)
Dimensions 127 x 94 x 60mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.4") 105 x 60 x 44mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 320 photos 260 photos
Type of battery Built-in Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL25 -
Self timer Yes Yes
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-II supported) SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Retail price $857 $750