R50 vs Nikon Z50?

KJC · May 4, 2023

I am in a bit of a quandry in trying to select a small, light, unobtrusive camera for European and Asian travel. I was first looking at Sony RX100 variants and the Canon G5X ii. Coming from a Nikon dSLR (and prior to that, film SLR) background, I have begun to think that I would gain a lot more functionality, ease of use, and enjoyment from going up one size level--to something like the Nikon Z50 or the Canon R50. Also, I NEED a viewfinder and the tiny pop-up things in these very small cameras (RX100, G5X) do not inspire confidence! The Z50 is a bit bulkier, but seemingly more enthusiast oriented than the R50. (I shoot raw and value ease of changing ISO, shutter speed, aperture, etc. quickly.) However, the R50 does look very good, is smaller, lighter, and about four years newer.

In deciding between these two, I wonder whether there would be much if any difference in 1.) final raw image quality and 2.) ability to shoot in low light/high ISO/slow shutter speed. Low light photography is not my primary thing, but I do appreciate these capabilities.

Video capabilities are strictly secondary to stills for me. I am not into vlogging, or really much into video at all, except for playing around with it. Lens choice is not a huge deal for me here, as this is not intended to replace my dSLR, and I would probably just stick with the kit lens 18-45 or whatever and use this camera mostly for travel.

What are your thoughts in comparing these two cameras, and which would you be inclined to choose?

Martin_99 · May 5, 2023

I can't help you with proper comparison of mentioned cameras. I would personally mostly decide based on handling and selection of lenses. I would definitely include Fuji and Sony apsc on your list.

Sittatunga · May 5, 2023

It's a little bigger ham the R50, but you can use a standard flashgun on it (the R50's adapter for a standard flashgun makes it almost as expensive as the R10), is a bit less uninspiring and has the sensor cleaning vibrator the R50 lacks. It's just as well you'd be confining yourself to the kit lens as currently neither Canon nor Nikon is very keen on providing an interesting range of APS-C lenses.

thunder storm · May 5, 2023

Sittatunga said:
It's a little bigger ham the R50, but you can use a standard flashgun on it (the R50's adapter for a standard flashgun makes it almost as expensive as the R10), is a bit less uninspiring and has the sensor cleaning vibrator the R50 lacks. It's just as well you'd be confining yourself to the kit lens as currently neither Canon nor Nikon is very keen on providing an interesting range of APS-C lenses.

The Sigma f/1.4 crop trio is coming to the Nikon Z mount, and a 30mm f/1.4 would certainly help in low light, and it gives 45mm full frame equivalent field of view.

The RF 35mm does 56mm full frame equivalent field of view, which is a bit tight for general use, it's a tad darker, but does give you IBIS. IBIS is nice. And if it's too tight you can always go with the 24mm doing 38.4mm full frame equivalent field of view.

The Sigma trio is nice, but the Z50 lacking IBIS and the RF lenses having ILIS is a plus for Canon here.

thunder storm · May 5, 2023

KJC said:
I am in a bit of a quandry in trying to select a small, light, unobtrusive camera for European and Asian travel. I was first looking at Sony RX100 variants and the Canon G5X ii. Coming from a Nikon dSLR (and prior to that, film SLR) background, I have begun to think that I would gain a lot more functionality, ease of use, and enjoyment from going up one size level--to something like the Nikon Z50 or the Canon R50. Also, I NEED a viewfinder and the tiny pop-up things in these very small cameras (RX100, G5X) do not inspire confidence! The Z50 is a bit bulkier, but seemingly more enthusiast oriented than the R50. (I shoot raw and value ease of changing ISO, shutter speed, aperture, etc. quickly.) However, the R50 does look very good, is smaller, lighter, and about four years newer.

In deciding between these two, I wonder whether there would be much if any difference in 1.) final raw image quality and 2.) ability to shoot in low light/high ISO/slow shutter speed. Low light photography is not my primary thing, but I do appreciate these capabilities.

...

KJC said:
Video capabilities are strictly secondary to stills for me. I am not into vlogging, or really much into video at all, except for playing around with it. Lens choice is not a huge deal for me here, as this is not intended to replace my dSLR, and I would probably just stick with the kit lens 18-45 or whatever and use this camera mostly for travel.

If you want to have low light capabilities just one bright & stabilized prime can do wonders. One or two stops from the aperture and another two or three from the IS is a four stops difference. You won't find that difference comparing sensor performances.

KJC said:
What are your thoughts in comparing these two cameras, and which would you be inclined to choose?

Franz Weber · May 5, 2023

KJC said:
I am in a bit of a quandry in trying to select a small, light, unobtrusive camera for European and Asian travel. I was first looking at Sony RX100 variants and the Canon G5X ii. Coming from a Nikon dSLR (and prior to that, film SLR) background, I have begun to think that I would gain a lot more functionality, ease of use, and enjoyment from going up one size level--to something like the Nikon Z50 or the Canon R50. Also, I NEED a viewfinder and the tiny pop-up things in these very small cameras (RX100, G5X) do not inspire confidence! The Z50 is a bit bulkier, but seemingly more enthusiast oriented than the R50. (I shoot raw and value ease of changing ISO, shutter speed, aperture, etc. quickly.) However, the R50 does look very good, is smaller, lighter, and about four years newer.

In deciding between these two, I wonder whether there would be much if any difference in 1.) final raw image quality and 2.) ability to shoot in low light/high ISO/slow shutter speed. Low light photography is not my primary thing, but I do appreciate these capabilities.

Video capabilities are strictly secondary to stills for me. I am not into vlogging, or really much into video at all, except for playing around with it. Lens choice is not a huge deal for me here, as this is not intended to replace my dSLR, and I would probably just stick with the kit lens 18-45 or whatever and use this camera mostly for travel.

What are your thoughts in comparing these two cameras, and which would you be inclined to choose?

In favor to the Nikon Z50:

larger viewfinder .68 vs .59
larger display 3.2 vs 3.0
smallest lens Z 26mm pancake
sharper kit lenses
shutter sound more quiet than R10

In favor to the Canon R50/R10

USB-C vs Micro USB charging
much better AF
smaller (R50)

skyrunr · May 5, 2023

Sittatunga said:
It's a little bigger ham the R50, but you can use a standard flashgun on it (the R50's adapter for a standard flashgun makes it almost as expensive as the R10), is a bit less uninspiring and has the sensor cleaning vibrator the R50 lacks. It's just as well you'd be confining yourself to the kit lens as currently neither Canon nor Nikon is very keen on providing an interesting range of APS-C lenses.

I'm not a fan of Nikon's subject tracking AF-C or either option's small batteries. I'm a huge fan of Canon's ML ergonomics, customization, compact primes, and AF-C features.

LENSES: The z-mount can be adapted to more lenses than any other mount. The kit lenses from Nikon are surprisingly good, slow, but unmatched. IMO, Nikon has much nicer high ISO IQ noise (finer grain) which handles noise reduction better than Canon's. Nikon has nicer JPG's that match their RAW rendering. As a huge fan and longtime user of the Z50, it is now outdated and lacks MANY useful features the Zfc and Z30 offer; yet those two can't replace a Z50 due to the flash, layout, user modes, and EVF.

If I had to buy an APS-C rig today it would be between a D7200 and R7. However, the Sony A7C offers a compact full-frame option that trumps them both with 2-3 times the battery life, and Tamron f2.8 zooms that strike a hobbyist's budget/weight/size/quality. I use the 20-40f2.8 and 70-180f2.8 lenses which I purchased used from MPB.

You cannot beat fast glass and a full-frame sensor. Sure, you have to stretch the budget, but this will pay off 5 times over. Good luck!

PS I'll be trying out Nikon's next APS-C no matter what it is, but they are still playing catch-up, and may always be doing so. :\

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KJC · May 5, 2023

Thanks for your thoughts, guys! In fact, I already own a D7200, and use it mostly with my 18-140mm. That rig weighs nearly a kilogram and takes up a lot of space in one of my carryon bags. We walk a lot on our vacations while sightseeing in various European cities, and my back starts bothering me with this excess weight. Z50 and R50 are about half the weight and bulk--and they are less obtrusive. In high pickpocket areas especially, I am not so keen on whipping out a full-size dSLR with big zoom lens. (I will continue to use the 7200 for landscapes, macro, and road trip vacations, but I am not taking it on overseas trips any longer.)

I am very aware of the limitations in this size class, but as far as I'm concerned, they are secondary to my issues with weight and comfort while traveling.

Given the age of the Z50, I suppose they will be releasing a newer version any day. However, I'm not going to wait too much longer!

EDIT: Oh, the Zfc! Forgot about that one! Thanks for mentioning it. Quite a different beast in many ways, but still very tempting (and, inside, the same as the Z50). I do wish they made it in all black!

justmeMN · May 5, 2023

skyrunr said:
I'm not a fan of Nikon's subject tracking AF-C or either option's small batteries. I'm a huge fan of Canon's ML ergonomics, customization, compact primes, and AF-C features.

"The R50's most compelling feature is probably its autofocus system. It's a relatively simple but very powerful system that combines a series of subject recognition modes with tenacious tracking" -DPR

https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canon-eos-r50-initial-review

skyrunr · May 5, 2023

Oh, I know, I just tried out the R8, R7 when it was released, and have seen Fro with it in action.

Canon has the best EVF, shooting experience, comfort in hand. I'm unhappy with all the different button layouts. If I wanted a DX and FX body the power button isn't going to match. That double click on/off is just annoying.

I can't stand how little things bother me. Especially those one-way RF lens caps. Not to mention how Canon/Sony lenses tend to zoom/extend when mounting or unmounting them, unless they lock. This just doesn't happen with Nikon gear. I'll adjust to Canon when the affordable ~30mp FX body comes out, as well as a few more enthusiast (middle of the road) lenses.

I find Sony's old AF-C a bit stickier for my focus and recompose style. I do some sports, but I don't need AF magic. I need better than Nikon offers (the non Z9's) though. I know I'm in the Canon forum, just sharing my experiences. I prefer Nikon color, JPG's, and Z-mount glass.

I prefer the Canon layout and customization over the Z's, but not the Nikon DSLR; of which I mostly used the larger pro builds (D200/D300/D500.) All of this gear is great, so we're really picking what fits our needs the best, and within our budget.

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unhappymeal · May 5, 2023

skyrunr said:
Sittatunga said:

It's a little bigger ham the R50, but you can use a standard flashgun on it (the R50's adapter for a standard flashgun makes it almost as expensive as the R10), is a bit less uninspiring and has the sensor cleaning vibrator the R50 lacks. It's just as well you'd be confining yourself to the kit lens as currently neither Canon nor Nikon is very keen on providing an interesting range of APS-C lenses.

Click to expand...

I'm not a fan of Nikon's subject tracking AF-C or either option's small batteries. I'm a huge fan of Canon's ML ergonomics, customization, compact primes, and AF-C features.

LENSES: The z-mount can be adapted to more lenses than any other mount. The kit lenses from Nikon are surprisingly good, slow, but unmatched. IMO, Nikon has much nicer high ISO IQ noise (finer grain) which handles noise reduction better than Canon's. Nikon has nicer JPG's that match their RAW rendering. As a huge fan and longtime user of the Z50, it is now outdated and lacks MANY useful features the Zfc and Z30 offer; yet those two can't replace a Z50 due to the flash, layout, user modes, and EVF.

If I had to buy an APS-C rig today it would be between a D7200 and R7. However, the Sony A7C offers a compact full-frame option that trumps them both with 2-3 times the battery life, and Tamron f2.8 zooms that strike a hobbyist's budget/weight/size/quality. I use the 20-40f2.8 and 70-180f2.8 lenses which I purchased used from MPB.

You cannot beat fast glass and a full-frame sensor. Sure, you have to stretch the budget, but this will pay off 5 times over. Good luck!

PS I'll be trying out Nikon's next APS-C no matter what it is, but they are still playing catch-up, and may always be doing so. :\

The Z lenses are clear evidence that Nikon is optics first.

skyrunr · May 5, 2023

You can now get the Zfc in all black. Sent you a PM because I shouldn't be talking about Nikons in the Canon forum. I like both, and they both work very well considering!

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TIPS: Be kind, RT#M, use gear not signature, limit/shorten replies with quotes!
'The first casualty, when war comes, is truth' - Hiram Johnson (1866-1945)

KJC · May 5, 2023

skyrunr said:
You can now get the Zfc in all black. Sent you a PM because I shouldn't be talking about Nikons in the Canon forum...

Oh well, at least it's not politics! LOL Anyway, thanks, sent you a PM.

MyReality · May 5, 2023

"I am in a bit of a quandry in trying to select a small, light, unobtrusive camera for European and Asian travel."

I am in the exact same situation that you are in for an upcoming trip to Asia. I have taken larger gear to Asia on a few trips, but now my lower back is rebelling.

I am assuming that small, light and unobtrusive is going to control your purchase. They will control mine. I considered the Sony AFC and the Nikon Zfc, but they are both too large to be called small, light and unobtrusive.

I do not know what your budget is, but since you mentioned the Sony RX100, I assume you have some money to spend. Some pros use the Sony RX100 VI camera and they said it is good enough for publication.

There are not many choices meeting your and my criteria: Nikon Z50, Canon R50, Fuji X-T5 (maybe), Ricoh GR III and Olympus PL-9.

I currently use both Nikon and Canon DX, so I could go either way, I am leaning towards the R50 because of size, AF tracking ability, HDR video, availability in white for those hot Asian days and I have small hands for the small buttons on the back.

I shoot a lot of street photos in Asia and I like fast lenses for that. Canon's RF 59mm f1.8 tested out as an excellent lens and is only $199 (US), but then so did Nikon's 40mm f2 at twice the price of the Canon.

If I was just going to keep the kit lens on, I would go with the Nikon.

MyReality · May 6, 2023

Nice shots from that Nikon 50-250mm VR. I will have to check it out. It might be smaller and lighter than my 70-300mm. Nikon makes some terrific value lenses. The photos below are from my 70-300mm VR that I use on my DX Nikon D5500 and bought for $149 refurbished from Nikon's site. I have had photos published with that combo.

Digital Photographer Magazine tested budget mirrorless zooms in Issue #262 and gave the Nikon Z 40 f2 a very high rating. The Z 28 f2.8 was not very good.

I will be taking that camera and a small mirrorless with me to Asia. I will be using the mirrorless for some stills, but mostly 1080p or HDR video on the run. I could use my iphone 7 for video, but it does not have stabilization. I almost never shoot above ISO 6400.

I am going to check out the Z30 and Z50 for size, weight and video. My Canon gear is too large and heavy to take.

noorhe · May 6, 2023

R2D2 · May 7, 2023

KJC said:
I would probably just stick with the kit lens 18-45 or whatever and use this camera mostly for travel.

R50. Canon’s DIGIC X (autofocus) is truly fantastic to work with. Pair the R50 + RF 18-150 with DxO Photolab 6 (Deep Prime XD noise reduction for RAWs) and you’ve got a great travel setup. Fast prime is not even needed! (IMHO). Take one however if you want the extra bit of subject separation (and hassle).

Happy travels!

R2

Ali · May 7, 2023

I can’t speak to the Z50, but I have the R50. It is a great travel camera. Relatively small while still staying in the DSLR form factor, and very light. Especially when paired with the RF-S 18-150.

I also have the R5. So far I haven’t missed it in cases where I just took the R50, for hikes, walks, and the one trip I did. Frankly the R50 does better autofocus in most cases, especially when shooting people and animals - I tried with cats, goats, birds, lizards… even insects.

While the R50 does have fewer physical controls, it still gives you all the “enthusiast” features, and you can customize the controls to prioritize access to the ones you use the most.

The only thing missing for now is a fast RF-S prime. If you need that, for now you can make do with third party manual focus lenses, or the larger RF options.

MyReality · May 8, 2023

"Nothing can be more relevant and right than comparing unedited images."

Not anymore, maybe in the past with film.

With digital, there is no such thing as an unedited image in the final result. PP and lens corrections are used by everyone today. The end result is everything in practical photography.

If you want to see how good a lens is, look at the bench test. Do not look at the image. Looks can be deceiving.

A butter knife has a hard time cutting through bread, unless it is sharpened first.

MyReality · May 8, 2023

"But when I am trying and choosing lenses, I always do it without any corrections to see how the lens performs itself. I am trying to choose good lenses with lesser need of rescuing its optical defects in post."

There is nothing wrong with that from a tech point-of-view or if a person is a lens collector.

From a practical point of view (which I am looking from) it is not always necessary and can result in overpaying for a lens depending on usage.

Ex. - My old Canon FF 17-40mm L is soft at the edges on FF, but some pros still use it that way today. If I put it on my APS-C body, the result looks much better, because there is still plenty of resolution at the center.

R50 vs Nikon Z50?

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