The Z50 is a good, but not exceptional, debut for Nikon’s Z mount APS-C mirrorless system. It has great handling, good shooting speeds and autofocus, nice image quality and solid video performance for its intended market.

If this camera had come out even a year ago, it would have been near the top of my list. However, even though I love the Z50’s handling and form factor, it’s in second place or lower in every other category. The A6400 has better autofocus, the X-T30 better video performance, and the M6 Mark II better image quality and shooting speeds.

That leaves the Z50 near the bottom of the pack, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth your consideration. There are no serious flaws and if you already have some Nikon lenses, whether Z mount or DSLR, the Z50 would be wise choice, particularly if you like a camera that’s easy to handle. If not, I’d recommend Fujifilm’s X-T30 instead — it handles nearly as well and is a better all-around camera.