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Nikon

Z50

First popular APS-C Z mount for enthusiasts.

$859

Released Oct 2019

vs
ZR

Nikon

ZR

Compact Nikon RED full-frame 6K cinema camera with R3D NE RAW, 32-bit float audio, 7.5-stop VR, and Z mount.

$2,199

Released Sep 2025

ZR is 5.9 years newer.

Wins

2categories

Z50

Wins

5categories

ZR

Video & HybridPortrait

2 categories tied

TL;DR — Key differences

Z50 wins 1 categories·ZR wins 4 categories
  • AZ50 has higher Burst (mechanical) (11 fps vs 0 fps)
  • BZR has higher IBIS effectiveness (7.5 stops vs 0 stops)
  • BZR has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 11 fps)
  • BZR has higher 4K max frame rate (120 fps vs 30 fps)
  • BZR has higher Card slots (2 vs 1)

Key specs at a glance

Z50ZR
Resolution20.9 MP24.5 MP
SensorAPS-CFull Frame
ISO max51,20051,200
Burst11 fps120 fps
4K30 fps120 fps
IBISNo7.5-stop
Weight395 g630 g
Battery300 shots

Size and weight, to scale

Z50

127 × 94 × 60 mm

395 g (0.87 lb / 13.93 oz)

ZR front view

ZR

134 × 81 × 49 mm

630 g (1.39 lb / 22.22 oz)

Z50 is 8mm narrower than ZR but it is also 13mm taller and 11mm thicker.

Z50 is 235 g lighter than ZR.

Depth (front-to-back): 60mm Z50 · 49mm ZR

Back view, to scale

Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.

Z50

127 × 94 mm

ZR back view

ZR

134 × 81 mm

Top view, to scale

Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.

Z50

127 × 60 mm

ZR top view

ZR

134 × 49 mm

Sensor size, to scale

Z50

23.5 × 15.7 mm · APS-C

369 mm² area

ZR

35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame

858 mm² area

2.3× larger sensor area = shallower depth of field and better low-light performance.

Lens ecosystem

Native lens selection

Z50

✓ more lenses

Nikon Z

90+

native lenses available

40 first-party50 third-party

ZR

✓ more lenses

Nikon Z

90+

native lenses available

40 first-party50 third-party

Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.

Use-case scoring

Which one for what?

Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class

Use caseZ50ZR
Portrait
4.5Fair
7.5Good✓ wins
Sports & Action
2.5Limited
6.5Good✓ wins
Video & Hybrid
2.5Limited
9.0Excellent✓ wins
Landscape
0.0Limited
7.0Good✓ wins
Travel
4.5Fair
6.5Good✓ wins
Wildlife
3.5Limited
6.5Good✓ wins
Vlogging
4.5Fair
7.0Good✓ wins

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose

Z50

  • Burst (mechanical)

    11 fps vs 0 fps — higher is better

  • Codecs

    Adds H.264/AVC

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 126.5, 93.5, 60

  • Card types

    Adds SD UHS-I

  • Weight

    395 g vs 630 g — lower is better

Reasons to choose

ZR

  • Codecs

    Adds R3D NE, N-RAW, ProRes RAW HQ…

  • IBIS effectiveness

    7.5 stops vs 0 stops — higher is better

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 134, 80.5, 49

  • Card types

    Adds CFexpress Type B, XQD, MicroSD UHS-I

  • Burst (electronic)

    120 fps vs 11 fps — higher is better

  • 4K max frame rate

    120 fps vs 30 fps — higher is better

  • Subject recognition

    Adds Birds, Cars, Bicycles…

  • Pre-Capture / Pre-Release

    Only ZR supports it

Both cameras share

  • AA filterBoth support aa filter
  • ISO min (native)Both 100
  • ISO max (native)Both 51,200
  • Eye AFBoth support eye af
  • Animal / bird AFBoth support animal / bird af
  • TouchscreenBoth support touchscreen

Pros & cons at a glance

Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.

Z50

Pros

  • Affordable Z mount
  • Compact
  • Good stills

Cons

  • No IBIS
  • Older video
  • Single slot

ZR

Pros

  • 6K/60p R3D NE RAW
  • 32-bit float audio
  • 7.5-stop stabilization
  • Compact 535g cinema body

Cons

  • No built-in EVF
  • Cinema-first ergonomics
  • Single CFexpress plus MicroSD workflow

Full specifications

= category winner

Z50
ZR
Resolution
20.9 MP
24.5 MP+17%
Sensor type
DX-format CMOS
Full Frame CMOS
Sensor size
23.5 × 15.7 mm
35.9 × 23.9 mm
AA filter
Yes
Yes
Z50
ZR
AF system
Hybrid AF (phase-detect + contrast-detect)
Hybrid AF with deep-learning subject detection
AF points / zones
209
AF low-light limit
-4 EV
Eye AF
Yes
Yes
Animal / bird AF
Yes
Yes
Subject recognition
People, Dogs, Cats
People, Birds, Dogs, Cats, Cars, Bicycles, Motorcycles, Trains, Airplanes
Z50
ZR
Burst (mechanical)
11 fps
0 fps
Burst (electronic)
11 fps
120 fps10.9× more
Pre-Capture / Pre-Release
No
Yes
Z50
ZR
Max resolution
4K UHD
6K
4K max frame rate
30 fps
120 fps4× more
Internal RAW video
No
Yes
Log profile
RED Log3G10 / Nikon N-Log / HLG
Codecs
H.264/AVC
R3D NE, N-RAW, ProRes RAW HQ, ProRes 422 HQ, H.265, H.264
Z50
ZR
Weight
395 g−235 g less
630 g
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
126.5 × 93.5 × 60 mm
134 × 80.5 × 49 mm
Weather sealing
No
Yes

Frequently asked

Quick answers generated from verified specs.

Which is better for landscape, Z50 or ZR?

ZR scores 7.0/10 versus 0.0/10 for Z50 — Full-frame sensor — wider dynamic range.

What's the resolution difference between the Z50 and ZR?

Z50 is 20.9 MP and ZR is 24.5 MP, so the ZR captures more detail for cropping and large prints.

Do the Z50 and ZR have in-body image stabilization?

Z50 does not have IBIS, while zR has 7.5-stop in-body image stabilization.

Which shoots faster bursts — the Z50 or the ZR?

Z50 reaches 11 fps electronic. ZR reaches 120 fps electronic.

What's the weight difference between the Z50 and ZR?

Z50 weighs 395 g and ZR weighs 630 g, so the Z50 is 235 g lighter.

Do the Z50 and ZR record 4K video?

Z50: 4K up to 30p. ZR: 6K (max), 4K up to 120p.

Are the Z50 and ZR weather sealed?

Z50: No. ZR: Yes.

How much does each cost?

Z50 launched at $859 and ZR at $2,199. The Z50 is $1,340 less.

Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.

Product images courtesy of Nikon press materials.