Is 20 megapixels enough in 2024? (ft. Nikon Z50ii)

I am out with the brand new Nikon Z50ii - and put it through its paces in amazing autumn woodlands

Use offer code PADLEY20 for £20 off

NIKON GEAR (Main STILLS camera)

FILM GEAR

OTHER PHOTO GEAR

[banditalley]

Another way to put this question, zoom back to 2005 and say "How much better is the Z50ii than the Canon 1Ds MkII top of the range flagship camera used by professionals for weddings, events, photoshoots, with its 16.7MP?" - The required number of megapixels was reached a long time ago. You don't need more, you need better lenses and become a better photographer. The equipment has been good enough for 20 years.

[dirkgibbens]

Another informative and enjoyable video. I found myself at the 7:22 mark, when you were standing at the gated fence, wishing you would set up and take some photos there. The light, shadows, wonderfully shaped trees in the background and the rustic look of the fence and gate were PERFECT!! Plenty of potential for some magnificent photos.

[peaklass]

Thank you, and so lovely to see you in Padley. There’s so much snobbery about gear and you’re bang on when you say the most important thing is just to get out there. Enjoy the autumn! 🍂🍁

[alexandrsakhno]

Camera manufacturers offer a vast variety of excellent cameras at different levels. In my opinion, the camera itself is not the most important element—it's not even the second. The photographer, the artistic vision, the subject, the light, the lens, and the editing all play significant roles. There are many components.

You can upgrade your technique, or you can enhance your artistic vision—there are no limits to growth. A piece of timeless advice: always shoot with the camera you have.

Thank you for the enjoyable sunny walk and for your camera review, Nigel.

[regrr]

The Z50 ii is looking good. Still crossing my fingers for a Z5 ii though.

[davidjohnson]

I think the Z 50 II and the 16-50 and 50-250 is the best buy in Stills and video!

[scotttuckerphotography]

Knowing what you're doing is always more important than spec sheets. The Z50 and now the Z50ii have a great sensor and big fat pixels that create lovely images.

[hylkeheidstra]

MP only matters for cropping and/or if you want to print really large. And when it comes to printing, nobody looks at a large print from close. Anyway good content Nigel!

[dansteensland]

I have the original Z50. I’m mostly pleased with it - after the firmware updates. Great size for travel and hiking and I have no complaints about the images. My biggest complaint is I can’t use it in the winter (30 F and below), no matter how many batteries I have in my pockets.

[cbimage]

A very interesting and helpful video, Nigel. Thanks.

[martinhommel]

20 MP is plenty even for professionals. Very informative video thank you

[jimboblaminat]

I think the one on 15:00 is stunning! Beautiful image!❤

[Tmbrwlf]

Love your content, friend. Thanks for always providing us with excellent insight!

[pauka]

It was a great surprise early in the morning to find out Nikon released this camera. What a great device! Still more often than not I use my z50 for landscapes, so I'm gonna definitely upgrade to the z50ll soon. I'd like to see Nikon expanding the list of DX lenses in the future. Great photos as always!

[daveolden]

Thank you for holding the DX torch high! As a long time DSLR DX shooter I'm always amazed at the thought of if you're serious it must be Full Frame. A camera like th d7200 had similar dynamic range as FF with easier large DOF. I'm preordering a Z50II to compliment my Z6III for times where smaller and lighter may get me the shot. Great video

[noeeenkhoorn]

Nigel,
Thank you for the noce video, it really shows your excellent photography skills! Well done! Regards, Noë

[bobkoure]

D750 lanscape guy here. I print max 36" on the long side - 24mp is plenty for that. Besides mp, there's capture-able dynamic range. My primary issue with the D7000 (last Dx camera I owned) was lack of dynamic range not mp (in spite of it having a good bit less than 20). Stacking exposures got very, very old. Now if this camera has the same dynamic range as a D750, I want one - but I'd be amazed if it does, just given the larger area FF sensors and lenses have to gather photons.

[nicolas-arg-ou]

Years ago while shooting 4x5 in the Cerro Torre area in Patagonia I had a tiny fuji x100 as my "travel companion". Whenever the situation was way to difficult for my large format set-up I resorted to the x100. I treated it like a full blown landscape setup- big gitso tripod, big ballhead, expensive filters, remote release. Got back home and forgot those files in some back up. Now I go through them and they are just superb- rich colors, clinically sharp. I printed a few of them at 90cm just to try things out using modern editing software and they look wonderful. I sold the fuji long ago but still have all the accessories. The moral of the story is- obsess about technique, about location, about the light

[bryanpaul]

A few years ago I upgraded from a point and shoot to the Z50. It was what I could afford at the moment I purchased it. Was fully expecting to want to upgrade at some point. But the Z50 does everything I need, and more. Lightweight, feels good in the hand and the image quality is just fine. I really like the button layout. I can change the ISO, exposure compensation, aperture, shutter speed, focus modes, etc, with one hand.

[jonashangartner]

Great videos! The bigger the print, the further away you are supposed to look at it. So megapixels don't mean anything now unless your prints are seen from closer than usual.

I printed an 80 cm by 130 cm photo taken with a 24mp for an exhibition. The number of people asking me what camera I used for such quality was astonishing, but visitors were looking at it from 2 meters away!