The Nikon D50 is a solid contender among entry level DSLRs, providing users with a 6 megapixel APS-format sensor, 2.5 frames-per-second burst mode, vibrant color rendition, and excellent noise performance. Available at an MSRP of $899.95 and selling for around $700 or even below online, the D50 falls into an increasingly crowded segment of the DSLR realm. Supplying a 2-inch, 130,000 pixel LCD and strong autofocus system, the rugged consumer-level DSLR is even smaller than the D70 and contains a very deep feature set and host of manual controls that will help first time digital SLR owners hone their skills and grow into the medium.
The Nikon D50 takes 0.26 seconds to start up and take its first shot. This is faster than most compact digital cameras, but slower than most digital SLRs.
The burst mode has its pros and cons. Good news first: the D50 can take a picture every 0.367 seconds for the first 14 shots. It can also take 81 shots until it has to stop and write to the memory card. Now for the bad news: between the 15th shot and the 81st shot, the Nikon D50 slowed considerably to a photo every 0.75 seconds.
Taking a mere 0.02 seconds, the Nikon D50 can compete with other DSLRs in this category. With this speed, shutter lag should not be a problem for most casual users.
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The Nikon D50 steps into the fray and comes hard on the heels of the D70s, the company’s update of the D70, itself a camera that broke new ground in terms of ‘budget’ D-SLRs. The new model looks very similar to the D70s utilising a similar 3000×2008-pixel, (6.1MP effective) resolution CCD and 12-bit A/D conversion.
Image quality is very good indeed with noise well controlled in low lighting, better even than on the D70 and D70s in my view. Punchier images are the name of the game and this is no surprise given the target market as it allows more colourful and better looking images straight out of the camera.
The D50 represents an ideal D-SLR for those first time D-SLR buyers on a more modest budget. Image quality, handling, responsiveness and key features strike an excellent balance, and while the D50 lacks some of the more advanced bits of the D70s, it is no slouch and so should be at the top of – or at the very least – near the very the top of your list if your in the market for such a camera.
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Seven worry-free scene modes augmented by a serviceable set of manual controls and advanced focusing options make this least-expensive Nikon digital SLR camera a viable alternative to the popular D70s. The family-oriented Nikon D50, which includes a kid-friendly Child mode that brightens colors while retaining accurate skin tones, joins the Pentax *ist DL, the Konica Minolta Maxxum 5D, and the original Canon Digital Rebel in the 6-megapixel SLR sub-$900 price arena.
Bargain-hunting digital-SLR consumers will find a few features missing from the D70s’s array, including a 1/8,000-second top shutter speed, a depth-of-field preview, and a second command dial; also, the kit lens has about 25 percent less telephoto reach: 27mm to 82.5mm vs. 27mm to 105mm (35mm-camera equivalent). But improved image-processing algorithms give the junior Nikon SLR better noise characteristics at ISO settings up to 1600 and offer gentler treatment of highlights. Budding shutterbugs looking for fast operation coupled with useful features such as a robust burst mode, accurate exposure metering, and iTTL electronic flash control (both internal and external) will find a lot to like about this budget digital SLR contender.
Experienced photographers seeking a backup Nikon camera body might be better off spending a few hundred dollars more for the Nikon D70s. The D50’s reliance on SD/MMC media instead of CompactFlash requires an investment in two memory card formats, and multiple differences in the control layout, including the absent subcommand dial, a cursor-pad function swap during playback, and a lack of backlighting for the control panel, complicate switching back and forth.
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The Nikon D50 is designed as the company’s entry-level digital SLR, yet many of its features and specifications are comparable to some of Nikon’s very successful D70. The camera is sold body only, or with a variety of lenses. The D50 tested here was supplied with an AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f3.5-5.6G ED, an AF-S Nikkor 55-200mm f4-5.6G ED, and with an SB-600 Speedlight.
The ergonomic advantage of the SLR design is undeniable and the D50 is a good example of it. Although not as easy to carry as a compact, the SLR body design makes the camera comfortable to hold and use. And with the D50, this is particularly noticeable as all its controls are accessible and when equipped with a relatively light lens, the weight of the camera is well-distributed.
A few regrets however: no illumination for the Control panel, no depth of field preview, and no grid lines in the viewfinder.
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The Nikon D50 is currently the cheapest digital SLR camera that you can buy, costing £550 / $750 at the time of writing. The D50 is Nikon’s attempt to capture a large slice of the entry-level DSLR market, tempting both those people who have held off buying a DSLR because they are too expensive, and those who are upgrading from a compact digital camera. Nikon have simplified the controls somewhat and the D50 uses SD memory cards rather than Compact Flash cards to provide an easier upgrade path. The Nikon D50 also has a much lighter plastic body than the more expensive D70s that I reviewed a couple of weeks ago. Having said all that, Nikon haven’t tried to cripple the D50 by removing lots of features - indeed, it’s pretty hard to spot where the D50 has less functionality than the D70s.
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