fredmiranda.com
Login

Moderated by: Fred Miranda
  New fredmiranda.com Mobile Site
  New Feature: SMS Notification alert
  New Feature: Buy & Sell Watchlist
  

FM Forums | Nikon Forum | Join Upload & Sell

       2       3       end
  

Deciding whether to lighten my travel kit from Z63 to Z50ii

  
 
njofoto
Offline

Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #1 · Deciding whether to lighten my travel kit from Z63 to Z50ii


Please help me think through this. I usually travel with Z63 and 24-120, 14-30 and maybe a prime. It can be lot for me to carry on and around.

I'm going to drive the PCH soon, with much of the time spent in Big Sur. I mainly focus on landscapes when traveling. This trip also provides a whale watching opportunity, and time in the Monterey Aquarium. We will fly out, then drive.

We will be walking around a lot. Weight has always mattered to me, and that keeps getting more important. I usually have my camera on a strap and ready to use. My SO does NOT enjoy slowing down for my photography, so I don't change lenses often.

This trip will offer a lot of F8-F11 daylight photography, but also sunrise, golden hour and some possible dark sky.

My other option is taking my Z50ii (I haven't used it much yet), 12-28DX and 28-400 (or 24-200, or 24-120). Can also take the Nikon prime 40/2 or 24/1.7 DX.

The Z50ii with 12-28 and 28-400 is a Thom suggested kit and makes sense in terms of travel size and weight. I'm just reluctant because I worry I will have the opportunity to get some great images I'd like to blow up for my wall. Have you used this kit and done that? Am I worried for nothing? I'm not planning to sell images, just enjoy them myself.



Mar 18, 2026 at 02:41 PM
ahinesdesign
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #2 · Deciding whether to lighten my travel kit from Z63 to Z50ii


If you want to go light, it is difficult to argue against the Z50II. I traveled a bit with the OG Z50, and it was great for a smaller but capable camera. I primarily used the kit 16-50mm and it captured some awesome images; I avoided trying to capture in low light situations knowing the lens's limitations (or brought along a faster prime when I anticipated shooting in lower light). The only thing I disliked about the Z50 was the lack of AF joystick.

I have successfully printed 40" x 60" from a 20mp 1" sensor, so you don't necessarily need huge resolution... as long as you don't expect perfect sharpness when viewed inches away at such sizes. Besides, there's not that much resolution difference between 20mp APS-C and 24mp FF. The the Z6III and Z50II have almost identical dynamic range below ISO 800, and the Z50II actually has a little less noise than the Z6III under ISO 800 (based on Photons to Photos charts).



Mar 18, 2026 at 03:40 PM
njofoto
Offline

Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #3 · Deciding whether to lighten my travel kit from Z63 to Z50ii


You're right thanks, the pixels aren't that different between the two cameras.

I'm a bit stuck on lens choice. Probably would be fine with 12-28, 28-400 and a prime or two.



Mar 18, 2026 at 04:24 PM
Ripolini
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #4 · Deciding whether to lighten my travel kit from Z63 to Z50ii


Why not 12-28 and 24-120?
I'd prefer a macro prime, i..e. the 50 MC.



Mar 18, 2026 at 05:13 PM
glassartist
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #5 · Deciding whether to lighten my travel kit from Z63 to Z50ii


The 'sunrise and golden hour' suggest the new 16-50 f2.8 to me. Of course I'll use any excuse to get a new lens . . .


Mar 18, 2026 at 05:25 PM
njofoto
Offline

Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #6 · Deciding whether to lighten my travel kit from Z63 to Z50ii


Ripolini wrote:
Why not 12-28 and 24-120?
I'd prefer a macro prime, i..e. the 50 MC.


Interesting on the 50 MC. Do you do much true macro when traveling?

Edit: My one concern with the 24-120 is having reach for the whale watching. Maybe could ad the 50-250 for that?



Mar 18, 2026 at 06:21 PM
njofoto
Offline

Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #7 · Deciding whether to lighten my travel kit from Z63 to Z50ii


glassartist wrote:
The 'sunrise and golden hour' suggest the new 16-50 f2.8 to me. Of course I'll use any excuse to get a new lens . . .


I did not need to see this...I need to sell lenses, not buy!



Mar 18, 2026 at 06:44 PM
pwschladen
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #8 · Deciding whether to lighten my travel kit from Z63 to Z50ii


I enjoyed my Z50 very much as a second body to my Z7 but love my Z50ii.
The 28-400 is a great walk around for me with the Z50ii as I live close to the Chesapeake and almost always take it with me for our evening (or early morning) walks. Excellent for herons, eagles and ospreys with bird AF - I rarely shoot small birds.
Also wide enough (just) for sunrises and sunsets at 42mm effective. I also have the 12-28 which is a great little w/a zoom, very light and portable so I usually have it with me but close to home I tend to either use my iphone for really wide angle shots without changing lenses, or go home for my Z7 and 14-30. For a trip to Big Sur I think I would want Z7 & 14-30 option even though I am really trying to lighten my kit due to age and back issues.
I was not sure I would like the 28-400 but having had a good experience with the 24-200 for a couple of years I decided to try it. When I bought the 24-200 I chose it over the 24-120 largely for VR as the Z50 doesn’t have IBIS. I am still tempted to buy a used 24-120 for use with my Z7.



Mar 18, 2026 at 06:49 PM
pwschladen
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #9 · Deciding whether to lighten my travel kit from Z63 to Z50ii


njofoto wrote:
Interesting on the 50 MC. Do you do much true macro when traveling?

Edit: My one concern with the 24-120 is having reach for the whale watching. Maybe could ad the 50-250 for that?


The 50-250 zoom is a nice sharp and very light zoom but you may find yourself wanting to change lenses to get wider than 50mm - 75mm effective. And of course 250 is not 400.

I am sill hankering after the 18-140 for travel even though I totlly agree with Thom Hogan and others that 16-1?? Would be preferable.




Mar 18, 2026 at 07:05 PM
njofoto
Offline

Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #10 · Deciding whether to lighten my travel kit from Z63 to Z50ii


pwschladen wrote:
.... For a trip to Big Sur I think I would want Z7 & 14-30 option even though I am really trying to lighten my kit due to age and back issues.
I was not sure I would like the 28-400 but having had a good experience with the 24-200 for a couple of years I decided to try it. When I bought the 24-200 I chose it over the 24-120 largely for VR as the Z50 doesn’t have IBIS. I am still tempted to buy a used 24-120 for use with my Z7.


I'm the same. I sometimes wish I still had the z7 for landscape...

I love the 24-120 for general travel and landscape. I pretty much don't take it off my Z63.

I want to take only the Z50ii on this trip but am still torn.



Mar 18, 2026 at 07:44 PM
 


Search in Used Dept. 

Craig Gillette
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #11 · Deciding whether to lighten my travel kit from Z63 to Z50ii


njofoto wrote:
Please help me think through this. I usually travel with Z63 and 24-120, 14-30 and maybe a prime. It can be lot for me to carry on and around.

I'm going to drive the PCH soon, with much of the time spent in Big Sur. I mainly focus on landscapes when traveling. This trip also provides a whale watching opportunity, and time in the Monterey Aquarium. We will fly out, then drive.

We will be walking around a lot. Weight has always mattered to me, and that keeps getting more important. I usually have my camera on a strap and
...Show more

I happen to be a Sony user but it seems kind of like all of a sudden (well maybe a couple of years) and we've both got several wide range travel zooms, making choices "interesting." We've got some different opportunities with Sony. I live in Southern California and have found my 28-200 gets almost all of my travel use. The 28-400 Nikon intrigues me because there are times and opportunities when I want something between my xx-200 and the 200-600. Now that might be current aps-c 70-350 or the Tamron 50-300. The 28-400 is bigger than several of them but smaller than the 50-400. I think the 28-400 might be too hefty for a casual city walk around, maybe too much "just in case" past 200mm.

And Monterey, Big Sur and Highway 1 down to the San Luis Obispo area is one of those want more than 200mm areas. So, some thoughts.

I did a whale watch out of Morro Bay with the 200-600 on a smaller boat, not the smallest boats but not one of the largest steadiest. It varies trip to trip, day to day. 400mm is maybe not as long as the 200-600 but that was a big beast to try to move quickly and balance with.

The whole "Big Sur" route from Carmel has a lot offer. Driving south, you are on the ocean side.

When you come out of the more mountainous section, Rocky Point, you hit the Hearst San Simeon ranch lands. Hearst Castle, withe possibility of seeing cattle, zebras (not recently for me) and the elk herds. There's an elephant seal rookery area at Piedras Blancas and the acticity there is seasonal and when a lot happening, another one of those 400mm wow spots. Cambrai is a quirky artsy little community and Morro Bay has long beaches, the rock, bay and estuary for marine mammals. Otters are usually out near the base of Morro Rock in the bay, rafting a pretty close kelp bed, mornings, especially. Nice eats from "The Galley" which is very nice seafodd, right on the embarcadero overlooking the bay to Morro Rock and a very nice evening/sunset view. Tognazzini's Dockside Too! is a very informal waterfront spot with local musicians, people are allowed to accompany their dogs, if they (the people) behave.

Around Fisherman's Wharf and out along the walk/drive to the Aquarium and Pacific Grove, including Carmel and Point Lobos, lots of rocky beaches and opportunities for seals, sea lions and otters and sea birds, often in close, too. Perhaps longer focal lengths could be useful but I'm past the strolling with a 200-600.



Mar 18, 2026 at 08:29 PM
njofoto
Offline

Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #12 · Deciding whether to lighten my travel kit from Z63 to Z50ii


Craig Gillette wrote:
And Monterey, Big Sur and Highway 1 down to the San Luis Obispo area is one of those want more than 200mm areas. So, some thoughts.

I did a whale watch out of Morro Bay with the 200-600 on a smaller boat, not the smallest boats but not one of the largest steadiest. It varies trip to trip, day to day. 400mm is maybe not as long as the 200-600 but that was a big beast to try to move quickly and balance with.

The whole "Big Sur" route from Carmel has a lot offer. Driving south, you are on the
...Show more

Thanks for talking through this. I was not thinking about wildlife beyond the whale trip. We will spend a couple days around Morro, so you've given me a lot to think about. My last whale watching trip had higher seas and a LOT of ship movement. I managed with the 28-400 on that, but am hoping for smoother sailing this time. (I've given up on the too big for me 100-400, or anything longer.)

I'm looking forward to this trip!



Mar 18, 2026 at 08:38 PM
pwschladen
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #13 · Deciding whether to lighten my travel kit from Z63 to Z50ii


njofoto wrote:
I'm the same. I sometimes wish I still had the z7 for landscape...

I love the 24-120 for general travel and landscape. I pretty much don't take it off my Z63.

I want to take only the Z50ii on this trip but am still torn.


Maybe I wouldn’t mind leaving the 14-30 and Z7 behind if I had the Viltrox 9mm

https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1917373/0?keyword=Viltrox,9mm#16897632



Mar 19, 2026 at 04:00 AM
Jman13
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #14 · Deciding whether to lighten my travel kit from Z63 to Z50ii


The 18-140 is a very nice lens and it’s really perfect for travel. I too wish it started at 16mm but considering they managed quite good image quality throughout the range, I’m not complaining. Only thing is it should have come with a metal mount. I actually swapped the mount with an old FTZ adapter and it feels so much better on the camera (the plastic mount would click during zooming). No effect to image quality.

My new favorite lens on the Z50 II is the new 35/1.7 MC, which is a brilliant optic that is just so versatile. If I were to travel now I’d bring the Z50 II, 12-28, 18-140 and the 35/1.7. If I had room in the bag I’d toss in the Viltrox 9mm as well.

pwschladen wrote:
The 50-250 zoom is a nice sharp and very light zoom but you may find yourself wanting to change lenses to get wider than 50mm - 75mm effective. And of course 250 is not 400.

I am sill hankering after the 18-140 for travel even though I totlly agree with Thom Hogan and others that 16-1?? Would be preferable.





Mar 19, 2026 at 06:43 AM
Smiert Spionam
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #15 · Deciding whether to lighten my travel kit from Z63 to Z50ii


I have a Z6iii, 14-30, and 24-120 as well -- and they're fantastic tools that I've traveled with happily (often with other lenses mixed in). But I also recently added a Z50ii, 12-28, and 50-250, specifically for compact travel (I typically add a compact prime, as well). I've had two hip replacements and a shoulder rebuild in the last year, and ounces matter to me more than they used to.

The 50-250 is really exceptional for its compact size. The 12-28 is also great, though it's obviously not as wide as the 14-30 on a full-frame camera. If I was traveling by car, I'd be tempted to bring both cameras for flexibility -- but I wouldn't really feel like I was missing things with just the Z50ii.



Mar 19, 2026 at 08:30 AM
RoamingScott
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #16 · Deciding whether to lighten my travel kit from Z63 to Z50ii


I've always liked the sensor in the Z50 line and if size was my absolute priority, I wouldn't mind the images from it as a single travel cam in the slightest.

I'd rather take my Zf and a 24-120 as a one and done kit, but that's me. I'd have a really hard time using 50 as my widest option on a DX body. It's funny to see the lens creep in this conversation..."I'm saving a little bit of weight on the camera body so I'll bring 4 lenses now!"



Mar 19, 2026 at 08:42 AM
Jman13
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #17 · Deciding whether to lighten my travel kit from Z63 to Z50ii


RoamingScott wrote:
I've always liked the sensor in the Z50 line and if size was my absolute priority, I wouldn't mind the images from it as a single travel cam in the slightest.

I'd rather take my Zf and a 24-120 as a one and done kit, but that's me. I'd have a really hard time using 50 as my widest option on a DX body. It's funny to see the lens creep in this conversation..."I'm saving a little bit of weight on the camera body so I'll bring 4 lenses now!"


Those four lenses I mentioned are all very lightweight and small. They easily fit into my sling bag. If I were traveling even lighter my Mirrorless Mover 20 will fit three and I'd leave the 9mm. That kit in that bag is VERY light, and very versatile.

The Z50 II with 12-28, 18-140 and 35/1.7 weighs 1,290g total.
The Zf with 24-120mm weighs 1,340g total, and lacks a lot of range of the Z50 II kit.

For me, I couldn't travel without an ultra-wide at the least.

Edited on Mar 19, 2026 at 09:45 AM · View previous versions



Mar 19, 2026 at 09:38 AM
RoamingScott
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #18 · Deciding whether to lighten my travel kit from Z63 to Z50ii


Jman13 wrote:
Those four lenses I mentioned are all very lightweight and small. They easily fit into my sling bag. If I were traveling even lighter my Mirrorless Mover 20 will fit three and I'd leave the 9mm. That kit in that bag is VERY light, and very versatile.

The Z50 II with 12-28, 18-140 and 35/1.7 weighs 1,290g total.
The Zf with 24-120mm weighs 1,340g total, and lacks a lot of range of the Z50 II kit.


Quote in the OP:

"My SO does NOT enjoy slowing down for my photography, so I don't change lenses often."

Doesn't really matter how small, light, or plastic they are, then.



Mar 19, 2026 at 09:40 AM
Jman13
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #19 · Deciding whether to lighten my travel kit from Z63 to Z50ii


That's great. I simply recommended the 18-140 for them....then I said "If I were to travel...." Thus transitioning to my current travel kit.


Mar 19, 2026 at 09:46 AM
EB-1
Offline
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #20 · Deciding whether to lighten my travel kit from Z63 to Z50ii


RoamingScott wrote:
Quote in the OP:

"My SO does NOT enjoy slowing down for my photography, so I don't change lenses often."

Doesn't really matter how small, light, or plastic they are, then.


Exactly. Choose one zoom lens for travel with enforced time limitations. I do miss the 16-80/85 range for DX. 18mm is less often wide enough.

EBH



Mar 19, 2026 at 10:05 AM
       2       3       end






FM Forums | Nikon Forum | Join Upload & Sell

       2       3       end
    
 

Welcome back
Log in to your account