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Nikon Z50 vs Sony A6400

The Nikon Z50 and the Sony Alpha A6400 are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in October 2019 and January 2019. Both the Z50 and the A6400 are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are equipped with an APS-C sensor. The Nikon has a resolution of 20.7 megapixels, whereas the Sony provides 24 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Nikon Z50
versus
Sony A6400
Nikon Z50   Sony A6400
Mirrorless system camera Mirrorless system camera
Nikon Z mount lenses Sony E mount lenses
20.7 MP – APS-C sensor 24 MP – APS-C sensor
4K/30p Video 4K/30p Video
ISO 100-51,200 (100 - 204,800) ISO 100-32,000 (100 - 102,400)
Electronic viewfinder (2360k dots) Electronic viewfinder (2359k dots)
3.2" LCD – 1040k dots 3.0" LCD – 922k dots
Tilting touchscreen Tilting touchscreen
11 shutter flaps per second 11 shutter flaps per second
Weathersealed bodyWeathersealed body
320 shots per battery charge410 shots per battery charge
127 x 94 x 60 mm, 450 g 120 x 67 x 50 mm, 403 g
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Check Z50 price at
amazon.com
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Check A6400 price at
amazon.com

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Nikon Z50 and the Sony Alpha A6400? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

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Body comparison

The physical size and weight of the Nikon Z50 and the Sony A6400 are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Size Nikon Z50 vs Sony A6400
Compare Z50 versus A6400 top
Comparison Z50 or A6400 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Sony A6400 is considerably smaller (33 percent) than the Nikon Z50. Moreover, the A6400 is markedly lighter (10 percent) than the Z50. In this context, it is worth noting that both cameras are splash and dust-proof and can, hence, be used in inclement weather conditions or harsh environments.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. Hence, you might want to study and compare the specifications of available lenses in order to get the full picture of the size and weight of the two camera systems.

Concerning battery life, the Z50 gets 320 shots out of its Nikon EN-EL25 battery, while the A6400 can take 410 images on a single charge of its Sony NP-FW50 power pack. The battery packs of both cameras can be charged via USB, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

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Body Specifications
# image Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Nikon Z50 127 mm 94 mm 60 mm 450 g 320 Y Oct 2019 859 amazon.com
2.
 
Sony A6400 120 mm 67 mm 50 mm 403 g 410 Y Jan 2019 899 amazon.com
3.
 
Canon M50 116 mm 88 mm 59 mm 390 g 235 n Feb 2018 779ebay.com
4.
 
Fujifilm X-T3 133 mm 93 mm 59 mm 539 g 390 Y Sep 2018 1,499ebay.com
5.
 
Nikon Z30 128 mm 74 mm 60 mm 405 g 330 Y Jun 2022 709 amazon.com
6.
 
Nikon Z fc 135 mm 94 mm 44 mm 445 g 300 n Jun 2021 959 amazon.com
7.
 
Nikon D3500 124 mm 97 mm 70 mm 415 g 1550 n Aug 2018 429ebay.com
8.
 
Nikon D5500 124 mm 97 mm 70 mm 470 g 820 n Jan 2015 899ebay.com
9.
 
Nikon D5300 125 mm 98 mm 76 mm 480 g 600 n Oct 2013 799ebay.com
10.
 
Sony A6100 120 mm 67 mm 59 mm 396 g 420 n Aug 2019 749ebay.com
11.
 
Sony A6300 120 mm 67 mm 49 mm 404 g 400 Y Feb 2016 999ebay.com
12.
 
Sony A5100 110 mm 63 mm 36 mm 283 g 400 n Aug 2014 549ebay.com
13.
 
Sony A6000 120 mm 67 mm 45 mm 344 g 360 n Feb 2014 599ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The Z50 was somewhat cheaper (by 4 percent) than the A6400 at launch, but both cameras fall into the same price category. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature an APS-C sensor, but their sensors differ slightly in size. The sensor area in the A6400 is 1 percent smaller. They nevertheless have the same format factor of 1.5. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Nikon Z50 and Sony A6400 sensor measures

Despite having a slightly smaller sensor, the A6400 offers a higher resolution of 24 megapixels, compared with 20.7 MP of the Z50. This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 3.91μm versus 4.22μm for the Z50). Moreover, it should be noted that the Z50 is a somewhat more recent model (by 8 months) than the A6400, and its sensor might have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixels. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the Z50 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Sony A6400 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the A6400 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 30 x 20 inches or 76.2 x 50.8 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 24 x 16 inches or 61 x 40.6 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 20 x 13.3 inches or 50.8 x 33.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Nikon Z50 are 27.8 x 18.6 inches or 70.7 x 47.1 cm for good quality, 22.3 x 14.8 inches or 56.6 x 37.7 cm for very good quality, and 18.6 x 12.4 inches or 47.1 x 31.4 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Nikon Z50 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 51200, which can be extended to ISO 100-204800. The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony Alpha A6400 are ISO 100 to ISO 32000, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 100-102400.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

Z50 versus A6400 MP

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
# image Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Nikon Z50 APS-C 20.7 5568 37124K/30p24.113.6196384
2.
 
Sony A6400 APS-C 24.0 6000 40004K/30p24.013.6143183
3.
 
Canon M50 APS-C 24.0 6000 40004K/24p23.813.3168481
4.
 
Fujifilm X-T3 APS-C 26.0 6240 41604K/60p24.013.4185383
5.
 
Nikon Z30 APS-C 20.7 5568 37124K/30p24.313.9223086
6.
 
Nikon Z fc APS-C 20.7 5568 37124K/30p24.213.8213185
7.
 
Nikon D3500 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.013.4185183
8.
 
Nikon D5500 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.114.0143884
9.
 
Nikon D5300 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.013.9133883
10.
 
Sony A6100 APS-C 24.0 6000 40004K/30p24.113.6194784
11.
 
Sony A6300 APS-C 24.0 6000 40004K/30p24.413.7143785
12.
 
Sony A5100 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.812.7134780
13.
 
Sony A6000 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.113.1134782
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
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Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, and both provide the same movie specifications (4K/30p).

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Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The two cameras under consideration are similar with respect to both having an electronic viewfinder. However, the one in the Z50 offers a slightly higher resolution than the one in the A6400 (2360k vs 2359k dots). The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Nikon Z50 and Sony A6400 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

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Core Features
# image Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Nikon Z502360 n3.2 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 11.0/s Y n
2.
 
Sony A64002359 n3.0 / 922 tilting Y 1/4000s 11.0/s Y n
3.
 
Canon M502360 n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 10.0/s Y n
4.
 
Fujifilm X-T33690 n3.0 / 1040 full-flex Y 1/8000s 11.0/s n n
5.
 
Nikon Z30none n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 11.0/s Y n
6.
 
Nikon Z fc2360 Y3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 11.0/s n n
7.
 
Nikon D3500optical n3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
8.
 
Nikon D5500optical n3.2 / 1037 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
9.
 
Nikon D5300optical n3.2 / 1037 swivel n 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
10.
 
Sony A61001440 n3.0 / 922 tilting Y 1/4000s 11.0/s Y n
11.
 
Sony A63002359 n3.0 / 922 tilting n 1/4000s 11.0/s Y n
12.
 
Sony A5100none n3.0 / 922 tilting Y 1/4000s 6.0/s Y n
13.
 
Sony A60001440 n3.0 / 922 tilting n 1/4000s 11.0/s Y n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
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Both cameras have an articulated rear screen that can be turned to be front-facing. This feature will be particularly appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in taking selfies.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, both cameras under consideration feature an electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Nikon Z50 has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

The Z50 writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the A6400 uses SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. The Z50 supports UHS-II cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 312 MB/s), while the A6400 can use UHS-I cards (up to 104 MB/s).

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Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Nikon Z50 and Sony Alpha A6400 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
# image Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Nikon Z50Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0Y-Y
2.
 
Sony A6400Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0YYY
3.
 
Canon M50Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0Y-Y
4.
 
Fujifilm X-T3Ystereo / monoYYmicro3.1Y-Y
5.
 
Nikon Z30Ystereo / monoY-micro3.2Y-Y
6.
 
Nikon Z fcYstereo / monoY-micro3.2Y-Y
7.
 
Nikon D3500Ymono / mono--mini2.0--Y
8.
 
Nikon D5500Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0Y--
9.
 
Nikon D5300Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0Y--
10.
 
Sony A6100Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0YYY
11.
 
Sony A6300Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0YY-
12.
 
Sony A5100-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
13.
 
Sony A6000Ystereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
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Both the Z50 and the A6400 are recent models that are part of the current product line-up. The A6400 replaced the earlier Sony A6300, while the Z50 does not have a direct predecessor. Further information on the features and operation of the Z50 and A6400 can be found, respectively, in the Nikon Z50 Manual (free pdf) or the online Sony A6400 Manual.

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Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is the Nikon Z50 better than the Sony A6400 or vice versa? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

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Advantages of the Nikon Z50:

  • Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
  • Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.2" vs 3.0") for image review and settings control.
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1040k vs 922k dots).
  • Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
  • Faster buffer clearing: Supports a more advanced SD data transfer standard (UHS-II vs UHS-I).
  • More modern: Is somewhat more recent (announced 8 months after the A6400).

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Arguments in favor of the Sony Alpha A6400:

  • More detail: Has more megapixels (24 vs 20.7MP), which boosts linear resolution by 8%.
  • Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
  • Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.70x vs 0.68x).
  • More compact: Is smaller (120x67mm vs 127x94mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
  • Longer lasting: Gets more shots (410 versus 320) out of a single battery charge.
  • Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
  • More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in January 2019).

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the A6400 comes out slightly ahead of the Z50 (7 : 6 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

Z50 06:07 A6400

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Nikon Z50 and the Sony A6400 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the Z50 and the A6400 in practical situations. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

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Expert Camera Reviews
# image  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Nikon Z505/5..5/585/1004.5/54.5/5 Oct 2019 859 amazon.com
2.
 
Sony A64004/5+4/585/1004.5/54/5 Jan 2019 899 amazon.com
3.
 
Canon M50..+4/579/100..3.5/5 Feb 2018 779ebay.com
4.
 
Fujifilm X-T35/5+ +4.5/588/1005/55/5 Sep 2018 1,499ebay.com
5.
 
Nikon Z304/5..4/586/1004.5/54/5 Jun 2022 709 amazon.com
6.
 
Nikon Z fc4/5..4.5/586/1005/54.5/5 Jun 2021 959 amazon.com
7.
 
Nikon D35004/5..4/575/1004/54.5/5 Aug 2018 429ebay.com
8.
 
Nikon D55005/5+..79/1004.5/54.5/5 Jan 2015 899ebay.com
9.
 
Nikon D53004/5+ +..79/1004.5/54.5/5 Oct 2013 799ebay.com
10.
 
Sony A6100....4/582/1004/55/5 Aug 2019 749ebay.com
11.
 
Sony A63004.5/5+..85/1005/55/5 Feb 2016 999ebay.com
12.
 
Sony A51004.5/5+....4.5/55/5 Aug 2014 549ebay.com
13.
 
Sony A60005/5+4.5/580/1004.5/55/5 Feb 2014 599ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
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The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

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Check Z50 price at
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Check A6400 price at
amazon.com

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just use the search menu below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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    Specifications: Nikon Z50 vs Sony A6400

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Nikon Z50 Sony A6400
    Camera Type Mirrorless system camera Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens Sony E mount lenses
    Launch Date October 2019 January 2019
    Launch Price USD 859 USD 899
    Sensor Specs Nikon Z50 Sony A6400
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format APS-C Sensor APS-C Sensor
    Sensor Size 23.5 x 15.7 mm 23.5 x 15.6 mm
    Sensor Area 368.95 mm2 366.6 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 28.3 mm 28.2 mm
    Crop Factor 1.5x 1.5x
    Sensor Resolution 20.7 Megapixels 24 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 5568 x 3712 pixels 6000 x 4000 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 4.22 μm 3.91 μm
    Pixel Density 5.60 MP/cm2 6.55 MP/cm2
    Moiré control no AA filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability 4K/30p Video 4K/30p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 51,200 ISO 100 - 32,000 ISO
    ISO Boost 100 - 204,800 ISO 100 - 102,400 ISO
    Image Processor EXPEED 6 BIONZ X
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) .. 83
    DXO Color Depth (bits) .. 24
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) .. 13.6
    DXO Low Light (ISO) .. 1431
    Screen Specs Nikon Z50 Sony A6400
    Viewfinder Type Electronic viewfinder Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100% 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.68x 0.70x
    Viewfinder Resolution 2360k dots 2359k dots
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.2inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 1040k dots 922k dots
    LCD Attachment Tilting screen Tilting screen
    Touch Input Touchscreen Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs Nikon Z50 Sony A6400
    Focus System On-Sensor Phase-detect On-Sensor Phase-detect
    Manual Focusing AidFocus PeakingFocus Peaking
    Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/4000s 1/4000s
    Continuous Shooting 11 shutter flaps/s 11 shutter flaps/s
    Electronic Shutterup to 1/4000sYES
    Time-Lapse PhotographyIntervalometer built-inno Intervalometer
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards MS or SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Single card slot
    UHS card support UHS-II UHS-I
    Connectivity Specs Nikon Z50 Sony A6400
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port micro HDMI micro HDMI
    Microphone Port External MIC port External MIC port
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in Wifi built-in
    Near-Field Communication no NFC NFC built-in
    Bluetooth Support Bluetooth built-in Bluetooth built-in
    Body Specs Nikon Z50 Sony A6400
    Environmental SealingWeathersealed bodyWeathersealed body
    Battery Type Nikon EN-EL25 Sony NP-FW50
    Battery Life (CIPA)320 shots per charge410 shots per charge
    In-Camera Charging USB charging USB charging
    Body Dimensions 127 x 94 x 60 mm
    (5.0 x 3.7 x 2.4 in)
    120 x 67 x 50 mm
    (4.7 x 2.6 x 2.0 in)
    Camera Weight 450 g (15.9 oz) 403 g (14.2 oz)
    logo
    Check Z50 price at
    amazon.com
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    Check A6400 price at
    amazon.com

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