Enquiry regarding buying budget wildlife camera .

[Sudhir Shivaram]

Good question — and since you already have a Nikon D500 and are thinking of Nikon Z50 II, it’s useful to compare realistically what you gain and what trade‑offs you accept when switching. Below is a balanced, expert‑level take based on real-world performance and how it aligns with wildlife / bird photography (which you focus on).

✅ Where Nikon Z50 II Does Well (and Makes Sense)

• The Z50 II uses the same APS‑C (DX) sensor size as the D500 — so you keep the 1.5× “crop reach” benefit that is often useful for wildlife/tele lens work.

• The autofocus system has been modernized: Z50 II offers hybrid on‑sensor AF with subject detection including animal/bird eye‑AF, which is a significant plus for bird and wildlife photography.

• Burst shooting: mechanical shutter continuous shooting at 11 fps — nearly on par with the D500 (10 fps) for action/flight shots.

• Mirrorless benefits: lighter body (makes handheld walking/traveling easier), electronic viewfinder and live‑view benefits, silent shooting (good for shy wildlife), often more convenient for travel due to compactness.

• Modern processing: Faster image processor, improved usability, newer interface and ergonomics, which may help in today’s workflows (especially if you also shoot video or hybrid content)

So if you value lighter gear, portability, modern AF with bird/animal detection, and a mirrorless workflow, the Z50 II can be a good companion — especially for field travel, casual wildlife, birds, perhaps travel + wildlife mix.

⚠️ But — Where Z50 II is Not a Full Substitute for the D500 (Especially for Pro‑Level Wildlife Work)

• The legendary build, ergonomics, battery endurance, and AF reliability of the D500 remain hard to beat — many experienced wildlife shooters still consider D500 one of the best APS‑C DSLRs ever made.

• While Z50 II is strong, some long‑time users say that for demanding wildlife (fast birds, erratic movement), D500’s DSLR AF and handling still give an edge.

• As of now, lens ecosystem for Z mount (DX/APS‑C + full‑frame Z lenses) may be catching up, but for heavy telephoto wildlife needs, you need good Z lenses — and that often comes at cost or weight penalty.

• Lack of in-body image stabilization (IBIS) — for handheld telephoto work in low light, this remains a limitation compared to setups where lens or body stabilized systems exist.

🎯 My Expert Recommendation (Given Your Background & Use Case)

Since you already have D500 and are comfortable with it:

• If you want a “lighter, travel‑friendly second body” — Z50 II is a good add-on (not replacement). It offers modern AF, portability, and mirrorless ergonomics that complement your heavier telephoto setup.

• If your core work remains serious wildlife, fast action birds, consistently high performance, I would continue with D500 + good tele lens — because D500 still holds up extremely well, especially in challenging conditions.

• Use Z50 II when you need flexibility: travel safaris, daylight shoots, or as a backup body — but don’t expect it to fully “replace” D500 for critical wildlife shooting situations.