June 3rd, 2005

Update: We have now added two additional Nikon D50 image samples to our gallery, both taken with a production version of the new AF-S DX Zoom Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED lens. See below how the lens performed in our image sample test.

We felt the AF-S DX Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED would be a good choice to try out with the Nikon D50, since this is the lens that comes bundled if you buy the Nikon D70s digital SLR kit package. The inexpensive Nikkor AF 50mm f/1.8D is very suitable for portrait photography when used with Nikon DX format DSLR's, delivering a fast aperture and a 75mm field of view equivalent in 35mm terms.

Nikon D50 D-SLR Image Sample Gallery

Close Up Nikon D50 with new Nikkor DX AF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED (Nikon D50 kit lens) Landscape Mode with Multi-Pattern Metering Exposure at 1/40 sec and f/7.1 Focal Length 55mm 400 ISO Sensitivity Color Mode IIIa See larger size image file (200K) Scene Nikon D50 with new Nikkor DX AFS 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED Aperture Priority Mode Exposure at 1/250 sec and f/9 (-0.3 exp comp) Focal Length 22mm 200 ISO Sensitivity Color Mode IIIa Image Cropped See larger size image file (230K)   Stained Glass at Night Nikon D50 with Nikkor DX AF-S 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED Aperture Priority Mode with Multi-Pattern Metering Exposure at 1/8 sec and f/8 Focal Length 70mm 200 ISO Sensitivity Color Mode IIIa Download browser size image file (300K) Download larger original image file (2.7MB)   Portrait Nikon D50 with Nikkor AF 50mm f/1.8D Portrait Auto Scene Mode Exposure at 1/100 sec and f/2.8 Focal Length 50mm 800 ISO Sensitivity Color Mode Ia Image Cropped Download browser size image file (230K) Download larger image file (2MB)

Boat Nikon D50 with Nikkor DX AF-S 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED Aperture Priority Mode with Multi-Pattern Metering Exposure at 1/250 sec and f/10 Focal Length 55mm 220 ISO Sensitivity (Auto ISO) Color Mode IIIa Download browser size image file (360K) Download larger image file (2.7MB)

In Store Display Nikon D50 with Nikkor AF 50mm f/1.8D normal lens Aperture Priority and Matrix Metering Exposure at 1/50 sec f/7.1 Focal Length 50mm 1600 ISO Sensitivity Color Mode IIa (Adobe RGB) Auto White Balance Download browser size image file (260K) Download larger image file (2.9MB)

Tulips Nikon D50 with DX AF-S 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED Manual Exposure Mode with Multi-Pattern Metering Exposure at 1/60 sec and f/13 Focal Length 18mm 200 ISO Sensitivity Color Mode IIIa Auto White Balance Download browser size image file (240K) Download larger image file (2.6MB)

Pet Portrait with Built-in Speedlight Nikon D50 with Nikkor DX AF-S 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED Green Auto Mode. Auto flash with built-in TTL speedlight Exposure at 1/60 sec and f/4.5 Focal Length 50mm 400 ISO Sensitivity (Auto ISO) Color Mode IIIa Download browser size image file (155K) Download larger image file (3.4MB)

Boat Door Nikon D50 with DX AF-S 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED Aperture Priority Mode with Matrix Metering Exposure at 1/125 sec and f/10 Focal Length 70mm 200 ISO Sensitivity Color Mode IIIa Auto White Balance Download browser size image file (160K) Download larger image file (2.3MB)

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Conclusion: Nikon's latest entry-level digital SLR aimed at the family / travel photographer, the Nikon D50, certainly has a lot to offer. Incorporating many of the same features found in the higher end Nikon D70s, the Nikon D50 is a very versatile camera. Offering point and shoot ease of use with convenient Auto settings, or full manual override flexibility for those that want to further their photographic skills, the Nikon D50 is a camera that will appeal to a broad range of photographers. The image quality results that we have seen so far from the Nikon D50 are very good. Both the Nikkor DX AF-S 18-70mm ED zoom and the AF-D 50mm f/1.8 lens that we tested, offered nice sharpness, colour and contrast throughout our tests. Overall, we must say we really like the Nikon D50. The camera features a nice grip, the large 2.0" LCD monitor is clear and sharp, and the camera controls are logically laid out, allowing for all round comfortable operation. The new menu design (same as Nikon D70s) is easy to read, and we found that having to change menu settings was simple and quick thanks to the plain menu language and straight forward navigation. The auto TTL white balance (AWB) control on the Nikon D50 (based on new 420 segment RGB sensor) did a very nice job. Even under mixed lighting conditions, we found the Nikon D50 performed well in most situations when simply set to Auto White Balance mode. The Nikon D50 offers you the option of selecting from one of six preset WB settings, or creating a custom preset based on a white card reading, if preferred. The images that we took at higher ISO sensitivity settings on the D50 turned out quite clean, with well suppressed high ISO noise even at 1600 ISO. A great advantage if you want to take pictures under specific dim lighting conditions, including; (1) shooting hand held with low available light, (2) when a higher shutter speed is required to capture the action (indoor sports), (3) or in situations when a flash is not allowed. Ultimately, it's all about the end result, and as seen from the above sample images, the Nikon D50 digital SLR certainly offers good image quality, with richly saturated colors, good detail, and well controlled in-camera image processing. The Nikon D50 digital SLR will undoubtably create a whole new legion of happy digital SLR photographers, and will likely serve as a smaller back up camera to many existing users of other Nikon digital SLR's. Nikon D50 First Look Review, Features and Screen Shots, AF System and Custom Settings, Nikon D50 Compared to Nikon D70s and Canon Rebel XT Specifications Related Links Nikon D50 DSLR Kit Sample Images Compared to Nikon D70s and Canon Rebel XT Kit Nikon D70s DSLR Image Samples Canon Rebel XT Compared to Canon Digital Rebel See our earlier review of the Nikon D70 Digital SLR     Web Our Site