When I first purchased my Nikon Z50 2 months ago, I enjoyed the lightweight, compact nature of the camera together with the 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens as well as the Meike 25mm f/1.8 prime lens.
The Nikon Z50 has a small grip
What I didn’t find particularly nice, however, was how cramped the grip was, especially in comparison with my main camera, the Nikon Z6. Granted, it is unfair to compare the ergonomics of the two cameras, given that they are marketed towards rather different market segments and customers.
Nevertheless, the Nikon Z50 was still a capable camera that could bring very decent capabilities to the fold for Nikon shooters as a backup camera. I approached it as such, but to me, the grip was definitely an issue when I adapted the larger F Mount lenses such as the Nikon AF-S 300mm f/4 (I used the combination for birding as I did want the longer reach that the combi gave me)
Holding the Z50 with 300mm f/4 combination was quite a chore, as I usually gripped the tripod collar of the 300mm lens as I was trekking through the forest.
The grip on the body was far too small for me to comfortably hold it while a heavy lens was mounted. I would imagine the limit to be the Sigma 35mm Art f/1.4 that I also had and would sometimes use as a sharp 50mm on the crop sensored body.
For comparison, the 300mm f/4 weighs about 1.295kg while the Sigma 35mm 1.4 is 665g. The Nikon FTZ Adaptor is 135g.The Z50 alone is 450g.
The balance of the camera and lenses are also dependent on the dimensions of the lenses, which I have not listed here (obviously, the telephoto 300mm will be far more unwieldy because it is much longer).
Why I felt the Smallrig Grip Extension was useful
Herein lies the usefulness of the Smallrig grip extension. While it isn’t a full battery grip made by Nikon like those for the DSLRs, having that extension really helps when offering more purchase for your hands.
The grip itself isn’t too heavy either (about 150-200g). However, its relatively light weight belies the metal construction. The grip itself feels sturdy, basically you are adding a metal plate to the bottom and side of the camera.
Additional benefits come in the form of a side horseshoe mount. Potentially, you can now mount your microphone / receiver on the side of the camera if you so choose. You could even mount 2 different things (for example, a light on top and a mic on the side).
Z50 users who use the camera’s downward flipping screen will also appreciate the multitude of quarter screw holes scattered throughout the bottom of the grip.
The Smallrig grip allows the camera to be mounted in an offset position and in portrait orientation if you want to be able to see the screen while mounting it on a tripod (I used it also on a Manfrotto 055C). Of course, if you want to mount the camera in the traditional position, feel free to do so.
Usage
Personally, I use the camera with a small table tripod with a ballhead, with a microphone mounted on the side of the camera with the camera mounted offset from the centre so that I can still see myself in the screen. Of course, this is a workaround since people using cameras with articulated LCD screens on their cameras don’t even need to do this to see themselves while filming.
Issues faced
Now, on to the issues I faced when using the grip. The main one would be that the grip basically blocks the battery and memory card compartment of the Nikon Z50. Unless you remove the grip itself, the compartment would be inaccessible.
I would recommend fixing the grip after you have loaded a fresh memory card and battery into the camera and it is ready for use for at least a few hours of shooting. If not, the need to remove the grip in order to swap out the grip and card would be very annoying.
A neutral point would be that the grip itself is tightened using a screw at the bottom of the plate. Smallrig has kindly included a screw key that is magnetically attached to the bottom of the plate for ease of storage.
One issue I faced was the magnets dropping out of the bottom of the plate as they are stuck to the key itself. This is annoying but can be solved using some resin/ epoxy/ strong adhesive
Conclusion
Nevertheless, for an additional SGD$35, I feel the grip would be a good investment if you ever pick up the Nikon Z50, with the benefits and issues summarised below:
1 the metal grip offers some protection for the bottom and side of your camera against impact
2 the additional purchase afforded to your fingers will go a long way in relieving finger cramps
3 the additional 3/4 screw mounts allow you to mount the camera in various positions in addition to the traditional centre mount (offset, portrait)
4 there is a horsehoe mount on the side of the grip allowing you to mount an additional accessory on the side of the camera
5 the plate blocks the battery and memory card door, make sure you install a fresh card and battery before you fix the grip otherwise it will be annoying when you constantly have to remove and fix the grip again.
Personal Plug by Chris Puan
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