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Connectivity
Software (7.0)
The D50 ships with PictureProject version 1.5, a full-featured application for downloading, sorting, editing, and outputting images. The program is polished, with an attractive interface that integrates all of its functions.
The editing palette allows users to adjust brightness and color, cropping, sharpening, straightening tilted images, and automatic repair of red-eye. While the controls are not what you'd find in Photoshop, they should still be inviting to beginner users. The Design feature allows the user to place images in page layouts to create albums and presentations. The program generates email-able versions of images and design layouts, and it can burn them to CD or DVD and generate movies of them. Of course, it also prints.
Jacks, Ports, Plugs (7.5)
The D50 has a USB 2.0 jack for data transfer and PictBridge printing, and an analog video port. It also has an infrared sensor for a wireless remote control, but it does not include a PC sync port.
Direct Print Options (7.5)
The D50 is PictBridge and DPOF compatible. It can crop images for printing and specify their size, number, and whether to print them with borders. All the settings work with PictBridge printers connected directly to the D50 via USB, or they can be saved on the memory card and printed at a DPOF-compliant lab. The D50's compatibility is extensive – not all cameras offer cropping and print size options in-camera, even though they are certified as compliant.
Battery (8.0)
The Nikon D50 uses a rechargeable EN-EL3 lithium-Ion battery, the same battery used in the D70. Lithium-ion is the longest-lasting technology for digital cameras. The batteries are also lighter than alternate technologies. We found the camera shot for a remarkably long time without requiring a recharge.
 Memory (3.0)
The Nikon D50 does not include built-in memory. It accepts SD cards, which are widely available from many manufacturers in a range of prices and sizes. Interestingly, the D50 is Nikon's only current DSLR that accepts SD cards instead of CompactFlash cards. SD cards are much smaller than CompactFlash (think “postage stamp” instead of “matchbook”) so the SD card slot in the camera is much smaller than a CF slot would be. It's likely that Nikon went with SD to trim the size and weight of the camera. This difference may limit the appeal of the D50 to users of other Nikon-mount DSLRs; although their lenses and (some) flashes are compatible, their memory cards are not.
Other Features (5.5)
Self-Timer – The self-timer can be set to delay for 2, 5, 10, or 20 seconds via a menu.
Electronic Dust Removal – The D50 can save a dust reference image to automate retouching out dust with Nikon Capture 4 software. The software is not included with the D50.
Mirror lockup – The D50's mirror can be locked up to clean the low-pass filter over the sensor. Nikon recommends using a rubber bulb blower and not touching the filter, rather than using a swab and cleaner.
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