It can simultaneously record NEF and JPEG data to a Secure Digital storage device.

The camera is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery which is claimed to be able to take up to 2,000 shots on a single charge.

When introduced, the camera carried a suggested retail price of US$799 for the body only or $899 with a new 18-55 mm F3.5-5.6 G AF-S DX lens.

Competitors of the D50 included the Canon EOS 350D, the Pentax *ist DS, the Konica Minolta Dynax 5D, and the Olympus E-300.

The website Digital Photography Review rated the D50 highly and noted its improved noise performance over the D70s it was largely derived from, although it had fewer hobbyist features (making the D50 the first de-specified entry-level DSLR camera thus lowering the MSRP) and a lower price than the D70s.

[3] In depth testing by the Images Resources website and the October 2005 "Hoshi Nabi" (Star Navigator) Magazine,[4] indicated that the D50 achieved its low noise through exceptionally good performance at the sensor level.