- Nikon proclaims two new Z-mount lenses for its APS-C cameras
- These are each firsts for the ‘DX’ vary – an f/2.8 zoom and a macro lens
- Each optics are designed for video and nonetheless pictures
Nikon simply introduced its two newest Z-mount lenses, the Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR wide-angle zoom and the Nikkor Z DX MC 35mm f/1.7 macro lens, which is nice information if you happen to’re an avid person of Nikon’s entry-level fashions that includes an APS-C sensor, such because the current Z50 II.
It is about time, actually – the lion share of Nikon’s lens bulletins over the previous couple of years have been for full-frame, largely leaving APS-C customers out within the chilly.
Again within the DSLR days, there was a big variety of ‘DX’ optics for the F-Mount, however mirrorless equivalents have confirmed gradual to make an look. It’s a disgrace too, as a result of DX doesn’t essentially imply second finest. Fortunately, Nikon has delivered two superb-looking mirrorless lenses for the format.
The smaller picture circle permits diminutive lens designs and decrease weight, however it doesn’t end in decrease picture high quality. In truth, the Nikon Z DX 24mm f/1.7 even made it into our listing of the Finest Nikon Z lenses 2025.
The nice side of the DX format is that wider most aperture settings and extra advanced optical designs could be integrated at a fraction of the burden of a comparable full-frame lens (‘FX’ in Nikon terminology).
Because of the crop issue of the smaller APS-C sensors in DX cameras just like the Nikon Z50 II, it’s attainable to attain an extended efficient focal size (EFL) with a a lot shorter bodily focal size design, as is the case with the brand new macro and f/2.8 zoom lenses.
Two new DX gamers enter the scene
It’s for all the above causes that Nikon customers will likely be welcoming the information that two lenses have been added to the line-up. The Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR is a primary in being the inaugural f/2.8 zoom lens within the DX vary. This vary presents an equal 24-75mm focal vary in full-frame phrases, putting it firmly within the territory of knowledgeable customary zoom. In any case, the 24-70mm f/2.8 is taken into account an important professional lens that finds a spot within the digicam luggage of many working photographers, from panorama shooters to journey specialists and portrait consultants.
One concern of utilizing an APS-C digicam for portraits is that depth-of-field is routinely prolonged at any given focal size, in comparison with the identical setting on a bigger sensor mannequin. It’s an inescapable matter of physics somewhat than one thing that the producer can management. Nonetheless, the Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR has a trick up its sleeve within the form of a really shut minimal focus distance of simply 0.15 m at 16mm and a mere 0.25 m on the 50mm finish. This implies the person can transfer in actually near their topic to assist push the background out of focus, for a extra high-end look.
The lens additionally encompasses a helpful optical Vibration Discount (VR) system, which Nikon says can scale back digicam shake by as much as 5 stops. Mixed with the brilliant fixed f/2.8 aperture, this could make the brand new 16-50mm ultimate for low-light pictures, comparable to within the dim gentle of a church wedding ceremony, for instance.
In the meantime, the Nikkor Z DX MC 35mm f/1.7 macro is the Z-system’s debut DX-format macro optic. Not like another lenses, which declare to supply a ‘macro mode’, this lens is a real close-up performer, offering life-size magnification. Nicely, technically, the lens itself solely reproduces the topic at 0.67x, however as soon as you are taking that 1.5x crop issue into consideration, you get an equal view of a 1:1 life-size lens on a full-frame digicam just like the Nikon Z f or Nikon Z 5II.
The 35mm f/1.7 (equal 53mm) can focus all the best way all the way down to 0.16 m, which could really show to be impractical when capturing skittish topics like bugs, however as soon as once more, it should make for super-shallow depth-of-field when capturing large open at f/1.7. Sharpness and distortion ought to hopefully be taken care of with the aspherical ED glass component.
Each lenses are ultra-lightweight. The 16-50mm weighs in at solely 330g, and the 35mm macro is a feather-like 220g, roughly. They’re additionally designed to be video-friendly, in keeping with Nikon, with quick and quiet autofocus and managed focus respiratory. I’ll have an interest to check how efficient that is as soon as I get my fingers on evaluation samples.
With each fashions doubtless helpful for on a regular basis capturing, in addition to extra specialist features, they need to enchantment to newbies and fanatics, who needs to be extra reassured that Nikon intends to put money into growing this finish of their product vary.
“Our clients have been asking for extra DX Z lenses, and we’ve been listening,” says Dirk Jasper, Product Supervisor at Nikon Europe. “With the introduction of a high-performance f/2.8 zoom lens and a quick macro lens, DX digicam homeowners get two nice alternatives to take the subsequent step of their inventive journey.”
Each lenses will likely be out there from thirtieth October 2025. The Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR will price $899.95 / £779, and the Nikkor Z DX MC 35mm f/1.7 will set you again $449.95 / £399 (Australia worth TBC).
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