- Nikon declares 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 images
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 should you’re an avid person of Nikon’s entry-level fashions that includes an APS-C sensor, such because the latest 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 greatest. Fortunately, Nikon has delivered two superb-looking mirrorless lenses for the format.
The smaller picture circle permits diminutive lens designs and decrease weight, nevertheless it doesn’t lead to decrease picture high quality. Actually, the Nikon Z DX 24mm f/1.7 even made it into our record of the Finest Nikon Z lenses 2025.
The nice facet of the DX format is that wider most aperture settings and extra advanced optical designs may 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 doable to realize 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 the entire 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 commonplace zoom. In spite of everything, the 24-70mm f/2.8 is taken into account a vital professional lens that finds a spot within the digicam baggage of many working photographers, from panorama shooters to journey specialists and portrait specialists.
One concern of utilizing an APS-C digicam for portraits is that depth-of-field is robotically prolonged at any given focal size, in comparison with the identical setting on a bigger sensor mannequin. It’s an inescapable matter of physics slightly 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 includes a helpful optical Vibration Discount (VR) system, which Nikon says can scale back digicam shake by as much as 5 stops. Mixed with the intense fixed f/2.8 aperture, this could make the brand new 16-50mm ideally suited for low-light images, equivalent to within the dim mild of a church marriage 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. Properly, 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 right 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 can make for super-shallow depth-of-field when capturing vast 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 arms on evaluate samples.
With each fashions probably helpful for on a regular basis capturing, in addition to extra specialist features, they need to attraction to newbies and lovers, who must be extra reassured that Nikon intends to put money into growing this finish of their product vary.
“Our prospects 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 value $899.95 / £779, and the Nikkor Z DX MC 35mm f/1.7 will set you again $449.95 / £399 (Australia value TBC).
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