Nikon hasn’t managed to capture much airtime over the past few months, what with the Canon EOS R5 and R6 launch as well as the Sony a7S III announcement.
But Nikon continues to produce top-notch kit, and we’ll see the fruits of the company’s labor later this week, with the official announcement for two new lenses:
The Nikkor Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S.
And the Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.2 S.
Both lenses are designed for Nikon’s Z mount cameras, which means that they’ll be compatible with Nikon’s mirrorless bodies: the Nikon Z5, Nikon Z6, Nikon Z7, and Nikon Z50.
Let’s take a closer look at what you can expect from these two lenses.
The Nikkor Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S
This lens will be a Z mount remake of a popular F-mount (DSLR) lens, the Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8G.
And, if the original lens is anything to go by, the Nikkor Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S will be an absolute powerhouse.
At the very least, the Z mount 14-24mm will give Nikon users an ultra-wide zoom with an f/2.8 maximum aperture, which will be appreciated by many photographers, including astrophotographers and other low-light shooters. At present, Z mount f/2.8 zooms are limited to the 24-70mm f/2.8 and the 70-200mm f/2.8; while both of these are excellent lenses, they just don’t offer the perspective that you can get from a 14-24mm lens.
According to Nikon Rumors, the Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8 will work with front filters (which is always a concern with ultra-wide lenses), but will also take rear filters. The 14-24mm will be relatively compact, and will feature “smooth and silent autofocus.”
In other words:
The Nikkor Z 14-24mm f/2.8 will likely be a lens that does a lot of things well, from landscapes and astrophotography to those ultra-wide travel and event shots that draw the viewer straight into the scene.
The Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.2 S
Nikon already offers a Z mount 50mm lens: the Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.8 S.
But the new 50mm f/1.2 S will go beyond the 50mm f/1.8 S; that extra maximum aperture may not seem like much, but it’s critical for low-light shooters of all types, as well as anyone who’s after the best possible bokeh.
That’s why, if you’re a portrait photographer or an event photographer, the Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.2 S should be at the top of your wish-list.
While the 50mm f/1.2 S is likely to offer stellar image quality, such a wide maximum aperture comes with a serious price:
The lens is going to be big and hefty. This certainly won’t be your easy-to-carry nifty fifty, so if that’s what you’re after, look elsewhere. But it will be a high-quality, well-built, weather-sealed lens that many professionals are after.
Conclusion
The Nikkor Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S and the Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.2 S lenses are bound to be impressive (even if they have a price tag to match!).
So if either lens seemed appealing, I recommend you keep an eye out for Nikon announcements over the next few days.
You won’t regret it!
Now over to you:
Are you excited for these two new lenses? And if you could pick one of them, which would you take? Share your thoughts in the comments!
