Introduction
The Nikon Z 28mm F2.8 is a wide-angle prime lens for Nikon FX full-frame sensor mirrorless cameras with a quick most aperture of f/2.8.
It is also a large normal-length prime lens when used on Nikon DX APS-C sensor mirrorless cameras, the place it offers a 42mm equal focal size.
The 28mm F2.8 for Nikon was first introduced in November 2021 and went on sale in December 2021. This lens is made in Thailand.
The Nikon Z 28mm F2.8 is equivalent to the Nikon Z 28mm F2.8 SE lens that we reviewed in 2021 – the one distinction between them is only beauty, with the non-SE model that includes a contemporary black end somewhat than the extra traditional feel and appear of the Particular Version lens, which resembles AI Nikkor lenses from the period of SLR movie pictures.
It options 9 parts in 8 teams, together with two aspherical parts to assist restrict spherical aberrations and distortion, whereas the Tremendous Built-in Coating suppresses flare and ghosting.
The Nikkor Z 28mm boasts a dust- and splash-proof construction and has a minimal focusing distance of 19cm / 0.63 ft with a most magnification of 0.2x.
It has a rounded 7-blade diaphragm which creates a lovely blur to out-of-focus areas of the picture and an inside focusing mechanism which suggests the lens barrel does not transfer.
This lens makes use of two stepping motors for quick, quiet and exact auto-focusing and full-time handbook focus override can also be attainable.
The Nikon Z 28mm F2.8 lens is offered now priced at £259 / $299 within the UK and USA, respectively.
Ease of Use
Weighing in at 155g / 5.7 ounces160g / 5.46 oz, the plastic bodied Nikon Z 28mm F2.8 could be very gentle for a full-frame lens. In reality, it is the lightest Nikkor Z prime lens launched thus far, beating its Particular Version sibling by 5g / 0.18 oz.
It measures 70mm x 43 mm / 2.8 in. x 1.7 in., making it the smallest lens presently accessible for Nikon’s Z-series mirrorless cameras.
Its general measurement and weight make it really feel greater than just a little incongruous when mounted on a big digital camera just like the FX-format Nikon Z9 that we examined it with, as proven within the product photographs – it might be way more at residence on a smaller digital camera just like the Z5.
Construct high quality is okay, exceeding what you may anticipate from such an inexpensive prime lens, though the all-plastic building could show much less sturdy within the long-term.
Th Particular Version (SE) model of this lens has a traditional feel and appear designed to match the Nikon Z fc digital camera, from the knurled texture of the management ring and even right down to the matching fonts used for the lens identify.
Against this, the “regular” Z 28mm F2.8 lens that we’re reviewing at the moment has Nikon’s normal trendy black end that could be a significantly better beauty match for all the opposite Z collection digital camera our bodies.
It incorporates a plastic mount, somewhat than steel, and a plastic lens barrel with only a single management, the generously sized focusing ring.
Should you’re anyone who not often makes use of handbook focusing, then you possibly can assign the focusing ring to regulate a unique operate, akin to aperture, ISO velocity or publicity compensation. That is one thing you possibly can set by way of the digital camera’s important menu and will be fairly useful in sure circumstances.
Considerably surprisingly given the modest asking worth, this lens boasts a dust- and moisture-sealed design to help capturing in additional inclement situations.
The Nikon Z 28mm F2.8 lens accepts 52mm filters by way of plastic threads on the entrance of the lens.
The lens does not characteristic built-in optical picture stabilisation, relying as an alternative on the digital camera physique’s stabilisation system.
The Nikon Z 28mm F2.8 lens has a large, ridged motor-assisted focus ring that’s fairly properly damped. Guide focusing is feasible by deciding on it on the digital camera physique or full-time handbook focus override can also be attainable when in AF mode.
Because the the main focus ring shouldn’t be mechanically coupled, there are not any onerous stops at both finish of the vary, making it just a little harder to set focus at infinity. Polariser customers needs to be happy that the 52mm filter thread does not rotate on focus.
The Nikon Z 28mm F2.8 lens utilises two stepping AF motors that produce virtually silent, clean and snappy auto-focusing, making it well-suited to capturing each stills and video, with the general lens size remaining fixed throughout focusing.
In relation to auto-focusing, it proved to be a really fast performer on the Nikon Z9 digital camera that we examined it with. We did not expertise very a lot”looking”, both in good or unhealthy gentle, with the lens precisely focusing virtually the entire time.
This lens solely ships with entrance and rear lens caps – there isn’t a lens hood or any sort of case included within the field.
Focal Vary
The 28mm focal size offers an angle of view of 75° on a FX-format 35mm full-frame digital camera and 53° on an DX-format APS-C digital camera, which is equal to a 42mm focal size.
Chromatic Aberrations
Chromatic aberrations, sometimes seen as blue or purple fringes alongside contrasty edges, have been not likely obvious in our take a look at pictures, solely showing in very excessive distinction areas.
Vignetting
With the Nikon Z 28mm F2.8 lens set to its most aperture of f/2.8, there may be apparent gentle fall-off within the corners, requiring you to cease down by not less than 3 f-stops to fully forestall it.
Distortion
Commendably there’s hardly any barrel distortion evident in both the JPEG or RAW information.
Sunstars and Flare
The Nikon Z 28mm F2.8 does not produce very good sunstars even when stopped-down to f/16, as proven beneath, and it’s a little liable to flare too when capturing instantly into the solar.
Macro
The Nikon Z 28mm F2.8 shouldn’t be a macro lens, providing an in depth minimal focusing distance of 0.19m / 0.63ft and a most magnification of 0.2x. The next examples show how shut you may get to your topic.
Bokeh
Bokeh is a phrase used for the out-of-focus areas of {a photograph}, and is often described in qualitative phrases, akin to clean / creamy / harsh and so on.
Within the Z 28mm F2.8 lens, Nikon have employed an iris diaphragm with 7 rounded blades, which has resulted in fairly interesting bokeh for what’s in any case a reasonably wide-angle lens.
We do realise, nevertheless, that bokeh analysis is subjective, so we have included a number of examples beneath on your perusal, all shot wide-open at f/2.8.
Sharpness
As a way to present you ways sharp the Nikon Z 28mm F2.8 lens is, we’re offering 100% crops on the next web page.
