Nikon is expanding their mirrorless lens range with the release of two new NIKKOR Z lenses. They also announced that two more Z mount primes are in development, coming later in 2021.
THE NIKKOR Z MC 50MM F/2.8
Aimed at hobbyists and newbie photographers, the NIKKOR Z MC 50mm f/2.8’s large diameter and short flange focal distance maximises the amount of light that can reach the camera’s sensor, enabling users to shoot top-quality stills and video. Its adoption of the efficient Z mount system means the lens is highly portable, making it the perfect daily companion.
This one of the new NIKKOR Z lenses is capable of reproducing shots with a true magnification ratio of 1:1. It features a short minimum focusing distance of a mere 5-16cm. This powerful creative combination allows shooters to get up close and personal with their subjects, capturing them in tack-sharp focus with smooth, natural bokeh in the background.
Superior image quality and clear rendering in every shot are delivered by the 50mm’s lens structure. The lens also contains technology to suppress chromatic aberration, colour bleeding, and fringing at any shooting distance, as well as ghosting and flaring, even when the sun or other light source is in the frame.
As previously mentioned, the NIKKOR Z MC 50mm f/2.8 is small and lightweight, coming in at only 260g and a mere 66mm in length. Designed with daily adventuring in mind, the lens features dust- and drip-resistant measures that will prevent dust and water droplets from entering the lens. It also has a fluorine coat on the front element for anti-fouling and easy cleaning and utilises a stepping motor for extremely quiet operation.
Finally, the 50mm f/2.8 boasts some exciting features that deliver an enhanced macro photography experience. It has a focus limit switch on the side of the lens, minimising focusing time when switched to the closeup position. It also features a colour-coded focus distance indicator that provides details on the distance from the lens to the subject.
THE NIKKOR Z MC 105MM F/2.8
Apart from these new NIKKOR Z lenses, the other new addition to the NIKKOR S-Line is the NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8, a mid-telephoto lens designed and honed from customer feedback. The lens achieves beautiful and soft bokeh with no visible colour bleed and minimal fringing through the employment of ED lens elements which suppress chromatic aberration. It features an aspherical lens element that compensates for curvature of field, preserving details sharply even at the edges of the frame. It also has a layer of Nano Crystal Coat and ARNEO Coat to reduce flare and ghosting in backlit conditions.
This new NIKKOR Z lens adopts a multi-focus system with a new auto-focus (AF) drive system for improved optical performance, delivering fast and accurate focusing even in close-up shooting situations. The maximum aperture of f/2.8 provides a shallow depth of field and creates large, smooth bokeh while keeping the main subject in sharp focus. It also features Vibration Reduction (VR) performance that compensates up to 4.5-stops, giving shooters the opportunity to shoot at slower shutter speeds in lowlight conditions.
The MC 105mm f/2.8 uses a small-diameter, powerful high-torque stepping motor (STM) to deliver superior focusing performance. The motor is also extremely quiet, meaning close-up subjects won’t be startled by any lens operation sounds. Additionally, it features a similar focus limit switch system to the MC 50mm f/2.8 which limits the AF search range between 0.29m and 0.5m, resulting in more precise, faster focusing when shooting close-up.
Finally, the MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S is fairly lightweight, coming in at only 630g. It also has a rubber seal around the lens mount and a layer of fluorine coasting on the front lens element for easier cleaning and keeping contaminants out of the lens.
IN DEVELOPMENT: 28MM F/2.8 AND 40MM F/2
Wrapping up the Nikon news for the day is the announcement that the manufacturer is developing the NIKKOR Z 28mm f/2.8 and NIKKOR Z 40mm f/2. These compact, lightweight primes for full-frame (Nikon FX format) mirrorless cameras for which the Nikon Z mount has been adopted.
The 28mm prime will be a wide-angle lens, ideally suited to executing everyday snapshots, while the 40mm f/2 will be a go-to prime that enables users to creatively use bokeh in their images. These standard, versatile focal lengths offer a broad range of shooting options and will certainly become staples for new and experienced Nikon mirrorless shooters.
