TECHWEEK
Nikon has unveiled two new lenses for Z-mount mirrorless cameras: the Nikkor Z 85mm F1.2 S professional fast portrait lens and the Nikkor Z 26mm F2.8 compact pancake lens , which the company says is Nikon’s thinnest autofocus lens for Z-mount lenses. Lenses are designed for full frame and are expected to be available in the spring of 2023.
The first lens, the Nikkor Z 85mm F1.2 S, is a classic high-aperture “portrait lens” of the premium S series. The body is made of magnesium alloy, it can hardly be called compact and light – it weighs 1160 g, is 142 mm long and 103 mm in diameter. There is protection from dust and drops of water.
The aperture consists of 11 rounded blades, which promises nice bokeh with round shaped highlights. The company claims that the optical design eliminates the effect of the so-called “onion rings” in the background.
The developers also promise fast, accurate and quiet autofocus, with a minimal effect of focus “breathing”, for which two STM stepper focus motors are responsible, which move two focus groups inside the lens. The minimum focusing distance is 85 cm, which is easy to remember since the focal length is 85 mm. On the body there is a control ring and an L-Fn button, which are configured, for example, to change the aperture or exposure compensation.
Photo examples
Specifications
- Maximum aperture: F1.2
- Minimum aperture: F16
- Number of aperture blades: 11
- Optical design: 15 elements in 10 groups
- Nano Crystal Coating, 1 ED element, 2 aspherical elements
- Minimum focusing distance: 85cm
- Maximum magnification: 0.11x
- Autofocus: 2 STM motors
- Support for manual linear focus on some cameras
- Weight – 1160 g, length – 142 mm, diameter – 103 mm
- Filter Diameter: 82mm
- Hood HB-106
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The second lens is the Nikkor Z 26mm F2.8, a compact pancake that is only 23.5mm thick and weighs 125g. the same aperture of F2.8 makes it a universal.
Nikkor Z 26mm F2.8
At full frame, the focal length of 26 mm can be considered wide-angle, while on APS-C cameras it turns into a standard “fix” 39 mm, which can shoot almost any scene, including landscapes, city, and portraits, as well as vlogs and travel videos.
Due to the compact design, filters are not screwed onto the front element of the lens, but onto the HB-111 hood, filter diameter 52 mm.
Photo example
Specifications
- Maximum Aperture: F2.8
- Minimum aperture: F16
- Number of aperture blades: 7
- Optical design: 8 elements in 6 groups
- 3 aspherical elements
- Minimum focusing distance: 20cm
- Maximum magnification: 0.19x
- Auto focus: STM motor
- Weight – 125 g, length – 24 mm, diameter – 70 mm
- Filter Diameter: 52mm
- Hood HB-111
What about the prices?
The lenses are expected in March 2023, the price for the “pancake” Nikkor Z 26mm F2.8 is $500, the portrait lens Nikkor Z 85mm F1.2 S is $2800.
