Lens News

On the heels of the big announcement of its new Z cameras, Nikon introduced a trio of new lenses designed specifically for those full frame mirrorless models. The three new lenses use the new larger-diameter mount of the 45.7MP Z 7 and 24.5MP Z 6, which is designed to let more light in for improved edge-to-edge sharpness and better image quality compared to some competing mirrorless camera systems using smaller mounts.

The three new lenses are the standard zoom Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S, the wide-angle prime Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.8 S, and the standard prime Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.8 S. While there’s a lot of excitement over the new Z 7 and Z 6, even Nikon understands that’s a pretty limited amount of glass to launch a new camera line with. The solution to that lack (so far) of native glass is Nikon’s new Mount Adapter FTZ for the Z system, which gives “full compatibility” to more than 90 Nikon lenses, and offers “functionality” with approximately 360 existing Nikkor F lenses from AI type onwards

In the pipeline for the new Z cameras is the Nikkor Z 58mm f/0.95 S Noct lens, which Nikon says in “in development.”

At the heart of these new lens offerings is the larger Z mount system, which has an inner diameter of 55mm, and a short flange focal distance of 16mm. The new Z mount lenses are designed to offer sharp resolution for both still images and videos. They’re equipped with functions that include: compensation for focus breathing (the shifting of the angle of view when focus is adjusted), quiet operation, smooth exposure control, a control ring and performance optimized for video capture, Nikon said.

The Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S, Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.8 S, and Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.8 S are S-Line interchangeable lenses. According to Nikon, the S-Line is a newly designated grade of Nikkor Z lenses that adhere to “a new benchmark in optical performance, realizing rendering performance that surpasses that of conventional f/4 standard zoom lenses and f/1.8 wide-angle or standard prime lenses. From maximum aperture, clear and sharp resolution can be achieved as well as beautiful bokeh characteristics.”

Here’s a rundown of the key features of the three new Z lenses as well as info on the new Mount Adapter FTZ and details on the forthcoming 58mm f/0.95 Noct lens, from Nikon’s press announcement. Read more about the new Z mirrorless cameras here.

Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S Primary Features

• Standard focal-length range from wide-angle 24mm to medium-telephoto 70mm can cover a variety of scenes and subjects

• Optical design that suppresses variations in aberrations from shooting distances of close-up to infinity, demonstrating sharp resolution even in the peripheral areas of the frame from the maximum aperture, as well as fine point-image reproduction

• Achieves a minimum focus distance of 0.3 m across the zoom range

• Adoption of an ED glass element, an aspherical ED lens element, and three aspherical lens elements

• Nano Crystal Coat adopted to suppress ghosting and flare

• The entire lens, including moving parts, has been sealed for dust- and drip-resistance

• Fluorine coat applied to front lens surface

Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.8 S Primary Features

• Sharp resolution even in the peripheral areas of the frame from the maximum aperture, effective suppression of sagittal coma flare that enables superb point-image reproduction when capturing point light sources in night landscapes, and the soft and natural bokeh characteristics expected of a fast (bright) lens

• Adoption of a new multi-focusing system featuring two AF drive units providing driving power at high speed and with high accuracy that achieves quiet, fast, and accurate AF control, as well as high image-forming performance at any focus distance

• Adoption of two ED glass elements, and three aspherical lens elements

• Nano Crystal Coat adopted to suppress ghosting and flare

• The entire lens, including moving parts, has been sealed for dust- and drip-resistance

Nikkor Z 50 mm f/1.8 S Primary Features

• Suppression of axial chromatic aberration produces more resolution with better reproduction of the fine textures in subjects, even from maximum aperture

• Sharp and clear rendering of details from the center of the frame to the peripheral edges, regardless of the shooting distance

• Adoption of two ED glass, and two aspherical lens elements

• Nano Crystal Coat adopted to suppress ghosting and flare

• Adoption of a new, powerful stepping motor (STM) enables quiet and accurate AF control during both still-image capture and video recording

• In consideration to a dust- and drip-resistance, the entire lens, including moving parts, has been sealed

Mount Adapter FTZ Primary Features

• Full compatibility with more than 90 lenses and functionality with approximately 360 existing Nikkor F lenses from AI type onwards

• In-camera VR (Vibration Reduction) with three-axis VR is available when attaching a Nikkor F lens without built-in VR; in-camera VR also performs well with stills and video recording

• When attaching a Nikkor F lens with built-in VR, lens VR and in-camera VR effectively work together to compensate for camera shake by enabling three-axis VR.

• Various sections of the adapter are effectively sealed to ensure dust- and drip-resistant performance equivalent to that of Nikkor F lenses

• Designed to be lightweight yet tough with consideration for superior operability as a part of a complete system

Development of the New Nikkor Z 58mm f/0.95 S Noct Lens
The Nikkor Z 58mm f/0.95 S Noct that Nikon is currently developing will be a large aperture, standard 58mm prime focal-length, the fastest lens in Nikon’s history, manual-focus lens positioned at the top of the S-Line.

The forthcoming lens has inherited the design concept behind the original AI Noct-NIKKOR 58mm f/1.2, a standard prime lens released in 1977, named for “Nocturne” (a musical composition inspired by or evocative of the night), and was popular for its ability to finely reproduce point light sources as point images.

The Nikkor Z Lens Roadmap

 

Price and Availability
The Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S and Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.8 S will be available September 27, 2018 for $999.95 and $849.95, respectively. The Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.8 S lens will be available in late October for $599.95. The Mount Adapter FTZ will be available September 27, 2018 for $249.95. (According to Nikon, there will be an additional $100 savings when the adapter is purchased together with a Z 7 or Z 6, through 12/31/2018).