Nikon's Z Mount Quartet of 50mm Wonders (2025)

Lenses

Feroz Khan

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Last updated on 09/03/2024

10/14/2024

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The 50mm f1.8 S lens was among the first 3 lenses Nikon announced in 2018, when it announced its entry into the world of full-frame mirrorless cameras. Boasting incredible edge-to-edge sharpness, Nikon knew that most photographers jumping from their world-class DSLRs into the new lineup of Z cameras would probably choose this focal length as their first choice for a prime lens. But Nikon didn’t stop with the 50mm focal length after that; in the years since that announcement, they’ve introduced 3 more variations of this focal length. Here’s a quick roundup of this nifty-fifty quartet.

Table of Contents

Nikon 50mm f1.8 Z S

Nikon's Z Mount Quartet of 50mm Wonders (1)

Until I reviewed the Nikon 135mm f1.8 S Plena, I hadn’t seen this level of sharpness on a Nikon-manufactured lens, like what their 50mm f1.8S Z mount lens had to offer. The images this lens produced were the perfect testament to Nikon’s belief that the Z-mount’s 55mm inner diameter and short 16mm flange focal distance heralded a new era in their century-old imaging technology. And the creamy out-of-focus areas it produced was nothing like any of their F-mount 50mm lenses had ever produced. This was a whole new level of jaw-dropping image quality, and for many photographers like me, the Nikon 50mm f1.8S Z lens was the perfect lens to begin a new journey into mirrorless photography.

Yes, it cost more than any F-mount 50mm lens from the past, but it was worth every penny you spent on it. Suitable for portraiture, landscapes, street, and other genres of photography, it’s been a constant companion for me on three Nikon Z cameras so far. Nikon did the right thing by giving the lens weather sealing and a pretty compact body. What crippled Nikon earlier on, was the inability of the Z cameras to lock focus on subjects accurately. When it came to focusing on people, the AF wouldn’t always lock on the eyes correctly. Even if the AF indicator correctly hovered over the subject’s eyes, it always felt like they could have been sharper in the resulting images.

This model really shone only after Nikon released their Z6 II camera, which had a much-improved autofocus over the 1st gen full-frame Z bodies. And I found it to supersede all expectations when I used it on my Nikon Zf, which uses much of the AF technology from the Z9 and Z8. It’s my go-to lens when I want some excellent subject separation, and it stays unobtrusive when I’m out on the streets as well. This lens scored a full 5 stars in our review.

Nikon's Z Mount Quartet of 50mm Wonders (2)

The only drawback, if it can be called so, is that every image taken with this lens will be clinically sharp. That’s to say, it won’t have any of the character and individuality of film-era lenses. But that’s what Nikon aims to address with its newer f1.4 line of Z-mount lenses.

Tech Specs

Tech specs for the Nikon NIKKOR Z 50mm f1.8 S are taken from Nikon’sofficial product page.

Mount TypeNikon Z Mount
Focal Length50mm
Maximum Aperturef1.8
Minimum Aperturef16
FormatFX
Maximum Angle of View (DX-format)31°30′
Maximum Angle of View (FX-format)47°00′
Maximum Reproduction Ratio0.15x
Lens Elements12
Lens Groups9
Compatible Format(s)FX
DX
Diaphragm Blades9
Distance InformationVisible in EVF with manual focusing
Nano Crystal CoatYes
ED Glass Elements2
Aspherical Elements2
Super Integrated CoatingYes
AutofocusYes
AF ActuatorSTM
Internal FocusingYes
Minimum Focus Distance1.32ft(0.4m)
Focus ModeAutofocus
Manual
E-typeYes
Filter Size62mm
Accepts Filter TypeScrew in
Approx. Dimensions (Diameter x Length)3in(6mm)x3.4in (86.5mm)
Distance from camera lens mount flange when lens is retracted
Based on CIPA guidelines
Approx. Weight14.7oz (415g)
Based on CIPA guidelines
Lens TypePrime
Nikon's Z Mount Quartet of 50mm Wonders (3)
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Nikon Z 50mm F1.2 S

Nikon's Z Mount Quartet of 50mm Wonders (17)

The second of Nikon’s Z-mount 50mm lenses, the Nikon Z 50mm F1.2 S helps you capture an impressive mix of sharpness, color, and character. Images made from this lens are gorgeous. Of course, you have to be willing to work with the extra weight and girth. Like other Z mount lenses, the Z 50mm f1.2 S is impressively sharp, even wide open. The lens keeps quite a bit of sharpness towards the edges but does fall off slightly from the idealistic center. Subjects within the rule of thirds are still pleasantly sharp. This lens also has a Fn button on the left-hand side that can be used to customize over a dozen different options, from subject tracking to AF/AE lock. There’s also the LCD display on the top for viewing various settings. It’s a massive lens to use, but the front element takes relatively normal-sized 82mm size filters

A lens this big and this wide can’t be cheap, and at over USD 2000, this is not exactly pocket change that you’d have to shell out to get this model. But when it comes to investment, it’s all relative—Nikon’s $8000 Z 58mm f/0.95 S Noct sets an even higher bar.

Unlike the 50mm f1.8s, this lens gives the images it renders some character. Hillary Grigonis found the lens fairly easy to use, producing decent flare and bokeh that will make you the envy of every other photographer you know.

I haven’t met a Z mount lens that didn’t take excellent images — and I’ve tried two-thirds of them. The Nikon Z 50mm f1.2 S follows that trend. Images are sharp but not too sharp. While technically excellent, the lens still allows for a bit of character. Color is excellent, and bokeh is dreamy.

– Hillary in our 50mm F1.2 S review

Nikon's Z Mount Quartet of 50mm Wonders (18)
Nikon's Z Mount Quartet of 50mm Wonders (19)
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Nikon's Z Mount Quartet of 50mm Wonders (28)

Nikon’s 50mm f1.2S lens took home our Editor’s Choice Award, delivering excellent sharpness with ample character in the photos you can take with it.

Tech Specs

Specs have been taken from the Lensrentals.com page

Angle of View47°
BrandNikon
CategoryPhoto
Extra Low-Dispersion Elements2
Focal Length50.0-50.0
Focus TypeAutofocus and Manual Focus
Hood IncludedYes
Item TypeLens
Length5.9″
Lens FormatFull Frame
Lens MountNikon Z
Lens TypeNormal
Max Aperture1.2
Mfr. Model Number20095
Min Aperture16.0
MountNikon Z
Prime/ZoomPrime
StabilizationNo
Weight2.4 lb.

Nikon 50mm F2.8 Z MC

Not a common abbreviation found on Z-mount lenses, the MC indicates that this is a macro lens that lets you shoot as close as 0.16 meters with a true 1:1 reproduction ratio. You get the ability to shoot as close as 0.53ft (0.16m) from the focal plane. In terms of quality, it’s certainly usurped by its bigger brother, the Nikon 105mm f2.8 S macro. However, if you’re not a dedicated macro photographer but want to test out the waters to see if you want to pursue it more, the Nikon 50mm F2.8 Z MC lens can definitely do the job.

Oddly enough, there’s no depth of field scale on this macro lens. One really cool thing about this lens is that you can use it to digitize your old film negatives with an add-on accessory. The ES-2 Film Digitizing Adapter Set is sold separately. It’s lightweight, small, and not really pricey. If you’re not someone who’s too picky about ultra-wide apertures, then you’ll find the f2.8 to be sufficient for most use. Who says you need to use it just as a dedicated macro lens though.

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Tech Specs

Specs have been taken from the Lensrentals.com page

Angle of View47°
Aperture Blades9
BrandNikon
CategoryPhoto
Extra Low-Dispersion Elements1
Focal Length50.0-50.0
Focus TypeAutofocus and Manual Focus
Groups/Elements7/10
Hood IncludedYes
Item TypeLens
Length2.6″
Lens FormatFull Frame
Lens MountNikon Z
Lens TypeNormal and Macro
Macro Reproduction Ratio1:1
Max Aperture2.8
Maximum Magnification1x
Mfr. Model Number20103
Min Aperture22.0
MountNikon Z
Prime/ZoomPrime
StabilizationNo
Weight0.6 lb.

Nikon 50mm f1.4 Z

The latest in Nikon’s Z-mount 50mm list is their 50mm f1.4 Z. You’d be forgiven for thinking that a lens with a wider aperture than their 50mm f1.8S lens would be an S lens as well. Nikon seems to have taken a different route altogether with their Z-mount f1.4 lenses, marketing them more as lenses with character rather than just sharpness. Where I think Nikon missed the boat, was with the possibility of making these f1.4 lenses designed to look like classic 60s and 80s era Nikkor models. Still, if you’re looking for that old-school look to your photos without having to grind your files through some post-processing to layer them with individuality, you’d probably find the Nikon 50mm f1.4 Z a better buy over the f1.8S model. It would pair greatly with the Nikon Zf, and I’m keen on trying it out with mine to see how it compares.

The Nikon 50mm f1.4 Z is weather-resistant and built well overall. It’s about the same size as Nikon’s 35mm f1.4 Z and sports a 62mm filter thread.

Nikon's Z Mount Quartet of 50mm Wonders (44)
Nikon's Z Mount Quartet of 50mm Wonders (45)
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Tech Specs

To be added

Which One Would You Pick?

  • All the product images and sample photos in these roundups are shot by our staff. In fact, we don’t talk about products at length in roundups like this unless we’ve done full reviews of them. But you can surely know that we’ve done all the research ourselves.
  • We’d never recommend a product to you that we haven’t tested or that we really didn’t like. You can reference our linked reviews, for more information on this.
  • 50mm is a great focal length that’s neither too wide nor too tight. It’s the focal length I always recommend to budding photographers who want a lens that’s not their standard kit model.
  • My first one was the Nikon 50mm f1.8S, but if I had a choice today, I might just pick the new 50mm f1.4
Nikon's Z Mount Quartet of 50mm Wonders (2025)

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