{"id":56764,"date":"2024-06-16T09:24:32","date_gmt":"2024-06-16T08:24:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/?p=56764"},"modified":"2024-08-17T20:12:03","modified_gmt":"2024-08-17T19:12:03","slug":"review-nikon-nikkor-z-28mm-f-2-8","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/review-nikon-nikkor-z-28mm-f-2-8\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Nikon Nikkor Z 28mm f\/2.8"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Nikon Z 28\/2.8 has the classic focal length for candid street work and is a very compact lens. In fact, it is one of the smallest and lightest Z prime lenses for fullframe cameras. It can be fitted on an APS-C camera as a prime standard lens, which will have the equivalent focal length of 42mm, my favorite standard focal length. It is also one of Nikon’s most affordable Z lenses for fullframe cameras. Note that it is not an S series lens. Let’s see how it performs!<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"This lens was tested on Nikon Z 7II with its 46 Mp sensor.
\n\"YoutubeYou can see this review as a Youtube<\/a> video here<\/a>.
\nHereafter, for ease of writing, I will use Nikon’s designations for fullframe (FX) and APS-C (DX).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sample Images<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"Nikon
Nikon Z 7II | Nikon 28mm f\/2.8 | f\/6.3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Nikon
Nikon Z 7II | Nikon 28mm f\/2.8 | f\/2.8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Nikon
Nikon Z 7II | Nikon 28mm f\/2.8 | f\/9<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Nikon
Nikon Z 7II | Nikon 28mm f\/2.8 | f\/2.8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Nikon
Nikon Z 7II | Nikon 28mm f\/2.8 | f\/2.8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Nikon
Nikon Z 7II | Nikon 28mm f\/2.8 | f\/2.8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Nikon
Nikon Z 7II | Nikon 28mm f\/2.8 | f\/5.6<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Nikon
Nikon Z 7II | Nikon 28mm f\/2.8 | f\/9<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Nikon
Nikon Z 7II | Nikon 28mm f\/2.8 | f\/9<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Nikon
Nikon Z 7II | Nikon 28mm f\/2.8 | f\/9<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Most of the sample images in this review and many more can be found in higher resolution here<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Specifications<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Focal Length<\/td>\n28mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Angle of View<\/td>\n75\u00ba (FF)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
# of Aperture Blades<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Max Aperture<\/td>\nf\/2.8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Min Aperture<\/td>\nf\/16<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Min Focus Distance<\/td>\n0.19 m<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Filter Size<\/td>\n52 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lens Mount<\/td>\nNikon Z<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Weight<\/td>\n155 g<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Size (D x L)<\/td>\n70 x 43 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Elements\/Group<\/td>\n9\/8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\"\"
Nikon Z 28\/2.8 | Lens construction | Aspherical elements in blue<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Buy new:<\/strong> B&H<\/a>, Amazon<\/a> for $227 (Affiliate links)
\nBuy used: eBay<\/a> from $140 (Affiliate links)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The price is normally about $297, but right now there is a deal from Nikon that has taken the price down with $70 to $227. This is only for the standard version, the SE version is sold for $307.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"TTARTISAN
Nikkor 28mm f\/2.8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Disclosure<\/span><\/h2>\n

I bought this lens with my own earned money.<\/p>\n

Variations<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"\"There is a variant of this lens, the Nikon Z 28mm f\/2.8 SE. This variant is identical to the lens under review, but it is styled to\u00a0resemble Nikon\u2019s manual focus lenses from the 1980s. It was designed specifically for, and introduced alongside, Nikon\u2019s retro-styled APS-C camera, the Nikon Z fc. However, like the lens being reviewed, it is also a full-frame lens.<\/p>\n

Handling<\/span><\/h2>\n

The Nikon Z Nikkor 28mm f\/2.8 is primarily made of plastic, including the lens mount, which is not appreciated by many due to its perceived lack of durability. However, it\u2019s important to note that the use of plastic does not necessarily indicate poor quality, as it did in the past. Plastic mounts have not been in use as long as their metal counterparts, leading to some doubts about their longevity.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Nikon
Nikkor 28mm f\/2.8 | Plastic mount<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Nikkor 28\/2.8 is a simple lens. Its only control point is the manual focus ring, which operates smoothly. This control ring can be customised for manual focusing or to adjust aperture, ISO sensitivity, exposure compensation, or to nothing at all. Like all the other Nikon Z lenses the direction of manual focusing can also be reversed. The lens features an accurate, silent, and speedy autofocus, facilitated by dual stepping motors. This lens has been the first Nikon Z lens with dual stepping motors. While the speed is quite impressive, it is not particularly remarkable for a wide-angle lens. It employs an internal focusing mechanism and maintains its size during autofocus operation. As previously mentioned, the lens lacks an aperture ring; aperture settings are controlled from the camera by the electromagnetic diaphragm mechanism in the barrel.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"TTARTISAN
Nikkor 28mm f\/2.8 on Nikon Z 7II<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nikon claims that the lens is dust and splash-resistant and ready to be used for street photography during rainy days. However, they also state that they cannot guarantee this resistance under all circumstances and situations, and I cannot see any rubber gasket under the lens mount. In other words, the lens is built tightly but does not have built-in weather sealing. It does not come with a lens hood and lacks image stabilisation, which is generally not necessary for a lightweight wide-angle lens. Despite its predominantly plastic construction and absence of weather sealing, the lens feels well-built and sturdy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Optical Features<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"\"
Nikon Z 28\/2.8 | MTF curves<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sharpness (Infinity)<\/span><\/h3>\n

For the infinity sharpness test, we look at three areas of the image, center, mid-frame, and corner, see highlighted areas in the image below!<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
Infinily Sharpness Points of Inspection<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This lens is designed for use on both full-frame and APS-C cameras, so we examine the infinity sharpness on both formats. Given that the pixel density on Nikon\u2019s DX camera sensors is<\/strong> more or less the same as that on the Nikon Z7 II, for the DX test, we analyse the same image, but cropped to the size of a DX sensor.<\/p>\n

\"Nikon
Nikon Z 7II | Nikon 28mm f\/2.8 | infinity sharpness test scene<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n