{"id":58683,"date":"2024-07-27T07:02:03","date_gmt":"2024-07-27T06:02:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/?p=58683"},"modified":"2024-07-30T19:49:30","modified_gmt":"2024-07-30T18:49:30","slug":"nikon-nikkor-z-50mm-f-1-8-s","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/nikon-nikkor-z-50mm-f-1-8-s\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Nikon Nikkor Z 50mm f\/1.8 S"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

\"Nikon<\/span><\/h2>\n

Today we look at one of the first lenses released for Nikon’s Z mount full-frame mirrorless cameras: the Nikkor Z 50mm f\/1.8 S. This standard lens is versatile enough to be used in street, travel, and\u00a0 everyday photography. it is also a good choice for portraiture, especially on an APS-C camera or on a fullframe camera in DX mode. Combined with a fast f\/1.8 aperture, it’s the right choice whenever you don’t know what to expect and want to be prepared for anything, as it gives you both fast shutter speeds and pretty out-of-focus background blur. Lenses with this focal length and maximum aperture combination have been known as Nifty Fifties, but for $630 it sits between the traditionally affordable \u2018Nifty Fifty\u2019 lenses and the more expensive f\/1.4 professional options. So, the question remains: is it a traditional Nifty Fifty or a sophisticated high-end lens? Let’s find out!<\/p>\n

\"camera-icon2\"I tested this lens on a 46 Mp Nikon Z 7II<\/a> (Sample images Nikon Z 7 II<\/a>, Nikon Z fc<\/a>, and Nikon Z f)<\/a>
\n\"\"You can see this review as YouTube<\/span> <\/a>video here<\/span><\/a>!<\/p>\n

Sample Images<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"Nikon
Nikon Z 7II | Nikon Z 50mm f\/1.8 S | f\/1.8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Nikon
Nikon Z 7II | Nikon Z 50mm f\/1.8 S | f\/1.8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"Nikon<\/p>\n

Nikon Z 7II | Nikon Z 50mm f\/1.8 S | f\/1.8<\/p>\n

\"Nikon
Nikon Z 7II | Nikon Z 50mm f\/1.8 S | f\/1.8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Nikon
Nikon Z 7II | Nikon Z 50mm f\/1.8 S | f\/1.8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Nikon
Nikon Z 7II | Nikon Z 50mm f\/1.8 S | f\/1.8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Nikon
Nikon Z fc | Nikon Z 50mm f\/1.8 S | f\/1.8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Nikon
Nikon Z fc | Nikon Z 50mm f\/1.8 S | f\/1.8<\/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>\n50mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Angle of View<\/td>\n47\u00b0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
# of Aperture Blades<\/td>\n9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Max Aperture<\/td>\nf\/1.8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Min Aperture<\/td>\nf\/16<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Min Focus Distance<\/td>\n0.4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Filter Size<\/td>\n62mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lens Mount<\/td>\nNikon Z<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Weight<\/td>\n415 g<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Size (D x L)<\/td>\n76 x 86.5mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Elements\/Group<\/td>\n12 \/ 9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\"Nikon
Nikon Z 50mm f\/1.8 S lens construction<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Buy new:<\/strong> B&H<\/a>, Amazon<\/a> for $630 (Affiliate links)
\nBuy used: eBay<\/a>\u00a0 ~ $320 (Affiliate links)<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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

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

\"Nikon
Nikon Z 50mm f\/1.8 S on a Nikon Z f<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

The lens is made of a combination of heavy-duty high-quality plastic and metal. For being a 50mm f\/1.8 it is fairly large but not excessively heavy. Look at this size comparison between four generations of Nikkor 50mm f\/1.8!<\/p>\n

\"Nikkor
Nikkor AI-S 50\/1.8 | Nikkor AF-D 50\/1.8 | Nikkor AF-S 50\/1.8G | Nikkor Z 50\/1.8 S<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the pursuit of optical perfection, with each generation the lens has grown in size and weight. While this lens’s body is mostly of plastic the mount plate is of metal and there is a weather sealing gasket under the mounting plate.<\/p>\n

\"Nikon
Nikkor Z 50mm f\/1.8 S rear view<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The relatively large focusing ring is also metallic, which turns smoothly, but it is not super responsive, it lags a little when manual focusing.\u00a0You can reverse the direction you rotate the ring when adjusting the manual focus.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The ring can be customised to control the manual focusing, aperture setting, exposure compensation, or ISO sensitivity during still photography. During video recording they can be customised to control Manual Focusing, <\/span>Power aperture, Exposure compensation, and ISO sensitivity.\u00a0Power aperture lets you change the aperture seamlessly (or clickless) while filming is in progress. This can be useful when you move from a bright outdoor location into a building, for example.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The autofocus is accurate, silent and quite fast, although not the absolute fastest AF system available.<\/p>\n

\"Nikon
Nikon Z 50mm f\/1.8 S on a Nikon Z 7II<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Additionally, there’s an AF-MF switch on the side of the lens barrel that allows you to switch between autofocus and manual focus. This switch can also be customised to control a variety of other functions like AE\/AF lock, framing grid display, image preview, metering mode, zoom on\/off, etc. The lens comes with a decently sized plastic hood.<\/p>\n