{"id":85153,"date":"2026-03-25T01:59:57","date_gmt":"2026-03-25T00:59:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/?p=85153"},"modified":"2026-03-25T15:24:26","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T14:24:26","slug":"review-nikon-z-20mm-f-1-8-s","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/review-nikon-z-20mm-f-1-8-s\/","title":{"rendered":"REVIEW: Nikon Z 20mm f\/1.8 S"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

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

Today I\u2019m taking a look at the Nikon Z 20mm f\/1.8 S\u2014a focal length that sits right on the edge between ultra-wide and more \u201csafe\u201d wide-angle lenses. It offers the immersive field of view that many people love for landscape, architecture, and environmental portrait photography, without being so wide that composition becomes tricky. The fast f\/1.8 aperture is useful in low light, and combined with the focal length, makes this lens a strong option for astrophotography. It\u2019s not among Nikon\u2019s cheapest lenses at around $1000, but it is, of course, an f\/1.8 S-Line lens. Let\u2019s see if it\u2019s worth the price.<\/p>\n

\"camera-icon2\"I tested this lens on a 46 Mp<\/a> Nikon Z7ii<\/a> (Sample images were taken with a Nikon Zf<\/a>)
\n\"\"You can see this review as\u00a0a\u00a0YouTube\u00a0video\u00a0here<\/a>!
\n\"\"Sample images in high resolution here<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Sample Images<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 20mm f\/1.8 S | f\/14<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 20mm f\/1.8 S | f\/16<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 20mm f\/1.8 S | f\/14<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 20mm f\/1.8 S | f\/10<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 20mm f\/1.8 S | f\/14<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"Nikon<\/p>\n

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Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 20mm f\/1.8 S | f\/14<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 20mm f\/1.8 S | f\/1.8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 20mm f\/1.8 S | f\/6.3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 20mm f\/1.8 S | f\/11<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 20mm f\/1.8 S | f\/14<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 20mm 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>\n20mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Angle of View<\/td>\n94\u00b0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
# of Aperture Blades<\/td>\n9 (rounded)<\/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 (Magnification)<\/td>\n0.20 m (1:5.26 or 0.19x)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Filter Size<\/td>\n77 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lens Mount<\/td>\nNikon Z<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Weight<\/td>\n505 g<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Size (D x L)<\/td>\n84.5 mm x 108.5 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Elements\/Group<\/td>\n14 elements in 11 groups<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\"\"\"\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Buy new:<\/strong> Amazon (anywhere)<\/a>, B&H<\/a> for $1045 (Affiliate links)
\nBuy used: Kamerastore<\/a>, eBay.com <\/a>from $850 (Affiliate links)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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

Kamerastore<\/a> kindly loaned this lens for test and review purposes.<\/p>\n

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Nikon Z 20mm f\/1.8 S on a Nikon Zf<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Handling and Build Quality<\/span><\/h2>\n

The lens has excellent build quality. It\u2019s tightly assembled and made mostly of what feels like high-quality plastic, with a metal lens mount and focus ring. The markings are etched into the side. There\u2019s no image stabilization built in, but most Nikon Z cameras have in-body image stabilization anyway. It features autofocus, along with an A\/M switch on the side.<\/p>\n

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Nikon Z 20mm f\/1.8 S | Mount plate | AF A-M switch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Nikon Z 20mm f\/1.8 S has a rubber gasket on the mount to prevent dust and other debris from getting into the lens and the camera. On top of that, the lens is fully sealed in a number of different areas in order to keep dust and moisture out.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s only one ring\u2014a large, metallic focus ring\u2014which turns smoothly and can be customized to control aperture, exposure compensation, or ISO.<\/p>\n

Manual focusing is responsive, and although the lens uses a focus-by-wire system, it can be set to behave linearly. Autofocus is fast, accurate, and quiet.<\/p>\n

It has a 77mm filter thread, the front lens or the filter does not rotate when focusing, which is good. It comes with front and rear caps, as well as a hard plastic, petal-shaped lens hood.<\/p>\n

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Nikon Z 20mm f\/1.8 S with Lens hood on a Nikon Zf<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The lens feels solidly built overall, although its shape is a bit unusual\u2014long and relatively thin.<\/p>\n

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Cocalcola can | Nikon Z 20mm f\/1.8 S | Nikon Z 50mm f\/1.8 S<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Optical Features<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

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

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

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Infinily Sharpness Points of Inspection<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Infinity sharpness | Nikon Z 20\/1.8 S | Z7ii | 100% crop<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Center sharpness is excellent wide open at f\/1.8, with midframe and corners not far behind, although the extreme corners are slightly softer. Stopping down to f\/2.8 brings the lens to near-perfect sharpness across the frame. Performance remains excellent through f\/11, with a slight drop from diffraction becoming more noticeable at f\/16, but even then, the center is excellent with midframe and corner at a very good level. Contrast remains excellent across the frame throughout the aperture range, from f\/1.8 to f\/16.<\/p>\n

Sharpness (Close-up)<\/span><\/h3>\n