PRONEWS Reviews – NIKKOR Z Lens Review Vol. 03
Nikon Z mount lenses are powerful for a variety of reasons, one in particular being the very small flange compared to competing mounts. However, due to Nikon going with a complete redesign of its Z mount when launching the Z system in 2018, they had to completely release new lenses from scratch to be compatible with mirrorless cameras. A result of this is that Z Mount lenses are pretty expensive. One lens that stands out in terms of price is the NIKKOR Z 28mm f/2.8 SE.
This lens, a full-frame lens available as a kit lens for the Nikon Zfc, runs about ¥30,000. In comparison, the lens I tested back in May for this series is about ¥300,000. Needing a wide-angle lens for work, I picked this up simply due to expediency and price. However, every time I shoot with this lens, I find myself very pleasantly surprised at the results! That’s what the main focus of this review will be.
What is the NIKKOR Z 28mm f/2.8 SE?
Nikon has two lenses in its SE line, the Special Edition line. These lenses are the NIKKOR Z 40mm f/2 SE and NIKKOR Z 28mm f/2.8 SE, and I now own both! The design resembles the F mount autofocus lenses from the 80s and 90s, with a silver color band around the middle. The adjusting ring, complete in free motion and programmable as the photographer sees fit, serrates in the same way the D lenses do. This design pairs well with the Zf anf Zfc. Specs can be read from Nikon’s website here.
Despite being a full-frame lens, they released this as one of the two optional lens kits for the Zfc.
With a length of 43 mm/1.7 inches in length and about 160 grams in weight, it’s a fairly compact lens.
Lens construction consists of 9 elements in 8 groups (including 2 aspherical lens elements). It also uses the same filter thread as the 40mm lens, at 52mm. That’s beneficial for me because I have a ton of 52mm thread filters!
Additionally, the lens has 7 iris blades.
Why did I even buy this lens?
There’s a lot of gearheads that often judge purchases based off how much money was spent in the purchase. I come from a family background of bankers, so, in direct contrast to that philosophy, I prioritize value and maximize use. I actually didn’t even spend the ¥30,000 when getting this lens…I had Yodobashi Camera points. If you live in Japan and/or frequent the Bic or Yodobashi or Yamada Denki stores, I strongly suggest joining the points program. Once you spend enough money on accessories, film, and lightbulbs, or even drinks and snacks, you’ll be able to save money on this your lenses too!
Back to the point of this section…why’d I even get this lens? I’ve tested and reviewed many different lenses and have access in borrowing faster, wider angle lenses through work.
The answer is simple – it fits what I need to do on the fly. Like I said at the start, I needed a wide-angle lens that performed immediately, and I needed it quickly and within a small budget. I don’t need a super-fast lens for outdoor, scenic shots. I don’t need f/1.2 for filming a cosplayer friend for her trade school Capstone project. All I needed something compact, wide-angle, and easy to use.
How close can I be with a 28mm lens?
This lens ticks all those boxes. Being able to purchase it on a nice discount is an extra bonus. Since I bought this lens, I have been incredibly surprised by it. I didn’t expect much from an f/2.8 prime, but each time I test it out in different settings, I am pretty impressed by it.
Sample Shooting with the NIKKOR Z 28mm f/2.8 SE – Trains
Yes, I know I’ve done this a lot with these reviews. However, trains make the perfect motion testing subject for lenses and cameras. I set the Nikon Zf to burst mode, waited for a train to pass, and here’s the results.
One tough part of shooting trains is getting the balance and stability right. Stability, though, isn’t a huge issue with 28mm lenses. Indeed with this lens, I had zero problems with stability. Actually, its smaller form factor works in my favor.
Additionally, outdoors, the f/2.8 aperture isn’t a problem. When shooting moving objects, I found keeping the aperture around f/5.6 ideal.
Holding autofocus wasn’t an issue either. The EH500, a favorite of mine to photograph because it’s a rare red locomotive on the Tokaido Line, moves pretty quickly. Not only did this lens maintain focus through this series of bursts, I had no issues with it wavering or with any exposure issues as we panned toward the sun in the west. I love both of these shots, plain and simple!
Sample Shooting – Portraiture
Ok, I know immediately what you’re thinking. How can a wide angle lens with a medium-level aperture be good for portraiture?
The answer to that is simple. Take a look at the shot above. My friend and the Tocho building are both framed in nicely. Getting the full-shot of your subject while making them stand out in full-focus, that’s the key use of this lens. Ideally, yeah, I would prefer a much sharper lens (the 35mm f/1.2 would be better for such a shot) but if you’re a photographer on a budget, don’t count this lens out.
The key to taking great shots often times is how well you can control light. The Zf takes photos up to 1/8000. In daylight, use that high shutter speed and set your lens to f/2.8.
The lens construction also means there really isn’t bubble or popping bokeh (like the f/1.2 series would have). However, a 52mm thread filter works with many cheaper Kenko-Tokina filters (quite common with the cheaper Nikkor Z lenses, and the same as the 40mm f/2 kit lens).
Actually, related to imaging people, I bought this lens after getting a pretty high-paying gig making a video for a different cosplayer. I needed the full-body shot but in a confined space. I can’t share the video (it’s for the cosplayer’s trade school). The lens however served its role very well on set.
Thanks much to my good friends Kimi and Aya for allowing me to test out this lens with them!
The Ideal Use Case of the NIKKOR Z 28mm f/2.8 SE – Nature and Cityscape Shots
The 40mm lens that came with the original purchase of the Zf, that lens works simply fine for taking cityscape shots. However, ideal street or nature shots would capture as much as possible, right? That’s where the 28mm comes in handy.
I tested the NIKKOR Z 28mm f/2.8 SE out both around my neighborhood of Kamakura and in Tokyo. Additionally, I tested cityscape shots in a variety of lighting. Here’s some of the results:
You don’t need a fast lens to capture the shot above. You need something that controls light and contrast well. The lens does that decently well here.
You need to stand close to the temple to get this shot. Luckily, the 28mm wide angle captures this temple gate and the pretty trees behind it.
From my office window – Daytime and Sunset
Low light street snaps
With the f/2.8, a worry about light control comes natural. Have a look at some sample snaps below. I had no problem taking these shots, even at ISO 800.
Shooting Very Close with the NIKKOR Z 28mm f/2.8 SE
This lens isn’t a macro lens…however, the technology that goes into the Z system doesn’t fail when photographing objects close up, even with a wide angle lens. Let’s have a look at a few of those shots:
I know I talked earlier about how this lens doesn’t have the prettiest bokeh…however, shooting with the NIKKOR Z 28mm f/2.8 SE still maintains good color balance even up close.
Thank you very much for reading this review to the end! To sign off, here’s one singular dog photo, featuring my work colleague’s beautiful Basenji dog, Fendi!
Written by Zach Kuhn – profile
Zach is the web editor for PRONEWS Global, and a multi-media film and digital photographer. His work in social media content creation stretches back to the early days of social networking sites. His Instagram can be found here.
