Nikon NIKKOR Z 28mm f/2.8 (SE) Lens Review
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Our editorial take on the Nikon NIKKOR Z 28mm f/2.8 (SE) Lens
The Nikon Z 28mm f/2.8 is not a lens built to win sharpness contests or impress spec-sheet enthusiasts. Instead, it succeeds brilliantly at a more important task: being a lens you will actually carry with you. Its greatest strengths are its incredibly compact size and light weight, which transform any Nikon Z body into a discreet and enjoyable everyday camera. The Special Edition (SE) version in particular, with its heritage styling, is a perfect aesthetic and functional match for retro-inspired bodies like the Zf and Z fc, making for a truly satisfying walkaround kit.
Of course, a lens this small and affordable comes with reasonable trade-offs. It does not deliver the clinical, corner-to-corner perfection found in Nikon's premium S-line glass. Image quality is very capable for the price, delivering pleasing results for street, travel, and environmental shots, but users seeking ultimate optical flawlessness should look elsewhere. Think of this lens as a 'character' prime. It's a sleeper hit in the Z-mount lineup, offering immense fun and practicality that far outweigh its modest cost and performance compromises.
- Extremely compact and lightweight design
- Very affordable price offers fantastic value
- Special Edition (SE) version provides a pleasing retro aesthetic
- Versatile 28mm focal length is ideal for street and travel photography
- Solid optical performance for its class
- Image quality is a clear step down from premium S-line lenses
- Build construction is primarily plastic
Synthesized by Geared editors from early expert reviews.
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The NIKKOR Z 28mm f/2.8 (SE) is a compact and lightweight wide-angle prime lens with a heritage design that matches the Z fc body. With a total length of approximately 43 mm and a weight of roughly 160 g, this lens is extremely portable.
It's relatively small and has a good field of view for tourist or street photography, and also offers a pleasantly retro look.
There are only two old-school style “SE” lenses in Nikon’s lineup, a 28mm f/2.8 and a 40mm f/2, so most of Nikon’s current lenses will break your Steve McCurry cosplay a bit.
While the Z-mount 28mm f/2.8 lens from Nikon may not deliver the same top-notch quality as the S-line of lenses, it does deliver a lot at a significantly lower price than those same S-line lenses command.
This lens is a fun little walkaround lens for the Nikon Z system, taking the cake for size, compactness, and weight, especially when mounted on a Zf.
The article announces the introduction of the Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm F/2.8 Wide-Angle Zoom Lens.
The new Nikon Zf is a full-frame mirrorless camera that combines old-world aesthetics with Nikon’s next-gen camera technology.
A classic wide-angle prime, the NIKKOR Z 28mm f/2.8 (SE) is one of those sleeper hits that will inevitably find its way into many Nikon Z shooters’ bags over time.
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About this product
The NIKKOR Z 28mm f/2.8 (SE) from Nikon is an ultra-compact and lightweight FX-format prime lens with a traditional Nikon heritage design. This Special Edition lens inherits its design from the classic NIKKOR lenses released around the same time as the Nikon FM2 film SLR camera. It is a versatile wide-angle lens well-suited to a range of subjects, including landscape, architecture, and reportage.
Specs
- Weight
- 5.6 oz / 160 g
- Dimensions
- ø: 2.8 x L: 1.7" / ø: 71.5 x L: 43 mm
- Focus Type
- Autofocus
- Lens Mount
- Nikon Z
- Filter Size
- 52 mm (Front)
- Focal Length
- 28mm (35mm Equivalent: 42mm)
- Angle Of View
- 75°
- Magnification
- 0.2x Magnification
- Optical Design
- 9 Elements in 8 Groups
- Maximum Aperture
- f/2.8
- Minimum Aperture
- f/16
- Image Stabilization
- No
- Aperture Iris Blades
- 7, Rounded
- Lens Format Coverage
- Full-Frame
- Minimum Focus Distance
- 7.6" / 19.2 cm
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