Nikon has announced its aim to produce at least 20 new Z-mount lenses by 2025. At present, Nikon offers 30 different Z-mount lenses – or 32 if you include color and design variations.
But given it has taken Nikon more than 4 years to deliver 30 lenses – producing another 20 in less than 3 years might be a tall order. Fortunately, I am here to help. So here are 5 new Z-mount lenses to get the ball rolling.
Table of Contents
- 1. Nikon Z 70-200mm F4 VR
- 2. Nikon Z 50mm F1.8
- 3. Nikon Z 16-50mm F4
- 4. Nikon Z 70-185mm F/2.8
- 5. Your new Z mount lens
- Recent Posts
1. Nikon Z 70-200mm F4 VR
In the last two decades, Nikon produced no less than 3 versions of the Nikon AF-S 70-200mm F/2.8 for its F-mount. And they have even found time to make a Nikon Z 70-200mm F/2.8 for the still wet-behind-the-sensor Z-mount.
In contrast, Nikon has shown little love for the humble 70-200mm F4. For instance, it made just one version of the AF-S 70-200mm F4 for its F-Mount and if the little shadows on the Z-mount road map tell us anything, it tells us that a 70-200mm F4 is nowhere near.
Why should you care? Well, traditionally, a 70-200mm F4 offers the same optical heaven as the sports-oriented 70-200mm F2.8 but is half the weight, size, and cost. And whilst the F4 may be a stop slower than the F2.8 – it hardly matters for most kinds of photography.
2. Nikon Z 50mm F1.8
I know what you’re thinking – Nikon has already made a 50mm F1.8. But what they have not made is a true Nifty Fifty. For those of you unaware, a Nifty Fifty is a small, super cheap 50mm lens with a fast F/1.8 aperture.
Even if you are unaware, Nikon isn’t. For instance, the tiny, razor-sharp Nikon AF-D 50mm F/1.8 is Nikon’s cheapest full-frame lens. And if you can chuck in a few more readies, the cheapo Nikon AF-S 50mm F/1.8G is better still. Read best 50mm lenses for Nikon.
But rather than giving us the Peoples Fifty, Nikon created a heavy-weight ‘Sigma Art-style’ Z 50mm F/1.8 S-Line, a heavier-weight 50mm F/1.2, and an insane-weight manually focusing 58mm F/0.95. Yet they still found time to create a small-aperture 50mm F/2.8 that costs a fortune thanks to its 1:1 magnification.
So please, Nikon – top teasing us with 40mm F2’s and give us a proper-fifty. If Canon can, you can (was that slogan once?).
3. Nikon Z 16-50mm F4
OM Systems had only been selling lenses for 15 minutes when they released one of the most useful landscape/street photography zoom lenses ever in the Olympus 8-25mm F/4 Pro. Not only does it offer an absurdly useful equivalent focal length of 16-50mm, but it is small, waterproof, and has a nice x.42 maximum magnification.
Besides, why should Nikon stick with cliched focal lengths? After all, when all the manufacturers were releasing their new full-frame mirrorless systems, Nikon stood up and whipped out its massive mount and proudly claimed it was bigger and better than everyone else’s.
Of course, I’m paraphrasing (not as much as you’d think though). However, Nikon did say its engineers would have more creative freedom to produce smaller and more interesting lenses. So, instead of reinventing old F-Mount glass, how about a compact and weather-proof 16-50mm F/4 instead?
And if they don’t, I’ll be forced to switch to Micro Four Thirds and churn out smug self-indulging articles (like this one) explaining why M43 is better than full-frame. Don’t make me do it Nikon!
4. Nikon Z 70-185mm F/2.8
Whilst Nikon has been reinventing the wheel, others have given it the finger. For instance, Tamron released the Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD – an F/2.8 lens that’s about the same size as a 70-200 F/4.
Of course, it doesn’t quite make 200mm. As a result, you’ll have to tolerate a 13.34-degree angle of view instead of the 200mm’s 12.34.
But if you can tolerate this first-world problem, you benefit from a vastly smaller, lighter, and cheaper lens. So, how about it Nikon?
5. Your new Z mount lens
To be honest, asking for 5 lenses seems a little bit greedy. So, what lens do you want? Please comment below and I’ll add them to a future post which I’d forward to Nikon for their disinterest.
