Nikon announces 50mm f/1.2 and 14-24mm f/2.8 full-frame Z-mount lenses

The announcement of two new Nikon Z lenses was rumored last week, and now here they are. Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.2 S and Nikkor Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S have been officially announced, so let’s dive right in and see what they have to offer.

Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 S

The Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 S is a very fast standard prime lens. If you love 50mm lenses as I do, it should be your great companion in all sorts of situations. It’s compatible with full-frame Nikon Z mirrorless cameras, but of course, you can also use it on crop bodies and get 75mm equivalent focal length.

This is an autofocus lens and it features a multi-focusing system with “extremely fast and accurate AF performance,” as Nikon promises. The 50mm f/1.2 S also employs stepping motors (STMs) for smooth and quiet focusing, so it should also be useful for video.

There are still no detailed specs of the lens available, but here are some primary features that Nikon has shared in the official announcement:

• Balances superior resolving power and the smooth and beautiful bokeh of the f/1.2 maximum aperture’s shallow depth of field.
• An ideal lens structure with perfect symmetry in front of, and behind, the aperture, realizes outstanding optical performance.
• Incredible resolution that faithfully reproduces the finest details throughout the entire frame.
• Gradated bokeh from the focal plane and outstandingly soft background bokeh.
• Adoption of Nano Crystal Coat and ARNEO Coat effectively reduces ghost and flare.
• Adoption of a multi-focusing system and stepping motors (STMs) realizes fast and accurate AF for still images and videos
• Designed to achieve superior dust- and drip-resistant performance* and equipped with an electromagnetic diaphragm mechanism for superior convenience.
• Adoption of L-Fn (lens function) button and a lens information panel supports smooth operation.
• Focus breathing control that is effective not only with movie recording, but also for focus shift shooting.

The Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 S is ready for preorders and it can be yours for $2,096.95.

Nikkor Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S

The new Nikkor Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S is an ultra-wide-angle zoom lens. Just like the 50mm f/1.2, it’s also compatible with full-frame Nikon Z cameras. When used on crop bodies, you’ll get a 21-36mm equivalent focal length. A constant maximum aperture of f/2.8 is maintained throughout the entire zoom range. Nikon markets it as “the world’s shortest and lightest lens in its class.”  It’s ~124.5 mm long, weighing around 650 g.

This lens also features, stepping motors and a control ring. So, in addition to photography, it should also be useful for video because of smooth and quiet AF performance.

Here are some main features as seen on Nikon’s website:

• Adoption of a lens with aspherical surfaces on both sides for the front-most element, and a design that maximizes the advantages of the short flange focal distance, has helped to achieve the world’s shortest and lightest — approx. 124.5 mm and approx. 650 g respectively — lens in its class, while enabling superior optical performance.
• Effective suppression of sagittal coma flare*1 for superior point image reproduction characteristics that render stars as sharp points not only at the center of the frame, but all the way to the edges.
• Adoption of Nano Crystal Coat and ARNEO Coat effectively reduces flare and ghosting caused by light.
• Designed to achieve superior dust- and drip-resistance*2, provides toughness and durability for outstanding reliability, and features a fluorine coating for superior antifouling performance
• Drive sounds have been quietened by the AF mechanism for which a stepping motor (STM) has been adopted, and the aperture mechanism.
• A “click-less” control ring is adopted for smooth operation and in consideration of eliminating unnecessary operational sounds with video recording.
• Equipped with an electromagnetic diaphragm mechanism for greater convenience.
• Adoption of L-Fn (lens function) button and a lens information panel supports smooth operation.
• When the dedicated lens hood (supplied) is attached, screw-on filters can be attached to the front of the lens. Sheet-type gel filters can also be inserted in the filter slot at the rear of the lens.
• The new Neutral Color NC Filter 112mm and Circular Polarizing Filter II 112mm are scheduled to be released at the same time as the NIKKOR Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S.

You can preorder the Nikkor Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S at the price of $2,396.95.