Nikon clearly shifted its focus in 2020 and set out to expand the lens lineup for its ever-growing Z system of mirrorless cameras, now two years old. The company has invested quite a bit into rounding out its mirrorless lineup in a way that complements its vast SLR system, but in ways that also differ from the older SLR lenses. From the beginning, Nikon stated the Z mount would open up new possibilities for optics design; so, with that in mind, let’s review the six new Z-mount lenses Nikon released in 2020.
NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S
Starting the year with a bang, the first release of 2020 was the highly anticipated NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S, the coveted zoom so many portrait, event, and sports photographers use on a daily basis. Pursuing a theme Nikon has taken on with its Z lens releases, this 70-200mm f/2.8 stands to be the company’s most optically impressive version of this tested zoom, and it features a huge array of specialized glass elements and lens coatings that all help to produce the sharpest, highest contrast, clearest, and most accurately rendered images possible.
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Beyond having an excellent optical design, this zoom also sports a pair of stepping motors that yield fast, precise, and quiet focusing performance. There’s also a vibration reduction mechanism that reduces the effects of camera shake, and a removable, rotating tripod collar. Additionally, including a feature seen on some of the higher-end Z lenses, this 70-200mm also sports a top OLED panel to display lens information, and there’s also a programmable control ring and assignable Fn buttons.
NIKKOR Z 20mm f/1.8 S
To the well-rounded lineup of f/1.8 primes, Nikon added the NIKKOR Z 20mm f/1.8 S to the system in early 2020; it’s a popular ultra-wide perfect for a variety of subjects, ranging from landscapes to architecture. Riffing on the company’s beloved 20mm f/1.8 designs from the SLR past, this version is the most optically advanced yet, using ED and aspherical elements to yield high sharpness and low distortion.
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This lens uses a multi-focus system, too, which incorporates a pair of stepping motors that deliver fast, quiet, and accurate AF and full-time manual focus override. Also, it has a weather-sealed design and a programmable control ring.
NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR
Looking in the opposite direction, Nikon also released the first all-in-one zoom for the Z system with the NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR. Covering wide-angle to medium-telephoto fields of view, this is a one-lens solution for a variety of circumstances. As an alternative to carrying multiple lenses, this one wide-ranging lens also touts a relatively sleek form factor, measuring just 4.5" long and weighing 1.25 lb, and features vibration reduction image stabilization to make handheld shooting that much more viable.
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Optically, it uses several aspherical and ED elements that reduce a variety of aberrations to achieve a consistently impressive image quality throughout the 8.3x zoom range, and both ARNEO and nano crystal coatings contribute to a high-contrast, vivid rendering quality. Additionally, a stepping motor and internal focusing design promote quick focusing performance and a configurable control ring contributes to intuitive handling.
NIKKOR Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S
The mirrorless take on one of Nikon’s most beloved SLR lenses, the NIKKOR Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S is poised to become the go-to zoom for landscape and nature photographers. It’s a versatile ultra-wide zoom with a bright, constant f/2.8 maximum aperture and works perfectly in concert with the 24-70mm f/2.8 and 70-200mm f/2.8 lenses as a comprehensive three-lens system. As expected, this lens features a sophisticated optical design, with ED and aspherical elements, along with specialized ARNEO and nano crystal coatings to yield stellar image quality with low distortion.
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As with the 70-200mm mentioned above, this lens incorporates a top OLED to help confirm shooting settings at a glance, and it uses a stepping motor for apt focusing performance. Also, something unique about this new 14-24mm is that it comes with a pair of lens hoods, including one that accepts 112mm screw-in filters. Unlike the older 14-24mm for SLRs, which was known for its bulbous front element that prohibited attaching filters directly to the front of the lens, Nikon has come up with a nice working solution for this new model.
NIKKOR Z 24-50mm f/4-6.3
Released alongside the sleek Z 5 camera, the NIKKOR Z 24-50mm f/4-6.3 is a fresh take on the concept of a “kit lens.” Rather than compromising on quality by including a longer zoom range, Nikon gave this especially compact lens a tighter zoom range for improved image quality at the ends of the focal length range. As a lens meant to be paired with the company’s sleekest full-frame body, its lightweight and retractable design is built for everyday walkaround use.
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Optically, the 24-50mm uses aspherical and low-dispersion elements to yield high sharpness and clarity, and a Super Integrated Coating minimizes flare for high contrast and color accuracy. It uses a stepping AF motor, too, and has a dust- and moisture-resistant build for working in a variety of climates.
NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.2 S
Finally, closing out 2020, Nikon also debuted the impressive NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.2 S. This normal-length prime is distinguished by its huge f/1.2 maximum aperture, making it the fastest AF lens for the system. As expected with a lens of this caliber, specialized aspherical and low-dispersion glass is used to produce highly corrected imagery, with special attention given to bokeh quality due to the lens’s ability to produce shallow depth of field imagery.
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A built-in OLED is featured, too, which will be especially helpful for displaying the depth of field range, and the lens uses a multi-focus system for fast, near-silent AF and full-time MF override. And, repeating a common theme, it also sports a weather-sealed design to suit working in harsh conditions.
What’s your favorite 2020 lens release from Nikon? Have you tried any of these lenses yet? And which lenses are you hoping to see from Nikon in the future? Let us know, in the Comments section, below.
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