Nikon NIKKOR Z 20mm f/1.8 S Lens
With advanced optics and extensive weather sealing, this bright 20mm full-frame mirrorless lens is ready to take on any view. Ultra-sharp from edge to edge and brilliant in low light, it renders every component of a scene with exceptional clarity. Into the wild Finely detailed vistas. Mesmerising nightscapes. This lens’ outstanding optical performance means stars are reproduced as fine rounded points even when shooting wide open. Sharpness is incredible, even when you focus the lens on close-up subjects. And lens flare is effectively countered, even in backlit situations. Depth and beauty The wide Z mount and f/1.8 rounded 9-blade aperture enable thrilling performance in any light. You get exquisite starbursts and natural-looking bokeh, which is smoothly graded to the edges of the frame. Not just wide but close Sharpness is superb—and exceptional at close distances. A minimum focus distance of just 0.20m puts you in control of the frame, from close-up to infinity. Sharp and clear ED glass and aspherical lens elements correct chromatic aberrations, and Nikon’s anti-reflective Nano Crystal Coat combats ghosting and flare. No matter the setting, you’ll capture so much more of the view. Movies to inspire adventure This full-frame lens focuses quickly, smoothly, and quietly, which makes it ideal for shooting video footage. You get precise control over depth of field right from the lens, and the silent control ring lets you pull focus with absolute precision. Focus breathing is all but eliminated. Natural The focus rings adjust with just the right amount of torque. The control ring can be used for ISO, silent aperture control, or exposure compensation. Protected Shoot outside in all kinds of weather without worrying. Every movable part of the lens barrel is extensively sealed to keep dust and moisture out.
With advanced optics and extensive weather sealing, this bright 20mm full-frame mirrorless lens is ready to take on any view. Ultra-sharp from edge to edge and brilliant in low light, it renders every component of a scene with exceptional clarity. Into the wild Finely detailed vistas. Mesmerising nightscapes. This lens’ outstanding optical performance means stars are reproduced as fine rounded points even when shooting wide open. Sharpness is incredible, even when you focus the lens on close-up subjects. And lens flare is effectively countered, even in backlit situations. Depth and beauty The wide Z mount and f/1.8 rounded 9-blade aperture enable thrilling performance in any light. You get exquisite starbursts and natural-looking bokeh, which is smoothly graded to the edges of the frame. Not just wide but close Sharpness is superb—and exceptional at close distances. A minimum focus distance of just 0.20m puts you in control of the frame, from close-up to infinity. Sharp and clear ED glass and aspherical lens elements correct chromatic aberrations, and Nikon’s anti-reflective Nano Crystal Coat combats ghosting and flare. No matter the setting, you’ll capture so much more of the view. Movies to inspire adventure This full-frame lens focuses quickly, smoothly, and quietly, which makes it ideal for shooting video footage. You get precise control over depth of field right from the lens, and the silent control ring lets you pull focus with absolute precision. Focus breathing is all but eliminated. Natural The focus rings adjust with just the right amount of torque. The control ring can be used for ISO, silent aperture control, or exposure compensation. Protected Shoot outside in all kinds of weather without worrying. Every movable part of the lens barrel is extensively sealed to keep dust and moisture out.
With advanced optics and extensive weather sealing, this bright 20mm full-frame mirrorless lens is ready to take on any view. Ultra-sharp from edge to edge and brilliant in low light, it renders every component of a scene with exceptional clarity. Into the wild Finely detailed vistas. Mesmerising nightscapes. This lens’ outstanding optical performance means stars are reproduced as fine rounded points even when shooting wide open. Sharpness is incredible, even when you focus the lens on close-up subjects. And lens flare is effectively countered, even in backlit situations. Depth and beauty The wide Z mount and f/1.8 rounded 9-blade aperture enable thrilling performance in any light. You get exquisite starbursts and natural-looking bokeh, which is smoothly graded to the edges of the frame. Not just wide but close Sharpness is superb—and exceptional at close distances. A minimum focus distance of just 0.20m puts you in control of the frame, from close-up to infinity. Sharp and clear ED glass and aspherical lens elements correct chromatic aberrations, and Nikon’s anti-reflective Nano Crystal Coat combats ghosting and flare. No matter the setting, you’ll capture so much more of the view. Movies to inspire adventure This full-frame lens focuses quickly, smoothly, and quietly, which makes it ideal for shooting video footage. You get precise control over depth of field right from the lens, and the silent control ring lets you pull focus with absolute precision. Focus breathing is all but eliminated. Natural The focus rings adjust with just the right amount of torque. The control ring can be used for ISO, silent aperture control, or exposure compensation. Protected Shoot outside in all kinds of weather without worrying. Every movable part of the lens barrel is extensively sealed to keep dust and moisture out.
With advanced optics and extensive weather sealing, this bright 20mm full-frame mirrorless lens is ready to take on any view. Ultra-sharp from edge to edge and brilliant in low light, it renders every component of a scene with exceptional clarity. Into the wild Finely detailed vistas. Mesmerising nightscapes. This lens’ outstanding optical performance means stars are reproduced as fine rounded points even when shooting wide open. Sharpness is incredible, even when you focus the lens on close-up subjects. And lens flare is effectively countered, even in backlit situations. Depth and beauty The wide Z mount and f/1.8 rounded 9-blade aperture enable thrilling performance in any light. You get exquisite starbursts and natural-looking bokeh, which is smoothly graded to the edges of the frame. Not just wide but close Sharpness is superb—and exceptional at close distances. A minimum focus distance of just 0.20m puts you in control of the frame, from close-up to infinity. Sharp and clear ED glass and aspherical lens elements correct chromatic aberrations, and Nikon’s anti-reflective Nano Crystal Coat combats ghosting and flare. No matter the setting, you’ll capture so much more of the view. Movies to inspire adventure This full-frame lens focuses quickly, smoothly, and quietly, which makes it ideal for shooting video footage. You get precise control over depth of field right from the lens, and the silent control ring lets you pull focus with absolute precision. Focus breathing is all but eliminated. Natural The focus rings adjust with just the right amount of torque. The control ring can be used for ISO, silent aperture control, or exposure compensation. Protected Shoot outside in all kinds of weather without worrying. Every movable part of the lens barrel is extensively sealed to keep dust and moisture out.
in 35 offers
The lowest price for Nikon NIKKOR Z 20mm f/1.8 S Lens right now is $1,199.95 at Everyday Rewards, compared across 31 retailers.
The all-time low was $942.07 on 12 Feb 2026 — today's price is 27% above the lowest ever. It has been notably cheaper before — worth setting a price alert.
Prices last updated 9 June 2026.
Last updated at 09/06/2026 06:16:07
Nikon NIKKOR Z 20mm f/1.8 S Lens | Fast f/1.8 Ultra-Wide Prime | Weather-Sealed | Full-Frame Mirrorless | Astrophotography, Landscape & Video Lens
Free delivery
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
2ND HAND - Nikon Z 20mm f1.8 S Ø77mm
Delivery between 12–16 June $10
Nikon Nikkor Z 20mm f/1.8 S Lens
Free delivery between 15–22 June
Nikon NIKKOR Z 20mm f/1.8 S Lens by Onestop Digital
Free delivery between 15–19 June
Nikon Z 20mm f/1.8 S Lens
Free delivery
Nikon NIKKOR Z 20mm f/1.8 S Lens - BRAND NEW
Free delivery
Nikon Z 20mm f/1.8 S Lens
Free delivery
Nikon NIKKOR Z 20mm f/1.8 S Lens - BRAND NEW
Free delivery
Nikon NIKKOR Z 20mm f/1.8 S Lens | Ultra-Wide Prime | Aspherical & ED Elements | Dust and Moisture Resistant
Delivery $9.90
Nikon NIKKOR Z 20mm f/1.8 S at Etoren
Delivery $36
originally posted on bestbuy.com
This lens exceeded my expectations. I got it mainly for astro photography as the Aurora Borealis gets near solar maximum and should be seen more frequently over the next few years. I took it out for its maiden voyage and very easily captured the northern lights, one evening, as they were being seen in our area. Up to this point I've had no luck with any night sky photography.This lens is super sharp and easy to use. It even takes beautiful photos for landscape with the slightly fish-eye perspective. I even had a little fun with closeups with the pets.I was debating this lens or the Nikkor 14-30mm f4 lens for more versatility but I am so glad I went with this one as I'm more looking forward to astro than landscape photography.The light gathering capabilities and ... MoreThis lens exceeded my expectations. I got it mainly for astro photography as the Aurora Borealis gets near solar maximum and should be seen more frequently over the next few years. I took it out for its maiden voyage and very easily captured the northern lights, one evening, as they were being seen in our area. Up to this point I've had no luck with any night sky photography.This lens is super sharp and easy to use. It even takes beautiful photos for landscape with the slightly fish-eye perspective. I even had a little fun with closeups with the pets.I was debating this lens or the Nikkor 14-30mm f4 lens for more versatility but I am so glad I went with this one as I'm more looking forward to astro than landscape photography.The light gathering capabilities and smooth bokeh of the f1.8 aperture really open up a lot more possibilities for fun.Very light and solidly well built, as is with the "S" line lenses. Balances really nice with the Z9.
originally posted on bhphotovideo.com
AT f/1.8 it is very sharp at center. Sharpness drops just a little at the corners. Stopping it down to f/2.8 improve center sharpness. At f/4 it has perfect sharpness corner to corner.Turning in-camera corrections off, there is a moderate amount of vignetting and barrel distortion which improves a bit at f/2.8 and remains the same after that.Here are a few points to consider:Focusing ring is very smooth. It is focus-by-wire and not mechanically coupled with the optical elements. So, no focus distance marking on the lens.Auto focus is fast and responsive even at low lightScrew-on filters can mounted in front of the lens (77mm)Focus breathing is very smallGood flair controlComa is very small at the corners, good for Astro photographyExcellent ... MoreAT f/1.8 it is very sharp at center. Sharpness drops just a little at the corners. Stopping it down to f/2.8 improve center sharpness. At f/4 it has perfect sharpness corner to corner.Turning in-camera corrections off, there is a moderate amount of vignetting and barrel distortion which improves a bit at f/2.8 and remains the same after that.Here are a few points to consider:Focusing ring is very smooth. It is focus-by-wire and not mechanically coupled with the optical elements. So, no focus distance marking on the lens.Auto focus is fast and responsive even at low lightScrew-on filters can mounted in front of the lens (77mm)Focus breathing is very smallGood flair controlComa is very small at the corners, good for Astro photographyExcellent sharpness across the imageNo image stabilization on the lensOverall, highly recommended
originally posted on bhphotovideo.com
The Z 20mm f/1.8 S lens is very sharp in the center and mid-frame, and less so in the corners. The images I captured using my Z7ii turned out to be very sharp, with good Contrast, Color and pleasing Bokeh. Stellar coma performance and the 20mm focal length makes this lens an obvious candidate for night photography. However, like all things related to photography, there are clear trade-offs.I had to return my first copy for a de-centering issue. Focusing toward the outside of the DX Circle improves the corner resolution somewhat, but I had to go to f/5.6 to get there. Soft corners may not be an issue for most landscape photography, but may be for photographers trying to use this lens for other purposes. Overall, the Z 20mm F/1.8 S lens is a stellar addition to ... MoreThe Z 20mm f/1.8 S lens is very sharp in the center and mid-frame, and less so in the corners. The images I captured using my Z7ii turned out to be very sharp, with good Contrast, Color and pleasing Bokeh. Stellar coma performance and the 20mm focal length makes this lens an obvious candidate for night photography. However, like all things related to photography, there are clear trade-offs.I had to return my first copy for a de-centering issue. Focusing toward the outside of the DX Circle improves the corner resolution somewhat, but I had to go to f/5.6 to get there. Soft corners may not be an issue for most landscape photography, but may be for photographers trying to use this lens for other purposes. Overall, the Z 20mm F/1.8 S lens is a stellar addition to Nikon's line of S lens and certainly worthy of serious consideration.
| General | |
| Length | 10.85 cm |
| Diameter | 8.45 cm |
| Weight | 505 g |
| Lens System |
Nikon NIKKOR Z 20mm f/1.8 S Lens | Fast f/1.8 Ultra-Wide Prime | Weather-Sealed | Full-Frame Mirrorless | Astrophotography, Landscape & Video Lens
Free delivery
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
2ND HAND - Nikon Z 20mm f1.8 S Ø77mm
Delivery between 12–16 June $10
Nikon Nikkor Z 20mm f/1.8 S Lens
Free delivery between 15–22 June
Nikon NIKKOR Z 20mm f/1.8 S Lens by Onestop Digital
Free delivery between 15–19 June
Nikon Z 20mm f/1.8 S Lens
Free delivery
This lens exceeded my expectations. I got it mainly for astro photography as the Aurora Borealis gets near solar maximum and should be seen more frequently over the next few years. I took it out for its maiden voyage and very easily captured the northern lights, one evening, as they were being seen in our area. Up to this point I've had no luck with any night sky photography.This lens is super sharp and easy to use. It even takes beautiful photos for landscape with the slightly fish-eye perspective. I even had a little fun with closeups with the pets.I was debating this lens or the Nikkor 14-30mm f4 lens for more versatility but I am so glad I went with this one as I'm more looking forward to astro than landscape photography.The light gathering capabilities and ... MoreThis lens exceeded my expectations. I got it mainly for astro photography as the Aurora Borealis gets near solar maximum and should be seen more frequently over the next few years. I took it out for its maiden voyage and very easily captured the northern lights, one evening, as they were being seen in our area. Up to this point I've had no luck with any night sky photography.This lens is super sharp and easy to use. It even takes beautiful photos for landscape with the slightly fish-eye perspective. I even had a little fun with closeups with the pets.I was debating this lens or the Nikkor 14-30mm f4 lens for more versatility but I am so glad I went with this one as I'm more looking forward to astro than landscape photography.The light gathering capabilities and smooth bokeh of the f1.8 aperture really open up a lot more possibilities for fun.Very light and solidly well built, as is with the "S" line lenses. Balances really nice with the Z9.
AT f/1.8 it is very sharp at center. Sharpness drops just a little at the corners. Stopping it down to f/2.8 improve center sharpness. At f/4 it has perfect sharpness corner to corner.Turning in-camera corrections off, there is a moderate amount of vignetting and barrel distortion which improves a bit at f/2.8 and remains the same after that.Here are a few points to consider:Focusing ring is very smooth. It is focus-by-wire and not mechanically coupled with the optical elements. So, no focus distance marking on the lens.Auto focus is fast and responsive even at low lightScrew-on filters can mounted in front of the lens (77mm)Focus breathing is very smallGood flair controlComa is very small at the corners, good for Astro photographyExcellent ... MoreAT f/1.8 it is very sharp at center. Sharpness drops just a little at the corners. Stopping it down to f/2.8 improve center sharpness. At f/4 it has perfect sharpness corner to corner.Turning in-camera corrections off, there is a moderate amount of vignetting and barrel distortion which improves a bit at f/2.8 and remains the same after that.Here are a few points to consider:Focusing ring is very smooth. It is focus-by-wire and not mechanically coupled with the optical elements. So, no focus distance marking on the lens.Auto focus is fast and responsive even at low lightScrew-on filters can mounted in front of the lens (77mm)Focus breathing is very smallGood flair controlComa is very small at the corners, good for Astro photographyExcellent sharpness across the imageNo image stabilization on the lensOverall, highly recommended
The Z 20mm f/1.8 S lens is very sharp in the center and mid-frame, and less so in the corners. The images I captured using my Z7ii turned out to be very sharp, with good Contrast, Color and pleasing Bokeh. Stellar coma performance and the 20mm focal length makes this lens an obvious candidate for night photography. However, like all things related to photography, there are clear trade-offs.I had to return my first copy for a de-centering issue. Focusing toward the outside of the DX Circle improves the corner resolution somewhat, but I had to go to f/5.6 to get there. Soft corners may not be an issue for most landscape photography, but may be for photographers trying to use this lens for other purposes. Overall, the Z 20mm F/1.8 S lens is a stellar addition to ... MoreThe Z 20mm f/1.8 S lens is very sharp in the center and mid-frame, and less so in the corners. The images I captured using my Z7ii turned out to be very sharp, with good Contrast, Color and pleasing Bokeh. Stellar coma performance and the 20mm focal length makes this lens an obvious candidate for night photography. However, like all things related to photography, there are clear trade-offs.I had to return my first copy for a de-centering issue. Focusing toward the outside of the DX Circle improves the corner resolution somewhat, but I had to go to f/5.6 to get there. Soft corners may not be an issue for most landscape photography, but may be for photographers trying to use this lens for other purposes. Overall, the Z 20mm F/1.8 S lens is a stellar addition to Nikon's line of S lens and certainly worthy of serious consideration.
I do a lot of work with an IR-converted camera. At the wide end, I currently have a 14-30 f4S, which is a beautiful zoom, but is sort of marginal for IR work. I also have a 16-35 f4 G ED (f-mount) lens, which works great for IR, but lacks the amazing image quality of Z lenses. So my hope was to grab a wide angle prime Z lens that hopefully would have the benefits of both lenses, without the negatives. I had heard the 20mm f1.8S was good but not great for IR but I oped to take a chance and hope that it was better than reported. Unfortunately, for me, it's no better (worse, actually) than the 14-30 for IR work, and I feel the 14-30 provides overall image quality that certainly meets my own needs in all other respects. So I decided there is no reason for me to keep the ... MoreI do a lot of work with an IR-converted camera. At the wide end, I currently have a 14-30 f4S, which is a beautiful zoom, but is sort of marginal for IR work. I also have a 16-35 f4 G ED (f-mount) lens, which works great for IR, but lacks the amazing image quality of Z lenses. So my hope was to grab a wide angle prime Z lens that hopefully would have the benefits of both lenses, without the negatives. I had heard the 20mm f1.8S was good but not great for IR but I oped to take a chance and hope that it was better than reported. Unfortunately, for me, it's no better (worse, actually) than the 14-30 for IR work, and I feel the 14-30 provides overall image quality that certainly meets my own needs in all other respects. So I decided there is no reason for me to keep the 20mm, and it's being returned. All that said though, it's a great lens....I give 4 stars only because it didn't meet my specific needs, which are not typical.
Got this for night photography. Nice that it's not too gigantic or heavy. The focal length and aperture are what I'm after. I haven't shot with it yet, but I'm sure the image quality will be fine considering all the rave reviews it gets in that department. I like the immediate service from B&H and the tax credit from their Payboo card:-) I normally add a magnetic filter adapter to my lenses for ease of switching to a polarizer or ND filter, but for this lens I only plan night photos and I'll just leave the UV filter on for protection. Nice that B&H gives us this UV filter as a free add-on, too.
I purchased a Z7 only after having rented one with an FTZ adapter to confirm that all of my F glass worked at least as well on the Z7 as it did on my D850. One such lens was a Sigma Art 20mm f1.4. I wanted that focal length, and I wanted to be able to use it as both a webcam and for wide-angle, gimbal mounted video tours. The Sigma plus FTZ adapter is both huge and heavy. So I purchased the 20mm Z lens to get a workable solution that's literally half the weight and size. Yes, it's got some plastic construction. Yes, it's half a stop slower. But my experience with my F-mount glass was that I would almost never shoot my f1.4 primes wide open due to lack of sharpness off-center. In other words, my f1.4 glass was most commonly used at a maximum aperture of f1.8 or f2.0. ... MoreI purchased a Z7 only after having rented one with an FTZ adapter to confirm that all of my F glass worked at least as well on the Z7 as it did on my D850. One such lens was a Sigma Art 20mm f1.4. I wanted that focal length, and I wanted to be able to use it as both a webcam and for wide-angle, gimbal mounted video tours. The Sigma plus FTZ adapter is both huge and heavy. So I purchased the 20mm Z lens to get a workable solution that's literally half the weight and size. Yes, it's got some plastic construction. Yes, it's half a stop slower. But my experience with my F-mount glass was that I would almost never shoot my f1.4 primes wide open due to lack of sharpness off-center. In other words, my f1.4 glass was most commonly used at a maximum aperture of f1.8 or f2.0. This Z-mount 20mm f1.8 is practically perfect wide open. While I've not done a side by side comparison, the native Z glass also theoretically gets a slight advantage on the full benefit of in-body image stabilization. Since this was my first native Z lens, I also had not realized how freakishly silent the focus mechanism is. Dead silent. Modern F glass is quiet enough not to be distracting to others when shooting, but the constant clicking sure is audible to the photographer and when shooting video with any sort of on-board microphone. This Z lens is optically spectacular, but also creates a meaningful advantage when shooting video. One other thought related to video: I have since purchased the Z-mount 24-70 f2.8, but the 20mm is enough wider to be meaningfully superior for gimbal-mounted walk-throughs of indoor spaces or sidewalk/street tours that show both sides of the street. The ability to quickly change the Z6 and Z7 between FX and DX means that this prime effectively covers 20mm and 30mm for me. While my 24-70 includes 30mm, this lens is smaller, lighter, and 1.5 stops faster. I've found that in DX mode, the 30mm effective field of view is ideal for me to use with an HDMI capture card to turn my Z6/Z7 into the Mother of All Webcams. While on a Zoom meeting, another participant commented that I looked like I was hosting a documentary due to the noticeably superior image with cinematically blurred background.
I got this lens in trade for my Z50 setup. It was a great swap for both of us. I am the digital media specialist at the Hawaii State Capitol and shoot a lot of video. I recently got a Z8 and this lens is a perfect match for video. Wide is good for video work and this has no radical distortion. I have an ND filter and it's 77mm which is standard for the trinity of lenses so it was great that I didn't have to buy another ND. Shallow dof is useful for video work, 1.8 is great! 20mm is awesome when shooting 2 to 3 people or even vlogging. The focus ring is HUGE which can be a problem if you're using focus tracking cos if you touch it you override the tracking so program the ring to something else like aperture. Lens is built well but still light so nice for gimbal work ... MoreI got this lens in trade for my Z50 setup. It was a great swap for both of us. I am the digital media specialist at the Hawaii State Capitol and shoot a lot of video. I recently got a Z8 and this lens is a perfect match for video. Wide is good for video work and this has no radical distortion. I have an ND filter and it's 77mm which is standard for the trinity of lenses so it was great that I didn't have to buy another ND. Shallow dof is useful for video work, 1.8 is great! 20mm is awesome when shooting 2 to 3 people or even vlogging. The focus ring is HUGE which can be a problem if you're using focus tracking cos if you touch it you override the tracking so program the ring to something else like aperture. Lens is built well but still light so nice for gimbal work or just handheld. Which, by the way, is AMAZING. The Z8 IBIS is great and I love not using the gimbal for quick work which happens a lot in my work. Have used it a bit for photography but nothing serious yet. Can't wait to try some astral photography for fun.Cons: It just looks weird - unconventional. But hey, Mirrorless is weird for a DSLR guy like me.
In my old world of f-mount f/1.4 primes on DSLRs, I got conditioned to almost never shoot wide open. DSLRs require detailed focus fine-tuning to nail focus with a fast prime. And even when calibrated, fast primes were traditionally noticeably less sharp wide open--even more so at the edes. I initially thought this seemed awfully pricey for a plastic 1.8 prime. Once I got it, though, I can confirm that the plastic barrel keeps weight (but not quality) down, and image quality is virtually perfect wide open. Since I would almost always stop down my f-mount primes to f/1.8 or f/2.0, this functions as fast as I would realistically get from my old 1.4 lenses, while having razor sharp image quality wide open. I also own the z-mount 24-70 f/2.8. I'm also waiting for the ... MoreIn my old world of f-mount f/1.4 primes on DSLRs, I got conditioned to almost never shoot wide open. DSLRs require detailed focus fine-tuning to nail focus with a fast prime. And even when calibrated, fast primes were traditionally noticeably less sharp wide open--even more so at the edes. I initially thought this seemed awfully pricey for a plastic 1.8 prime. Once I got it, though, I can confirm that the plastic barrel keeps weight (but not quality) down, and image quality is virtually perfect wide open. Since I would almost always stop down my f-mount primes to f/1.8 or f/2.0, this functions as fast as I would realistically get from my old 1.4 lenses, while having razor sharp image quality wide open. I also own the z-mount 24-70 f/2.8. I'm also waiting for the z-mount 14-24 f/2.8 to ship. But I have this lens for a few uses that are really well suited to this specific lens: 1) Astrophotography. This does spectacularly well capturing single exposure astrophotography images wide open. 2) interior or wide street views on a gimbal. 20mm is much wider than most 4k pro camcorders will do, and a fair bit wider than the 24mm (or more) that 1-inch compact point and shoot cameras will capture. That's great for doing an interior walk-through on a gimbal or a street/neighborhood video cruise. 3) The Mother of All Webcams. I have a z7 and a z6. I use this on those cameras--typically set to DX mode--to get a fast 30mm equivalent. I've found that in multiple settings, that focal length gets the right amount of my upper body and the right swath of my background. I normally set it f/2.0 when using as a webcam. That provides pleasantly shallow depth of field without overdoing it and utterly demolishing the background. The lighter, smaller size works better on a camera desk mount and on a gimbal. This is literally half the size and weight of my Sigma Art f-mount 20mm f/1.4. Once the complete holy trinity of Z glass is available, you may not need this if you own the 14-24. But If a fast & lightweight piece of wide glass is something you need, the image quality is virtually perfect and worth the price.
I bought this lens to fill three gaps in my system- ultra-wide angle, fast wide angle, and lens wider than 50mm for my Z6. I had narrowed it down to this and the Laowa 15mm f/2, and in the end decided to go with the Nikkor for its higher IQ, weather sealing, slightly faster aperture and better long term value retention. The reason you buy a lens like this is to shoot it wide open, and on the Laowa I'd likely have to stop down to f/2.8 for equal sharpness results to the Nikkor at f/1.8. So far I've found it to be an excellent lens- on par with the superb Z 50mm f/1.8 S. Being a prime, it is somewhat a specialist lens but surprisingly versatile too.Astrophotography was one of my primary purposes for getting this lens and it doesn't disappoint. The focal length is a ... MoreI bought this lens to fill three gaps in my system- ultra-wide angle, fast wide angle, and lens wider than 50mm for my Z6. I had narrowed it down to this and the Laowa 15mm f/2, and in the end decided to go with the Nikkor for its higher IQ, weather sealing, slightly faster aperture and better long term value retention. The reason you buy a lens like this is to shoot it wide open, and on the Laowa I'd likely have to stop down to f/2.8 for equal sharpness results to the Nikkor at f/1.8. So far I've found it to be an excellent lens- on par with the superb Z 50mm f/1.8 S. Being a prime, it is somewhat a specialist lens but surprisingly versatile too.Astrophotography was one of my primary purposes for getting this lens and it doesn't disappoint. The focal length is a highly useful one...bordering ultrawide territory, but it stands out from the crowd of 14mm images that have saturated the world of Milky Way photography. Virtually no coma or aberrations in the corners and it's so sharp that star trailing begins at 15 seconds. Which is not a problem, because with a 20mm f/1.8 lens, you still gather more light with a 15 second exposure than you could with a 14mm f/2.8 lens and a 30 second exposure.A lot of astrophotography reviewers knock the Z lenses for their lack of true manual focus but for me this has been a non-issue. Just switch the camera off and on again and my sample, at least, resets to precise infinity focus every time.I also use it for wide angle storm structure, lightning and skyscape photography. I do wish it was even wider sometimes but it is worlds better than my previous widest focal length of 27mm equivalent (18-55mm kit lens on APS-C). Again, a highly useful field of view that includes plenty enough sky for dramatic wide angle compositions. The low-light capabilities are a worthy tradeoff for a few less mm wider.One pleasant surprise to me was this lens's excellent macro capabilities. The minimum focus distance is listed as 8'' but in my experience, it's more like 3-4''. This plus the wide focal length can create some unique and compelling images, and I find myself reaching for this lens first for up-close work.Conclusion: five-star performance in every metric justifies its steep price point. If you're looking for just one all-arounder fast ultrawide for Nikon Z mount, look no further. This lens is a winner.
Wavered over whether to buy the new (z mount) fast Nikon wide zoom or get 1 or 2 wide primes. Had the previous (f mount) zoom for several years and didn't use it much. Primes generally produce at least slightly better quality imaging. My fast z 24-70 covers the 24mm I used most in film days and still like. Zooms are more convenient, fewer lens changes, less chance for dust invasion. Primes aren't generally as weighty as zooms. This is a big lens but very manageable and handles well. It turns out beautiful colors and the sharpness is borderline astounding, especially stopped down a notch or two. Adding this lens to my bunch is the result of when the wavering stopped.
| General | |
| Length | 10.85 cm |
| Diameter | 8.45 cm |
| Weight | 505 g |
| Lens System |
