Nikon Z 16-50mm f/2.8 DX VR
24~75mm equivalent (2025 ~ today)
Sample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing
Specifications Performance Recommendations
Z9 Z8 Z7II Z6III Z6II Zƒ Z7 Z6 Z5II Z5 ZR Zƒc Z50II Z50 Z30
Z System Z Lenses All Nikon Lenses Flash
Nikon Z 16-50mm f/2.8 VR DX (67mm filters, 11.6 oz. (330g), 0.5~0.8' (0.15~0.25m) close focus, 0.24× macro ratio, $897). bigger. I got mine at B&H. I'd also get it at Amazon or at Adorama, or get it used if you know How to Win at eBay, or get it used at KEH.
This 100% all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to my personally approved sources I've used myself for way over 100 combined years when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live — but I receive nothing for my efforts if you take the chance of getting it elsewhere. Nikon does not seal its boxes in any way, so never buy at retail or any other source not on my personally approved list since you'll have no way of knowing if you're missing accessories, getting a defective, damaged, returned, dropped, incomplete, gray-market, store demo or used lens — and my personally approved sources allow for 100% cash-back returns for at least 30 days if you don't love your new lens. I've used many of these sources since the 1970s because I can try it in my own hands and return it if I don't love it, and because they ship from secure remote warehouses where no one gets to touch your new lens before you do. Buy only from the approved sources I've used myself for decades for the best prices, service, return policies and selection.
August 2026 Better Pictures Nikon Z Z Lenses All Nikon Lenses All Nikon All Reviews
Sample Images top
Sample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing
Specifications Performance Recommendations
More samples throughout this review at Bokeh, Falloff, Macro, Spherochromatism and Sunstars.
These are just snapshots; my real work is in my Gallery.
These are all shot hand-held as BASIC JPGs; no tripods, NORMAL or FINE JPGs or RAW files were used or needed. Bah!
Great macro ability!!!
Porsche Crest on Emerald Green, 10:06 AM,Saturday, Independence Day 2026. Nikon Z50 II, Nikon Z 16-50mm f/2.8 at 50mm at f/7.1 at 1/200 at Auto ISO 100 (LV 13.3), as shot. bigger or camera-original 21 MP © 2.9 MB BASIC JPG file.
Ford, 10:57 AM, Saturday, Independence Day 2026. Nikon Z50 II, Nikon SB-400 Flash, Nikon Z 16-50mm f/2.8 at 31mm at f/6.3 at 1/160 at Auto ISO 100 (LV 12⅔), Radiant Photo software to add light to the shadows while retaining highlights. bigger or camera-original 21 MP © 3.5 MB BASIC JPG file.
Festive Tractor, 12:38 PM, Saturday, Independence Day 2026. Nikon Z50 II, Nikon SB-400 Flash, Nikon Z 16-50mm f/2.8 at 50mm at f/7.1 at 1/200 at Auto ISO 100 (LV 13.3), Radiant Photo software to add light to the shadows while retaining highlights. bigger or camera-original 21 MP © 3.0 MB BASIC JPG file.
Mercedes with Festive Bunting, 12:39 PM, Saturday, Independence Day 2026. Nikon Z50 II, Nikon SB-400 Flash, Nikon Z 16-50mm f/2.8 at 42mm at f/8 at 1/200 at Auto ISO 100 (LV 13⅔), Radiant Photo software to add light to the shadows while retaining highlights. bigger or camera-original 21 MP © 3.4 MB BASIC JPG file.
Sharp? You can see every thread in the camera-original 21 MP © 3.4 MB BASIC JPG file!
Festive Jaguar, 12:55 PM, Saturday, Independence Day 2026. Nikon Z50 II, Nikon SB-400 Flash, Nikon Z 16-50mm f/2.8 at 23 mm at f/10 at 1/200 at Auto ISO 100 (LV 14.3), Radiant Photo software to add light to the shadows while retaining highlights. bigger or camera-original 21 MP © 2.9 MB BASIC JPG file.
Flags, County Fair, 6:40 PM, Sunday, 05 July 2026. Nikon Z50 II in square crop mode, Nikon Z 16-50mm f/2.8 at 29mm at f/8 at 1/250 at Auto ISO 100 (LV 14.0), Radiant Photo software to add light while retaining highlights. bigger or camera-original 13.8 MP (square crop) © 2.2 MB BASIC JPG file.
Introduction top
Sample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing
Specifications Performance Recommendations
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This is the world's smallest and lightest f/2.8 camera-brand midrange zoom, and the world's only stabilized camera-brand APS-C midrange f/2.8 zoom. Sony's is much bigger, heavier and more expensive — and totally unstabilized, and Canon makes no APS-C f/2.8 zooms of any focal length. Ha!
This little gem really opens up what I've been telling everyone: it's not 2003 anymore. Today APS-C (DX) is the way to go in mirrorless, giving me the same results for which we needed full frame back in DSLR days, just with far less size, weight and expense.
I got my Z 16-50mm f/2.8 VR DX at B&H. I'd also get it at Amazon or at Adorama, or get it used if you know How to Win at eBay, or get it used at KEH.
New intro top
World's smallest and lightest f/2.8 camera-brand midrange zoom.
World's only stabilized APS-C camera-brand midrange f/2.8 zoom.
Good intro top
Super sharp.
Small.
Light.
Very close-focusing.
Fast f/2.8 - obviously.
Stops all the way down to f/22.
Optically stabilized.
Bad intro
No AF/MF switch 🤮.
No Stabilizer switch 🤮.
Missing intro top
No AF/MF switch 🤮.
No Stabilizer switch 🤮.
Mounting index dot is the same white as everything else, so it doesn't stand out when you need to find it to mount your lens.
Nikon Z 16-50mm f/2.8 VR DX. bigger.
Specifications top
Sample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing
Specifications Performance Recommendations
I got my Z 16-50mm f/2.8 VR DX at B&H. I'd also get it at Amazon or at Adorama, or get it used if you know How to Win at eBay, or get it used at KEH.
Compatibility
This lens works only on Nikon's Z-series mirrorless cameras.
It does not so much as even mount on any other camera.
Name specifications top
Nikon calls this the Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR:
NIKKOR: Nikon's brand name for almost all their lenses since 1932.
Z: For Nikon's mirrorless cameras, only.
DX: Only covers smaller cropped sensors, otherwise uses only half the pixels of an FX camera.
VR: Vibration Reduction (Image Stabilization).
It also has:
AF-P/STM: Stepper (Pulse) autofocus motor.
Aspherical: Specially curved glass elements for sharper pictures.
ED: Magic Extra-low Dispersion glass for reduced secondary chromatic aberration.
IF: Internal focusing; nothing moves externally as focused.
∅67: 67mm filter thread.
Nikon's Model Number: 20133.
Optics specifications top
Nikon Z 16-50mm f/2.8 VR DX Internal Optical Construction. Aspherical and ED elements.
12 elements in 11 groups.
1 ED element: magic Extra-low Dispersion glass for reduced axial secondary chromatic aberration.
2 Aspherical elements.
Nikon Super Integrated multiCoating (SIC).
Pumper zoom, gets longer as zoomed to 50mm.
Diaphragm specifications top
Nikon Z 16-50mm f/2.8 VR DX. bigger.
9 rounded blades.
Electronically actuated.
Stops down to f/22.
Filters specifications top
Plastic 67mm filter thread.
Focal Lengths specifications top
16-50mm.
When used on DX cameras, it sees the same angle of view as a 24~75mm lens sees when used on an FX or 35mm camera.
See also Crop Factor.
Angles of View specifications top
88º ～ 31½º diagonal on DX.
Autofocus specifications top
No external movement as focussed, so no air or dust is sucked in.
Focus Scale specifications top
No.
Not on lens, but may be displayed in-camera.
Infinity Focus Stop specifications top
No.
You have to focus somehow to get precise focus at infinity, just like at every other distance.
Depth of Field Scale specifications top
No.
Not on lens, but may be displayed in-camera.
Infrared Focus Index specifications top
No.
Close Focus (distance from subject to image plane) specifications top
16mm: 0.5' (6" or 0.15m).
24mm: 0.6' (7.1" or 0.18m).
35mm: 0.69' (8¼" or 0.21m).
50mm: 0.82' (9.8" or 0.25m).
Maximum Reproduction Ratio specifications top
1:4.2 (0.24×).
Reproduction Ratio Scale specifications top
No.
Not on lens, but may be displayed in-camera.
Optical Image Stabilizer specifications top
Rated 5 stops improvement.
Only tests to three to four stops improvement, which is typical.
Caps specifications top
LC-67B 67 mm snap-on front cap, included.
LF-N1 Z-mount rear cap, included.
Hood specifications top
Nikon HB-118 Hood, Included. bigger.
HB-118, included.
Case specifications top
None; use a tube sock.
Size specifications top
2.93" ø maximum diameter × 3.46" extension from flange.
74.5 mm ø maximum diameter × 88 mm extension from flange.
Weight specifications top
11.7 oz. (330 g).
Announced specifications top
12:02 AM, Thursday, 16 October 2025, NYC time.
Promised for specifications top
October 2025.
Included specifications top
LC-67B 67 mm snap-on front cap.
LF-N1 Z-mount rear cap.
HB-118 hood.
Nikon's Model Number specifications top
20133.
Price, U. S. A. specifications top
07 August 2026
$897 at B&H, at Amazon and at Adorama.
About $705 used if you know How to Win at eBay.
16 October 2025 (Introduction)
$897 at B&H and at Adorama.
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Nikon Z 16-50mm f/2.8 VR DX. bigger. |
Nikon Z 16-50mm f/2.8 VR DX. bigger. |
Performance top
Sample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing
Specifications Performance Recommendations
Overall Autofocus Manual Focus Breathing
Distance Recording Bokeh Distortion Ergonomics
Falloff Filters Flare & Ghosts Lateral Color Fringes
Lens Corrections Macro Mechanics Sharpness
Spherochromatism Stabilization Sunstars
Teleconverters Weather Sealing
I got my Z 16-50mm f/2.8 VR DX at B&H. I'd also get it at Amazon or at Adorama, or get it used if you know How to Win at eBay, or get it used at KEH.
Overall performance top
This Z 16-50mm f/2.8 VR DX is fast, sharp, compact and reasonably priced. What more could you want?
The real question should be why is Nikon the only one making a beauty like this?
Autofocus performance top
Autofocus is fast enough, and makes a slight humming sound as it moves due to the stepping (STM) motor.
No surprises here.
Manual Focus performance top
Manual focusing is entirely electronic; the manual focus ring isn't connected to anything other than a digital encoder.
There is no AF/MF switch; you have to set this in a menu.
Just grab this electronic manual focus ring for instant manual-focus override anytime the camera is awake.
Better than any other brand, even if you're in AF-C and grab the manual-focus ring, it just swaps to manual focus instantly and stays in manual focus. Other brands will try to fight you for focus if you're in continuous AF, while this lens just does what you tell it to do.
Bravo!
Focus Breathing performance top
Focus breathing is the image changing size (growing and shrinking slightly) as focused in and out. It's important to cinematographers that the image not breathe (change size) as focus gets pulled back and forth between different actors as they speak. The image is said to breathe because it expands and contracts as the focus follows the dialog back and forth.
The image from this lens shrinks as focussed more closely, except at 50mm where there is no change.
Focus Distance Recording performance top
I see no focus distance displayed in the lower left of my screen in Photoshop's lens correction filter.
Bokeh performance top
Bokeh, the feel, character or quality of out-of-focus areas as opposed to how far out of focus they are, is fair at most focal lengths and neutral at 50mm, all at f/2.8
Here are photos from headshot distance wide-open. I'm focused on the DAVIS logo. Click any for the © camera-original file:
Made-in-U. S. A. Davis 6357 Vantage Vue Wireless Sensor Suite (use with WeatherLink console), Tuesday, 14 July 2026. Nikon Z50 II at 1/4,000 at Auto ISO 100 (LV 15.0).
Click any for the © camera-original file.
As always, if you want to throw the background as far out of focus as possible, shoot at 50mm at f/2.8 and get as close as possible.
Distortion performance top
This lens uses electronic distortion correction as an integral part of its optical design. Therefore this correction cannot be turned off.
As shot on my Z50 II, there is no visible distortion at any setting.
For more critical scientific use, use these corrections in Photoshop's lens correction filter to JPG images.
These aren't facts or specifications, they are the results of my research that requires hours of photography and calculations on the resulting data.
On DX at 30' (10m) |
Correction factor to use with images made with correction ON in Z50 II |
16mm |
+0.50 |
24mm |
+0.50 |
35mm |
±0.00 |
50mm |
±0.00 |
© 2026 KenRockwell.com. All rights reserved.
Ergonomics performance top
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Nikon Z 16-50mm f/2.8 VR DX. bigger. |
Nikon Z 16-50mm f/2.8 VR DX. bigger. |
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Nikon Z 16-50mm f/2.8 VR DX. bigger. |
Nikon Z 16-50mm f/2.8 VR DX. bigger. |
It has a real mechanical zoom ring, and an extra programmable control ring, usually set in your camera to manual focus by default.
It's a very easy lens to love, except there's:
No AF/MF switch 🤮. Use whatever Fn or other button is assigned to Focus Mode, and then use that. Alternately, the Focus Mode is usually an option at the 𝒊 button.
No Stabilizer switch 🤮. Use the in your camera menus to control the stabilizer.
Falloff performance top
Falloff isn't a problem.
I've greatly exaggerated the falloff by shooting a gray field and placing these on a gray background; it will not look this bad in actual photos of real things:
Falloff on DX at infinity, Vignette Control at its default of NORMAL:
© 2026 KenRockwell.com. All rights reserved. |
If you save only raw data rather than create JPG images in-camera, whatever software you use to create visible images from that raw data later may or may not correct this as is done in-camera as JPGs. You're on your own there; I don't bother with raw data.
If you go out of your way to turn off the correction, or possibly in some raw software, this is what you get, which is as good as the corrected versions above:
Falloff on DX at infinity, Vignette Control deliberately turned OFF:
© 2026 KenRockwell.com. All rights reserved. |
Filters, use with performance top
There's no need for ultra-thin filters. I can use any standard 67mm filter with no vignetting at any setting, and while it's tight at 16mm, at longer settings I can use two or more stacked filters without a problem.
Go ahead and use your standard rotating polarizers and rotating grad filters.
Avoid polarizers at the 16mm end; the sky's natural polarization can appear as a dark band across the sky.
Flare & Ghosts performance top
Flare and ghosts are typical. You're not going to see any unless you go out of your way to wake them as I did at Sunstars.
It seems to have two flare-stop rings inside the barrel, which is a nice touch.
Lateral Color Fringes performance top
There are no lateral color fringes as shot on Nikon cameras as JPG, which by default correct for any that may be there.
If you shoot raw and then use non-manufacturer software to process that data into images then there is the possibility that there might be some, but I doubt it.
There is minor spherochromatism, which can cause color fringes on things that aren't in perfect focus at large apertures. Spherochromatism is a completely different aberration in a different dimension than lateral color fringes.
Lens Corrections performance top
The Z9, Z8, Z7 II, Z6 III, Z6 II, Zƒ, Z7, Z6, Z5 II, Z5, Zƒc, Z50 II, Z50 and Z30 always correct for lateral color fringes (lateral chromatic aberration). This is part of Nikon's secret sauce and never appears in any menu.
The Z9, Z8, Z7 II, Z6 III, Z6 II, Zƒ, Z7, Z6, Z5 II, Z5, Zƒc, Z50 II, Z50 and Z30 correct for diffraction and falloff (vignette control). You may turn either of these ON or OFF in a camera menu.
This lens uses electronic distortion correction as an integral part of its optical design. Therefore distortion correction is always active and cannot be turned off; this option is grayed-out in the camera's menu system.
Macro Performance performance top
Macro gets very close, excellent!
Wide-Open at f/2.8
It's sharp at f/2.8, limited mostly by depth-of-field and spherochromatism:
Casio G-Shock Solar Atomic Watch at 50mm at close-focus distance, shot through a Tiffen ND 0.9 (three-stop neutral-density) filter, Thursday, 09 July 2026. Nikon Z50 II at 1/400 at Auto ISO 100, +0.7 stops exposure compensation (LV 14.6). bigger or camera-original © file.
1,200 × 900 pixel (4.6× magnification) crop from above. bigger or camera-original © file.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 3" (7.5cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at 9.3 × 13.9" (24 × 35 cm) at this same magnification.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 6" (15cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at 18.6 × 27.8" (47 × 71 cm) at this same magnification.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 12" (30cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at 37.1 × 55.7" (3 × 4.6 feet or 94 × 141 cm) at this same magnification.
At f/8
Like all lenses, it's ultra-sharp at f/8:
Casio G-Shock Solar Atomic Watch at 50mm at close-focus distance, Thursday, 09 July 2026. Nikon Z50 II at 1/250 at Auto ISO 100, +0.7 stops exposure compensation (LV 14.0). bigger or camera-original © file.
1,200 × 900 pixel (4.6× magnification) crop from above. bigger or camera-original © file.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 3" (7.5cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at 9.3 × 13.9" (24 × 35 cm) at this same magnification.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 6" (15cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at 18.6 × 27.8" (47 × 71 cm) at this same magnification.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 12" (30cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at 37.1 × 55.7" (3 × 4.6 feet or 94 × 141 cm) at this same magnification.
Mechanical Quality performance top
Nikon Z 16-50mm f/2.8 VR DX. bigger.
This is an all-plastic lens with an aluminum mount, metal screws and glass glass.
Exterior Finish mechanics performance top
Black plastic.
Hood mechanics performance top
Plastic bayonet.
Front Bumper mechanics performance top
None.
Filter Threads mechanics performance top
Plastic 🤮
Hood Bayonet Mount mechanics performance top
Plastic.
Gold ED Band mechanics performance top
None.
Front Barrel Exterior mechanics performance top
Plastic.
Zoom Ring mechanics performance top
Rubber-covered plastic, with what seems to be a black-anodized aluminum trim ring at its front.
Focus Ring mechanics performance top
Hard plastic.
Rear Barrel Exterior mechanics performance top
Plastic.
Identity mechanics performance top
Printed around the front of the lens in nearly invisible dark gray ink on black plastic.
Also "DX 16-50/2.8" printed on top rear of barrel.
Internals mechanics performance top
Seem like all plastic.
Dust Gasket at Mount mechanics performance top
Yes.
Mount mechanics performance top
Seems like aluminum.
Markings mechanics performance top
Just paint; nothing's engraved.
Serial Number mechanics performance top
Nikon Z 16-50mm f/2.8 VR DX. bigger.
Laser engraved in warm black on black on the bottom of the barrel.
Date Code mechanics performance top
None found.
Noises When Shaken mechanics performance top
Quite a cacophony of what sounds like everything inside floating around.
This is normal.
Truth & Ethics mechanics performance top
Production dumped to China, not made domestically in Japan.
Never disclosed in any advertising, marketing or online offers for sale.
Adding shame, Nikon goes out of its way to hide "MADE IN CHINA" on the back of the lens where it will probably never be seen because this part is completely hidden when mounted to a camera. It's nearly invisible when actually looking at it in normal light. I had to work quite a while to be able to show it under my studio lights:
Nikon Z 16-50mm f/2.8 VR DX. bigger.
Sharpness performance top
Lens sharpness has nothing to do with picture sharpness.
Every lens made in the past 100 years is more than sharp enough to make super-sharp pictures if you know what you're doing. The only limitation to picture sharpness is your skill as a photographer. It's the least talented who spend the most time worrying about lens sharpness and blame crummy pictures on their equipment rather than themselves. Skilled photographers make great images with whatever camera is in their hands; I've made some of my best images of all time with an irreparably broken camera! Most pixels are thrown away before you see them, but camera makers don't want you to know that.
If you're not getting ultra-sharp pictures with this, be sure not to shoot at f/16 or smaller where all lenses are softer due to diffraction, always shoot at ISO 100 or below because cameras become softer at ISO 200 and above, avoid shooting across long distances over land which can lead to atmospheric heat shimmer, be sure everything is in perfect focus, set your camera's sharpening as you want it (I set mine to the maximum) and be sure nothing is moving, either camera or subject. If you want to ensure a soft image with any lens, shoot at f/16 or smaller at ISO 1,600 or above at default sharpening in daylight of subjects at differing distances in the same image.
People worry waaaaay too much about lens sharpness. It's not 1968 anymore when lenses often weren't that sharp and there could be significant differences among them; ever since about 2010 all new lenses are all pretty much equally fantastic.
This lens is super sharp corner-to corner at every aperture, limited by your vision as an artist and of course by heat shimmer and by diffraction at the smallest apertures. Avoid f/16 and smaller unless you really need them for extreme depth of field because diffraction takes its toll. See also How to Calculate the Sharpest Aperture.
This lens is super sharp out to the edges at every aperture, limited of course by diffraction at the smallest apertures and atmospheric heat shimmer at the longest zoom settings. The worst thing I can almost see is a slight reduction in contrast in the farthest corners at f/2.8, while it's still sharp, and contrast picks back up by f/4. How minor is this? The far corners at f/2.8 are still sharper than anywhere in the image stopped down to f/11, due to diffraction! This is a magnificent lens.
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Nikon's MTF at 10 cyc/mm and 30 cyc/mm. Sagittal (radial) shown as solid lines. Meridional (tangential) shown as dashed lines.
While it's usually valid to compare rated MTFs between different lenses of similar vintage from the same maker, every maker measures or simply calculates MTF very differently, and therefore one cannot compare these curves between brands. For instance, Sony seems to ignore diffraction and simply calculate overly optimistic MTFs that hug 100%, which no real lens can do at f/8, while other brands are more realistic and include diffraction. Only Canon offers any insight on how they arrive at their curves.
See also my article on MTF and Canon's article on MTFs.
Spherochromatism performance top
Spherochromatism, also called secondary spherical chromatic aberration or "color bokeh," can cause colored fringes on out-of-focus highlights, usually seen as green fringes on background highlights and magenta fringes on foreground highlights.
Spherochromatism is common in fast lenses of moderate and long focal lengths when shooting contrasty items at full aperture. It goes away as stopped down.
Spherochromatism is when the spherical aberration at the red and blue ends of the color spectrum (which together make magenta) is corrected differently than in the middle of the spectrum (green).
Spherochromatism is an advanced form of spherical and chromatic aberration in a different dimension than lateral color fringes and therefore cannot be corrected with software or automatic corrections.
This lens has a light to moderate amount of spherochromatism, with bluish-green fringes behind and violet fringes ahead of the plane of perfect focus:
Mondaine A132.30348.11SBB at close-focus distance at 50mm, Thursday, 09 July 2026. Nikon Z50 II at 1/1,000 at Auto ISO 100, +0.7 stops exposure compensation (LV 12.9). bigger or camera-original © file.
1,200 × 900 pixel (4.6× magnification) crop from above. bigger or camera-original © file.
Image Stabilization (VR) performance top
Optical Image Stabilization (OIS, IS or VR (Vibration Reduction)) works fine. I get three to four stops of real-world improvement, which lets me shoot with perfect sharpness most of the time handheld at 1/2 second at 16mm and 1/8 second at 50mm.
"Percent Perfectly Sharp Shots" are the percentage of hand-held, free-standing with no support or bracing, frames with 100% perfect tripod-equivalent sharpness as viewed at 300% on a 100 DPI monitor.
Looking at images from my Z50 II at 300% on my 100 DPI monitor from 2½ feet (76cm) away are the same as scrolling around a 15 × 10 foot (4.5 × 3 meters!) print, from just 2½ feet (76cm) away — and images are still perfectly sharp most of the time hand-held at 1/4 of a second. Bravo!
Of course we all will get different results hand-holding. While your speeds will vary, the number of stops of improvement should be the same for all of us regardless of who's shooting or how picky you are about what constitutes "perfect" sharpness.
Hand tremor is a random occurrence, so at marginal speeds some frames will be perfectly sharp while others will be in various stages of blur — all at the same shutter speed.
This rates what percentage of shots are perfectly sharp, not how sharp are all the frames:
At 16mm on my unstabilized Z50 II
| % Perfectly Sharp Shots on unstabilized Z50 II | 1s |
1/2 |
1/4 |
1/8 |
1/15 |
1/30 |
1/60 |
1/125 |
1/250 |
| Stabilization ON | 0 |
64 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
| Stabilization OFF | 0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
13⅓ |
77 |
95 |
100 |
100 |
I see 4 stops of real-world improvement.
At 50mm on my unstabilized Z50 II
| % Perfectly Sharp Shots | 1s |
1/2 |
1/4 |
1/8 |
1/15 |
1/30 |
1/60 |
1/125 |
1/250 |
| Stabilization ON | 0 |
0 |
0 |
77 |
85 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
| Stabilization OFF | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
9 |
28½ |
81 |
100 |
100 |
I see 3 stops of real-world improvement.
Sunstars performance top
With a 9-bladed rounded diaphragm, I get reasonably good 18-point sunstars on brilliant points of light at moderate to smaller apertures.
Ignore the vertical smear at large apertures. This is a sensor artifact called interline transfer smear and is a camera, not a lens, defect.
Likewise ignore the crazy rainbow dots at small apertures; these are sensor artifacts caused by interference among the divisions between pixels on the sensor. These are made visible because we're using enough exposure to show the dark underside of a huge palm tree, and then putting the blinding disk of the mid-day sun in it. Doing this will show everything due to the insane lighting range.
Click any to enlarge:
Click any to enlarge.
Teleconverters performance top
It will not work with any teleconverters because there is no empty space at the rear to accommodate the protuberances from the front of Nikon's Nikon Z TC 1.4× and 2× teleconverters.
Weather Sealing performance top
Nikon claims weather sealing, but I haven't tried it.
People have worried way too much about this ever since camera companies started FUD campaigns to make us think that our gear will dissolve unless it has weather sealing. How do you think we shot in the rain for the first 200 years of photography?
I don't worry about this, I use an umbrella if it's raining.
Recommendations top
Sample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing
Specifications Performance Recommendations
I got my Z 16-50mm f/2.8 VR DX at B&H. I'd also get it at Amazon or at Adorama, or get it used if you know How to Win at eBay, or get it used at KEH.
Personally I don't need f/2.8 and I prefer the broader zoom range of the Z 18-140mm DX VR, but for folks trying to stop action and moving subjects in low light with a very handy lens, bravo Nikon! This lens is ultra-sharp and in a class by itself of stabilized f/2.8 APS-C lenses.
I use a clear (UV) protective filter instead of a cap (exactly like an iPhone) so I'm always ready to shoot instantly. I only use a cap when I throw this in a bag with other gear without padding — which is never. The UV filter never gets in the way, and never gets lost, either.
The very best protective filter is the nearly indestructible Hoya multicoated HD3 67mm UV which uses hardened glass and repels dirt and fingerprints.
For less money, the Nikon 67mm NC (No Color/Neutral Clear), Hoya 67mm NXT Plus UV and Hoya 67mm UV MC are all excellent filters, but the Hoya HD3 is the toughest and the best.
The least expensive coated filter is the Chiaro 67mm 95-UVAT UV, which I haven't tried but ought to be swell.
If I was working in nasty, dirty areas, I'd use an uncoated 67mm Tiffen UV filter instead. Uncoated filters are much easier to clean, but more prone to ghosting.
Nikon's 67mm Circular Polarizer II is excellent.
All these filters are just as sharp and take the same pictures, the difference is how much abuse they'll take and stay clean and stay in one piece. Since filters last a lifetime or more, there's no reason not to buy the best as it will last you for the next 50 years. Filters aren't throwaways like digital cameras which we replace every few years, like it or not. I'm still using filters I bought back in the 1970s! The Hoya HD3 stays cleaner than the others since it repels oil and dirt, and you'll be using it long after you've thrown this lens away in 50 years.
I got my Z 16-50mm f/2.8 VR DX at B&H. I'd also get it at Amazon or at Adorama, or get it used if you know How to Win at eBay, or get it used at KEH.
This 100% all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to my personally approved sources I've used myself for way over 100 combined years when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live — but I receive nothing for my efforts if you take the chance of getting it elsewhere. Nikon does not seal its boxes in any way, so never buy at retail or any other source not on my personally approved list since you'll have no way of knowing if you're missing accessories, getting a defective, damaged, returned, dropped, incomplete, gray-market, store demo or used lens — and my personally approved sources allow for 100% cash-back returns for at least 30 days if you don't love your new lens. I've used many of these sources since the 1970s because I can try it in my own hands and return it if I don't love it, and because they ship from secure remote warehouses where no one gets to touch your new lens before you do. Buy only from the approved sources I've used myself for decades for the best prices, service, return policies and selection.
Thanks for helping me help you!
Ken.
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The biggest help is when you use any of these links when you get anything. It costs you nothing, and is this site's, and thus my family's, biggest source of support. These places always have the best prices and service, which is why I've used them since before this website existed. I recommend them all personally.
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Thanks for reading!
Ken.