Nikon Z 24‑50mm f/4‑6.3
Sample Images Intro Format & Compatibility
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Nikon Z 24-50mm f/4-6.3, shown collapsed (52mm filters, 6.8 oz./192g, 1.1'/0.35m close focus, $397). bigger. I got mine at B&H. I'd also get mine at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
This all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Thanks for helping me help you! Ken
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Sample Images top
Sample Images Intro Format & Compatibility
More samples at Bokeh, Distortion, Macro, Sharpness and Spherochromatism.
These are just snapshots; my real work is in my Gallery.
These are all shot as BASIC ★ JPGs; NORMAL or FINE JPGs or RAW files were used or needed.
Iron Christmas, 3:20 PM, 29 November 2020. Nikon Z5, Nikon SB-400 flash, Nikon Z 24-50mm at 24mm at f/10 at 1/200 at Auto ISO 100, -0.7 stops exposure compensation (LV 14.3), Perfectly Clear, perspective correction in Photoshop CS6. bigger, full resolution or camera-original © JPG file.
Brilliant, sharp colorful images. For what more could you ask? Nikon's perfect-for-mirrorless SB-400 flash helps emphasize the foreground wreath, which otherwise would have been in shadow. Of course any compatible (made in the past 10 or 15 years ) Nikon flash gives the same result.
Red 1961 Corvette, 3:51 PM, 30 November 2020. Nikon Z5, Nikon SB-400 flash, Nikon Z 24-50mm at 50mm at f/11 at 1/50 at Auto ISO 200 (LV 11.6), as shot. bigger or full resolution.
Nikon's perfect-for-mirrorless SB-400 flash emphasizes the front of the Corvette (which otherwise was in shadow) and suggests a flaming comet fireball.
Moonrise, Seven Palms Oasis, 6:23 PM, 30 November 2020. Nikon Z5, Nikon Z 24-50mm at 24mm at f/4 for 30 seconds at ISO 125 (LV -1¼), 3,200K white balance, Perfectly Clear. bigger, full resolution or camera-original © JPG file.
You can see the moonlight glinting off the palm fronds! For what better low-light performance could you possibly ask? Autofocus is almost worthless in light this low, while the images are great.
Desert Turquoise, 12:22 PM, 01 December 2020. Nikon Z5, Nikon Z 24-50mm at 30mm at f/11 at 1/500 at Auto ISO 100 (LV 15.9), as shot. bigger or full resolution.
Even with my colors amped-up (VIVID Picture Control with +3 Saturation) I get accurate, meaningful renditions of difficult and subtle colors as in this turquoise building.
Bougainvillea Gone Wild, 12:24 PM, 01 December 2020. Nikon Z5, Nikon Z 24-50mm at 31.5mm at f/9 at 1/320 at Auto ISO 100 (LV 14⅔), as shot. bigger or camera-original © JPG file.
I love what comes right out of my Nikons as JPGs, no need to "fix" or fiddle afterwards. I need my images to be client-deliverable right out of my camera.
Twin Arches, 12:37 PM, 01 December 2020. Nikon Z5, Nikon Z 24-50mm at 33mm at f/10 at 1/400 at Auto ISO 100 (LV 15.3), Perfectly Clear. bigger, full-resolution or camera-original © JPG file.
Railing, Light and Shadow, 12:41 PM, 01 December 2020. Nikon Z5, Nikon Z 24-50mm at 35mm at f/8 at 1/250 at Auto ISO 100 (LV 14.0), perspective correction and other artistic interpretation in Photoshop CS6. bigger or camera-original © JPG file.
Introduction top
Sample Images Intro Format & Compatibility
I buy only from these approved sources. I can't vouch for ads below. |
This Nikon Z 24~50mm is a tiny lens with great performance. Its pictures are flawlessly sharp, it handles wonderfully, collapses for carrying and focuses super fast. It's almost entirely made of plastic in China.
It goes from sort of wide to normal, which is boring, but seeing how it's not much bigger than a lens cap, if you want to travel light, here's your lens.
Yes, it's slow (f/4~6.3), but that's what we get when we demand this level of optical performance in a lens this tiny. Unlike DSLRs which need faster lenses to ensure bright finder images, unless you're trying to shoot handheld under moonlight, lens speeds don't matter much anymore with mirrorless.
I got my 24-50mm at B&H. I'd also get mine at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield, or eventually used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
New intro top
Nikon claims it's the smallest and lightest full-frame mirrorless zoom, ever, otherwise,
Nothing else new; Nikon made an AF and then AF-D 24-50mm f/3.3-4.5 from 1987-2005, and no one noticed. Nikon also made the world's first ultrawide zoom, the manual-focus 25-50mm f/4, from 1979-1985. Each of these lenses is so boring that even though I've owned them both for decades, I've never gotten around to reviewing either of them.
Good intro top
Collapses for carrying.
Programmable control ring.
Tiny.
Sharp.
Compact.
Weightless.
Bad intro top
Offshored to China; not made domestically in Japan.
Plastic mount.
Pathetically small zoom range.
Overpriced for a Chinese plastic throw-away lens.
Canon makes a full-frame mirrorless lens with double the zoom range, a metal mount and responsibly made in a developed, free country for the same price.
Missing intro top
No metal; all-plastic.
No case or hood included.
Nikon Z 24-50mm f/4-6.3. bigger.
Format & Compatibility top
Sample Images Intro Format & Compatibility
I got my 24-50mm at B&H. I'd also get mine at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield, or eventually used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
This is a full-frame lens which works only on Nikon's Full-Frame and DX Z-series mirrorless cameras.
It does not so much as even mount on any other camera.
Specifications top
Sample Images Intro Format & Compatibility
I got my 24-50mm at B&H. I'd also get mine at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield, or eventually used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
Name specifications top
Nikon calls this the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-50mm f/4-6.3:
NIKKOR: Nikon's brand name for all their lenses.
Z: For Nikon's mirrorless cameras.
Also has:
AF-P: Stepper (Pulse) autofocus motor: silent and ultra fast.
Aspherical: Specially curved glass elements for sharper pictures.
D: Couples distance information to the 3D Matrix Meter.
E: Electronic diaphragm for silent operation.
ED: Magic Extra-low Dispersion glass for reduced secondary chromatic aberration.
IF: Internal focusing; nothing moves externally as focused.
G: Gelded; has no aperture ring.
SIC: Nikon Super Integrated multicoating.
∅52: 52mm filter thread.
Optics specifications top
Nikon Z 24-50mm internal optical construction. Aspherical and ED elements.
11 elements in 10 groups.
3 aspherical elements.
2 ED extra-low dispersion elements, which help reduce secondary axial chromatic aberration.
Nikon Super Integrated multicoating (SIC).
Filters specifications top
Plastic 52 mm filter thread.
Coverage specifications top
Full-Frame (24 × 36mm) and APS-C (16 × 24mm).
Diaphragm specifications top
Nikon Z 24-50mm f/4-6.3. bigger.
7 rounded blades.
Electronically actuated.
Focal Length specifications top
24-50mm.
When used on an APS-C camera, it sees the same angle of view as a 35-70 mm lens sees when used on a full-frame or 35mm camera.
Angle of View specifications top
84º ～ 47º diagonal on FX.
61º ～ 31.5º diagonal on DX.
Focus Scale specifications top
Not on lens, but may be displayed in-camera.
Infinity Focus Stop specifications top
No.
Depth of Field Scale specifications top
Not on lens, but may be displayed in-camera.
Infrared Focus Index specifications top
No.
Close Focus specifications top
1.15 feet (0.35 meters).
Maximum Reproduction Ratio specifications top
1:6 (0.17×).
Reproduction Ratio Scale specifications top
No.
Image Stabilizer specifications top
None.
Size specifications top
2.9" ø maximum diameter × 2.1" extension from flange.
73.5 mm ø maximum diameter × 51 mm extension from flange.
Weight specifications top
6.785 oz. (192.4 g) actual measured weight.
Rated 6.9 oz. (195 g).
Announced specifications top
9:31AM, Tuesday, 21 July 2020.
Promised for specifications top
August 2020.
Included specifications top
LF-N1 Z-mount rear cap.
Nikon's Model Number specifications top
20096.
Price, U. S. A. specifications top
December 2022
$397 at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H and at Crutchfield.
About $175 used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
July 2020 ~ July 2021
$397 at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H and at Crutchfield.
Performance top
Sample Images Intro Format & Compatibility
Overall Autofocus Manual Focus Breathing
Bokeh Distortion Ergonomics Falloff Filters
Flare & Ghosts Lateral Color Fringes Lens Corrections
Macro Minimum & Maximum Apertures Mechanics
Sharpness Spherochromatism Stabilization Sunstars
I got my 24-50mm at B&H. I'd also get mine at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield, or eventually used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
Overall performance top
This is a tiny, lightweight zoom lens with a tiny, lightweight zoom range.
It's super sharp, has no distortion as shot on the Z cameras and focuses super fast.
Autofocus performance top
Autofocus is immediate. It's super fast.
Manual Focus performance top
Manual focusing is entirely electronic; the manual focus ring isn't connected to anything other than a digital encoder.
Just grab the rear focus ring at any time for instant manual-focus override, so long as you have this ring programed to be manual focus.
Focus Breathing performance top
Focus breathing is the image changing size as focused in and out. It's important to cinematographers that the image not breathe because it looks funny if the image changes size as focus gets pulled back and forth between actors. If the lens does this, the image "breathes" by growing and contracting slightly as the dialog goes back and forth.
The 24-50mm's images gets a bit larger as focussed more closely.
Bokeh performance top
With a lens this slow and wide, there is rarely anything much out of focus. Therefore bokeh, which is the feel, character or quality of out-of-focus areas as opposed to how far out of focus they are, doesn't matter.
If you look hard for it, it's reasonably neutral.
Here are photos from headshot distance wide-open:
Made-in-U. S. A. Davis 6250 weather station, 10:18 AM, 28 November 2020. Nikon Z6 II, Nikon Z 24-50mm at 24mm at f/4 at 1/1,250 at Auto ISO 100 (LV 14.3). bigger or camera-original © file.
Made-in-U. S. A.Davis 6250 weather station, 10:18 AM, 28 November 2020. Nikon Z6 II, Nikon Z 24-50mm at 50mm at f/6.3 at 1/500 at Auto ISO 100 (LV 14.3). bigger or camera-original © file.
As always, if you want to throw the background as far out of focus as possible, shoot at 50mm at f/6.3 and get as close as possible.
Distortion performance top
The Nikon Z 24-50mm has no visible distortion as shot on the Z cameras, which makes sense as the Z cameras always correct for it — and they won't let you turn off the correction.
If you shoot raw and use non-Nikon software to process the raw data into images, that software is unlikely to be able to correct the distortion as is done in-camera as JPGs.
For more critical scientific use, use these corrections in Photoshop's lens correction filter to JPG images. No, I have no idea why my Z6 II doesn't correct the distortion completely.
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 Full-Frame at 30' (10m) |
Correction factor with in-camera corrected JPG images as shot on Z6 II |
24mm |
+0.50 |
28mm |
+0.50 |
35mm |
+0.40 |
40mm |
+0.20 |
50mm |
+0.15 |
© 2020 KenRockwell.com. All rights reserved.
Enzo's, 12:53 PM, 01 December 2020. Nikon Z5, Nikon Z 24-50mm at 50mm at f/9 at 1/320 at Auto ISO 100 (LV 14⅔), Perfectly Clear. bigger or camera-original © JPG file.
Ergonomics performance top
|
|
Collapsed for carrying. bigger. |
Ready to shoot at 35mm. bigger. |
|
|
Collapsed for carrying. bigger. |
Ready to shoot at 35mm. bigger. |
No mysteries here; it's a conventional mechanical zoom ring and a programmable electronic control ring, which usually is set for manual focus.
Manual focus always offers instant override; just move the ring regardless of how the camera is set.
The zoom ring feels perfect. It has a rubbery grip. It's easy to zoom with one finger, and just as easy to park or extend. This should be something simple which every lens does, but sadly this is one of the few lenses that gets all this right. Bravo!
The rear control ring (usually focus) is plain old hard plastic. It's pretty grippy due to the perfect ribbing.
Falloff performance top
Falloff on FX is completely invisible, with a Z camera's default Vignette control at its default of NORMAL.
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:
Nikon Z 24-50mm Falloff, Vignette control at its default of NORMAL.
© 2020 KenRockwell.com. All rights reserved. |
If you're silly enough to turn off the compensation and then go looking for falloff, this is what you'll see; of course this gray-on-gray exaggerates it. If you shoot raw and use non-Nikon software to process the raw data into images, that software is unlikely to be able to correct the falloff as is done in-camera as JPGs, so this is what you might or might not see as well:
Nikon Z 24-50mm Falloff, Vignette control OFF.
© 2020 KenRockwell.com. All rights reserved. |
Filters, use with performance top
There's no need for thin filters. I can stack at least a couple of regular 52mm filters with no vignetting at any setting on full frame. Go ahead and use your standard rotating polarizer and grad filters.
Flare & Ghosts performance top
There are no ghosts or flare of which to speak. See examples at Sunstars.
Lateral Color Fringes performance top
There are no lateral color fringes as shot on Nikon cameras, which by default correct for any that may be there.
There is some minor spherochromatism, which is a completely different aberration in a different dimension than lateral color fringes.
Lens Corrections performance top
The Z7 II, Z6 II, Z7, Z6, and Z5 correct for any or all of distortion, diffraction and falloff (vignette control). Distortion control cannot be turned off, while diffraction and falloff (vignette control) correction can be changed.
TheZ7 II, Z6 II, Z7, Z6, and Z5 always correct for lateral color fringes (chromatic aberration). This is part of Nikon's secret sauce and never appears in any menu.
Macro Performance performance top
Macro gets moderately close, and it's sharp:
Casio G-Shock Solar Atomic Watch, 25 November 2020. Nikon Z5, Nikon Z 24-50mm at close-focus distance at 50mm wide-open at f/6.3 at 1/800 at Auto ISO 100 (LV 15.0), Perfectly Clear. bigger or camera-original © JPG file.
1,200 × 900 pixel (10× magnification) crop from above. bigger or camera-original © JPG file.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 3" (7.5cm) wide on your screen, then the complete image printed at this same large magnification would be about 10 × 15" (25 × 38cm).
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 6" (15cm) wide on your screen, then the complete image printed at this same extreme magnification would be about 20 × 30" (50 × 75cm).
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 12" (30cm) wide on your screen, then the complete image printed at this same insanely high magnification would be about 40 × 60" (1 × 1.5 meters).
Minimum & Maximum Apertures performance top
Maximum Aperture |
Minimum Aperture |
|
| 24mm | f/4 |
f/22 |
| 28mm | f/4.5 |
f/25 |
| 35mm | f/5 |
f/29 |
| 40mm | f/5.6 |
f/32 |
| 50mm | f/6.3 |
f/36 |
Mechanical Quality performance top
Nikon Z 24-50mm f/4-6.3. bigger.
This is an all-plastic made-in-China lens.
Only the screws, electrical conductors and diaphragm blades are likely to be metal, and the glass is most likely mostly glass.
The zoom grip is a rubbery insert.
This isn't 1977 anymore when Nikon was a leader. While Nikon still makes some good lenses, NIKKOR hasn't been synonymous with high mechanical quality for many years. Sorry.
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/11 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, 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/22 at ISO 1,600 at default sharpening in daylight of subjects at differing distances in the same image.
These warnings aside, yes, this is a very sharp lens. If you can't make stunning images with it, you're a bad photographer.
Here are some sharp snapshots:
Old Town, 12:41 PM, 01 December 2020. Nikon Z5, Nikon Z 24-50mm at 36mm at f/9 at 1/320 at Auto ISO 100 (LV 14⅔), Perfectly Clear. bigger or camera-original © JPG file.
Cali Rosina, 12:52 PM, 01 December 2020. Nikon Z5 square-crop mode, Nikon Z 24-50mm at 50mm at f/10 at 1/400 at Auto ISO 100 (LV 15.3), Perfectly Clear. bigger or camera-original © JPG file.
The MTF curves are spectacular as well:
 |
 |
MTF at 24mm at f/4. |
MTF at 50mm at f/6.3. |
Spherochromatism performance top
Spherochromatism, also called secondary spherical chromatic aberration or "color bokeh," is an advanced form of spherical and chromatic aberration in a different dimension than lateral chromatic aberration. It happens mostly in fast normal and tele lenses when spherical aberration at the ends of the color spectrum are corrected differently than in the middle of the spectrum. Spherochromatism can cause colored fringes on out-of-focus highlights, usually seen as green fringes on backgrounds and magenta fringes on foregrounds. Spherochromatism is common in fast lenses of moderate focal length when shooting contrasty items at full aperture. It goes away as stopped down.
I didn't expect to see any spherochromatism in a lens this slow and short, but voilà, it has a little even though I never saw this in normal photos:
Mondaine A132.30348.11SBB, 28 November 2020. Nikon Z5, Nikon Z 24-50mm at close-focus distance at 50mm wide-open at f/6.3 at 1/1,000 at Auto ISO 100 (LV 15.3). bigger or camera-original © JPG file.
1,200 × 900 pixel (10× magnification) crop from above. bigger or camera-original © JPG file.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 3" (7.5cm) wide on your screen, then the complete image printed at this same large magnification would be about 10 × 15" (25 × 38cm).
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 6" (15cm) wide on your screen, then the complete image printed at this same high magnification would be about 20 × 30" (50 × 75cm).
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 12" (30cm) wide on your screen, then the complete image printed at this same extreme magnification would be about 40 × 60" (1 × 1.5 meters).
Image Stabilization performance top
There is NO Optical Image Stabilization (OIS, IS or VR (Vibration Reduction)). This lens depends entirely on any stabilization in your camera, which as of its introduction, is in every full-frame Nikon mirrorless camera.
Sunstars performance top
With a rounded 7-blade diaphragm, I get 14-pointed sunstars on brilliant points of light at moderate and smaller apertures.
Ignore the crazy rainbow effects at small apertures; these are sensor artifacts caused by taking a picture directly of the sun and exposing for the dark underside of a huge palm tree, and using that same palm tree to hide the sky to accentuate the stars.
Click any to enlarge:
Click any to enlarge.
Compared top
Sample Images Intro Format & Compatibility
See All Nikon Z Midrange Zooms Compared.
Recommendations top
Sample Images Intro Format & Compatibility
I got my 24-50mm at B&H. I'd also get mine at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield, or eventually used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
Although cheaply made in China and priced high, this 24-50mm is a very sharp, fast focussing and compact lens. It's intended as an ultralight carry everywhere lens, and works brilliantly for this.
If you want even smaller, consider the wider-range Z DX 16-50mm and use it on the Z50.
I use a 52mm clear (UV) protective filter instead of a cap 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 Multicoated Hoya HD3 52mm UV which uses hardened glass and repels dirt and fingerprints. It's expensive, but it will last forever long after this lens is gone.
For less money, the most classic filter to use on a Nikon lens is of course the Nikon 52mm NC. The B＋W 52mm 010 is an excellent filter, as are the multicoated B＋W, the multicoated Hoya filters and even the most basic Hoya multicoated filter, but the Hoya HD3 is the toughest and the best.
Filters last a lifetime, so you may as well get the best. The Hoya HD3 stays cleaner than the others since it repels oil and dirt.
If I was working in nasty, dirty areas, I'd forget the cap, and use an uncoated 52mm Tiffen UV filter instead. Uncoated filters are much easier to clean, but more prone to ghosting.
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.
This 100% all-content website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. 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, non-USA, store demo or used plastic lens. I use the stores I do because they ship from secure remote warehouses where no one gets to touch your new camera before you do. Buy only from the approved sources I use myself for the best prices, service, return policies and selection.
Thanks for helping me help you!
Ken, Mrs. Rockwell, Ryan and Katie.
© Ken Rockwell. All rights reserved. Tous droits réservés. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.
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