Nikon Z 28-75mm f/2.8Full Frame (2022-)Sample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing Compatibility Specifications Performance Z9 Z8 Z7 II Z6 II Zf Z7 Z6 Z5 Z fc Z50 Z30 Z System Z Lenses All Nikon Lenses Flash Nikon Z 28-75mm f/2.8 (67mm filters, 19.9 oz./565g, 0.62'/7½"/0.19m close focus, 0.34× macro ratio, $997) bigger. I got mine at B&H. I'd also get mine at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield, or about $700 used if you know How to Win at eBay. 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 get 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 all of 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.
March 2024 Better Pictures Nikon Mirrorless Mirrorless Lenses All Nikon Lenses Nikon Flash All Reviews
Sample Images topSample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing Compatibility Specifications Performance More samples throughout this review at Bokeh, 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. Seven Palms Oasis, 7:27 PM, Sunday, 05 June 2022. Nikon Z9, Nikon Z 28-75mm f/2.8 at 28mm at 1/200 at Auto ISO 64, -0.7 stops exposure compensation (LV 11¼), Perfectly Clear. bigger or full-resolution 45 MP file (10 MB).
Orange Hibiscus, 10:24 AM, Friday, 10 June 2022. Nikon Z9, Nikon Z 28-75mm f/2.8 at 75mm at 1/320 at Auto ISO 64 (LV 15.0), Perfectly Clear. bigger or camera-original 45 MP © JPG file (4 MB).
Sea Stars, 4:11 PM, Friday, 10 June 2022. Nikon Z9, Nikon Z 28-75mm f/2.8 at 68mm at f/6.3 at 1/320 at Auto ISO 64, +0.7 stops exposure compensation (LV 15.3), Perfectly Clear. bigger or camera-original 45 MP © JPG file (5 MB).
Pier, Pacific Beach, California, 4:15 PM, Friday, 10 June 2022. Nikon Z9, Nikon Z 28-75mm f/2.8 at 28mm at f/11 at 1/80 at Auto ISO 64 (LV 13.9), Perfectly Clear. bigger or full resolution 45 MP file (10 MB).
Kono's Pacific Beach, California, 4:19 PM, Friday, 10 June 2022. Nikon Z9, Nikon Z 28-75mm f/2.8 at 28mm at f/8 at 1/160 at Auto ISO 64, +0.7 stops exposure compensation (LV 14.0), Luminar Aurora HDR, perspective correction in Photoshop CS6. bigger or full resolution 45 MP file (11 MB).
Dog Whirligig, Pacific Beach, California, 4:21 PM, Friday, 10 June 2022. Nikon Z9, Nikon Z 28-75mm f/2.8 at 39mm at f/5.6 at 1/500 at Auto ISO 64 (LV 14.6), Perfectly Clear. bigger or full resolution 45 MP file (10 MB). Introduction topSample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing Compatibility Specifications Performance The Z 28-75mm f/2.8 is a brilliant lens. It's fast, covers a great zoom range, focusses quickly, it's sharp, has little to no distortion, flare or ghosts as shot, has great bokeh and very good sunstars, focuses super-close, is very light weight and reasonably priced. It's a winner!
This new Z 28-75mm f/2.8 is a more practical, lighter weight, closer-focussing and much less expensive improvement to the bloated old Z 24-70/2.8. The Z 24-70/2.8 remains very popular, but it costs over twice as much, can't focus as close and is much bigger and heavier — but tougher if you enjoy abusing your equipment. Neither has Image Stabilization (more at Compared). It's a personal preference; I know all lenses today are as sharp as each other so I always choose the smallest and lightest. Actually, I still prefer my Z 24-200mm (and RF 24-240 and E 24-240) as my daily lenses — but that's just me. This is an awesome lens for practical shooters who need a high speed midrange zoom. Bravo Nikon! Just turn the focus ring at any time for instant manual-focus override. I got my Z 28-75mm f/2.8 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.
New intro topWorld's first lightweight, reasonably priced f/2.8 zoom for mirrorless.
Good intro topFast Autofocus. Great Bokeh. Super-close focusing: 0.62' (7½" or 19 cm) gives a 0.34× macro ratio, meaning something only 2.78 × 4.17" (70.5 × 105.9mm) will fill your full frame! Fast, professional f/2.8. Stops down to f/22. Very good sunstars. No visible distortion as shot. Minimal flare or ghosts. Light. Full-time manual-focus override. Very reasonably priced. HB-93A hood & CL-C2 sack included.
Bad intro topProduction dumped to China, not made domestically in Japan. No AF/MF switch. No Image Stabilization, but works with in-camera stabilization if you have it. Plastic filter threads and plastic exterior (metal mount).
Missing intro topNo AF/MF switch. No Image Stabilization, but works with in-camera stabilization if you have it. No switch for in-camera Image Stabilization. No high price. No regrets, no problems and nothing but great pictures!
Nikon Z 28-75mm f/2.8. bigger.
Compatibility topSample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing Compatibility Specifications Performance I got my Z 28-75mm f/2.8 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 lens works only on Nikon's Z-series mirrorless cameras. It does not so much as even mount on any other camera.
Specifications topSample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing Compatibility Specifications Performance
I got my Z 28-75mm f/2.8 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.
Name specifications topNikon calls this the NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8:NIKKOR: Nikon's brand name for all their lenses. Z: For Nikon's mirrorless cameras.
It 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. ED and Super ED: Magic Extra-low Dispersion glass for reduced secondary chromatic aberration. IF: Internal focusing; nothing moves externally as focused. ∅67: 67mm filter thread.
Optics specifications topNikon Z 28-75mm f/2.8 internal optical construction. Aspherical, ED and Super ED elements. bigger. 15 elements in 12 groups. 1 ED extra-low dispersion element, which helps reduce secondary axial chromatic aberration. 1 Super ED extra-low dispersion element, which helps reduce secondary axial chromatic aberration. 3 aspherical elements Nikon Super Integrated multicoating (SIC).
Diaphragm specifications topNikon Z 28-75mm f/2.8. bigger. 9 rounded blades. Electronically actuated. Stops down to f/22.
Filters specifications topPlastic 67mm filter thread.
Angle of View specifications topOn Full Frame FX75º ~ 32⅙º diagonal.
On APC-S DX53º ~ 21⅓º diagonal. See also Crop Factor.
Autofocus specifications topNo external movement as focussed, so no air or dust is sucked in.
Focus Scale specifications topNo. Not on lens, but may be displayed in-camera.
Infinity Focus Stop specifications topNo. You have to focus somehow to get precise focus at infinity, just like at every other distance.
Depth of Field Scale specifications topNo. Not on lens, but may be displayed in-camera.
Infrared Focus Index specifications topNo.
Close Focus (distance from subject to image plane) specifications top0.62' (7½" or 0.19 meters).
Maximum Reproduction Ratio specifications top1:2.9 (0.34 ×).
Reproduction Ratio Scale specifications topNo.
Image Stabilizer specifications topNONE, but works with in-camera stabilization if you have it.
Caps specifications topLC-67B 67 mm snap-on front cap and LF-N1 Z-mount rear cap included.
Hood specifications topIncluded HB-93A hood for Z 28-75mm f/2.8. bigger. HB-93A hood, included.
"Case" specifications topNikon CL-C2 case. This is a case? bigger. CL-C2 "case," included. They're kidding, right? It's just a bag, and not even padded. Geesh.
Size specifications top2.95" ø maximum diameter × 4.74" extension from flange. 75 mm ø maximum diameter × 120.5 mm extension from flange.
Weight specifications top19.9 oz. (565 g).
Quality specifications topNikon Z 28-75mm f/2.8. bigger. Made in China.
Announced specifications topMonday, 13 December 2021, 11:15 PM NYC time.
Promised for specifications top"Early 2022," and indeed it came out in the first half of 2022.
Included specifications topNikon Z 28-75mm f/2.8. bigger. LC-67B 67 mm snap-on front cap. LF-N1 Z-mount rear cap. CL-C2 sack.
Nikon's Model Number specifications top20107.
Price, U. S. A. specifications top28 March 2024$997 at Adorama, at Amazon and at B&H. About $700 used if you know How to Win at eBay.
December 2022$897 at Adorama, at Amazon and at B&H. About $700 used if you know How to Win at eBay.
May-June 2022$897 at Adorama, at Amazon and at B&H.
December 2021$1,197 at Adorama and at B&H. Nikon Z 28-75mm f/2.8. bigger.
Performance topSample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing Compatibility Specifications Performance
Overall Autofocus Manual Focus Breathing Bokeh Distortion Ergonomics Falloff Filters Flare & Ghosts Lateral Color Fringes Lens Corrections Macro Mechanics Sharpness Spherochromatism
I got my Z 28-75mm f/2.8 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.
Overall performance topThe Z 28-75mm f/2.8 is fast, focusses quickly, is sharp, has little to no distortion, flare or ghosts as shot, has great bokeh and very good sunstars, focuses super-close, is very light weight and reasonably priced. It's a winner!
Autofocus performance topAutofocus is on the faster side of normal. That's good, but know that most similar lenses focus about as quickly as others.
Manual Focus performance topManual 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 the rear focus ring at any time for instant manual-focus override. 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 topFocus 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 image grows a little as focussed more closely. I doubt it will be annoying in most motion picture work.
Bokeh performance topBokeh, the feel, character or quality of out-of-focus areas as opposed to how far out of focus they are, is beautiful. Backgrounds just melt away. 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 6250 weather station, 9:18 AM, Saturday, 11 June 2022. Nikon Z9, Nikon Z 28-75mm f/2.8 at 1/2,000 at Auto ISO 64, +0.7 stops exposure compensation (LV 14.6), Perfectly Clear. Click any for the 45 MP camera-original © JPG file (about 4 MB each).
As always, if you want to throw the background as far out of focus as possible, shoot at f/2.8 at 75mm and get as close as possible.
Distortion performance topThe Nikon Z 28-75mm f/2.8 has no visible distortion as shot with the default distortion correction activated. If you turn the correction off, or if you shoot raw data rather than JPG images and whatever software you use to create visible images from raw data doesn't correct the distortion as the camera does, it has the usual strong barrel distortion at 28mm, no distortion in the middle of the zoom range and the usual moderate pincushion distortion at 75mm Use these corrections in Photoshop's lens correction filter. These aren't facts or specifications, they are the results of my research that requires hours of photography and calculations on the resulting data.
© 2022 KenRockwell.com. All rights reserved. * Slight waviness remains after this correction. ** More waviness remains after this correction.
Ergonomics performance top
There's no AF/MF switch; you have to set this in a menu. There's no switch for in-camera Image Stabilization you have to set this in a menu if your camera has this. Otherwise, ergonomics are easy. The zoom ring is half the lens, and works great. The focus ring is electronic and always active, bravo!
Falloff performance topFalloff on full frame is invisible. It won't be an issue at all on DX (see crop factor). 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:
If you go out of your way to turn off the correction and then go looking for it (or if you shoot raw data rather than actual (JPG) images and use software to turn this data into images later and this software doesn't correct this as the camera does), there's a little wide-open at the ends of the zoom range, but otherwise again it's not visible in actual use. These gray-on-gray images exaggerate it:
Filters, use with performance topThere's no need for extra-thin filters. Standard rotating polarizers and grads work fine even at 28mm on full frame. Be careful at 28mm; if you have a really thick filter there could be a tiny bit of vignetting; but if so, zoom to 29mm and it goes away. It's no problem at longer focal lengths. Be careful with polarizers at 28mm; the sky's natural polarization can appear as a dark band in the sky.
Flare & Ghosts performance topFlare and ghosts aren't a problem. See examples at Sunstars.
Lateral Color Fringes performance topThere 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 data and then use non-manufacturer software to process that data into images then there is the possibility that there might be some. There can be some blue or violet axial fringing on very contrasty items, but that's a completely different aberration in a different dimension than lateral color fringes. There is some 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 topThe Z9, Z7 II, Z6 II, Z7, Z6, and Z5 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, Z7 II, Z6 II, Z7, Z6, and Z5 correct for any or all of distortion, diffraction and falloff (vignette control), any of which you may turn ON or OFF.
Macro Performance performance topThe Z 28-75mm f/2.8 gets very close:
Wide-open at f/2.8It gets close, and it's reasonably sharp even wide-open, however contrast is lower due to spherical aberration and spherochromatism: Casio G-Shock Solar Atomic Watch at close-focus distance, Friday, 10 June 2022. Nikon Z9, Nikon Z 28-75mm at 75mm at f/2.8 at 1/1,250 at Auto ISO 64, +1.0 stop exposure compensation (LV 13.9). bigger or camera-original 45 MP © file (3.4 MB).
1,200 × 900 pixel (6.8× magnification) crop from above. bigger or camera-original 45 MP © file (3.4 MB). If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 3" (7.5cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at a large 14 × 21″ (35 × 55 cm) at this same high magnification. If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 6" (15cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at a huge 27½ × 41¼″ (70 × 105 cm) at this same high magnification. If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 12" (30cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at a mammoth 55 × 82½″ (1.4 × 2.1 meters) at this same extremely high magnification!
At f/8It's super-sharp at f/8: Casio G-Shock Solar Atomic Watch at close-focus distance, Friday, 10 June 2022. Nikon Z9, Nikon Z 28-75mm at 75mm at f/8 at Auto ISO 64, +1.0 stop exposure compensation (LV 13.9). bigger or camera-original 45 MP © file (4 MB).
1,200 × 900 pixel (6.8× magnification) crop from above. bigger or camera-original 45 MP © file (4 MB). If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 3" (7.5cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at a large 14 × 21″ (35 × 55 cm) at this same high magnification. If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 6" (15cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at a huge 27½ × 41¼″ (70 × 105 cm) at this same high magnification. If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 12" (30cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at a mammoth 55 × 82½″ (1.4 × 2.1 meters) at this same extremely high magnification!
Mechanical Quality performance topNikon Z 28-75mm f/2.8. bigger. It has a metal mount and glass glass, and is otherwise all plastic.
FinishBlack plastic.
HoodPlastic bayonet.
Front BumperNone.
Filter ThreadsPlastic.
Hood Bayonet MountPlastic.
Gold ED BandNone.
Front Barrel ExteriorPlastic.
Zoom RingRubber-covered plastic.
Mid Barrel ExteriorPlastic.
Focus RingPlastic.
Rear Barrel ExteriorPlastic.
IdentityPrinted around front of lens, also printed on top of barrel.
InternalsSeem like all plastic.
Dust Gasket at MountYes.
MountDull chromed metal.
MarkingsPaint.
Serial NumberNikon Z 28-75mm f/2.8. bigger. Laser engraved in black-on-black on bottom of barrel.
Date CodeNone found.
Noises When ShakenMinor clicking.
Made inMade in China.
Sharpness performance topLens 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, 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. It's a little bit less sharp in the corners wide-open in the lab, but so what; in actual use it's always sharp corner to corner in actual use at f/2.8, and stopped-down as we usually shoot it, it's ultra sharp everywhere. Bravo!
Nikon's MTF charts at 10 cyc/mm and 30 cyc/mm.
Spherochromatism performance topSpherochromatism, 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. It has moderate to minor blue/yellow spherochromatism: Mondaine A132.30348.11SBB at close-focus distance, 10 June 2022. Nikon Z9, Nikon Z 28-75mm f/2.8 at 75mm wide-open at f/2.8 at 1/1,600 at Auto ISO 64 with +1.0 stop exposure compensation (LV 14.3). bigger or camera-original 45 MP © file (3.5 MB JPG).
1,200 × 900 pixel (6.8× magnification) crop from above. bigger or camera-original 45 MP © file (3.5 MB JPG). If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 3" (7.5cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at a large 14 × 21″ (35 × 55 cm) at this same high magnification. If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 6" (15cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at a huge 27½ × 41¼″ (70 × 105 cm) at this same high magnification. If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 12" (30cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at a mammoth 55 × 82½″ (1.4 × 2.1 meters) at this same extremely high magnification!
Image Stabilization (VR) performance topThis lens has no Optical Image Stabilization (OIS, IS or VR (Vibration Reduction)), but does work with any in-camera stabilization your camera may have. It works great with my stabilized 45MP Z9, firmware 2.0, giving 3½ to 4⅓ stops of real-world improvement. "Percent Perfectly Sharp Shots" are the percentage of frames with 100% perfect tripod-equivalent sharpness I get when I'm shooting hand-held while free-standing with no support or bracing. 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 28mm on stabilized 45MP Z9, firmware 2.0
I see a 3½ stop real-world improvement.
At 50mm on stabilized 45MP Z9, firmware 2.0
I see a 4 stop real-world improvement.
At 75mm on stabilized 45MP Z9, firmware 2.0
I see a 4⅓ stop real-world improvement.
Sunstars performance topWith a 9-bladed rounded diaphragm, I get 18-pointed sunstars on brilliant points of light moderate and small apertures. Ignore the crazy rainbow dots 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 topIntroduction New Good Bad Missing Compatibility Specifications Performance Compared User's Guide Recommendations I got my Z 28-75mm f/2.8 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. For actual photography all these lenses are equally super sharp, so I prefer the Z 24-120mm f/4 because it has the broadest zoom range; I don't care about the maximum aperture and I do care about weight. In the lab the only way to see any sharpness difference is only at the maximum aperture in the far corners, where the lenses vary slightly in order of their price; but the last lens I'd ever carry with me for actual shooting is the Z 24-70mm f/2.8 because it's too heavy. As soon as you stop down or stop wasting your time looking for details in the far corners where it doesn't matter at maximum aperture, they're all the same and I really prefer being about to get to 120mm rather than 75mm. I know; I've shot them all and aren't trying to sell you anything, but we all have different priorities. Amateurs worry themselves silly about lens sharpness, but that's the last thing on your mind after you've got over five decades of shooting behind you. The MTF curves are so close there won't be any visible difference. Claims about weather sealing and so forth are just marketing fluff. Pick by size, weight and zoom range. See also All Nikon Z Midrange Zooms Compared.
Versus the Two Versions of the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 more comparisons top of Z 28-75mm reviewThis Nikon Z 28-75mm f/2.8 seems like the same lens as the obsolete Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III RXD for Sony E (model A036)! Holy cow, I never would have thought to look through Tamron's boneyard (I'm an artist who has to produce exciting images, not a camera researcher), but yes, everything about these two lenses appears to be the same, even down to the weights and the MTF curves. Maybe because it's an obsolete Tamron lens not as much was done to hide the issue, but normally when these hijinks are played each maker will show the internal lens construction diagram with the lens set to a different focal length, which changes the positions of the elements to hide the stain of all this. Here's Tamron's data for their old A036 lens that you only can buy used today. Feel free to compare its specifications and MTF curves to this Nikon's specification and Nikon's MTF diagrams. So what if it's the same lens? Maybe Nikon is producing the design under licence, or maybe Tamron is making them for Nikon. It doesn't matter; my Nikon Z 28-75mm f/2.8 is a brilliant lens. 1.) Sure I can get the old A036 Tamron used at eBay for half the price ($550 if you know How to Win at eBay), but the old Tamron only comes in Sony E mount, so in no way can it replace this Nikon Z 28-75mm f/2.8. 2.) Even of there was a Nikon mount of the old Tamron lens, off-brand lenses aren't long-term investments. When I buy a camera-brand lens I know it will work on the new cameras (like my Z8) whenever those new cameras come out. It's a crapshoot with off-brands as to whether or not they'll work properly on new camera models. 3.) Even if I preferred to pay the same $799 for the newest A063 G2 Tamron 24-75mm f/2.8, back in 2021/2022 when the Z 28-75mm came out the new G2 Tamron also only came in Sony mount, so it was back to rule number one above. 4.) As of March 2024 Tamron now offers the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 G2 A063 in Nikon Z mount for $999, the same price as Nikon's Z lens. Personally I'd stick with the Nikon-branded version reviewed here for the sale of future compatibility, and of course there are those of you potentially wooed by Tamron's promises of newer optics. The sizes and weights and close focus distances are pretty much the same, so I'd stick with Nikon. Even if they're the same price in March 2024, I'll bet you that when you go to sell used that the genuine Nikon lens will fetch a higher price. You probably can't go wrong with either choice.
Recommendations topSample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing Compatibility Specifications Performance I got my Z 28-75mm f/2.8 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. The Z 28-75mm f/2.8 is a brilliant lens. It's fast, covers a great zoom range, focusses quickly, it's sharp, has little to no distortion, flare or ghosts as shot, has great bokeh and very good sunstars, focuses super-close, is very light weight and reasonably priced. It's a winner. The real question is do you need f/2.8? I don't, so I prefer the Z 24-120mm f/4 which has almost double the zoom range for not much more money. I rarely use f/2.8, but always need the 75-120mm range absent on this 28-75mm. Honestly I prefer the Z 24-200mm over all the rest for its even greater zoom range, but that's just me. It's great that Nikon has so many options to make us all happy. I use a 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. I use a 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 nearly indestructible Hoya multicoated HD3 67mm UV which uses hardened glass and repels dirt and fingerprints. For less money, the B+W 67mm XS-PRO MRC-nano 010M, 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. 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. 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 28-75mm f/2.8 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 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 get 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 all of 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.
© Ken Rockwell. All rights reserved. Tous droits réservés. Alle Rechte vorbehalten. Ken Rockwell® is a registered trademark.
Help Me Help You topI support my growing family through this website, as crazy as it might seem. 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. If you find this page as helpful as a book you might have had to buy or a workshop you may have had to take, feel free to help me continue helping everyone. If you've gotten your gear through one of my links or helped otherwise, you're family. It's great people like you who allow me to keep adding to this site full-time. Thanks! If you haven't helped yet, please do, and consider helping me with a gift of $5.00. As this page is copyrighted and formally registered, it is unlawful to make copies, especially in the form of printouts for personal use. If you wish to make a printout for personal use, you are granted one-time permission only if you PayPal me $5.00 per printout or part thereof. Thank you! Thanks for reading!
Ken.
|
28 Mar 2024, 02, 07 December 2022, 10, 13, 14 June 2022, May 2022, 14, 16, 19 December 2021