The Nikon Z 20mm f/1.8 S has been officially announced, becoming the widest lens offered by the manufacturer for its Z system cameras.
Following hot on the heels of the Nikon Z 24mm f/1.8 S wide-angle lens, now we have an even wider prime for the mirrorless Z range. The Nikon Z 20mm f/1.8 S extends the Nikon Z line-up of high-performance S-line f/1.8 lenses to five primes, which now comprises of 20mm, 24mm, 35mm, 50mm and 85mm optics.
The lens sports a single A/M focus switch and large focus ring. As with other S-line lenses, there’s no built-in vibration reduction, with the Z 6/Z 7’s in-body image stabilization doing the honors. Nikon Z 50 users will have to do without stabilization altogether, though with such a fast, wide lens this wouldn’t usually be of any great concern.
• Read more: Nikon Z7 review
We have yet to put the new lens through our rigorous lab tests, but Nikon claims it to be “phenomenally sharp from edge to edge and brilliant in low light, with sharpness particularly exceptional at close distances”. Given the performance of other S-line optics, we have little reason to doubt this.
A minimum focus distance of just 0.20m enables shooting from close-up to infinity. Autofocus is promised to be fast, smooth and quiet, and focus breathing all but eliminated, which videographers, in particular, will be grateful for. The wide Z mount combined with nine rounded aperture blades should offer exquisite starbursts and natural-looking bokeh.
Internally, the lens boasts ED glass and aspherical lens elements to correct chromatic aberrations, and Nikon’s anti-reflective Nano Crystal Coat combats ghosting and flare to offer crisp and clear images. Every movable part of the lens barrel is weather sealed to keep dust and moisture out.
First impressions & pricing
A 20mm lens pretty much completes the full arsenal of fast primes for Z cameras, and we have no doubt that optical quality will be sublime.
The Z 20mm f/1.8 S should be in the shops from 19 March at a price of £1049/€1299, and we’ll be bringing you a full test just as soon as we get our hands on a review sample.
Preorder the Nikon Z 20mm f/1.8 S from Adorama
Preorder the Nikon Z 20mm f/1.8 S from Wex Photo Video
Nikon Z 20mm f/1.8 S official sample images
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