Nikon Z 28mm f/2.8 SE review

The Nikon Z 28mm is stylish and simple but with a good turn of speed - it's a new classic in wide-angle primes

Nikon Z 28mm f/2.8 SE
(Image: © Future)

Digital Camera World Verdict

The Nikon Z 28mm f/2.8 is equally at home on both DX (APS-C) and FX (full-frame) Nikon Z mirrorless cameras. The ‘SE’ version of this lens is particularly well-suited to the Z fc camera, thanks to a retro makeover that adds a silver ring and old-school knurling to its charm. Cosmetics aside, it’s essentially identical to the more mainstream Z 28mm f/2.8. Image quality is excellent and build quality should prove adequate for most photographers, making the lens great value for money. However, the lack of optical VR (Vibration Reduction) can be an issue when shooting with one of Nikon’s DX bodies, which lack IBIS (In-Body Image Stabilization).

Pros

  • +

    Compact and lightweight

  • +

    Impressive overall performance

  • +

    Neat retro styling

Cons

  • -

    Plastic mounting plate

  • -

    No optical VR

  • -

    No official Nikon lens hood

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Those of us who are old enough yet still retain a few memory cells will feel a distinct sense of déjà vu when viewing and handling this lens. The SE version of the Z 28mm f/2.8 prime has been given retro styling with quite some attention to detail. The texture of the control ring, additional grip area and silver ring have been faithfully recreated from Nikon’s archive of blueprints, as have the fonts used for the lettering on the front, harking back to the days of 35mm film photography with AI Nikkor lenses.

The 28mm focal length is also somewhat classic, giving a customarily wide-angle view on Nikon’s FX Z-series mirrorless bodies, or an ‘effective’ 42mm focal length on DX cameras, where it neatly bridges the gap between a wide-angle and standard prime. Either way, the lens’s compact, lightweight build makes it ideal for casual shooting and street photography, enhanced by a nippy f/2.8 aperture rating.

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Matthew Richards

Matthew Richards is a photographer and journalist who has spent years using and reviewing all manner of photo gear. He is Digital Camera World's principal lens reviewer – and has tested more primes and zooms than most people have had hot dinners! 

His expertise with equipment doesn’t end there, though. He is also an encyclopedia  when it comes to all manner of cameras, camera holsters and bags, flashguns, tripods and heads, printers, papers and inks, and just about anything imaging-related. 

In an earlier life he was a broadcast engineer at the BBC, as well as a former editor of PC Guide.