C O N T E N T S
Photo Corners headlinesarchivemikepasini.com
A S C R A P B O O K O F S O L U T I O N S F O R T H E P H O T O G R A P H E R
Enhancing the enjoyment of taking pictures with news that matters, features that entertain and images that delight. Published frequently.
Nikon Announces Z System Optics, Road Map
23 August 2018
Nikon has announced a set of optics for its new Z System that includes three primes, a zoom and an F-mount adapter compatible with over 360 existing Nikkor lenses.
The three initial offerings are the standard zoom Nikkor Z 24-70mm f4 S, the wide-angle prime Nikkor Z 35mm f1.8 S and the standard prime Nikkor Z 50mm f1.8 S. The company also announced development of the Nikkor Z 58mm f0.95 S Noct lens and its Mount Adapter FTZ for Z System compatibility with existing Nikkor F mount lenses.
Nikkor Z lenses take advantage of the larger Z mount with its inner diameter of 55mm and a short flange focal distance of 16mm. The lenses offer sharp resolution with both still-image and video recording and are equipped with functions that include: compensation for focus breathing (the shifting of the angle of view when focus is adjusted), quiet operation, smooth exposure control, a control ring and performance well suited for video capture.
The S-Line is a newly-designated grade of Nikkor Z lenses that adhere to a new benchmark in optical performance, "realizing rendering performance that surpasses that of conventional f4 standard zoom lenses and f1.8 wide-angle or standard prime lenses," the company said.
Nikon also announced a roadmap for its Nikkor Z lineup. It plans to release an additional five lens in 2019 along with the 59mm Noct, including a 20mm f1.8, 85mm f1.8, 24-70mm f2.8, 70-200mm f2.8 and a 14-30mm f4. In 2020 it plans to release a 50mm f1.2, a 24mm f1.8 and a 14-24mm f2.8.
NIKKOR 24-70MM ZOOM
- Z-Mount lens
- FX format
- Aperture range: f4 to f22
- Aspherical extra-low dispersion element
- Three aspherical elements
- Nano crystal and super integrated coatings
- Stepping motor AF system
- Programmable control ring
- Weather-sealed design, fluorine coating
- Rounded 7-blade diaphragm
- Retractable design
Specifications for the new zoom include:
NIKKOR Z 24-70mm ZOOM LENS SPECIFICATIONS Mount Z Mount Focal Length 24mm to 70mm Aperture f4 to f22
7 founded diaphragm bladesAngle of View 84° to 34°20' Minimum Focus 11.81 inches Magnification 0.3x Optical Design 14 elements in 11 groups
Three Aspherical elements
Nano Crystal and Super Integrated coatings
Fluorine coatingAutofocus Yes Image Stabilization No Filter Thread 72mm Dimensions 3.05 x 3.48 inches Weight 1.10 lb. Adorama and B&H are both now accepting pre-orders for $996.95.
NIKKOR 35MM
- Z-Mount lens
- FX fFormat
- Aperture range: f1.8 to f16
- Two ED and three aspherical elements
- Nano crystal and super integrated coatings
- Stepping motor AF system
- Programmable control ring
- Weather-sealed construction
- Rounded 9-blade diaphragm
Specifications for the 35mm include:
NIKKOR Z 35mm LENS SPECIFICATIONS Mount Z Mount Focal Length 35mm Aperture f1.8 to f16
9 rounded diaphragm bladesAngle of View 63° Minimum Focus 9.84 inches Magnification 0.19x Optical Design 11 elements in 9 groups
2 ED and 3 Aspherical elements
Nano Crystal and Super Integrated coatingsAutofocus Yes Image Stabilization No Filter Thread 62mm Dimensions 2.87 x 3.39 inches Weight 13.05 oz. Available early in October, Adorama and B&H are both now accepting pre-orders for $846.95.
NIKKOR 50MM
- Z-Mount lens
- FX format
- Aperture range: f1.8 to f16
- Two ED and two Aspherical elements
- Nano crystal and super integrated coatings
- Stepping motor AF system
- Programmable control ring
- Weather-sealed construction
- Rounded 9-blade diaphragm
Specifications for the 50mm include:
NIKKOR Z 50mm LENS SPECIFICATIONS Mount Z Mount Focal Length 50mm Aperture f1.8 to f16
9 rounded diaphragm bladesAngle of View 47° Minimum Focus 1.31 feet Magnification 0.15x Optical Design 12 elements in 9 groups
2 ED and 2 Aspherical elements
Nano Crystal and Super Integrated coatingsAutofocus Yes Image Stabilization No Filter Thread 62mm Dimensions 2.99 x 3.41 inches Weight 14.64 oz. Adorama and B&H are both now accepting pre-orders for $596.95.
NIKKOR 58MM NOCT
The Nikkor Z 58mm f0.95 S Noct currently in development will be a large aperture, standard 58mm prime focal-length, the fastest lens in Nikon's history positioned at the very top of the S Line, Nikon said. "It will stand to symbolize the Nikon Z mount system's new dimension in optical performance."
It inherits the design concept of the original AI Noct-Nikkor 58mm f1.2 released in 1977, named for "Nocturne," a musical composition inspired by or evocative of the night, and was popular for its ability to finely reproduce point light sources as point images.
Development continues with the goals of achieving an extremely fast maximum aperture of f0.95, offering the ultimate in Nikkor rendering performance with superior detail and sharpness.
Additionally, Nikon said, the goal is to achieve "beautiful blur characteristics or bokeh, with good continuity and ensure outstanding point-image reproduction capabilities for more compelling, three- dimensional imaging."
F-MOUNT ADAPTER
- Nikon F lens to Nikon Z mount converter
- Maintains AF/AE with E, G, D lenses
- Retains infinity focus
- Integrated 1/4"-20 Mount
Adorama and B&H are both now accepting pre-orders for about $250.
Nikon Releases The Nikkor Z 24-70mm f4 S, Nikkor Z 35mm f1.8 S, Nikkor Z 50mm f1.8 S and the Mount Adapter FTZ and Develops the Nikkor Z 58mm f0.95 S NOCT
Designed Exclusively for the Nikon Z Mount System, Featuring a New, Larger-Diameter Mount
MELVILLE, N.Y. -- Nikon Inc. has announced the release of three new lenses designed for the next-generation Nikon Z mount system's full-frame (Nikon FX format) mirrorless cameras, for which a new larger-diameter mount has been adopted. The three new lenses are the standard zoom Nikkor Z 24-70mm f4 S, the wide-angle prime Nikkor Z 35mm f1.8 S and the standard prime Nikkor Z 50mm f1.8 S. Nikon has also announced the Mount Adapter FTZ for Z System compatibility with existing Nikkor F mount lenses and development of the Nikkor Z 58mm f0.95 S Noct lens1.
Nikkor Z lenses pursue a new dimension in optical performance, by taking advantage of the superior design flexibility made possible by the combination of the larger Z mount with its inner diameter of 55mm and a short flange focal distance of 16mm. The lenses offer sharp resolution with both still-image and video recording and are equipped with functions that include: compensation for focus breathing (the shifting of the angle of view when focus is adjusted), quiet operation, smooth exposure control, a control ring and performance that is well suited for video capture.
The Nikkor Z 24-70mm f4 S, Nikkor Z 35mm f1.8 S and Nikkor Z 50mm f1.8 S are S-Line interchangeable lenses. The S-Line is a newly designated grade of Nikkor Z lenses that adhere to a new benchmark in optical performance, realizing rendering performance that surpasses that of conventional f4 standard zoom lenses and f1.8 wide-angle or standard prime lenses. From maximum aperture, clear and sharp resolution can be achieved as well as beautiful bokeh characteristics.
Additionally, the Mount Adapter FTZ has been designed to allow users of Nikon SLR cameras to utilize their existing Nikkor F mount lenses with the Z mount system and enjoy taking advantage of an even wider variety of lens characteristics with their photography.
Development of the Nikkor Z 58mm f0.95 S Noct
Nikon is currently developing the Nikkor Z 58mm f0.95 S Noct, a standard prime manual focus lens and the fastest lens in Nikon's history. The design of the Noct lens exemplifies Nikon's mission to pursue the ultimate optical performance in the mirrorless category. As the result, the Noct is positioned at the top of the S-Line. In addition, Nikon is planning on releasing a variety of new lenses that will continue to expand its line of attractive, high-performance Nikkor Z lenses that further extend photographers' creative expressions.
Nikkor Z 24-70mm f4 S Primary Features
- Standard focal-length range from wide-angle 24mm to medium-telephoto 70mm can effectively cover a wide variety of scenes and subjects with rendering performance that will change the perception of what is possible with zoom lenses with a maximum aperture of f4
- Optical design that suppresses variations in aberrations from shooting distances of close-up to infinity, demonstrating sharp resolution even in the peripheral areas of the frame from the maximum aperture, as well as fine point-image reproduction
- Achieved a minimum focus distance of just 0.3m across the zoom range
- Adoption of an ED glass element, an aspherical ED lens element and three aspherical lens elements
- Nano Crystal Coat adopted to suppress ghosting and flare
- Has the size needed to deliver an extremely high standard of optical performance, yet provides outstanding portability; employs a retracting mechanism that can be set on/off without pressing a button and reduces total length for a compact lens that can easily be taken anywhere
- In consideration to a dust- and drip-resistance, the entire lens, including moving parts, has been sealed
- Fluorine coat applied to front lens surface
Nikkor Z 35mm f1.8 S Primary Features
- Rendering performance that redefines perceptions of what a 35mm f1.8 lens can do
- Sharp resolution even in the peripheral areas of the frame from the maximum aperture, effective suppression of sagittal coma flare that enables superb point-image reproduction when capturing point light sources in night landscapes and the soft and natural bokeh characteristics expected of a fast (bright) lens
- Adoption of a new multi-focusing system featuring two AF drive units providing driving power at high speed and with high accuracy that achieves quiet, fast and accurate AF control, as well as high image-forming performance at any focus distance
- Adoption of two ED glass elements and three aspherical lens elements
- Nano Crystal Coat adopted to suppress ghosting and flare
- In consideration to a dust- and drip-resistance, the entire lens, including moving parts, has been sealed
Nikkor Z 50mm f1.8 S Primary Features
- Superior rendering ignites creativity and redefines perceptions of what a 50mm f1.8 lens can do
- Thorough suppression of axial chromatic aberration ensures superior resolution with faithful reproduction of the fine textures in subjects, even from maximum aperture
- Sharp and clear rendering of details from the center of the frame to the peripheral edges, regardless of the shooting distance
- The soft and beautiful bokeh characteristics at any shooting distance possible only with a fast (bright) lens
- Adoption of two ED glass and two aspherical lens elements
- Nano Crystal Coat adopted to suppress ghosting and flare
- Adoption of a new, powerful stepping motor enables quiet and accurate AF control during both still-image capture and video recording
- In consideration to a dust- and drip-resistance, the entire lens, including moving parts, has been sealed
Mount Adapter FTZ Primary Features
- Full compatibility with more than 90 lenses and functionality with approximately 360 existing Nikkor F lenses from AI type onwards2
- The unique characteristics of Nikkor F mount lenses can be applied to Z mount system image quality
- In-camera VR (Vibration Reduction) with three-axis VR is available when attaching a Nikkor F lens without built-in VR; in-camera VR also performs well with stills and video recording
- When attaching a Nikkor F lens with built-in VR, lens VR and in-camera VR effectively work together to compensate for camera shake by enabling three-axis VR.
- Various sections of the adapter are effectively sealed to ensure dust- and drip-resistant performance equivalent to that of Nikkor F lenses
- Designed to be lightweight yet tough with consideration for superior operability as a part of a complete system
Development of the New Nikkor Z 58mm f0.95 S Noct Lens that Pursues Ultimate Optical Performance
The Nikkor Z 58mm f0.95 S Noct that Nikon is currently developing will be a large aperture, standard 58mm prime focal-length, the fastest lens in Nikon's history3, manual-focus lens positioned at the very top of the S-Line. It will stand to symbolize the Nikon Z mount system's new dimension in optical performance.
It has inherited the design concept behind the original AI Noct-Nikkor 58mm f1.2, a standard prime lens released in 1977, named for "Nocturne" (a musical composition inspired by or evocative of the night) and was popular for its ability to finely reproduce point light sources as point images. This new Noct lens that is currently in development will take advantage of the advanced design flexibility afforded by the Z mount, pursuing ultimate optical performance. Development continues with the goals of achieving an extremely fast maximum aperture of f0.95, offering the ultimate in Nikkor rendering performance with superior detail and sharpness. Additionally, the goal is to achieve beautiful blur characteristics or bokeh, with good continuity and ensure outstanding point-image reproduction capabilities for more compelling, three- dimensional imaging.
The Nikkor Z Lens Roadmap
Information in the roadmap (see story above), including release dates, are subject to change. Product names after the Nikkor Z 58mm f0.95 S Noct are not yet finalized.
Price and Availability
The Nikkor Z 24-70mm f4 S and Nikkor Z 35mm f1.8 S will be available Sept. 27 for the suggested retail prices of $999.95 and $849.95, respectively. The Nikkor Z 50mm f1.8 S lens will be available in late October for the SRP of $599.95. The Mount Adapter FTZ will be available Sept. 27 for $249.95 SRP (Additional $100 savings when purchased together with a Z 7 or Z 6, through 12/31/2018). For more information on these and other Nikon products, visit http://www.nikonusa.com.