Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 review: portraiture on a budget

Nikon has created an affordable image Z-mount lens for its mirrorless cameras specified arsenic nan Nikon Z6 III, pinch permissible compromises to support costs down, specified arsenic nary charismatic weather-sealing and decent alternatively than spectacular bokeh quality. It's successful nan aforesaid mold arsenic nan Nikon Z 35mm f/1.4 and should beryllium celebrated arsenic Nikon's cheapest f/1.4 Z-mount lens. And while it doesn't unrecorded up to nan capacity of nan f/1.2 pro lens, which is complete 4x nan cost, it is simply a decent action for enthusiast photographers desiring that accelerated f/1.4 aperture.

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Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4: two-minute review

The nifty-fifty lens is simply a staple successful galore a photographer's camera container – a typically compact lens for portraiture that offers bully power complete extent of section to make your subjects guidelines out. It's nan lens that I would urge to beginner photographers having grown retired of their kit lens and looking for a 2nd lens to elevate nan value of their photos – and if they person a Nikon camera I would urge nan caller Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.4.

Where mirrorless lenses tin often beryllium overmuch pricier than DSLR equivalents – nan classical 50mm f/1.8 lens for Canon and Nikon DSLR cameras is conscionable astir nan cheapest lens you tin bargain astatine astir $100 / £100 secondhand – Nikon is looking to subordinate this inclination by creating affordable options for mirrorless, and nan caller Z 50mm f/1.4 is its cheapest Z-mount f/1.4 lens truthful far.

This isn't Nikon's first 50mm lens for its mirrorless cameras. It follows nan optically-excellent Z 50mm f/1.8, which was 1 of Nikon's first lenses for its Z-mount, launched backmost successful 2018, while there's besides nan 50mm f/1.2 pro lens pinch 'S' moniker, and nan beastly 58mm f/0.95 Noctilux which costs a cool $9,000. However, nan caller Z 50mm f/1.4 is simply a stripped-back variation, pinch minimal outer controls, a lightweight build, and offering decent alternatively than spectacular image quality.

It's beautiful overmuch successful nan aforesaid mold arsenic nan Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.4 lens which I reviewed precocious – nan brace stock practically nan aforesaid size, weight, 62m select size and design. One connected manus I respect what Nikon is doing; wherever Canon launches nan pro-grade RF 35mm f/1.4 for mirrorless which costs astir $1,500 / £1,820 / AU$2,699, Nikon is launching a lens for enthusiast photographers for astir a 3rd of nan price.

The downside, however, is that optical quality, while very sharp, is decent alternatively than outstanding, particularly erstwhile it comes to bokeh. You're not getting buttery-smooth out-of-focus ray balls, but a somewhat 'fussy' bokeh instead. I pitted it against nan F-mount Nikon 50mm f/1.4G AF-S lens for DSLRs launched successful 2008 (you tin spot nan 2 lenses broadside by side, below) and nan older lens has smoother bokeh.

However, bokeh is much information successful style pinch nan caller Z-mount 50mm f/1.4, while its clarity wipes nan level pinch nan F-mount 50mm f/1.4 G erstwhile shooting astatine f/1.4, which is what I fishy galore photographers will beryllium doing. In-focus item is so overmuch sharper astatine f/1.4, and moreover tegument tones are much meticulous – location tin beryllium a flimsy yellow-ish hue pinch nan DSLR type of nan lens.

That superior capacity erstwhile shooting pinch nan aperture wide-open is what you tin expect pinch nan best Nikon mirrorless cameras and lenses, while autofocus is snappier and much reliable too.

My F-mount 50mm f/1.4G AF-S, which by nan measurement is almost nan aforesaid value arsenic nan Z 50mm f/1.4, has notoriously bad back-focusing issues erstwhile utilized pinch a DSLR – you deliberation nan attraction is connected nan eyes of your subject, only for it to beryllium connected nan ears. When you're shooting astatine f/1.4 pinch specified shallow extent of field, it's noticeable. This rumor is somewhat improved erstwhile nan lens is utilized connected a mirrorless camera via an adapter, but nan mirrorless lens still has nan edge.

With mirrorless cameras, specified arsenic nan Nikon Z6 III for which nan Z 50mm f/1.4 is simply a cleanable fit, you get nan latest subject-detection and eye-detection autofocus, which will nail crisp attraction connected nan eyes. And it's this capacity which makes a Nikon mirrorless camera pinch this caller 50mm lens an easy recommendation, moreover if nan icing connected nan barroom would beryllium somewhat amended bokeh.

Like nan 35mm f/1.4, I expect nan 50mm f/1.4 to beryllium popular, moreover if it's not 1 of Nikon's champion lenses. If you're upgrading from existing DSLR gear, of nan two, I would bargain nan 50mm lens earlier nan 35mm.

Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 specs

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4: Design

• Small and simple
• Decent pairing pinch Nikon's smallest mirrorless cameras for illustration nan Z6 III
• Quick and quiet autofocus
• Maximum 0.17x magnification ratio for mean close-up photography

The Z 50mm f/1.4 creation is beautiful overmuch a copy-and-paste of nan Z 35mm f/1.4, meaning it's a mini and elemental lens. The lenses are practically nan aforesaid successful size and weight, pinch nan Z 50mm a hair's breadth longer astatine 88.5mm successful length, and tipping nan scales astatine 14.9oz / 420g – that's conscionable 5g much than nan 35mm lens.

Nikon's balanced F-mount lens for DSLRs – nan 50mm f/1.4G – is smaller and lighter still, but truthful acold arsenic Nikon Z-mount lenses go, this is 1 of nan smaller ones.

I tested nan lens pinch a Nikon Z6 III and nan Nikon Z6 II, mid-sized cameras for which nan Z 50mm f/1.4 is perfectly balanced, being compact successful form. Unlike those cameras, however, nan Z 50mm f/1.4 isn't officially weather-sealed, and truthful it's astir apt champion to dainty it pinch care. Sure, nan occasional ray ablution is nary problem, but sand, dust, and dense downpours could yet beryllium nan lens' undoing.

There's not a azygous fastener aliases move connected nan lens, and arsenic personification who regularly switches betwixt manual and autofocus, I've missed having a nonstop power connected nan lens. I'd emotion to cognize Nikon's reasoning for omitting a MF / AF move – surely it can't beryllium a cost-saving exercise.

The only exterior controls are a generously-sized attraction ring, positive a customizable power ring. The second tin beryllium group to various functions, 1 of which is arsenic a click-less aperture ring, which is simply a peculiarly useful power for filmmaking.

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

The minimum attraction region is 1.22ft / 0.37m, which results successful a magnification ratio of 0.18x, which again is very akin to nan Z 35mm lens. In existent terms, you tin easy capable nan framework pinch close-up subjects for illustration flowers, but this is nary macro lens.

Autofocus is impressively speedy and quiet. Pair this lens pinch nan Z6 III, which boasts eye-detection autofocus and Nikon's champion subject-detection autofocus performance, and you person a powerful instrumentality for portraiture. Put simply, you tin trust connected this lens, mounted connected 1 of Nikon's latest mirrorless cameras, to deed crisp attraction wherever it matters most.

Autofocus is simply a refreshing and reliable acquisition erstwhile compared to shooting pinch my Nikon D800 and 50mm f/1.4 G AF-S lens, which I can't spot and; to beryllium blunt, utilizing it tin beryllium a small stressful, particularly successful unit moments specified arsenic a image sprout aliases a wedding. I'm truthful gladsome that I upgraded from DSLR to mirrorless years ago, and it's lenses for illustration nan caller Z 50mm f/1.4 that make nan acquisition truthful enjoyable.

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4: Performance

• Very crisp detail
• Handy wide aperture for shallow extent of section and low-light scenes
• Bokeh value is conscionable 'good'

Autofocus is speedy and reliable pinch 1 of Nikon's latest mirrorless cameras, for illustration nan Z6 III, which is an fantabulous instauration for portraiture photography. Knowing that you're getting crisp attraction connected nan eyes is 1 little point to interest about, helping you relax into image shoots. But what is optical value for illustration beyond meticulous focusing? Overall, it's conscionable decent alternatively than spectacular.

Detail is very sharp. If you're shooting pinch nan aperture group anyplace betwixt f/2 and f/8 you tin expect tack-sharp item crossed nan full framework for subjects wrong nan section of focus. Even astatine f/1.4 item is very sharp, and this lens wipes nan level pinch nan F-mount DSLR equivalent, nan 50mm f//1.4G, which is overmuch softer astatine f/1.4.

The optical construction, arsenic pinch astir 50mm lenses, is comparatively basic. There are 9 aperture blades for a rounded aperture, and bokeh is bully and information astatine f/1.4, particularly erstwhile compared to nan bokeh produced by nan F-mount 50mm f/1.4G, which is much cat's-eye successful style successful nan corners of nan frame. However, if you extremity down nan Z-mount lens to f/2.8 you'll spot nan much octagonal-like shaping.

Detail from nan Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 is crisp astatine f/1.4, and bokeh rounded. With lens corrections active, aberrations are controlled better. Stop nan aperture down and bokeh becomes little rounded(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

By comparison, nan Nikon 50mm f/1.4G AF-S lens for DSLRs is overmuch softer astatine f/1.4, while its bokeh is cats eye-shaped successful nan corners. Conversely to nan Z-mount lens, extremity down to f/2.8 and bokeh becomes much rounded.(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

The Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 lens astatine f/1.4(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

The 50mm f/1.4G AF-S lens for DSLRs astatine f/1.4(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

It's nan bokeh value that could beryllium a deal-breaker for master image photographers, for whom nan Z 50mm f/1.2 is nan amended choice, provided you tin spend it (it's almost 5 times nan costs of nan f/1.4 lens). For everyone else, bokeh value is fine.

If you look intimately astatine images pinch nan f/1.4 lens, nan edging of bokeh 'balls' is simply a small pronounced, alternatively than them having a bully soft fall-off. Thankfully there's small motion of aberrations successful those edges, which would different beryllium intolerable to hole astatine nan click of a button. Only successful nan astir utmost scenarios, for illustration backlit h2o droplets (see above), will you spot pronounced aberrations.

Vignetting – which is nan ray fall-off successful nan corners of images – is beautiful standard. At f/1.4 it's clear to see, while those darker corners importantly brighten astatine f/2, and nan effect is each but gone by f/4. Below you tin spot nan aforesaid image changeable astatine f/1.4, f/2, f/2.8, f/4 and f/5.6, truthful you tin comparison bokeh, aberrations, and vignetting.

Left: f/1.4 aperture and aberrations successful bokeh Right: f/5.6 fussy bokeh little rounded successful shape Note, each lens corrections are switched off(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

f/1.4(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

f/1.8(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

f/2(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

f/2.8(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

f/4(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

f/5.6(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Nikon Z 35mm f/1.4: sample images

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Should you bargain nan Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4?

Buy it if...

Don't bargain it if...

How I tested nan Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4

• Regular usage complete 1 month
• Paired pinch nan Nikon Z6 III and Nikon Z6 II
• Like-for-like tests pinch nan F-mount Nikon 50mm f/1.4 for DSLRs

Nikon loaned maine nan Z 50mm f/1.4 for a full month, and it was my superior lens during this period. I've taken it connected early greeting photograph walks, made portraits, and utilized it successful a wide scope of stills and video scenarios. It has tackled immoderate reliable tasks, specified arsenic shooting close-up photos of h2o droplets into nan light.

All in-camera lens corrections were turned off, and I took each photos successful earthy and JPEG format to comparison nan results un-corrected and nan processed results. As always, I took respective bid of an identical image, moving down nan aperture scope (in this lawsuit f/1.4, f/1.8, f/2, f/2.8, f/4 and f/5.6) to spot really sharpness and bokeh compares astatine nan various settings.

I besides dug retired my aged F-mount 50mm f/1.4 lens, which I've antecedently utilized pinch a Nikon D800 DSLR, and took like-for-like photos pinch it alongside nan Z 50mm f/1.4 connected nan Nikon Z6 III (via an adaptor for nan F-mount lens). The solution of nan full-frame cameras utilized for this trial was 24MP. I avoided utilizing nan camera successful dense rain, but felt comfortable utilizing it successful acold and moderately bedewed weather.

• First reviewed October 2024