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As photographers push the boundaries of visual storytelling, Nikon has once again stepped up with three NIKKOR Z f/2.8 zoom lenses that deliver on their legendary lens quality at an affordable price. With a rich history of groundbreaking optics, Nikon continues to be a pioneer for what’s possible behind the lens. This trio is a game-changer, delivering captivating still photographs and breathtaking videos. As we continue to champion visual storytellers and the companies who innovate for them, we discovered that Nikon has raised the bar with exceptional technology and versatility that opens up a world of creative possibilities for photographers. Let’s explore each of these lenses, focusing on their features, capabilities, and the creative opportunities they present to visual storytellers.
NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 Ultra Wide-Angle
Ultra-wide-angle lenses can make all the difference in travel, vlogging, landscape, architecture, street scenes, and interior photography, delivering expansive views and dramatic perspectives on everyday scenes. The NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 is designed to deliver outstanding performance, combining a wide field of view with a bright f/2.8 aperture. With its compact, lightweight body, this is truly a storyteller’s lens.
This lens, spanning from 17mm to 28mm, enables photographers to capture scenes with people, pets, and still life with remarkable detail and clarity. At 17mm, photographers can easily capture epic vistas, while 28mm remains a favorite among filmmakers and street photographers, capturing a wide but natural look. We were impressed by the fast autofocus when tracking the eyes or body of our subjects. The constant f/2.8 aperture provides consistent exposure and allows for creative control over depth of field and background, making it a versatile choice for still photography and videography.
Built to withstand the rigors of professional-level use, the 17-28mm features weather-sealed construction, protecting it from dust, moisture, and harsh environmental conditions. It’s a perfect carry-all-day travel lens. Whether you’re exploring the great outdoors or documenting architecture, this lens empowers photographers to push the boundaries of creativity and capture breathtaking images with ease.
NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8 Mid-Range
The Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8 is a versatile mid-range zoom lens designed for everyday photography, portraits, street scenes, and food. With its bright constant aperture of f/2.8 throughout the zoom range, this lens excels in low light and delivers excellent control over depth of field, allowing photographers to isolate subjects with beautiful bokeh. Combined with the f/2.8 aperture, a 9-blade rounded diaphragm design produces out-of-focus light as large, soft spheres, creating a dreamlike background.
Featuring a compact and lightweight design, the 28-75mm is ideal for photographers who need portability without compromising on optical performance. The lens construction includes specialized elements to minimize aberrations and distortions, ensuring sharpness across the frame. The compact size and versatile zoom range are ideal for video work, even with a gimbal. Another great feature for video is the lens’s fast autofocus, which uses a stepping motor that operates in near silence, preserving your audio integrity. We took the lens out at sunrise and took advantage of its quiet operation when photographing birds at first light.
Whether you’re capturing candid moments on the streets, stunning landscapes at first light, or intimate portraits, the 28-75mm provides flexibility from wide-angle to medium telephoto, empowering visual storytellers to unleash their creativity.
NIKKOR Z 70-180mm f/2.8 Telephoto
Telephoto zoom lenses are critical for capturing distant subjects with precision and clarity, making them the perfect tool for sports, wildlife, and portrait photography. The NIKKOR Z 70-180mm f/2.8 delivers a compact, lightweight solution for long-range shooting without compromising optical performance. This affordably priced lens will be a game changer for photographers who found previous f/2.8 telephoto lenses out of reach.
Spanning from 70mm to 180mm, this lens is perfect for capturing subjects from far away while maintaining a constant f/2.8 aperture for consistent exposure and beautiful background blur. Whether you’re tracking athletes on the field, photographing wildlife in their natural habitat, capturing expressive portraits, or looking for close-up details, the 70-180mm delivers exceptional sharpness, ensuring that every moment is captured with stunning clarity. We took advantage of the macro-style close focusing of the lens and captured tiny details in flowers at 180mm. You can get as close as 10.68 in. at 70mm, and 2.79 ft. when the lens is
zoomed to 180mm. The lens is sealed to prevent dust from entering and is tough against water droplets. The front element has a coating to resist dirt, fingerprints, and smudges so it’s a lens to get out and explore with. The 70-180mm is also equipped with a silent stepping motor for smooth and quiet autofocus, which is a bonus when you’re trying to be quiet while focusing on a sensitive subject for stills or video.
In conclusion, Nikon’s affordable trio of f/2.8 zoom lenses for Z-series cameras offers photographers a versatile toolkit to elevate their visual storytelling in ways that might have been out of reach before. The quality of these compact, bright, fast lenses, paired with their budget-friendly prices, will open up a world of opportunities for visual storytellers wanting to take their work to the next level. Nikon was not only considering affordability for purchasing these lenses but having the ability to share 67mm filters across all three is another budget-friendly reason to fill your bag with this trio. Among the array of lenses in Nikon’s Z-mount lineup, these three f/2.8 lenses stand out as a testament to Nikon’s commitment to providing high-quality optics at accessible price points.
