Melville, NY—The Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S and Nikkor Z MC 50mm f/2.8 are the latest additions to Nikon’s Nikkor Z lens line for Z series mirrorless cameras. The Nikkor Z MC 105mm and Nikkor Z MC 50mm are the first Nikkor Z lenses to feature a 1:1 reproduction ratio. As a result, photographers can get close to their subjects and fill the frame with edge-to-edge sharpness and details.
“As the first native micro Nikkor Z lenses, the Nikkor Z MC 105mm and Nikkor Z MC 50mm strengthen our expanding Z series lineup; they add yet another category of powerful optics,” said Jay Vannatter, executive vice president, Nikon Inc.
“Together, both lenses represent a new category for the Nikkor Z lineup; yet each have their own personalities and advantages that creators are bound to love.”
The new Nikkor Z lenses benefit from the Nikon Z mount; it features a large diameter and short flange focal distance engineered for superior optical performance and abundant light-gathering abilities.
The lenses suppress chromatic aberrations across the focusing range as well as eliminate color bleeding and fringing typical of macro lenses. Users can also take advantage of the focus peaking feature in the Z series cameras; it will enable them to acquire and maintain manual focus for macro shots with depth of field.
Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S
This premium S-line lens is a solution for a range of shooting styles. Delivering intense sharpness and bokeh, its 1:1 reproduction ratio resolves details missed by the human eye; moreover, it reproduces subjects at life size. With a mid-telephoto focal length and fast f/2.8 maximum aperture, the lens also provides the benefits of two lenses in one; it captures close-up details as well as portraits.
What’s more, its optical formula is specifically for macro photography. It features a larger rear aspherical element to reduce field curvature from infinity to close-up. In addition, a short 0.96-foot minimum focusing distance allows for sharp images with a heavily blurred background.
Furthermore, a multi-focus STM system affords smooth, silent, accurate focus due to a customized autofocus algorithm. It accounts for minute distance changes that alter the effective aperture. The lens also includes a limiter switch to reduce the working range to 1.6 feet, to acquire focus more quickly. Additionally, with near-silent AF performance, the lens is an option for recording videos without disturbing small creatures in the field.
Also beneficial, it achieves 4.52 stops of vibration reduction, making it easier to shoot handheld and capture tack-sharp images or videos. The lens also supports the in-body stabilization integrated into full-frame Z mirrorless cameras. Consequently, it will provide 5-axis VR.
Like other premium S-line lenses, the Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S employs NANO Crystal and ARNEO coatings to limit flare and ghosting, even with backlighting. Other useful features are a manual focus ring; a lens function shortcut button; a control ring; and a lens info panel with weather sealing.
Nikon will release the Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S in late June. It will have a suggested retail price of $999.95.
Nikkor Z MC 50mm f/2.8
This small, lightweight micro lens is a tool for spontaneous street snapshots and capturing small details. With a weight of just 9.2 ounces, it is portable enough to carry around for all-day shooting.
Moreover, it boasts a 1:1 reproduction ratio. And with a natural 50mm focal length, the Nikkor Z MC 50mm f/2.8 takes advantage of ambient light to deliver images with a wider field of view. This is ideal for photographing up-close scenes of food, flowers or everyday snapshots. Its 0.53-foot minimum focusing distance enables users to get closer to the action and amplify the separation between the subject, background and foreground.
In addition, its large f/2.8 aperture affords beautiful bokeh, fast shutter speeds as well as flexibility for shooting handheld. This is especially true when it pairs with full-frame Nikon Z series cameras with IBIS. What’s more, stepping motors and a focus limiter switch help deliver fast, reliable autofocus when shooting photos or videos in the field.
The Nikkor Z MC 50mm f/2.8 sports a modern design; intuitive controls include a lens barrel that integrates visual indicators for focus distance and reproduction ratio. The lens also features a focus limiter switch to limit the AF search range. Moreover, photographers can assign its control ring a variety of functions.
Furthermore, the lens has a fluorine-coated front element to resist dirt and smudges, as well as a dust and drip. Subsequently, it functions well as a travel lens. Notably, it is also compatible with the ES-2 film digitizing adapter set. Photographers can screw the set onto the front of the lens for digitizing 35mm film.
The Nikkor Z MC 50mm f/2.8 will also reach retail in late June 2021. It will have an SRP of $649.95.
Nikkor Z Compact Prime Lens Road Map
In related news, Nikon also announced that its Nikkor Z lineup will continue to expand with an evolving road map that includes a wide variety of lenses. Moreover, to address consumer requests for small, sharp, high-quality prime lenses, Nikon is developing the Nikkor Z 28mm f/2.8 and Nikkor Z 40mm f/2. These two compact and lightweight FX-format lenses are scheduled for release within 2021. 
The Nikkor Z 28mm f/2.8 will be a wide-angle prime lens for everyday snapshots and street photography.
The Nikkor Z 40mm f/2 will provide a natural field of view and dramatic bokeh. Both primes will act as companions for both full-frame and DX-format Z series cameras.
