Nikon Z 85mm f1.2 S
Nikon have launched two prime lenses at impressive extremes building on over 100 years of lensmaking expertise. The large aperture Nikkor Z 85mm f/1.2 S-Line lens ideal for portraiture and is a landmark lens in the wide aperture S-Line lens line-up. It is a large lens, the f1.2 aperture demands large optical elements, weighing in at over a kilogram. At the other extreme Nikon release the Nikkor Z 26mm f2.8 pancake lens, only 23.5mm long and 125g this wide-angle lens could live on your camera in place of a body cap and offer an unobtrusive lighweight lens for carrying every day.
Nikkor Z 85mm f/1.2 S | our price: £2,999
Nikkor Z 26mm f/2.8 | our price: £529
These lenses are coming very soon, first shipments expected in March, to pre-order just contact our sales team on sales@fixationuk.com or call us on 0207 582 3294.
NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S
With this lens Nikon promise two important features for portrait photography; incredibly precise autofocus and exquisite bokeh. The greatest challenge in lensmaking is making a wide aperture lens that maintains sharpness, clarity and focus accuracy when shooting wide open. This 85mm lens, the portrait photography go-to focal length, is optimised for the remarkable light-gathering capability of the Z mount and will deliver incredible brightness and detail.
Skin tones and fine details in clothing or make up are rendered accurately by the spectacular resolving power of this professional portrait lens which.enables you to achieve sharp and clear results when shooting with dramatic back-lit situations. Ghosting, reflections, and flare are all thoroughly countered even when shooting straight into harsh light sources. The lens’ ultra-shallow depth of field and creamy bokeh, images take on an almost three-dimensional quality. The bokeh itself is nothing short of sublime: perfectly round, smoothly graded, and with no discernible fringing even around point light sources.
The narrow depth of field adds a three dimensional quality to the image separating your subject cleanly from the foreground and background. With this lens you benefit from the greatest advantage of mirrorless systems: precise autofocus reading directly from the image sensor delivers greater focus accuracy. Nikon have used their most precise focus motor technology with the 85mm to make subtle focusing element movements possible to deliver greater focus accuracy.
In addition, the solid body is extensively sealed to ensure that photographers can work without worrying about the lens even in dusty locations or changeable weather, As well as a focus ring the lens features a customisable control ring and function button keeping important settings at your fingertips.
Key Features of the Nikkor Z 85mm f/1.2 S
- Focal length 85mm
- Aperture range f/1.2 – f/16
- Filter thread 82mm
- Weight: 1160g
- VR system: No
NIKKOR Z 26mm f/2.8
The pankake lens is the EDC of the optics world. An every day lens that is light enough to have with you on any occasion, taking the weight of your lens out of the equation when choosing what kit to pack. This lens combines a wide-angle field of view with a very close minimum focusing distance of 20cm to capture subjects near as well as taking in sweeping vistas.
Despite its diminutive size, this lens is built for the most hardy Nikon Z camera body. It has a reassuringly solid build with a metal lens mount and sealing on the lens barrel and all moving parts to protect from dust and water droplets. The lens is so small it is incredibly discreet, a great option for street photography and fly on the wall documantary where a larger lens could distract or draw the attention of your subject. It is small, really small, but the maximum aperture is still f/2.8 bright enough to keep your shutter speed high and eliminate shake.
Video users will enjoy minmal focus breathing when pulling focus and a wide field of view for scene setting GVs and interviews that place the subject in their environment.
Key Features of the Nikkor Z 26mm f/2.8
- Focal length 26mm
- Aperture range f/2.8 – f/16
- Filter thread 52mm via HB-111 hood (supplied with lens)
- Weight: 125g
- VR system: No
Our view:
Wide aperture lenses often presented a focus challenge for DSLR systems which has been removed for mirrorless cameras so we are expecting to see this lens lock on with striking accuracy with the Nikon Z 7II and Z9 camera bodies. The last top range of Nikon fast aperture f-mount lenses for DSLR cameras were a set of f/1.4 optics while Canon notably had an f1.2 version of their L series 50mm and 85mm optics. The Nikkor range now features the 56mm f/0.95 and this new 85mm f/1.2 fantastic tools for professional portrait photograpers using the Nikon system.
It is hard not to describe the 26mm in contrast to the 85mm one is big the other is small, one is heavy the other light, one is expensive and the other is relatively affordable. That’s not to say one has the advantage over the other the 26mm is a very desireable lens with a versatile application, the 85mm is a highly specified tool for a certain purpose, hence our description of the 26mm as an every day carry lens. There is great value in a lens you can have with you every day and the 26mm is a fantastic option.
We can’t wait to get our hands on these lenses which should be available from March 2023.
To place an order just contact our sales team on sales@fixationuk.com or call us on 0207 582 3294.
