Photography News 92 Newsletter

First test

PRICE: £649

NIKON.CO.UK

Nikon’s Z system has gone from zero macro lenses to two in the blink of an eye. Last month, we checked out the 105mm – but now it’s the turn of the 50mm Nikon ZMC 50mm f/2.8

TEST PICTURES Pictures were taken using a Nikon Z 7. Test chart shots were shot with the camera mounted on a Leofoto LS-324C tripod with an Arca-Swiss ball head. Raws were processed through Adobe Lightroom.

F/2.8

F/2.8

F/4

F/5.6

F/4

F/5.6

F/8

F/11

F/8

F/11

F/16

F/22

F/16

F/22

MACRO LENSES COME in a wide range of focal lengths, so you pick the one that best suits your photography. The Nikon Z MC 50mm f/2.8 is a great standard focal length on a full-frame camera, while putting it on an APS-C format camera – like the Nikon Z fc – gives an equivalent of 75mm. I tried it on APS-C format Z fc and full-frame Z 7 bodies, and the lens weighs just 260g, balanced nicely on both cameras. There’s no in-lens image stabiliser, which helps keep bulk down, but there’s a handy focus barrel that can be set using the camera menu to adjust

other functions, such as ISO and exposure compensation. The lens barrel extends slightly as you move in close to the subject, adding another 2cm to the lens front. Also, as you get closer and the barrel extends, a simple magnification scale from 1:2 to 1:1 is revealed. If you are at 1:1, the focal plane is 16cm from the subject, so in use this means the lens front is about 6cm away – so watch out for shadows. Finally, on the lens’ physical attributes, the filter thread is 46mm – which has the benefit of being cheap to run. The lens does not have the S designation of other Z lenses, which tells you it’s not in Nikon’s premier league. But it’s still a fine optical performer. It delivered impressive sharpness levels across TAKE CONTROL A switch chooses between manual focus and AF, but you get full-time manual override as default, so fine-tuning focus – even in AF mode – is simple. The focus ring can also be set to adjust aperture, ISO or exposure compensation

the image frame – even at f/2.8. Although there was evidence of vignetting, which went by the time the lens was stopped down to f/4.5. Image quality picked up from this already high level, with stopping down reaching a peak at f/8 and

f/11, before diffraction had an impact at f/16 and f/22 – softening the image slightly. Overall, I thought this lens acquitted itself well, both optically and in use. It proved a fine partner for the two bodies I used it on. WC

SPECS ›  Price £649 ›  In the box Lens cap, back cap, lens hood, lens case ›  Format 35mm full-frame ›  Compatibility Nikon Z ›  Filter 46mm ›  Construction Ten elements in seven groups ›  Special lens elements One aspherical, one ED ›  Coatings Fluorine coat on front element ›  Aperture range F/2.8-22 at infinity, f/5.6-32 at 16cm ›  Diaphragm Nine blades ›  Magnification 1x ›  Autofocus Yes, front focusing system ›  Minimum focus 16cm ›  Focus limit switch Two settings, 16cm to infinity, 16-30cm ›  Weather-sealed No ›  Image stabiliser No ›  Dimensions (dxl) 74.5x66mm ›  Weight 260g ›  Contact nikon.co.uk

“IT DELIVERED IMPRESSIVE SHARPNESS LEVELS ACROSSTHE IMAGE FRAME”

Verdict The Nikon Z MC 50mm f/2.8 is handy. It’s perfect as a walkaround lens and getting in very close can be helpful – its macro skills are nifty. But it might not be ideal for every macro situation. PROS Compact, lightweight, great all-round focal length, accurate and silent AF, lens control ring and macro scale CONS Shoot at minimum focus and you’re very close to the subject

52 Photography News | Issue 92

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