Nikkor Z 85mm f/1.2 and 26mm f/2.8

[Erik Lund]

Great news from Nikon if you like shallow depth of field or pancakes 
NIKON IS DEVELOPING THE NIKKOR Z 85MM F/1.2 S, A FAST MID-TELEPHOTO PRIME LENS, AND THE NIKKOR Z 26MM F/2.8, A SLIM WIDE-ANGLE PRIME LENS FOR THE NIKON Z MOUNT SYSTEM  LAS VEGAS-CES – Booth #17914 (January 4th 2023) – Nikon Inc. is pleased to announce the development of the NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S, a fast mid-telephoto prime lens, and the NIKKOR Z 26mm f/2.8, a slim wide-angle prime lens, for full-frame (FX-format) Nikon Z series mirrorless cameras.The NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S is part of the S-Line¹ NIKKOR Z lens series, and realizes both superior rendering performance and large, beautiful bokeh. It expands possibilities for users capturing portraits in areas such as weddings and fashion. The NIKKOR Z 26mm f/2.8 achieves outstanding slimness and lightness, as well as high rendering performance, making it an ideal lens for advanced amateur photographers who take their camera everywhere so as not to miss a moment.
The NIKKOR Z 26mm f/2.8 achieves outstanding slimness and lightness, as well as high rendering performance, making it an ideal lens for advanced amateur photographers who take their camera everywhere so as not to miss a moment.
Nikon will continue to pursue a new dimension in optical performance while meeting users’ needs, contributing to the development of imaging culture, with the hope of expanding possibilities for imaging expression.
These lenses will be displayed at Nikon’s booth (Central Hall #17914) at the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas from January 5-8, 2023.

Read more: https://nikonrumors.com/2023/01/04/nikon-announces-the-development-of-the-nikkor-z-85mm-f-1-2-s-and-nikkor-z-26mm-f-2-8-lenses.aspx/#ixzz7skCcWSLR

[Fons Baerken]

From fredmiranda.com

Ricci talks:

'For those who considering between f1.8S or f1.2S.

The background is much more pleasant at f1.8 on the f1.2S vs the f1.8S.
And I've been shooting with the f1.8S and thought the background rendering is quite good already.
I wonder how this will compare with 200f2 VRII in terms of background rendering which I use as a reference standard'.




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7BfACEScHw&t=2s

[Roland Vink]

The background is much more pleasant at f1.8 on the f1.2S vs the f1.8S.

I assume you are talking about the 50mm lenses here, unless you had a chance to try a pre-production 85/1.2

Most lenses have cats-eye bokeh at full aperture which largely goes away when stopping down one or two stops, so at f1.8, the 50/1.8 would have cats-eye bokeh towards the corners of the frame, while the 50/1.2 at the same aperture would have rounder bokeh. Is that why it has better bokeh at f1.8?

[Hugh_3170]

Thom's take on the 26mm Z lens is here:  https://www.zsystemuser.com/z-mount-lenses/nikkor-lenses/currently-available-nikkors/nikkor-z-26mm-f28.html

I wonder if he is one of Nikon's selected photographers that have have the pleasure of testing early pre-production samples?

The 26mm lens has a claimed metal lens mount (unlike the polycarbonate mounts of the 40mm and 28mm Z lenses) and a somewhat stiff initial price tag of $US500 (plus local taxes).

[Fons Baerken]

I assume you are talking about the 50mm lenses here, unless you had a chance to try a pre-production 85/1.2

Most lenses have cats-eye bokeh at full aperture which largely goes away when stopping down one or two stops, so at f1.8, the 50/1.8 would have cats-eye bokeh towards the corners of the frame, while the 50/1.2 at the same aperture would have rounder bokeh. Is that why it has better bokeh at f1.8?

Roland this entry comes from fredmiranda, should have mentioned it.

[Erik Lund]

I assume you are talking about the 50mm lenses here, unless you had a chance to try a pre-production 85/1.2

Most lenses have cats-eye bokeh at full aperture which largely goes away when stopping down one or two stops, so at f1.8, the 50/1.8 would have cats-eye bokeh towards the corners of the frame, while the 50/1.2 at the same aperture would have rounder bokeh. Is that why it has better bokeh at f1.8?

Fons is quoting Ricci from 'Ricci Talks'
Ricci has used pre production 85mm f/1.2

[Fons Baerken]

Thanks Eric

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgjKtzEx-7I

Matt Irwin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rauML-4u0PI

[Luc]

Hands on of 85mm f1.2 (and some comparisions with Canon 85mm f1.2) by Manny Ortiz https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kYH8SKV37g

[Luc]

Thom's take on the 26mm Z lens is here:  https://www.zsystemuser.com/z-mount-lenses/nikkor-lenses/currently-available-nikkors/nikkor-z-26mm-f28.html

I wonder if he is one of Nikon's selected photographers that have have the pleasure of testing early pre-production samples?

I guess his "verdict" is not based on first hand experience but just from interpreting the specs and MTF measurements.

[Frank Fremerey]

If the 1.2/85S is in the quality range of the 1.2/50S which is the best lens I ever had the privilege to own, I am really tempted.

[MEPER]

The 26/2.8 could be fun to get for my Z50 with DX sensor.
Looking at the MTF decent quality should be possible even at 2.8.
I already have the 40/2 but passed up on the 28/2.8 as I wanted to check what the 26/2.8 could offer.
Prices usually drops a bit after release and after most stores have the lens available?

[Erik Lund]

I guess his "verdict" is not based on first hand experience but just from interpreting the specs and MTF measurements.

Yes indeed, more of an observation

[Erik Lund]

The 26/2.8 could be fun to get for my Z50 with DX sensor.
Looking at the MTF decent quality should be possible even at 2.8.
I already have the 40/2 but passed up on the 28/2.8 as I wanted to check what the 26/2.8 could offer.
Prices usually drops a bit after release and after most stores have the lens available?

I also got the 40mm for my Z6 [IR] Very nice walk around lens and it's fabulous in infrared despite what I read online somwhere!
From what I heard in Ricci Talks video the image quality of the 26mm is better than the 28mm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVVArTHf6nQ

[Erik Lund]

If the 1.2/85S is in the quality range of the 1.2/50S which is the best lens I ever had the privilege to own, I am really tempted.

Comparison of pre-production lens between the 50 f/1.2 and the new 85 f/1.2 at Ricci Talks:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7BfACEScHw

[Ilkka Nissilä]

I also got the 40mm for my Z6 [IR] Very nice walk around lens and it's fabulous in infrared despite what I read online somwhere!
From what I heard in Ricci Talks video the image quality of the 26mm is better than the 28mm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVVArTHf6nQ

He does point out that the out-of-focus areas are nicer in the images from the 28mm. The MTFs show that the 26 is sharper in the center (DX area) whereas the 28 is sharper in the outer areas of the FX frame. The 28 has more silent focusing whereas the 26 produces audible sound when the autofocus is active.

I think the 26mm will be a very interesting lens to have for several purposes. One is to fit on a slim DX camera like the Zfc to make the whole really compact and slim. But it can also be used as a wide angle on FX cameras and one that is so small that one can lose it in a side pocket of the bag rather than have to have a full slot in a camera bag as is the case for most lenses.

Here is Nikon's annoucement:

https://www.nikon.com/news/2023/0207_lens_01.htm

The prices are quite high, in Finland stores are listing the pancake at 619€ and the 85mm f/1.2 is 3499€.