Last Updated on 09/01/2018 by Mark Beckenbach
The new Nikon Z6 and Z7 look great, and they sound like they will pack a punch, however native Z mount lens options for early adopters will be slim. Fortunately Nikon announced the F to Z mount adapter which will enable you to adapt their current prime lens collection.
Late last week Nikon announced their long awaited new mirrorless camera bodies, the Z6 and the Z7. The new Nikon Z6 and Z7 both look great, and they sound like they will pack a punch, however the native Z mount lens options for early adopters will be slim. Fortunately Nikon announced the F to Z mount adapter which will enable you to adapt their current lens collection. There is no doubt that Nikon currently has some great, small primes that will pair with the smaller footprints of the Z6 and the Z7 really well, so here is a look at the best small Nikon prime lenses to adapt for the Z6 and Z7.
Nikon 20mm F1.8 G ED Prime Lens
The 20mm f1.8 G ED from Nikon is an exceptional example of a wide angle prime lens. While it certainly isn’t one of the cheapest primes you can buy, it is perhaps one of the best in the Nikon lineup. Wide angle lenses are always fun to use; whether you want to capture an entire room full of people, or want to capture a stunning vista, you know you will be covered with a wide angle lens. The 20mm F1.8 from Nikon is incredibly well built and image quality is wonderful.
In our review we said:
“My short time with the Nikon 20mm f1.8G ED was a delightful surprise. It’s one of those few fun lenses that make photographers go out and shoot even more just to see what other tricks they can pull with it. Despite having an ultra wide focal length, this is a very versatile lens that you can easily tote everywhere and use in almost any situation unless you want to zoom in on a subject yards away.”
The 20mm f1.8 G ED has 13 elements in 11 groups, and it has seven diaphragm blades which allows for a nice amount of bokeh, which is surprising in a such a wide angle lens. The lens focuses quickly and silently, and images are sharp from corner to corner. The lens is also nice and light; it weighs under one pound. The only downside to this outstanding prime is that it is not weather sealed. Given its small size, it will pair with the Z6 and Z7 very well indeed.
Buy it now for $796.95. Amazon
Nikon 20mm F1.8 G ED Prime Image Samples
Pro Tip: Keep the sensor in you new full frame camera nice and clean with this sensor cleaning kit.
Nikon 24mm F1.8 G Prime Lens
Another fantastic small prime lens in the Nikon line up is the 24mm f1.8 G. To start with, the 24mm f1.8 is very light. Also weighing in at just under one pound (0.78lbs), this lens on one of the new Z6 or Z7 bodies will balance really well, and will remind you of just how light these new cameras are compared to DSLR’s. This lens has 12 elements in nine groups, and seven rounded aperture blades, so like it’s slightly wider brother, the 24mm can produce some rather nice bokeh.
In our review we said:
“The Nikon 24mm f1.8 G is a lens that can give its owner very great image quality potential when combined with a good creative vision. It’s got pretty good bokeh, is sharp, offers great colors and is light weight. On top of this, it is fast and accurate in the focusing department.”
The 24mm f1.8 is a great lens for many different genres of photography including landscapes, environmental portraits, food photography, and architectural photography. The maximum aperture of f1.8 will ensure that you can use this lens in the darkest of conditions, and the image quality will blow you away. When you pair this lens with either the Z6, or the Z7 and their autofocus capabilities, you may never want to take this lens off. This should definitely be one prime you adapt until some new native Z mount lenses hit the streets.
Buy it now for $746.95. Amazon
Nikon 24mm F1.8 G Prime Image Samples
Pro Tip: Don’t forget to pre-order your Nikon F to Z lens adapter.
Nikon 35mm F1.8 G ED Prime Lens
The 35mm focal length is perhaps the closest to portraying what we see naturally with our own peepers, so it can be an incredibly useful focal length to have. The Nikon 35mm f1.8 G ED will be just about the perfect lens to pair with your new Z6 or Z7 if you are into street photography or any kind of event photography, thanks to its field of view and fast aperture. This lens comes with 11 elements in eight groups, and has seven rounded diaphragm blades. This means the images that are produced are sharp and have good color reproduction.
In our review we said:
“Wedding photographers, enthusiasts, and photojournalists will all be more than happy with the sharpness that this lens can deliver in the right situations. Granted, this lens is most targeted at the enthusiast, and we feel that as far as sharpness goes this is the best that you can get.”
The Nikon 35mm f1.8 G ED is a solid lens that will serve it’s owners well. The lens is designed well, built well, has fast autofocus motors, and can produce images that shouldn’t really be possible at this price point. The images are sharp from corner to corner with little distortion and little chromatic aberration. Overall this will be another great, small prime lens to adapt and use on your new Nikon mirrorless body.
Buy it now for $526.95. Amazon
Nikon 35mm F1.8 G ED Prime Image Samples
Nikon 50mm F1.8 G Prime Lens
This list, or any other list about primes would simply not be complete without the inclusion of the awesome ‘Nifty Fifty’. The Nikon 50mm f1.8 G is a fantastic lens at a fantastic price, and it should be paired with every camera, not just the new Nikon Z6 and Z7. Like the 35mm listed about, the 50mm produces a field of view which is not too dissimilar to what the human eye sees, so this focal length has been a favorite for many years. The Nikon 50mm f1.8 is super small, and very light weight at just 0.41lbs. With this on your new Z6 or Z7 you may well forget you even have a lens attached. Build quality is good, but not great, however at it’s low price point this can be overlooked.
In our review we said:
“The Nikon 50mm f1.8g is light but well built. It feels solid when held. The finish is similar to the Nikon 40mm f2.8 G. It has a plastic feel, but a tough plastic, while it’s mount is metal. The surface and texture feels like you can get a good grip, when needed.”
There is no doubt that this lens is for enthusiasts, and those who maybe want to explore what prime lenses are all about, however this lens can perform really well. Images with this lens are nice and sharp, color reproduction is great, focusing is nice and fast thanks to the silent wave motor, and the bokeh that can be created at f1.8 is creamy and smooth. It’s small footprint will pair with the new mirrorless bodies very well, and it will not put a massive strain on your wallet after just dropping a few thousand on a new camera. Everyone should have a nifty fifty in their camera bag, and this one will pair nicely with the Z6 and Z7.
Buy it now for $229. Amazon
Nikon 50mm F1.8 G Prime Image Samples
Pro Tip: Don’t miss out on owning the new Nikon Z6, pre-order yours today.
Nikon 85mm F1.8 G Prime Lens
The 85mm focal length is one that has been used and adored by many portrait photographers over the years, and while this lens may be a little older now, it’s still a prime that can deliver amazing results with little outlay. This 85mm is another great budget option for those of you looking to build up a prime collection for their new Z6 or Z7. This 85mm is lightweight, has a small footprint that will compliment the smaller mirrorless bodies well, and can produce images that are sharp and contrasty.
In our review we said:
“The Nikon 85mm f1.8 G is a modern update to an old lens, and Nikon indeed did a fantastic job with it. For the price, it is very sharp, fast focusing in most situations, silent, and built extremely well.”
While this 85mm is not weather sealed, it’s still built very well, as you would expect from a Nikkor lens. The maximum aperture of f1.8 lets in copious amounts of light, and together with the high ISO capabilities of the new Z6 and Z7 bodies, you will have no problems shooting in the darkest of conditions with this lens. Accurate color reproduction, fast focusing, delightful bokeh, and it’s light weight make this a perfect partner for your new mirrorless camera.
Buy it now for $476.95. Amazon
Nikon 85mm F1.8 G Prime Image Samples
Pro Tip: Looking forward to the new Nikon Z7? Don’t forget to pre-order your new Z7.
What small prime lenses will you adapt to use with the Z6 and Z7? Let us know in the comment section below.