Some photographers like 50mm lenses. Others, like me, are bigger fans of the 35mm field of view. And now, we’ve got the new Nikon 50mm f1.4 Z. This is an entry into the character lens lineup that the company offers. Now, Nikon has this lens along with a 50mm Macro, 50mm f1.8 S, and 50mm f1.2 S. The latter two are meant for clinical image quality applications which the macro is designed for an affordable audience. But this new Nikon 50mm f1.4 Z has charm that we don’t see with many other lenses. That’s because the Japanese manufacturers are so incredibly overly obsessed with clinical quality. So we see this lens as a celebration akin to when the Wright Brothers were called crazy for wanting to fly a plane. The Nikon 50mm f1.4 Z is a lens for dreamers. And even so, I think Nikon is holding back.
Table of Contents
Declaration of Journalistic Intent
The Phoblographer is one of the last standing dedicated photography publications that speaks to both art and tech in our articles. We put declarations up front in our reviews to adhere to journalistic standards that several publications abide by. These help you understand a lot more about what we do:
- At the time of publishing this review, Nikon is not an advertiser with the Phoblographer. This doesn’t affect our reviews.
- Note that this isn’t necessarily our final review of the camera. It will be updated, and it’s more of an in-progress review than anything. In fact, almost all our reviews are like this.
- Our initial findings are being published in early September 2024 with a pre-production lens unit.
- This review, and none of the reviews on the Phoblographer, are sponsored. That’s against FTC laws and we adhere to them just the same way that newspapers, magazines, and corporate publications do.
- Nikon loaned the product and accessories to the Phoblographer for review. The Phoblographer paid for our own transportation into Manhattan. Nikon bought us an iced tea, and we enjoyed lunch together at a ramen spot. There was no money exchange between Nikon and the Phoblographer for this to happen. Nikon and several other manufacturers trust the Phoblographer’s reviews, as they are incredibly blunt. And to be honest,
- Nikon knows that they cannot influence the site’s reviews. If we don’t like something or if we have issues with it, we’ll let folks know. We were the first publication to inform about the issue with the Leica M10R and how it renders the color orange.
- When the full review unit comes in, Nikon will ship the product to the Phoblographer and will also be paying for the return shipment. This is a standard practice in the world of reviewers.
- The Phoblographer’s standards for reviewing products have become much stricter. After having the world’s largest database of real-world lens reviews, we choose not to review anything we don’t find innovative or unique, and in many cases, products that lack weather resistance. We’ve also steered away from Micro Four Thirds and APS-C as they’re dying formats. This is a conclusion that even the other members of TIPA agree on. Unless something is very unique, we probably won’t touch it.
- At the time of publishing, the Nikon 50mm f1.4 Z is the only autofocusing option on the market for Nikon Z mount with weather resistance. We typically steer away from options that don’t have resistance or that lack innovations.
- In recent years, brands have withheld NDA information from us or stopped working with us because they feel they cannot control our coverage. These days, many brands will not give products to the press unless they get favorable coverage. In other situations, we’ve stopped working with several brands for ethical issues. Either way, we report as honestly and rawly as humanity allows.
- At the time of publishing, the Phoblographer is the only photography publication that is a member of Adobe’s Content Authenticity Initiative. We champion human-made art and are frank with our audience. We are also the only photography publication that labels when an image is edited or not.
More can be found on our Disclaimers page.
The Big Picture: Nikon 50mm f1.4 Z Review Conclusions
The Nikon 50mm f1.4 Z lens is another entry into Nikon’s character lenses. It feels just like the very good 35mm f1.4 Z, but slightly longer. So there’s totally an audience of photographers who will wear this lens on their camera like their favorite memory maker. If I’m being my honest self, I can’t really get into the 50mm f1.4 Z simply because I’m not a fan of the 50mm focal length. I like lenses to be just a bit longer or shorter. Just because I don’t like it doesn’t mean that you won’t like it, however. If you’re a fan of 50mm lenses, this might be the one to get over all the others.
We’re giving the Nikon 50mm f1.4 Z four out of five stars. Want one? Check them out on Amazon.
Pros
- Small
- Lightweight
- 62mm filter thread
- Pretty affordable at only a few hundred bucks
- Weather resistance
- Quick autofocus, even for street photography
- Character in the bokeh
Cons
- I wish it flared more or had a bit more of the haze filter effect built in.
- Nikon could’ve leaned more into the character
Who Should Buy the Nikon 50mm f1.4 Z?
The people who should buy the Nikon 50mm f1.4 Z is:
- Street photographers: The autofocus is pretty great for it, even when you’re using human detection
- Candid photographers: I mean, why not?
- Photojournalists: We’re all looking for a bit of character in our lives, right?
Gear Used
We tested the Nikon 50mm f1.4 Z with the Nikon Z6 III. Both are loaner units.
Innovations
What’s so unique about the Nikon 50mm f1.4 Z is the fact that it’s a 50mm lens specifically designed to have a bit more character in it. That’s all. Oh, and it does this while having autofocus.
Hardware
This lens isn’t quite as soigné as many others that we’ve seen. Nikon has a lineup of lenses designed to look retro, and we’re not sure why they didn’t do that for this one. But either way, the Nikon 50mm f1.4 Z is weather resistant and built well overall. However, it’s missing the mount lip that I’ve found goes over so many other Nikon lenses. Specifically, it trades that for a thin rubber gasket. And I’m really not joking — it reminds me of a person who says that they need to be thinner when they could instead stuff a cheeseburger in their face.
The lens is also characterized by the big giant rubber ring for focus control if you’re manually focusing. But if we’re being real here, it’s more about grip. There’s also the typical control ring on the back of the lens.
This lens is pretty small. In fact, it’s around the same size as Nikon’s 35mm f1.4 Z. It also boasts a 62mm filter thread.
Protect Your Camera Gear
For years, here at The Phoblographer we’ve done tests on cameras, lenses, bags, computers, lights, and more. And we know that your warranty doesn’t always cover the damage. Plus, accidents can happen on set.
As you can see in the photo above, the Nikon 35mm f1.4 Z can get wet in the rain. But did you know that damage from this isn’t covered by your warranty?
This is why we’ve created a Photography Care Program in partnership with Full-Frame Insurance. Now, photographers across the United States looking for extra security can get various protections to cover their craft. The Photography Care Program provides peace of mind; now you’ll know you can bounce back from a photoshoot gone awry, on-site or inside. We’re making it super easy to get it done, too! Better yet, there is coverage outside of the US and Canada when the photographer is traveling for short periods of time for business.
We’re able to do this through our partnership with Full-Frame Insurance, a company specializing in Small Business Insurance. Are you a Freelance Photographer? We’ll cover you. What about a freelance multi-media journalist? We’ve got you. The Photography Care Program will protect you.
Transform your focus from worry to creativity with the Photography Care Program. Whether it’s a light stand tumbling down, a telephoto lens shattering, or an unforeseen mishap, you don’t have to face the financial burden alone. Experience the freedom to capture stunning shots, knowing you’re protected. Whether you’re an amateur or a professional, secure your peace of mind – and protect your photography gear – with our affordable Photography Care Program today.
Focusing
We got to test the Nikon 50mm f1.4 Z at first while doing street photography in Midtown, Manhattan. And quite honestly, it worked out pretty well — especially when stopped down. If I were used to seeing the world in 50mm more, then I probably would’ve done an even better job. And I think that people who adore the 50mm focal length could indeed do so. However, my mind, is poised on shooting 28mm and 35mm.
In low light, the Nikon 50mm f1.4 Z also focused really well with the z6 III. I can imagine it would with the z8 or Z9. However, the one that makes me scratch my head is the Zf. Considering the character this lens has, I think it’s a perfect pairing to that camera.
Ease of Use
It’s a really simple lens to use. Mount it, focus, shoot, and enjoy the photos. There are no physical controls on the lens aside from the focusing ring and the control ring. You can disable the autofocus override easily too via the camera you’re using.
Image Quality
Before I go on, note that this is a pre-production lens that we’re testing as of early September 2024. Our review will be updated with a fuller analysis later on.
As it is, we think that this lens has character but suppresses it a bit too much. It feels like a lens battling imposter syndrome, and I can personally relate to this in many ways throughout my life.
Let’s Talk Art
This is the part of our reviews where we talk about artistic images that we do. Brands often try to create products based on lab tests, but we think that’s frivolous these days.
I shot the images above because of various reasons. I’ll start on the top left and move to the bottom right as I discuss them:
- I find it fascinating that both of them stopped and looked at something that I hadn’t even thought to look at. But they were both pretty confused. Combine that with how the light illuminates them and it’s a pretty beautiful photo.
- It’s nice to see what looks like brotherly love. My generation didn’t have enough of this.
- I’ve always found people who take tons of selfies to be fascinating. Sometimes I wonder what they do for their inner beauty.
- Couples fascinate me. They look like a couple that’s pretty new as their mannerisms aren’t really mimicking each other yet.
- The two look like mom and son. But why is her hand going in his pocket? And why is he just so casual about it?
- This is the most well-dressed man getting coffee I’ve ever seen. And more than one, too!
- I like people who blend into things around them.
- Couples, after a while, mimic each other. Their hats are a great example of this.
Extra Image Samples
The Phoblographer has been huge on transparency with our audience since day one. Nothing from this review is sponsored. Further, many folks will post reviews and show lots of editing in the photos. The problem then becomes that anyone and everyone can do the same thing. They’re not showing what the lens can do. So, we have a section in our Extra Image Samples area to show edited and unedited photos. From this, you can decide for yourself.
Unedited
Edited
