Nikon may have found its footing now, but their APS-C game is still, like many other companies, not up to the mark. However, that does not deter third-party manufacturers from creating lenses APS-C lenses. From Yougnu to 7Artisans, to Viltrox, to Meike, and many more, several companies are trying to cater to our needs. And now, adding to this list is AstrHori, who is releasing a new pancake lens for Nikon Z APS-C cameras.
All images are screenshots from Nikon Rumor’s website.
Who is it the Nikon lens For?
According to Nikon Rumors, the 27mm f2.8 autofocus lens has a metal body that lacks weather sealing. Weighing just 167g, it has a 0.3m minimum focusing distance and features eye and face focus recognition. The lens has been designed using six elements in five groups, six aperture blades, and a 55° field of view. The retail price is just $126, and it has a USB Type C upgrade interface that can be used to update the lens.
The lens is similar to the offering they have for the Fujifilm variant, which we reported about earlier. However, its makeup is also quite similar to the rumored 7Artisans lens, which will be the company’s first autofocus set. Besides the fact that it is pretty cheap and easy to carry around pancake lenses, there is no other standout feature.
We have reviewed AstrHori lenses before, and he found them to offer good image quality, albeit lacking weathering sealing. But we can look away from this caveat for a lens that is just $126. However, what is not acceptable is vignetting or the lack of EXIF in the past. For the new 27mm f2.8, the company promises that EXIF data will be recorded, which was not possible before as there was no contact on the mounts. There is also a de-clickable aperture ring, which can be useful for shooting video.
AstrHori notes that the lens is compatible with Z Fc, Z50, and Z30, but if anyone wants to pair this with a full-frame camera, they will have to use the APS-C mode. We believe photographers may use it for landscapes, travel, or street photography, but also for those who are hybrid shooters. The de-clickable aperture rings are used for videos, and with the rage for reels, many TikTok and Instagram content creators will find this beneficial. Plus, all of it under $200 sounds like a steal-worthy deal.
APS-C Cameras Are on the Rise, But The Lenses Are Not
We have said this previously and will say it again: while APS-C is not the focus for companies, it is still a crucial part of the industry. However, the only company that has been something right for this segment is perhaps Sony. Because they transitioned early, they had ample time to perfect mirrorless cameras. It has come to a point where it seems we have hit the peak. Similarly, they also have a large offering of lenses, making it easy for enthusiasts and content creators to choose from.
This brings us to the question of whether Nikon and Canon are still struggling to cater to the market. And they heavily rely on third-party manufacturers. As a result, there is too much competition from China, but the level of innovation has simply plummeted. There are some great offerings from Tamron, Laowa, Viltrox, and even SG-Image, but the lenses no longer have a soul or a character. Furthermore, I refuse to believe that users don’t want to spend because the fact that they are ready to switch from a smartphone to an APS-C is a good enough indicator that they are ready to invest. However, the investment is not taking the direction that we would imagine.
Since Chinese manufacturers like AstrHori know how to build good, working optics at lower prices, I believe they can bring some good and unusual lenses back into the system. The downfall, again, would be that everyone will make images with it as it is unique, and then, we fall into the cycle of being unhappy with the performance. Perhaps that’s why Chinese manufacturers are no longer trying.