Nikon Z DX 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 Announced! Thoughts?

This announcement screams out that a good APS-C camera is coming soon.  12-28mm covers the wide end nicely and pairs with the existing 24-70, 24-120, and possibly a future kit lens covering 18-70 or 18-105.  The series of DX cameras and lenses released have noticeably lacked a wide zoom.

My only minor disappointment is it's a bit slow for astrophotography at just f/3.5 at the wide end.  That's certainly adequate, but f/2.8 at the wide end would have been nice.  Of course, the tradeoff is size - and this one is going to be relatively compact.

If I was looking to upgrade a DX Z kit, I'd probably put in an order for this lens to cover the wide end.  It's a compact lens at a good price.

This may also work for someone shooting an FX camera but wanting a DX option for occasional use at the wide end.  At $360 it's an alternative to the $1000 14-30 and materially wider than the 24-xx mm alternatives.

By the way - it's one more way to cover the 26-28mm range.  What's that - 5 lenses covering 26-28mm?

@ericbowles I think it makes sense, and at $360 it's an easy lens to justify. I hope you're right that Nikon is about to release another DX camera. A mirrorless D500 equivalent and a handful of higher-end DX lenses would make it a really competitive system. But I'm not sure they're seeing DX as a professional system, which is a shame.

@spencer 

Yes - it will be interesting.

They certainly see video as being important.  But I also think that they have a clear plan as to when they will release higher end DX cameras, and that plan was probably in place 3-4 years ago with a sequence of events leading up to it.  Given all the FX lenses already in place, a sub-Z9 for FX seems an easy answer.  The DX alternative (Z version of a D500) is a matter of timing, but needs a full lens kit.  The one really good thing is the D300 and D500 were both fantastic cameras, so if Nikon releases something for that segment it should be in very high demand.

I'm really excited about this lens, and will be putting in a preorder with my local store tomorrow.

This is a great lens for a Z30 or Z50 for when people just want a camera to plink away quick pix without pulling out the whole shebang.

I keep inside a nikon SS-910 case, a Z30+Smallrig L bracket, 16-50, 40/2, and an extra battery, and leave it in my car at all times. If I'm driving around and see something, I can pull over and shoot photos of whatever and largely not be limited by much of anything except super wide and super long. I also keep a tabletop tripod in there too so I can lock it down. Works great!

Posted by: @spencer

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A bit of a surprise that this lens was announced today! Here's my coverage of the announcement: https://photographylife.com/news/nikon-z-dx-12-28mm-f-3-5-5-6-pz-vr-announcement

I'm glad that Z DX users are (finally!) going to have a native ultra-wide lens. Anyone here planning to get a copy?

Agreed on the surprise Spencer. I assume that comes from the relative lack of attention to the APS-C market.

I thought of this lens as one catering to youtube content types as well as more serious videographers (the PZ is the main reason for my thinking). 

I'm very interested, which for me, is a surprise. I say that because I've always used  FX lenses on my DX DSLRs. But size and weight has become increasingly important to me as I grow older. So if a small lens produces usable images, I'm interested. The Z DX 12-28 f3.5-5.6 PZ VR fits that description (from Samples I've seen). It also fits my requirements for a wide angle video lens with a smooth power Zoom. However I wish they denoted focal lengths on the zoom ring. But it is what it is, and hopefully Nikon will FW upgrade a EVF/monitor graphic showing the focal length which is being done on the Z30, for my Z fc. I pre ordered it.   

Posted by: @spencer

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 I hope you're right that Nikon is about to release another DX camera. A mirrorless D500 equivalent and a handful of higher-end DX lenses would make it a really competitive system. But I'm not sure they're seeing DX as a professional system, which is a shame.

Personally, I think it doesn't make any sense for Nikon to release a dedicated high end DX only camera. The Z9 and Z7's are very capable camera's in DX mode. So a professional DX camera is already here with the Z9. 

I think Nikon will use their limited resources into more popular higher end cameras. But I could be wrong of course. 

By the way,, I own a Z50 and love that little camera. It is very capable and produces stunning images.  

Although the Z50 is not my main camera, I'm temped by this lens. It's small, lightweight and the pricing is right. I was lurking to the Viltrox 13mm but it is a bit too expensive. 

I'll order one of these once they are readily available, looks like a great option for general purpose video shooting.  For now it would get some use on my Z9 in DX mode, but in the future I'll pick up a lower-end DX body when new models arrive with an Expeed 7 processor or whatever Nikon might adopt for those models to replace the Expeed 6.

I couldn't agree more with the comment that a high-end DX body already exists in the Z9 and I have no doubt that when the Expeed 7 is migrated to the next round of FX bodies that there will be an option at a lower price and smaller form factor (smaller than Z9) to fill the D500 niche...perhaps two 45mp FX options...one with a stacked sensor (maybe Z8) and one with non-stacked at a lower price point (Z7III, if you will).

Cheers!

Very excited - been waiting since I saw this on the roadmap long ago; put in my order on Nikons website as soon as I saw it announced on this site.

This will make a perfect wide hiking lens to go with my Z30.