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Home → Reviews → Cameras and Lenses

Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2 S Review

Is this Nikon's niftiest fifty? It depends how much you care about portability and cost!

By Spencer Cox 68 Comments
Last Updated On September 26, 2024

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Introduction

This review explains everything you need to know about the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2 S, a high-end prime lens with an extremely bright maximum aperture. Released in 2020, it was Nikon’s first ever full-frame f/1.2 lens with autofocus capabilities. Although largely geared toward portrait and wedding photographers, it also aims to be the pinnacle of Nikon’s lineup for anyone who loves the classic focal length of 50mm. That said, the size and weight of this lens (1090 grams / 2.40 pounds), as well as the $2100 price, mean that it is certainly not a lens for everyone.

Even though the Z 50mm f/1.2 S is Nikon’s first autofocus 50mm f/1.2, it is hardly their first f/1.2 optic around this focal length. The tradition began in 1965 with the Nikkor 55mm f/1.2, followed by the Noct-Nikkor 58mm f/1.2 in 1977 and the AI-Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 in 1981. Nikon took a break from f/1.2 lenses in the autofocus era but is back now with a vengeance!

Photographers typically choose such fast lenses when they need low-light performance or the shallowest possible depth of field. However, ultra-fast lenses don’t always have better image quality than their slower alternatives – often the opposite. For example, in the DSLR days, Nikon’s 50mm f/1.8G outperformed the 50mm f/1.4G in most respects (and now the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.8 S outperforms them both).

This led me to wonder if the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2 S would buck the trend. Does it only exist to gather as much light as possible? Or is it also a groundbreaking performer optically, as the hefty price and size would suggest? This review will answer those questions and more.

Nikon Z 50mm f1.2 S Product Photo
The Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2 S
Nikon-Z-50mm-f1.2-S-Review-Sample-Photo-10
NIKON Z f + NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.2 S @ 50mm, ISO 100, 1/800, f/1.2 © Nasim Mansurov
Nikon-Z-50mm-f1.2-S-Review-Sample-Photo-24
NIKON Z f + NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.2 S @ 50mm, ISO 100, 1/8000, f/1.2 © Nasim Mansurov
Nikon-Z-50mm-f1.2-S-Review-Sample-Photo-3
NIKON Z f + NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.2 S @ 50mm, ISO 100, 1/1250, f/4.0 © Nasim Mansurov

Build Quality

The Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2 S is a pretty heavy lens, and it’s huge for a 50mm prime. It’s meaningfully bigger and heavier than the Canon and Sony 50mm f/1.2 lenses. Here’s a list of the weights and lengths of these three mirrorless lenses:

  • Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2 S: 1090 g (2.40 lbs); 150 mm long (5.9 inches)
  • Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L: 950 g (2.09 lbs); 108 mm long (4.3 inches)
  • Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM: 778 g (1.72 lbs); 108 mm long (4.3 inches)

The good news is that the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2 S is built of high-quality materials. It feels reassuring in-hand and has tight tolerances. There are no external moving parts, and the weather sealing is extensive, including a fluorine-coated front element to repel dust and water. Although most of the barrel of the lens is made of plastic, that’s not out of the ordinary even for high-end lenses, and the quality of the plastic used here is high. This lens is designed for years of professional use and feels like it.

Nikon Z 50mm f1.2 S Product Photo on Camera for Size
The Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2 S dwarfing a Nikon Z6

Now let’s cover the handling features of the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2 S.

Handling

The Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2 S handles very smoothly. It follows the design philosophy of some of Nikon’s initial S-series lenses, notably featuring an EL display that can show distance and focusing information. (Nikon no longer builds a display into most of their high-end glass.)

Befitting a professional lens, the Z 50mm f/1.2 S includes a custom function button, an extra control ring, and an A-M switch. It also features a DISP button to control what information appears on the EL display. Apart from the large size of the lens, there is nothing to complain about where handling is concerned.

Nikon Z 50mm f1.2 S Product Photo Side View
Buttons and switches, Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2 S

Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2 S Specifications

  • Full Name: Nikon NIKKOR 50mm f/1.2 S
  • Mount Type: Nikon Z Mount
  • Focal Length: 50mm prime
  • Angle of View (FX): 47°
  • Maximum Aperture: f/1.2
  • Minimum Aperture: f/16
  • Aperture Blades: 9, rounded
  • Filter Size: 82mm
  • Lens Elements: 17
  • Lens Groups: 15
  • Special Elements: 3 aspherical, 2 ED glass
  • ARNEO Coating: Yes
  • Nano Crystal Coating: Yes
  • Fluorine Coated Front Element: Yes
  • Electronic Diaphragm: Yes
  • Vibration Reduction: No
  • Internal Focusing: Yes
  • Control Rings: Focus and custom
  • Function Button: One
  • Focus Motor: STM
  • Minimum Focus Distance: 45 cm (18 inches)
  • Maximum Magnification: 0.15× (1:6.7)
  • Mount Material: Metal
  • Weather/Dust Sealing: Yes
  • Dimensions (Length × Diameter): 150 x 90 mm (5.9 x 3.5 inches)
  • Weight: 1090 g (2.40 lbs)
  • MSRP: $2100
  • Lowest Sale Seen: $1900 (check current price)

Here is the construction of the lens, courtesy of Nikon:

Nikon Z 50mm f1.2 S Lens Construction Diagram

The next page of this review covers the optical characteristics of the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2 S, including focusing performance and sharpness tests in the lab. So, click the menu below to go to “Optical Performance”:

Table of Contents

  • Introduction & Build Quality
  • Optical Performance
  • Lens Comparisons
  • Verdict
  • More Image Samples
  • Reader Comments
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Filed Under: Cameras and Lenses Tagged With: Lens Reviews, Nikon, Nikon Lens, Nikon Mirrorless, Nikon Z

About Spencer Cox

I'm Spencer Cox, a landscape photographer based in Colorado. I started writing for Photography Life a decade ago, and now I run the website in collaboration with Nasim. I've used nearly every digital camera system under the sun, but for my personal work, I love the slow-paced nature of large format film. You can see more at my personal website and my not-exactly-active Instagram page.

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