Our Recommendation
The Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2 S is an excellent lens in almost every way. It’s sharp, yet also has beautiful bokeh. Vignetting is kept pretty reasonable. The lens’s build quality and handling are befit one of Nikon’s top-end lenses. Only the price, size, and weight of the lens can be considered significant drawbacks.
That said, Nikon has a lot of excellent portrait lenses in their arsenal. The main alternatives are the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.8 S and the Nikon Z 85mm f/1.2 S. There are also great DSLR portrait lenses you should consider (such as the Nikon 58mm f/1.4G) among many other alternatives. These lenses aren’t all directly comparable to one another, but each one has its strengths for portrait photographers. Before you shell out for a lens like the Z 50mm f/1.2 S, just make sure to research all the other options.
However, if you want a fast 50mm lens for the Z system, and you don’t mind the extra weight, you really can’t beat the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2 S. Here’s how I’d sum up the pros and cons.
Pros:
- Excellent optical performance in almost every regard, especially sharpness and vignetting
- Beautiful, soft bokeh for portrait photography
- Highly accurate autofocus with great low-light focusing capabilities
- Excellent build quality with tight tolerances and no external moving parts
- Advanced weather sealing that should survive anything other than a dunking
- Nikon’s high-end handling features like dual control rings, a function button, and an EL display
Cons:
- Relatively large and heavy design compared to similar lenses
- Expensive even when on sale
The Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2 S is an excellent lens – the lopsided pros/cons lists make that clear. That said, the two drawbacks – portability and price – are substantial. Spending $2100 on such a heavy 50mm lens is too much for many photographers to swallow.
Overall, I think that the less expensive Z 50mm f/1.8 S is a better choice for most photographers – certainly for genres like street photography where size and weight matter. It doesn’t really give up any image quality, while saving a lot of money and weight. The downside is, of course, that it lacks f/1.2.
I also think that dedicated portrait photographers should consider some different alternatives carefully, like adapting the F-mount 58mm f/1.4G or jumping up in focal length to the Nikon Z 85mm f/1.2 S. I’m not saying that these are better choices, but they all have different strengths and weaknesses. Given the sheer range of options available here, it’s worth taking some time to make your decision.
In short, the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2 S does most things flawlessly, but you’re spending and carrying a lot to get there. It will be the dream lens for some photographers even while it remains a niche, even overkill lens for many others.
Conclusion
The Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2 S is available for $2100 through any of our affiliates:
- Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2 S at B&H – Check Current Price and Sales
- Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2 S at Adorama
- Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2 S at Amazon
- Used: Check prices on KEH
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The next page of this review has more sample images, followed by reader comments on the final page. Use the Table of Contents below the star rating to jump to the section you want.
Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2 S
- Build Quality and Handling
- Size and Weight
- Sharpness Performance
- Other Image Quality
- Value
Photography Life Overall Rating
Table of Contents