Our Recommendation
Nikon has a winner on their hands with the Z 50mm f/1.8 S. Although it may be a bit heavier than the 50mm f/1.8 lenses of the past, it is still nice and portable, and the optical quality is extremely high – even matching (if not exceeding) the much more expensive Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2 S overall.
Optically, the only “flaw” is that the bokeh is a bit on the harsh side, which is not an uncommon tradeoff with lenses that are as sharp as this one. The good news is that the f/1.8 aperture is wide enough that you’ll still get nice, creamy background blur most of the time. It’s only when out-of-focus specular highlights are small and bright that they can start to take on unwanted textures.
Otherwise, there is hardly anything to criticize about the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.8 S apart from the sparse handling. While I wish that Nikon had added a custom function button and an additional control ring – this is an S-Line lens after all – the reality is that it’s pretty easy to work around these missing features, and it probably helped Nikon keep the price of the lens a bit lower.
Speaking of price, the $630 MSRP is a good value, but you may want to wait until you find this lens on sale if you’re planning to buy it. Sales in the past took it as low as $500, although these days, the lowest price you’ll likely to see is about $530 instead. At this price, I consider the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.8 to be a no-brainer for almost anyone who wants a fast midrange prime in their bag.
That said, I should at least mention some of the leading alternatives to this lens. First, the Nikon Z 40mm f/2 is less expensive at $300 and much smaller, practically a pancake lens – although the image quality is not at the same level. Next is the Nikon Z 50mm f/2.8 Macro, which adds macro capabilities and takes up hardly any space, but whose f/2.8 maximum aperture won’t excite a lot of photographers. Finally, the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2 S is the holy grail for fans of the 50mm focal length – so long as you don’t mind the $2100 price and substantially heavier weight. (Not to mention that optical performance is just as good on the 50mm f/1.8 S, so you’re paying all that money specifically for f/1.2.)
Considering the alternatives, I rank the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.8 S as the best all-around option for most Nikon Z photographers who want a normal prime.
Pros
- Excellent build quality and weather sealing
- Fast and reliable autofocus
- Great distortion, vignetting, and chromatic aberration performance
- Amazingly sharp lens throughout the aperture range
- Good value for the money even at $630, and an excellent value when on sale in the $530 range
Cons
- Larger and heavier than most 50mm f/1.8 lenses (though still reasonably small)
- Sparse design with few external controls or customizability
- No vibration reduction – a potential frustration on Nikon Z cameras that don’t have IBIS
- Bokeh can take on some textures in out-of-focus specular highlights
Conclusion
If you shoot with the Nikon Z system and you want a 50mm lens, this is the most logical choice all-around. While there are alternatives if you need something even smaller, or if you’re willing to pay thousands of dollars more for an f/1.2 lens, you really can’t beat the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.8 S for its great balance of price and quality.
Reviewers often seek “some bad to balance the good” to avoid calling any lens perfect. But that just doesn’t apply here. If it fits the focal length and aperture you need, I recommend the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.8 S without reservation.
Otherwise?
You can also compare prices at the following pages, or buy used through our eBay affiliate:
- Nikon Z 50mm f/1.8 S at Adorama
- Nikon Z 50mm f/1.8 S at Amazon
- Used/International: Nikon Z 50mm f/1.8 S on eBay
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The next page of this review has some more sample photos from the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.8 S, 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/1.8 S
- Build Quality and Handling
- Size and Weight
- Sharpness Performance
- Other Image Quality
- Value
Photography Life Overall Rating
Table of Contents