On the previous page of this review, I mentioned how the Nikon Z DX 12-28mm PZ is a sharp lens, but how does its sharpness compare to that of other lenses on the market today? I’ll add more lenses to this comparison as I test them (especially third-party ultra-wide alternatives), but this will at least give you some context for my positive impressions.
Nikon Z DX 12-28mm PZ vs Nikon Z DX 16-50mm
How does this ultra-wide zoom compare to Nikon’s standard DX kit lens, the Nikon Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR? Here’s how the two lenses look side-by-side at the overlapping focal lengths.
16-18mm:
The Nikon Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR is noticeably sharper in the center at 16mm, and the midframes are also somewhat ahead. However, the corners are meaningfully sharper on the Nikon Z DX 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ VR. This makes the 12-28mm a better choice for genres like landscape or architectural photography where the corners of the image are important.
24mm:
At 24mm, the story is a little different. The 16-50mm is still sharper in the center, although this time only by a hair. The midframes are actually a hair sharper on the 12-28mm, and the corners are effectively tied. I would rate the sharpness performance at 24mm as pretty interchangeable between these two lenses. And that’s not a bad thing at all for either of them – they’re both nice and strong here.
Nikon Z DX 12-28mm PZ vs Nikon Z DX 18-140mm f/3.5-6.3
Another popular kit lens for Nikon DX mirrorless cameras is the Nikon Z DX 18-140mm f/3.5-6.3 VR. It’s more of a superzoom (going from wide to a long telephoto), which usually carries an image quality penalty, although it’s sharper than most superzooms. Here’s how the 12-28mm compares to it.
18mm:
Both lenses put in a strong performance at 18mm. Their characteristics are impressively similar overall, as long as you make sure to compare the same aperture values against one another. (The 18-140mm has an additional entry in the charts above because its maximum aperture is f/3.5 at 18mm). This is about as similar as you’ll ever see two different lenses perform where sharpness is concerned.
24mm:
The similarities don’t quite continue at 24mm, although both lenses are still sharp. The 18-140mm has lost a little bit of its shine in the center and midframes, while the 12-28mm is still going strong in those areas. As for corner sharpness, the two lenses are extremely similar, probably within the margin of what a keen eye can discern. But if there is any minuscule advantage there, it would be for the 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ.
Nikon Z DX 12-28mm PZ vs Nikon Z DX 24mm f/1.7
Finally, I’ve compared the Nikon Z DX 12-28mm PZ against the only prime lens so far available for Nikon Z DX cameras, the Nikon Z DX 24mm f/1.7. Usually, prime lenses outperform zooms at a given focal length. How do the two compare in this case?
Again, make sure that you compare the same apertures against one another if you want an accurate comparison here. The Nikon Z DX 24mm f/1.7 is a much brighter lens, capable of reaching a maximum aperture of f/1.7 (although it sadly doesn’t have vibration reduction, canceling out some of the advantage for low-light photography.) In any case, where sharpness is concerned, the two lenses aren’t far apart from one another. Corner sharpness is basically interchangeable between them, while the center and midframes actually favor the Nikon Z DX 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ slightly. Very impressive for the zoom!
Conclusion
I think it’s fair to say that the Nikon Z DX 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ VR is the sharpest Z DX lens that Nikon makes at these focal lengths (as of mid-2024). It isn’t ahead of the other three by much, but that’s still a very nice accomplishment. You can safely get this lens if you want something sharp and wide!
The next page of this review sums up everything and explains the pros and cons of the Nikon Z DX 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ. So, click the menu below to go to “Verdict”:
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