Most images were captured hand-held, but some were taken on a tripod.
Marc
June 2, 2021 4:47 am
Nikons Z 16-50 DX is being rougly based on the CX 1″ Nikkor 10-30 PD VR Lens, if you Gus compare the Lens Diagram, it’s quite similar, only that the mentioned PD is for CX format, whileas the 16-50 is of course for DX. And i must say, that was my 1st thought, when the Z50 came out with its 16-50 Kitlens.
I am shooting the 10-30 PD VR since it’s release on my old V1, and being happy with this setup. Might want to exchange it someday for the Z50/16-50 or Fujifilm E4/15-45 Combo someday…
Imo
May 15, 2021 6:25 pm
my bird in flight video taken with the Nikon z50 and the Nikkor Z DX 50-250: youtu.be/VNRWcEo8tzE
Bakari
September 17, 2020 11:41 am
Nasim,
I wanted to thank you for this review and really all the reviews that you’ve done over the years. Before I purchase any lens I check your site first to see if you’ve reviewed it and if so to get your take. I truly appreciate the fact that you ran this lens through Imatest. I’ve recently purchased the Z50 with this kit lens and while looking at my casual shots from over the weekend, to my eye I always preferred the images shot at 16mm and given your MTF results it’s clear why.
Thanks again and please keep up the amazing work!
Mike
July 29, 2020 10:35 am
I’m tempted to buy this lens for my Z7 to crate a very compact 20mp camera with a 24-75 equivalent lens. Did you test on an FX body?
I use this on a z7 when I want full AF and do not want to compose through the finder…at 16mm only…upstream of 16mm, the lens is too soft for my taste and color desaturates. But at 16mm, with in body software corrections, the images are fantastic, fast, easy. The cam automatically knows to go into aps-c mode when this lens is mounted…so you just pop it on and shoot. An incredible value for casual travel or street shooting. ps: I simply can’t believe Nikon has not released a pro quality (e.g. Leica or Zeiss competitive) full-frame auto-focus 24mm pancake for the Z line – the camera screams for it – a giant omission by Nikon.
That is also my hangup with this lens. Yes, I know the CX lenses also have plastic mounts, except the 70-300mm, which not coincidentally, was Made in Japan, while the others were from China. But at least my favorite CX lenses had metal outer barrels.
The review said “all plastic”. Surely that does not also include the optics?
George
July 5, 2020 9:19 am
Thank you for the review. As usual, it is balanced, thoughtful, aand accurate. I agree with your assessment of the lens. It works, and as you have said, it is surprisingly good for something so small and light.
I have the Z50 and the two kit lenses. I used to have a D7200, and I rarely miss it. I also have the Z6.
This camera is small and light, and takes great photos. I also use it as a webcam (using the Elgato). I’m happy with it.
Since this is a review of the lens, I won’t weigh in on what I think are the shortcomings of Nikon’s understanding of photographers and what they want and will buy.
Ron Sundar
July 1, 2020 9:37 am
Although the Fuji cameras are great with a good selection of lenses, I always had issues with their camera software cumbersome and not as good as Nikon. Maybe it’s just me.
Richard Gilsig
July 1, 2020 8:10 am
has anyone else noticed how similar in looks and design this DX lens is to the 77 gram Panasonic M4/3 12-32mm kit zoom ?
William Rounds
July 1, 2020 1:21 am
I notice that Ming Thein uses this lens on his Z7. Did you try that combo out as well? The ability to turn a high megapixel/high end camera into a very portable camera sounds intriguing.
William, like Joachim pointed out, you would be losing plenty of resolution by using this lens on a full-frame camera. On Z-series cameras, you cannot change framing from DX to FX when using DX lenses.
Yes, the Z7 turns into a 19.5 megapixel camera with the advantage of a pancake lens and pretty small overall size. A D7500 is 20MP, a D5 is 20 MP, but of course neither of them would be as small overall. Is 19.5MP somehow no longer useful? And with a simple lens change you’re back to 44MP camera? For the price of that lens this seems like an interesting possibility.
William, eventually you might wait for the rumored 24-50/4-6.3. Yes, superslow, but it might be a good or better pancake for FF than forcing an expensive Z 7 to go DX. Also, the FF’s lens build quality might include some kind of weather sealing, who knows.
When using this lens on a Z7, are the selectable aspect ratios (3:2, 5:4, 1:1) still available in DX mode or is one limited to 3:2? I shoot 1:1 & 5:4 primarily on my Z7 which is why I ask.
hi did u use tripod or handheld?
Most images were captured hand-held, but some were taken on a tripod.
Nikons Z 16-50 DX is being rougly based on the CX 1″ Nikkor 10-30 PD VR Lens, if you Gus compare the Lens Diagram, it’s quite similar, only that the mentioned PD is for CX format, whileas the 16-50 is of course for DX. And i must say, that was my 1st thought, when the Z50 came out with its 16-50 Kitlens.
I am shooting the 10-30 PD VR since it’s release on my old V1, and being happy with this setup. Might want to exchange it someday for the Z50/16-50 or Fujifilm E4/15-45 Combo someday…
my bird in flight video taken with the Nikon z50 and the Nikkor Z DX 50-250: youtu.be/VNRWcEo8tzE
Nasim,
I wanted to thank you for this review and really all the reviews that you’ve done over the years. Before I purchase any lens I check your site first to see if you’ve reviewed it and if so to get your take. I truly appreciate the fact that you ran this lens through Imatest. I’ve recently purchased the Z50 with this kit lens and while looking at my casual shots from over the weekend, to my eye I always preferred the images shot at 16mm and given your MTF results it’s clear why.
Thanks again and please keep up the amazing work!
I’m tempted to buy this lens for my Z7 to crate a very compact 20mp camera with a 24-75 equivalent lens. Did you test on an FX body?
I use this on a z7 when I want full AF and do not want to compose through the finder…at 16mm only…upstream of 16mm, the lens is too soft for my taste and color desaturates. But at 16mm, with in body software corrections, the images are fantastic, fast, easy. The cam automatically knows to go into aps-c mode when this lens is mounted…so you just pop it on and shoot. An incredible value for casual travel or street shooting. ps: I simply can’t believe Nikon has not released a pro quality (e.g. Leica or Zeiss competitive) full-frame auto-focus 24mm pancake for the Z line – the camera screams for it – a giant omission by Nikon.
Plastic lens mount ruins everything
That is also my hangup with this lens. Yes, I know the CX lenses also have plastic mounts, except the 70-300mm, which not coincidentally, was Made in Japan, while the others were from China. But at least my favorite CX lenses had metal outer barrels.
The review said “all plastic”. Surely that does not also include the optics?
Thank you for the review. As usual, it is balanced, thoughtful, aand accurate. I agree with your assessment of the lens. It works, and as you have said, it is surprisingly good for something so small and light.
I have the Z50 and the two kit lenses. I used to have a D7200, and I rarely miss it. I also have the Z6.
This camera is small and light, and takes great photos. I also use it as a webcam (using the Elgato). I’m happy with it.
Since this is a review of the lens, I won’t weigh in on what I think are the shortcomings of Nikon’s understanding of photographers and what they want and will buy.
Although the Fuji cameras are great with a good selection of lenses, I always had issues with their camera software cumbersome and not as good as Nikon. Maybe it’s just me.
has anyone else noticed how similar in looks and design this DX lens is to the 77 gram Panasonic M4/3 12-32mm kit zoom ?
I notice that Ming Thein uses this lens on his Z7. Did you try that combo out as well? The ability to turn a high megapixel/high end camera into a very portable camera sounds intriguing.
You understand that the “high megapixel/high end camera” will turn into a DX body with slightly less MP than the Z 50 when this lens is attached?
William, like Joachim pointed out, you would be losing plenty of resolution by using this lens on a full-frame camera. On Z-series cameras, you cannot change framing from DX to FX when using DX lenses.
Yes, the Z7 turns into a 19.5 megapixel camera with the advantage of a pancake lens and pretty small overall size. A D7500 is 20MP, a D5 is 20 MP, but of course neither of them would be as small overall. Is 19.5MP somehow no longer useful? And with a simple lens change you’re back to 44MP camera? For the price of that lens this seems like an interesting possibility.
William, eventually you might wait for the rumored 24-50/4-6.3. Yes, superslow, but it might be a good or better pancake for FF than forcing an expensive Z 7 to go DX. Also, the FF’s lens build quality might include some kind of weather sealing, who knows.
When using this lens on a Z7, are the selectable aspect ratios (3:2, 5:4, 1:1) still available in DX mode or is one limited to 3:2? I shoot 1:1 & 5:4 primarily on my Z7 which is why I ask.
No.
Thanks.