Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2 S review

The Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2 S is a properly fast prime for Nikon Z cameras, and it's almost affordable, compared to the Noct!

Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2 S
(Image: © Future)

Digital Camera World Verdict

Nikon’s third standard prime for its Z-mount full-frame mirrorless cameras sits between the budget-friendly 50mm f/1.8 and the mighty (and mightily expensive) 58mm f/0.95 Noct. The Noct is frankly unaffordable for most of us and it’s a real heavyweight at 2kg. The 50mm f/1.2 weighs in at just over a kilogram and costs around a quarter of the price. If you feel the need for speed, and an f/1.8 standard prime just won’t cut it, the f/1.2 is the best option.

Pros

  • +

    Fast aperture rating

  • +

    Premium build and handling

  • +

    Mostly gorgeous image quality

Cons

  • -

    Much chunkier and pricier than the Z 50mm f/1.8

  • -

    Bokeh discs have a noticeable 9-sided shape when stopping down a little

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There are two reasons you might want a Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2 S - faster shutter speeds, and a tighter depth of field. For anything else, there’s no point lugging around a big, heavy chunk of glass that’s nearly three times the weight of the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.8 S, and costs four to five times the price, depending on where in the world you live. Make no mistake, Nikon’s f/1.8 lens might look pretty basic, but it delivers superb sharpness, negligible color fringing and distortion, and is a top performer in every way. So, the question is, how much do you really need an extra 1.33 stops of aperture width?

Specifications

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Matthew Richards

Matthew Richards is a photographer and journalist who has spent years using and reviewing all manner of photo gear. He is Digital Camera World's principal lens reviewer – and has tested more primes and zooms than most people have had hot dinners! 

His expertise with equipment doesn’t end there, though. He is also an encyclopedia  when it comes to all manner of cameras, camera holsters and bags, flashguns, tripods and heads, printers, papers and inks, and just about anything imaging-related. 

In an earlier life he was a broadcast engineer at the BBC, as well as a former editor of PC Guide.