The Nikkor Z 28mm f/2.8 SE will be sold as a kit lens with the APS-C format Nikon Z fc, but is actually a full frame Nikkor Z lens
(Image credit: Nikon)
The Nikkor Z 28mm f/2.8 Special Edition lens is a compact fixed focal length prime lens which matches the size and design of the new Nikon Z fc. With a maximum aperture of f/2.8, it sacrifices maximum aperture for compactness, and for travel or street photographers who want to travel light, that’s a compromise worth accepting.
In fact, Nikon is offering the Nikkor Z 28mm f/2.8 Special Edition as an alternative ‘kit’ lens with the Nikon Z fc, instead the regular Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR lens. The 16-50mm zoom will be more versatile for most users, but the 28mm f/2.8 will give users a taste of classic ‘prime lens’. photography.
On an APS-C camera like the Nikon Z fc, the 18mm focal length corresponds to a focal length of 42mm, which is close to what many might consider an ideal semi-wide ‘walkaround’ lens for everyday photography.
But eagle-eyed lens watchers may spot that there is no ‘DX’ in the name of this lens. It’s true – the Nikkor Z 28mm f/2.8 is actually a full frame lens that can be used equally on APS-C cameras like the Nikon Z fc and older Nikon Z50, but also on full frame cameras like the Nikon Z5, Z6 II or Z7 II if you decide to upgrade to a full frame camera later.
At launch, the Nikkor Z 28mm f/2.8 is being offered solely as an alternative kit lens for the Z fc, but we expect it to be made available separately for owners of full frame Nikons looking for a cheap and compact prime lens.
The Nikkor Z 28mm f/2.8 adds around $300/£300 to the price of the Z fc camera on its own, and costs approximately $100/£100 more than the Z fc/16-50mm kit, so it’s not a particularly expensive lens, as revealed by the use of a plastic lens mount rather than hard-wearing metal.
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We expect the Nikkor Z 28mm f/2.8 to be available at the same time as the Nikon Z fc itself, on July 28 2021.
Rod is an independent photography journalist and editor, and a long-standing Digital Camera World contributor, having previously worked as DCW's Group Reviews editor. Before that he has been technique editor on N-Photo, Head of Testing for the photography division and Camera Channel editor on TechRadar, as well as contributing to many other publications. He has been writing about photography technique, photo editing and digital cameras since they first appeared, and before that began his career writing about film photography. He has used and reviewed practically every interchangeable lens camera launched in the past 20 years, from entry-level DSLRs to medium format cameras, together with lenses, tripods, gimbals, light meters, camera bags and more. Rod has his own camera gear blog at fotovolo.com but also writes about photo-editing applications and techniques at lifeafterphotoshop.com
