But if you're in the market for a 50mm for the Z, the 50mm f/1.8 S delivers fantastic results at a price that is more midrange than high-end. It's not perfect; I would have liked to see Nikon include fluorine protection, and the control ring is currently something I'm not happy with in any Z lens.

Super sharp; Bright f/1.8 design; No visible distortion; Dust and splash protection

Sensitive control ring; No fluorine coating; Vignette at wide aperture

I purchased this lens for the Z7. Its resolving power exceeds my expectations and is at least on par with the Sigma Art series lenses. The size, while large compared to a DSLRs 1.8 equivalent lens, is perfectly matched to balance and be ergonomic with Nikon Z mirrorless cameras.

I enjoy this lens much better than I did my 50 1.8 G. The images are sharp edge to edge and the bokeh is wonderful. These S lenses are quite good. I use the 50 1.8 at my Church quite frequently and on the Z6 it handles the low light as well as the stage lights around the baptistry and the photos are...

Of course you can still complain about the price while remembering fondly the times when 1.8/50 Nikon models could be purchased for less than $150. Still these were, both optically and mechanically, much simpler constructions which offered also lower image quality and poorer standard equipment.

solid; mostly metal; weather sealed barrel,; sensational image quality in the frame centre,; very good image quality on the edge of the APS-C/DX sensor,; acceptable image quality on the ege of full frame,; moderate longitudinal chromatic aberration,; negligible lateral chromatic aberration,; low...

distinct vignetting on full frame.

The Nikon Z 50mm f/1.8 S is something of a no-brainer if you don't have a 50mm lens for your new Nikon Z6/Z7 camera, and well worth considering even if you do already have a 50mm DSLR lens.

The Nikon Z 50mm F1.8 S is a powerful standard lens for the Z system, offering outstanding sharpness and full-aperture performance. There are better 50mm lenses on the market for portraiture, but none that are sharper or so well-corrected for coma and longitudinal chromatic aberration when shot wide...

Low light photography; where edge-to-edge sharpness at wide apertures is hugely beneficial.

Portraiture; where the slightly harsh bokeh can be distracting in some situations.

The Nikon Z 50mm f1.8S is a very good standard prime lens for owners of Z-series mirrorless bodies: its optical performance is right up there with the much heavier and more expensive Zeiss 55mm f1.4 Otus including longitudinal color aberrations - which is no small feat.

Very good resolution and contrast; Very little longitudinal CA; Good resistance against flare, glare, and ghosting; Good Bokeh; Minimal distortions (through lens profile); Extensive weather sealing plus fluorine coating against moist and dust; Fast and reliable AF operation.

Relatively long lens; Flimsy lens pouch.

Nikon has been cranking out one gem after another with the Z-series lenses. Aside from the somewhat polarizing 14-30mm f/4, which we still praised at Photography Life (and bought for our personal travel photography use), each one has really knocked it out of the park.

Nikon’s new Z-mount has paved the way for lenses that set new benchmarks for optical quality. In focal length terms the Z 50mm f/1.8 S prime may be ‘standard’, however in every other respect this lens is anything but.

Incredibly sharp; Achieves beautiful bokeh

Heavier than its F-mount counterpart

Nikon Super Integrated Coating is Nikon's term for its multilayer coating of the optical elements in NIKKOR lenses.