Nikon Z 50mm 1.2 Shooting For The Sun + Why The F1.8-F1.2 Strategy Makes Sense | OP ED | Matt Irwin
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- Опубліковано 10 вер 2024
- #Nikon50mm12 #50mm12 #50mm18
Questions are being asked about the Nikon Z 50mm 1.2 S and my thoughts are forming. Continuing a discussion from 6 months ago, and now with the arrival of the 1.2, Nikons lens strategy comes even more into focus. 😉
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Hi all, these are very exciting times for Nikon and the 50mm 1.2 is a milestone for showing us what the Z mount can achieve.
I want to stress when looking at the 'purple fringing' that this is not a definitive test. This was very much a 'first look.' Also I would like to make clear that the level of suppression is high, but pending, what would seem to include, place in frame, exact location of sun, angle of object, whether in focus or not and more factors, the fringing can vary, from 'not there at all' to 'a little fringing', the least I have ever seen.
And trees of course are random objects blowing in the wind, so every frame differs. When I create my full 'Real-world Application Video Evaluation (RAVE)' I will try more examples with hard edged, manmade objects. And the mileage may differ from the limited test in this video. :)
This level of suppression is very impressive. More testing to be had until final conclusions.
So glad to see that Nikon is proving the skeptics wrong. I expect the critical voices to calm down in a year or so. I hope by then the futile attempt to discredit Nikon will have been a complete failure.
Thanks Matt, your enthusiasm is definitely contagious!
Cheers Viktor, I agree Nikon will have a very full Z line up in a year or so, with the top end bodies out. :)
I absolutely agree that the 1.8 lenses had to come out first. I would have never ever jumped to mirrorless if the only primes I could get were $2000. That spectacular 50 1.8s led me to shooting more and more, and also buying the spectacular 20 and 85
Also if 1.2 S was released before the 1.8 S, The Less Professional world or Amateur Photographer will be disappointed because they will need a lot of money just to buy a Standard 50mm. A lot of people will buy 1.8 S before 1.2 S or even 1.4 S. It's always better to start up low and improve on the way to the road than to start up high but end up losing your energy just because you start up too high.
100% AGREE
I did the exact same 👍
Almost every time I watch your channel my credit card suffers a massive impact.😄 But also every time it's totally worth it. The 50mm F 1.2 IS spectacular! Thanks for your work! 👍🏻
Yes the strategy from Nikon was absolutely wright to interduce the Z mount!
Wow, that's an amazing result. I've never seen such a pleasing image at 1.2. Thanks for the great video.
THis is an impressive lens, 'opening the batting' of what the Z mount has to offer, I think a significant corner has been turned. More to come. :)
@@MattIrwinPhotography Now if they can just release an equally good 100-400, they might just pull this off.
Fingers are crossed :)
@@MadEnglishTV I hope the 100-400mm isn't just an update of the 80-400mm G lens...
Just got my 50 1.2 and all I can say is WOW. I do really like my 1.8s ( 20, 35 and 85 ), but waited for this lens and totally worth the wait. Thank you Matt
I am so happy with the images that I'm getting using Nikon Z mount lenses. The Nikkor S f/1.2 lenses will be a joyful celebration of photography.
For sure Jack, this lens is bringing new levels, I am very keen to push it and find out what it can do. :)
Nikon is killing it. I’d take great optics at a reasonable price any day. I have a gap in my collection for a 50mm z mount. The 1.2s looks amazing.
For me the Optical outcomes are lovely. I will test more ASAP, to bring you more food for thought. Cheers Matt
AHHH Matt, you’re killing me!!! My order hasn’t come in store yet 😩 I have never wanted a lens more than the 50mm 1.2 before! Such a tease... (But seriously, great video mate).
I fully agree, 1.2 is the new high end with more ‘art creating’ capacity, and the 1.8 is the best of the ‘all-rounder’ lenses. 1.4 Sigma will certainly be a thing of the future I believe, and the pricing will be extremely attractive also.
I know this is an old video, but just watched it. Yes, the 1.2-1.8 strategy makes sense - that's more than a stop difference, whereas the 1.4-1.8 was less than one.
Yep. It has always made a lot of sense to me. 😀 thanks Lustin pop.
An 85/1.2 makes a lot more sense to me than a 50/1.2, but if I had unlimited resources I'd own every Z lens. As it is I have to pick and choose, "mix and match" as Matt said, like I went for the 2.8 version of the 24-70, and the f4 version of the super wide angle zoom. It's beautiful that we have these options. Nikon rocks!!! I'm so happy to be in the Nikon family. 📸😃🤘
1.2 vs. 1.4 vs 1.8
(1) Light passing
The f/number is just the relation between the lens's fully opened diameter and its focal length. Replace the glass in the lens by black glass, and the number is still valid. This was well known in the old days with people shooting cameras with interchangeable lenses, yet not metering through the lens (TTL).
We applied a correction factor between this lens, that lens and the meter.
In the professional movie world that had no TTL metering, these differences led to the introduction of transmission-stops: T-stops. The T-stops define exposure, the f-stops define depth of field.
So when you talk about your 1.2 lens of c.Anon brand, you also talk about a 1.5 T-stop at f/1.2.
There is no norm for a maximum deviation between f-stop and t-stop at the same opening.
Or, in exposure, between an f/1.2 and an f/1.8 lens, there should be a significant distance if both had that same number for t-stop. In practice we don't know until we measure. You can see this being done in the DxOmark website.
(2) Distortion
If we design a lens, and consider one element with two convex surfaces, and now lay the element on one convex side, we cut it in two halves looking at it from the top. Now we look at the side of the cut. Towards the edges, the cross section of that lens element is like a prism. This is where chromatic aberration is created.
The advantage of less fast lenses - like f/1.8 - is that the triangular/prismatic edges can be left out. With fast lenses, the diameter needs to become bigger and you are going to use more of the prismatic edges.
This needs to be corrected with helping elements and adds glare and size and weight. 50 years ago, a high number of elements was a problem and glare could not be solved. Today, that is not an issue anymore.
Bottom line, the reason for the big size and heavy weight in this 1.2 Nikon lens, is in all this reasoning.
(3) Mirrorless and fast lenses
"We" needed fast lenses with our SLR cameras where the lens taking the picture is also the lens of the viewfinder - if we wanted to still shoot and focus in lower light. The other (very old) mirrorless camera did never have that problem: Leica M series, as it has a separate viewfinder and relies on a lens-coupled but optically separate focusing system. With the M system, "fast" lenses always were less of a requirement than with SLR cameras.
Now we have digital mirrorless cameras with electronic viewfinders (with electronic image amplification almost like night vision). And we have excellent sensors and electronics to take photos. You do not, generally, need faster than f/1.8 in that context. All sorts of people, that think they need an f/1.2 lens (with T/1.5) for a location shoot in daylight, are probably compensating an insecurity about something.
(4) Depth of Field and 1.2 or 1.8
Depth of Field (DoF) has a subjective component. The formula - laws of physics - for DoF has one variable in it with a subjective aspect: "Circle of Confusion" (CoC) and this is the circle in your photos where you are beginning to be uncertain in answering the question "is this detail still sharp?" - so you are confused at that point. In the old bachelor photography program we learnt the formula with that CoC as a rule of thumb. In 35mm almost everything professional would resolve to 100 line-pairs per millimeter: pro lenses and film. So a rule of thumb number works well.
In digital, this is completely different. The CoC depends on the sensor's resolution, on raw processing software, on presence or absence of the fuzzy filter (glass AA filter), and on the resolution of the lens. This means that I would answer the remark that "yes, but even when my f/1.2 lens has a T/1.5 speed, it still has f/1.2 DoF" with, "you never heard about CoC?" This all means that a very sharp f/1.8 lens at f/1.8 can have a shallower depth of field than a less sharp f/1.2 at f/1.2. But, it says nothing about the quality of the blur (aka bokeh.
So DoF indication on lenses is only precise if all these factors are included. But the camera is a very powerful computer with lots of memory, so I don't see an issue there, even when manufacturers don't help us. It also means that a DoF app on your smartphone is ~meaningless if it uses the rule of thumb number.
Considering this reasoning, Nikon will not "do" an 85/1.4 but rather an 85/1.2 - and it will be heavy and big and expensive. And the resulting photographs will be so good that you continue to look for software that takes skin imperfections out, yet even better than the AI we have today (without giving "plastic" results).
Nikon released the 1.8’s to accommodate 95% of the customers first
Releasing heavy expensive glass made for specialised professionals only would have made no sense
Cheaper affordable lenses made the whole system affordable from get go
I am amateur photographer, but a serious one. I already had a D850, and its pro f2.8 zoom glass. When I did, as you say, “dip” into the Nikon Z ecosystem with the Z6, I thought I was investing in a lighter travel kit. Then I fell for the 14-30f4...then I tried the 50f1.8....that blew me away, so I tried the 85 f1.8...etc etc Now I love it all. I have a preorder for the Z7 II outstanding. I would never have shelled out for f1.2 lenses off the hop. I may not now, as I love the lenses that I already own. For the cost of the 50mm f1.2 , I purchased multiple f1.8 primes. Absolutely the right way for Nikon to have gone, in my opinion. Sold me on the potential of the system...eagerly awating the 25-105 and the 100-400
Sadly UA-cam server was down when I saw this but holy crap, My mind blown when I saw the results on the 1.2s, Its super good and little to no Lens Aberrations what's so ever and it's quite fantastic. Imagine if Nikon made some Cine Lenses, that will be super good. Also I will imagine if there is a Native Z Mount Defocus Control lens for the Nikon Z system, that will blow some Bokeh-lover Photographer's minds. Nice video again Matt!
Great video. For me, the Nikon Z system is without a doubt the best for professional photographers. Best files, certainly the best glass, and best image quality. The only thing they need to improve a bit is the "SPORTS level" autofocus, but that is something that they will improve with CODE, we all know that is all about the algorithm.. not the hardware. So if someone buys a Z6II now, a year from now it might be an incredibly better camera than the one they bought, without paying a cent more. Who does that? Who through free firmware improves a camera so much instead of making new cameras every 2 years so you have to spend the money? ONLY NIKON
Great video, Matt! I will never be in the market for this lens due to its size and price, so for me the 1.8 is the better lens, because it has amazing optics in a very light and small package and it's affordable. I think the differentiation is so much better than the old F-mount 1.8 vs 1.4. You were never sure which lens was better. Your 50mm example is good, but 35mm is another example. The 35mm 1.8G ED is sharper than the 35mm 1.4G for example. The latter also has more CA. So the way they differentiated them was they made the 1.8G lenses more plasticky and light, while the 1.4G lenses were bigger, more weather sealed and sturdier. Now in the Z-mount both models are S Line and there is no doubt that both are built really well. I love this strategy. No matter which lens you buy, you can be sure it's best in class.
I hope you get the chance to take some portraits and share with us, I am very curious about how it performs.
I love my 50mm 1.8 Z prime, and look forward to owning more of the 1.8 Z primes as they are reasonably affordable. For f/1.4, I'm happy to continue using my existing two f/1.4 G series primes via the FTZ. I'm totally with you on Nikon's strategy to go with the f/1.8 lenses first, definitely has helped me.
Matt, watching some of the reviews starting to come through is an incredibly cool thing to see. You can just feel the excitement people have for Nikon. And its even better because the haters/doubters/assholes who love to carry on will be forced to get on board. The "S" series will be an absolute winner.
You are spot on with regard to these lenses. I can't but help think that these lenses were designed for the upcoming 60MP camera. Launching them before the upcoming camera gives Nikon a full range of lenses that meet the performance needed for that camera.
The first time I use the 50 1.8 S It appeared o bea very special lens. The UA-cam personality influencers used the claim that 1.8 was not professional so Nikon failed miserably. Since none of them were photographers I did not pay attention but millions of people were programmed by this complaint. But I noticed immediately that the S 50 1.8 was great at handling background light sources like the sun or lighting ...far better than any other lenses I had. Color, corner to corner sharpness, CA, focusing speed, and out-of-focus rendering is great, better than the Nikkor 50 1.4G and D, and better than the Sigma 501.5 ART. In the very center, the ART was as good but it fell off significantly away from the very center of the frame. . I have not used any of my fast 50-58 primes for, 2 years. I bought the 85 1.8 sight-unseen based entirely on the performance of the 50 S and it is used all the time, wide open. Although I have a lot of F mount portrait lens from 50 to 135 2.0 DC and they all sit in my spare large bag. and have not been touched for a long time.
Looks like great lens. I love how you express your art as painting a picture.
Instead of a brush and paint you use a camera and a lens. Thanks
I shoot the 50mm 1.2 on the new Z7II
It's very very good but I got some color fringing wide open till 1.8 often when shooting agains high contrast light situations. I also had the 58mm f/0.95 for more than a months so I can compare both lenses easily. The Noct is of course far better in all terms but it it also far more expensive and it doesn't have autofocus. The 50 1.8 that I also own seems to do a better job with colorfringing. But the look and the usability of the 50 F/1.2 is really amazing. I went out in the night and shot handheld amazing pictures with the 50 f/1.2 I'm keen to shot my first portraits with it even I'm not often use 50mm for portraits. Hopefully the 85 f/1.2 is coming to light soon.
Love the look of that lens - I may have to buy both.
These Z lenses continue to impress.
The Nikkor 1.8 lenses were better than their 1.4 brothers.
Green and or purple chromatic aberration needs to be in focus to show...
If i could, i would subscribe to your channel 1000x times, i love your videos.
Maybe in future i am going to buy this 50mm 1.2 lens, and i hope that this announced 85mm lens will be an 1.2 and i have a kind of feeling, that this have to be an 1.2.
I appreciated Nikon's strategy from the start. Lower cost capable lenses (F4, F1.8) on a very powerful camera. Immediately after seeing just the 24-70 F4 bundled lens I knew it was the way to go. Moving from F mount to Z and these lower cost lenses let me drop the F mount stuff faster.
Now that the word is out on how good these lenses are they're starting to bring out the higher end "professional" lenses. It's a shame many reviewers condemned the Z mount system before actually trying and working with it, but I guess posting "first!" is still a thing too...
Great Video Matt, the order of the lenses makes sense to me when you consider the body road-map. Nikon have always seemingly suggested that the bodies to date can be used by pro's but are not the pro bodies therefore affordable lenses over pro glass makes sense. They are now getting the 1.2's out ahead of anticipated pro-level bodies. Makes a lot of sense to me
I am stunned , and I remember I asked you specifically about fringing and contrast in backlit situations because I was torn between the Otus and this beast, now you set it to rest, no doubt you get the faster, AF, no fringing, great micro contrast for 2000+ compared to manual (1.4 but still lovely) Zeiss Otus for 4000+, thanks for the answer.
Hi Zen, yes this lens is looking fantastic so far. I would not say there is no fringing, but it is suppressed so much that most of the time there is almost none. And sometimes there is none. Regarding photons, millions are flying around in every frame, so results vary and I am yet to test a large data set of variable options. Yet it is the best i have ever seen. : ) This is a stunning lens. Af is great, low light and DOF outstanding. I am very happy. :) Cheers Mattd
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience with us. I have Z6 with 50 f1.8 and 24_70 f4 more than enough for my photography as a hobby
I have the same set up with 70-300p f mount for tele.. love the 50mm for panoramas :-)
I'm waiting for an affordable tele.
@@rudesilva6590 I love the 70-300 AF-P on my Z6, it performs amazingly well and yields very sharp images.
Your perspectives are very refreshing to watch. I'm a Fuji user but Nikon will always have a place in my heart as it was my first camera, and aside from the plastic kit lenses I enjoyed it very much. The more I see the Z mount develop the more I become interested as a potential addition to my apsc kit. The aberration control of this f1.2 lens is just phenomenal. There is so much vitriol in today's social media towards anything that isn't the absolute newest or best spec thing and it is tiresome to see all the time. I find that the channels/reviewers who stick with their chosen brands long term give far better content than those who are never satisfied. For now I am ok with watching Nikon move forward through well thought out and reasonable discussions such as this.
Great video and great lens.
Thanks! 👍
Great presentation. Despite what the "Nay Sayers" say, it seems to my simple mind that Nikon is just going from strength to strength. I certainly hope so. Cheers. Ken
you are really going to make me break the bank Matt!😂 This looks great and I just received my 70-200mm 2.8s NOW THIS!?!? I will do my best to hold off for now but dammit man, both you and Nikon are making it pretty difficult 😂 As always, great video. Cheers
Nikon is backkkkkkk!!!! Back in business, baby.
I admire your passion, Matt, but you have to bear in mind that according to use case, a lot of people do not require F1.2. I spend a lot of time out in the "wilds" of Norfolk (UK) and try to take scenic photo's. I'm not worried about "buttery smooth bokeh". So, how is the f1.2 and the f1.8 when they are turned to f8 or f10, for example? Can you tell a difference and does the difference justify purchase of the f1.2 for a landscape photographer? This could be a subject for a video (perhaps) if it is not too niche? Keep up the good work fella, I think I will jump off into the Nikon Z world before 2021 is out.
They might be the same at f8 or f10. You pay so much so that you could have such level of quality at f1,2. :)
For sure Tony, I love shooting wide open, so the 1.2 is exactly what I am after. And I shoot landscapes at 1.2 :) For people who are shooting f8 or F10 all the time, then no. This lens is not required. :)
Tony, do you also ask how a Toyota Corolla and Porsche 911 drive in thick traffic? I think people buy the Porsche for when they can use it at max speed, the same is true for this f/1.2 lens.
Check out Ricci Talks, he has got the video you want to see. Compares 1.8 and 1.2 lenses stopped down to f8 I think.
I completely agree that the pairing of f/1.8 and f/1.2 makes a lot of sense. Having one full stop of light difference between the two sets of primes is more of a meaningful difference in my opinion.
I opened the video asking myself- "how could they possibly skip out on 1.4?" But after watching, it makes total sense why they might not do any 1.4. Looking forward to third party lenses filling in gaps. Sigma and Tamron competition made Nikon lenses better
you got the best music out of all the youtube photogs
Thanks. 🚀
The rescue for many of us will be the lensen from Sigma or Tamron. Imagine the best of the best optically for a decent price
I also agree with Nikon’s strategy. The 1.8 primes are so amazingly good and look better than any 1.4 f mount I’ve personally owned. Don’t go 1.4, go the extra mile and make some really special 1.2 lenses. Once again, the thing to get fired up about is the mount and engineering possibilities, not camera specs.
I agree with releasing the 1.8's first as they are good enough to show off the Z-mount and affordable enough that many can buy them. There is in marketing the idea of creating a positive 'buzz' about your products. Also, having affordable, native lenses makes going the Z-mount camera easier to justify.
Yes...the 1.8s enabled Nikon to get the Z mount to the masses without melting their wallets so good call. Now they have been researched and reviewed favorably it gives people confidence in shelling out mega bucks on the 1.2s.
For years I have been consumed by shooting with as much DOF as I could but I've had a photographic epiphany. Your videos have opened my eyes (apertures) to shooting wide open especially on a rain drenched night.
regards.
Steve
Looks like Nikon's strategy is all coming together.
Now they just need the Z8 or 9 and some of those long lenses, and a speedlite!
Yep Dig, Z8 and or Z9 by mid next year, a few more long teles and we will be in business. : )
Don't forget the 2.something series of lenses!
I agree, the high end Z's will come with those long lenses, makes perfect sense.
But the third line, focus on affordability and portability is needed, too, I think. For two reasons, to get people into the system and to have even smaller options at hand. Plus a suitable tele option out to 300. My guess is that those smaller lenses will be released along with a new body - whatever that will be. In my opinion there are two empty slots in the body lineup, below or above the z50.
It´s just that Matt, If 1.8 and kits Z lenses are stellar, what comes next is even better. That was my reading before making the final decision into mirrorless between Canon R mount and Z´s. Nikon came with great body (Z6/Z7) and sharp/CA-less lenses. Enough for my use case.
This is getting expensive 😀
Yep, I will be giving me CC a rest for a while ... in a way I feel like the Z mount was leading to this 50mm 1.2 moment ... :)
@@MattIrwinPhotography professional top of the line is expensive... but Nikon is now in line and competitive with the best of the best (zeiss and others) and it is good for us common « mortals » ;)
Indeed, yet my most expensive lens was almost $10k, this is more than 3 times cheaper, and from my perspective truly delivers. And can create looks I have not been able to create before. A device which creates new photographic opportunities (which is pretty rare these days) personally I am very excited about and I am happy to invest in. :)
Thank you Matt for such a great video! Positive attitude is what we need these days. I do see your point re Nikon releasing an f/1.8 first but I must say I have to disagree (partially). Here's why. If a company is releasing a first mirrorless camera, with Sony having been out for a few years already (i.e. with an already advanced product), this wil. be a challenge even for Nikon and Canon. The moment these two come out, it's imperative that the brand sends out a very strong message. Canon did. With their RF f/1.2 lenses (even a marvellous zoom at f./2 never done before) they basically said to the world "Canon is VERY serious about mirrorless" or else why would a company invest in such astonishing glass? Nikon? Not so much, by releasing a f/1.8 series of primes. Needless to say the first Canon and Nikon mirrorless where half-baked, but we cannot say this about the R5 nor the R6. And mind you, I shoot Nikon, Matt. Yes, you're right, when you get to use the glass you'll realise pretty soon that it's astonishing, but one has to get there (i.e. buy into the Nikon system) first! Canon showed us a textbook company's strategy like no-one else out there. Yes yes, the Noct f/0.95 - great piece of glass but at that price?!
Hi Matt - thanks for the interesting video. A couple things: 1) a significant reviewer already has stated that they think the Nikon 50mm 1.2 is superior to the Canon RF 50mm 1.2 and compared the Nikon to the Leica Summilux 50mm which is a $5,000 lens. So, I think we are seeing a trend that the high end Z lens are among the best made period and I expect the upcoming 85mm (1.2 - I believe Nikon did state this was a 1.2 in one of their releases) to be superior to the Canon RF version as well. That said, the Canon lenses are also excellent and the Nikon lens is bigger and heavier so there is still a case for the Canon lenses - the reality being, as we both know - a good photographer will get incredible results with either and a bad photographer will get less than stellar results with either, but it is nice to finally see Nikon back in the business of making the best glass as that is where they started more than 100 years ago. 2) You spoke about whether you would be keeping the 50 1.8 now that you have the 1.2. Speaking for myself, I will definitely be keeping both. I feel they have very different use cases: the 50 1.8 is a professional level lens that is small and light weight - perfect for my event photography - where I do not want to be lugging around a large and heavy lens all day long. While I will use the 50 1.2 for my high end portraiture and fashion photography - shoots where I am interested in the very best and size and weight are meaningless to me. The same is true for the 85mm lenses - the 85mm 1.8 for events and the 85 1.2 for high end portraiture and fashion. 3) Finally, I wanted to throw in a comment with respect to the lens strategy - I think you are correct about the 1.8 and 1.2 distinction - but there is another distinction that makes the new business model different from the old. In the F glass (as you know) the 1.4's were considered the professional lenses while the 1.8 were for hobbyists and casual user - this distinction was made clear by the fact that you had the 1.4 lenses with the gold band and the 1.8's did not have the gold band. Actually, the one exception to this in recent times, to my knowledge, was the 50 1.4G, which did not have a gold band, but as you noted it was not very expensive and its quality was always suspect. Now, Nikon has made it clear that they have two categories of lenses and they are not determined by f/stop - that is the S line and lenses that do not have the S distinction. To me this means that all the 1.8 prime glass that has the S line mark are actually intended to be professional lenses. In effect, Nikon is giving a professional a choice - you can pay more for faster glass and bokeh, but the sharpness will be there either way, so if you are someone who shoots professionally but do not need 1.2 for light or bokeh then you are equally served by getting the 1.8 S line glass. So when considered like this the 1.8 S glass is not expensive at all, but rather very affordable - from a professional point of view. For the casual shooter they are making non-S lenses like the 24-200 or the 24-50 - and they are decent lenses for what they are, and perfect for most causal users. I think this approach is really good, with one exception - they really should still make a true "nifty-fifty" - why not put out a very inexpensive ($200 or less) 50mm f/1.8 (or maybe f/2) that is not an S line lens - just so a casual user can still have access to relatively fast glass at a super budget price. Canon has done this with their recent release of the RF 50mm 1.8 for $199. It is possible that this is what Nikon is doing with the upcoming 50mm Macro that is on the road map - it is not designated as an S line lens like the 105 Macro is, so I expect that it will be quite inexpensive, but the fact that it is macro means it will likely by more than $200. Although, if they can put out an inexpensive 50mm 1.8 (or even f/2) that is also Macro and have a "nifty-fifty" price then that would really complete the system, and make entry into the system even easier. Just my thoughts - thanks for all the good work on the channel!
Im good with the 1.8 glass but the 1.2 is beyond amazing and sooo tempting...now I understand 105 and 135 1.8 S are on the roadmap, I wonder if Nikon will resurrect the DC features of the old AF 105mm and 135mm DC lenses... since they own the patents on DC design. That would be awesome since the ATZ doesn't accept (drive) that series of AF Nikkor lenses.
Those old DC lenses were Amazing good.
So many spectacular lenses. The future is bright. Thanks Matt.
I got a handful of AF-D primes (1.8 and 2.0) and I am just in love with the light rendering they produce, and it looks like the 1.2 (out of my price range) produces some of the same. Nice to see that Nikon is continuing on the same path, even though they changed mount/system. Great to hear your thoughts on this.
Can't believe Nikon doesn't consider you an influencer. Your very good at the soft-sell.
Thank you Matt, always interested to hear your perspective. The 1.8 does have the advantage of weighing less than the 1.2 if weight is a consideration, 14.7 oz vs 38.5 oz. Not to mention cost...
The 50 1.2 looks amazing! I shoot into light quite a bit, and my Z lenses just handle it BEAUTIFULLY (even my 24-70 4). I absolutely love the 1.8 lenses and personally I'm happy to see Nikon go the route of 1.8 and 1.2 options - to me with the Z lenses, 1.4 seems unnecessary.
Agree with your analysis of Nikon strategy!! I am someone who bought the 1.8 but would not get the 1.2 (can't justify 2k at least as a hobby) and might have bought something else if all we had was expensive 1.2glass.. Excited to see what the next two years bring expecting some amazing pro level cameras to match the new glass. (even if I will not buy them :-)
Brilliant! Looking forward to 1.4s still. It’s the best value and capability balance. Matt, the 1.4s could be what 1.2s used to be. Only much better!
Do you think there is any business case for a 1.4? If the 1.8 is so good, double the size and the price for a 1.4 ? Cannibalizes the 1.2 market? Not sure 🤔
@@Skye_the_toller still half the size and cost of 1.2. But 2/3rd of its light. I’m certain more people have 1200 dollars than 2100.
Can’t wait to see some street shooting and maybe a few full length portraits with this lens on the Z7II. This lens looks amazing.
Great video as ever. Love your enthusiasm. Great inspiration to get out with my new Z6 II. Sadly it has to remain under the tree till Christmas! Very likely to go the 1.8 route as it is more affordable. However having seen your results with the 1.2, its very tempting. Question is if I went the 1.8 then the 1.2 would I really use the 1.8 again mmm?
I picked up the 50mm 1.8s a few months ago for my Z50 body while awaiting the release of the Z6II. It was phenomenal on that little "Pocket Rocket" body and even better on my Z6II! Received it just days after shipping started and have not put it down yet or taken this 50mm 1.8s off it yet. I plan to shoot with this lens as well as the other S primes I currently own for 6 months to a year to then justify having earned the 1.2 I will say, its gonna be hard, especially after seeing this video. Im sure ill break down and grab it sooner though. The good thing is all of these primes will hold resale value fairly well. Cheers
Good talk. RS
Another great video, with a realistic insight into what could well be a Nikon strategy. I do sincerely believe that by the end of 2021, Nikon will be leading the mirror less field with what they have to their advantage of the Z mount. Personally, I have been using my Z6 II and am still learning to use it and beginning to really enjoy it. Thanks again for your enthusiasm.
It is so much interesting that Nikon is creating beautiful lenses one after the other! And the z-mount is shining! With Sigma and Tamron coming to level the playing field, I am excited for 2021.
P.S. 24-105 f4 would be awesome. I am guessing they will have an internal focusing system, making it suitable for gimbal use.
Matt, may seem a daft question, but I noticed in all the pictures that ISO = 64. Did you fix that manually or were you on Auto ISO? Thanks
Does this balance nicely on the Z7/Z7ii? Is it too heavy to be used as an every day lens?
I am doubting nikon will release a 50 f1.4, I think 3rd party lens manufacture will fill that gap and it will sell more too.
Matt, when you say the 1.8s are better than the 1.4s what does that mean? Weren't lower aperture lenses always better because they're easier to make? I thought the advantage of a 1.4 was in the light gathering capabilities, not in the optical quality
Canon just released their RF mount 85mm f2 ($599), rounding out the 50mm f1.8 ($199) and 35mm f1.8 macro ($499) entry level primes. Good features for the price, with the 35mm and 85mm both having macro focus, image stabilization, and an additional control ring.
Doesn't seem likely that either Canon or Nikon will be doing any sort of 3 tier approach (f1.8, f1.4, f1.2) to split up their respective markets. Unless a wider aperture isn't possible at a given focal length or range, only for engineers to find ways to exceed limitations, there doesn't seem to be much point in adding extra tiers. It's simpler with a choice between high end glass and standard glass.
But all that seems elementary, as we get the tools the manufacturers provide in the end, get results based upon the inherent limitations and benefits, and choose what to buy accordingly.
Yep usecase, budget, legacy. Canon sound like they have some nice entry level primes, what are the optics like?
@@MattIrwinPhotography Shorter rear lens element/sensor distance will always be an inherent advantage of removing the reflex mirror. Optically sharper than their DSLR equivalents across the frame, unless the engineers completely failed or just didn't care.
Comparing apples to apples, or RF to Z mount lenses within that same standard tier glass; boils down to personal subjective preferences although I'm guessing the charts probably favor the Z glass.
Everybody has a wish list and I certainly have mine. That 50 is spectacular... But I doubt I'd buy it - its just not the way I see. For me I tend to visualize with a narrower viewpoint. Its just me. I tend to keep a 105 on my camera 90% of the time because its the closest I can come to my general viewpoint of life around me as I work or walk or just go about my day. The 85 f/1.2 would get my attention. But if Nikon were to re-engineer the F 105 f/1.4 to a Z-mount 1.2, I wouldn't care if it were $3,500 plus. I'd take it because (as you say, Matt) it would fit my use-case perfectly. I'll probably buy the 85 when it surfaces - and then trade it in for the 105 f/1.2 if it happens in the future.
Hi Matt! Speaking of cine-lens, do you think Nikon will start to produce them? Or the quality of lenses like 50 f1.2 is quite enough? Thanks!
I still deserve this lens
Yes. Yes you do! :)
Is it comes with the tripod foot?
I have complained many times about the pricing of th Z systems, and lack of features that were missing .
already considered the A7rIV
You and your channel convinced me to wait a bit and rethink about the Z system
Yesterday few z7II systems landed at holy land :)
Today i am the new owner of Z7II with FTZ and Kit lens
I can pick it from tomorrow but , corona time so it need to wait for me another few days until i can pick it up
for now i will use some F lenses in addition to the kit lens, hope that sigma will produce cheaper lenses
Thanks :)
P.S.
now i can blame the channel for y horrible pictures :)
That's impressive against sun: CA is well controlled and loss of contrast is minimal, just adding on top of my request in last video about LOCA which somewhat got covered here; I would like to see how does this fare with narrow aperture with flares?
hello, thank you very much for another excellent video. you are the only person who still encourages me to stay with nikon. I sold my z6 and z7. I have 35, 50 and 85mm 1.8 lenses. I wanted to buy a z7ii and a 70-200, but there is no stock anywhere. only the z6ii has predictions here in Brazil, but the z7ii has no news. do you believe that the z7ii will be included in inventories later this year?
Awesome stuff - as usual!!! Keep it up!!! 😊
Hi. Can the technology of 50mm f1.2 lens be converted to a, lets say a 35mm medium format lens and give some use to all that real estate in the Z mount and be the foundation to a M Line to the Z mount? I dream with that...
It's the out of focus edges that usually have the heavy fringing for me on some of my older glass.
g'day everyone how are you going today it is so very good to see you
G’day Mike.
So far all the Z lenses are large and perform extremely well - I think we can safely conclude Nikon are prioritizing optical quality over compactness. It seems to me that the only mainstream lenses rivaling the optical quality of the Nikon Z lenses are the Canon RF (though they also have a few that sacrifice a bit of optical quality for compactness) and Sigma Art lenses. I'm glad to see lenses good enough to take advantage of the 40+ MP sensors becoming standard.
Indeed Dennis, and I think there is a chance we will see 60mp next year, and I am sure these lenses will cover that range too :) Cheers Matt
waiting for my z50mm 1.8s suppose to deliver today. Cant wait to try on my new Nikon z50
For me Nikon has a good strategy because there are 3 level of prime lenses : 1.2, 1.8 and compact 2.0. Canon roadmap for 1.8 /compact primes is less clear. Now Nikon need to speed up compact primes
hope they make an 85/1.2 & 105/1.2. would love an ultra-wide 1.2. like a 20mm. I'd imagine they will make their 28mm a 1.2
Trank you for your inspiring videos. Thank you
Glad you like them! Cheers Matt
Loving all the Z mount glass!
Outstanding-thank you!!!
......................what about back drop filter holder?
Great video! Amazing, amazing lens!!!
Gday Matt, my friend from the other side of the world, some NEF for pixel peeping available for download? That against the sun thing, the Z 24-70 2.8 S does also an awesome job
Sounds like a good idea, I will get some up :)
@@MattIrwinPhotography 😋🤩 can’t wait for it 📸
Can you put an 1.4 or 2.0 x converter on it?
All good thoughts!
Thank you.
Leaving the 1.4 for 3rd party lenses is an interesting theory. I can't for affordable 3rd part zooms.
Spot on!
For me to go for Nikon is the compactness of the zoomlenses for landscape photography. Like the 14-30 and the 24-70 and even the 24-200 lenses. Because of the quality and the compactness i choose Nikon and go away from Sony.
2021 is the year you become a Nikon ambassador and get all the free gear.
All that being said, IMO a compact 24mm f2 should have been the SECOND (the first will always be a kit) lens for the Z system. At least in the top 5 or even 10 for that matter. I see room for a Z DX version as well. I really liked my 50f1.4G, the D I had before that, and the 24mm f2.8D (and later the G version) along with them. They lose some of their "compact charm" once you put an FTZ on them though. I also think every Z lens should have one function button on it, and the S's should have two.
I know I'd even buy a carbon fiber FTZ with a button and removeable/optional tripod mount. Why can't they think of these things?! LOL
I prefer 85/1.2 ie 50/1.2 but if 50 1/2 half the length ill take 50/1.2
Capture One (21) - in my perception, C1 has no formal support for most of the Z/S lenses. This means that your image was processed in an agnostic way. Nothing is hidden in post processing, I would say.
No, there is no visible CA, at all. Awesome.
Also for travelling i’d love to travel with 24-200mm and 50mm f1.8. What do you say? Could you please make a video like this for enthusiasts?
My setup is for travel and bicycle touring, so size and weight is important indeed. I guess we will have to be a bit more patience as there aren't too many options there yet - so far tele is only that 24-200mm or via adapter and older lenses. Wide angle there's the excellent 14-30mm f4. Then we've got the 1.8 primes to add, in particular 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm.
Now the question is what you photograph most.
For my style 28mm is perfect, 35mm a bit too narrow, but there is no 28mm in the line-up (yet).
I had the 24mm and 35mm D lenses, that allowed me to work out my preference. Added later the 28mm 1.8 G which lead to the retirement of the 35 and 24.
The easiest answer would be to shoot with the 24-200mm only for a while and then look what you use most, 24mm, 25mm, 50mm or 85mm.
My perfect kit would be something along those lines:
14-30mm f4 (I'm a wide angle junkie)
28mm 1.8 (low light/street)
60mm/105mm macro (small stuff; both can do portrait; weight, size vs working distance problem, tough call)
85mm 1.8 (portraits, low light, pub concerts and stuff)
70-200mm f4 collapsible, can take converter (x1.7 or x2).
As seen most of the lenses don't exist yet - but quite a few are on the road map. No worries, Rome wasn't build in a day.
Going on trips I would arrange primes depending on need.
Riding my bicycle through the remote countryside of Laos? 105mm macro over 85mm 1.8.
Bangkok city walk until late? 85mm 1.8 over 105mm macro.
@@marcusbraun8889 aah! Finally with a view point quite close to my own. I am s travel photographer. So I have come to like the focal length of 24-35mm (28/35mm works for me) for cities, and for when I need reach the range of 85-135 works best for me. I am adapting a 70-300mm f4.5-5.6 for now. But it’s too heavy to carry around. 24-105 f4 or 24-120 f4 (just like we can get for d750/850) would be just perfect for me. And only 1prime. It’s I am very comfortable with. Especially during the day when I have a lot more energy, a bit heavier zoom isn’t a problm. In the evening, a lighter prime is a relief. Also it helps me keep shooting as I have carpal tunnel syndrome. I love to travel light. But until now it wasn’t a possibility. Viltrox just released 85mm f1.8. Now I can have 24-70 f4 and a 85mm f1.8 z with AF. This takes care of most of the focal lengths that I might need.
@@SouravBanik90 Yes, It's possible to go for a one or two lens combo for an ultra compact setup. But even then it doesn't necessarily mean that one just owns one or two lenses - I prefer to have a few more and then pick whatever I need in a given situation.
I do like the longer reach at times, be it for animals or scenery. Perfect for me would be a collapsible 70-200mm f4 with a teleconverter, or maybe even a 300mm f4 PF with converter. Will see what Nikon will come up with in the next few years. Going to be fun!
I carry up to 4/5 lenses with me at the most, on a dedicated photo trip, cut down my other luggage to do so. I've got a 19L backpack from Freitag, chargers, hard drives, clothes, travel tripod. Belt with pouches for 3-4 lenses, camera out and about all times. I can carry all this whole day long, without the need for going to any accommodation to drop off bags first.
If bike touring camera and lenses has to go into handle bar bag, small bag for the clothes at the back, frame bag for tools and chargers. No racks, no tent or cooking gear, as small as possible setup.
Mirrorless is fantastic for those purposes, and I love Nikon's portable lenses so far, looking forward to more. No more 2.8 zooms for me, and yes, no thanks to 1.4 primes, love the 1.8's, they are just within the limit in terms of size I like to carry.
@@marcusbraun8889 i agree completely! I usually carry 3-4 lenses. And depending on the day of the trip i’d select some lenses or all. But personally having a constraint helps a lot. Having much options means often i’d miss shots changing lens. That’s a personal thing. However 70-200 f4 version would be damn good. But there’s none in their road map. Fingers crossed, they might have one in 2022. I am rooting for 24-105 f4, 40mm f2.8 (pancake) and a 85mm (which i am planning soon).
Can you do a topic about curved sensors please! Thank you!
Hey Matt great video again, amazing lens. Hey I’ve got a question for you, I am worried that Nikon is gonna be exiting the business. Some high profile You-tubers just said that they think that 2021 is gonna be the year that Nikon will start too look at options for themselves down that road. Apparently Nikon released a statement saying of course that “there Camera imaging division sales need to justify their business efforts. Which yes the consumer market for cameras is gone, leaving the professional market but I read that Sony and Canon can weather this storm due too their large amounts of profit in other areas and huge financial backing. The reason I want you opinion is well I think firstly it’s a valid one and also your channel persuaded me to buy into a Nikon system. I purchased the Z 6II on black Friday several weeks ago and have even purchased a Z Mount lens and a couple F Mount lenses on eBay. I’ve been so excited about switching from Sony (which I still mostly have) but, now I’m worried that I may regret buying into the Nikon Z mirrorless system. I don’t want to invest in a dying company, I want to invest in the future. What are your realistic thoughts if any? Sorry if my wording is a bit ‘all over the place’. Thank you kindly.
Hi Eric, I have made a few videos about this. This is the most recent ua-cam.com/video/F__vAqXxCqY/v-deo.html which was promoted by Nikon rumours. Also this one ua-cam.com/video/5AUEwlVCpsk/v-deo.html
To not write it all again as it takes a long time.
Of course Nikon could fail.
So too could any of these companies.
Nikon also stated in their financial report they plan to be in profit witin 15 months.
They also stated 80% of their focus will be in the mid-high level market. And 20% of focus will be on the entry level.
It would be hard to expect we see a year worse than 2020 for the whole industry.
It could be the camera buying market has leveled out, and 2021 will see more cameras sold than 2020.
In 1980's and 1990's that camera market was much the same size as today. Canon and Nikon happily existed along with many other brands.
So Nikon and Canon know how to exist again in a market this size. And what we have seen for the last 20 or so years has been a bubble which needed correction.
Nikon are aggresively restructuring, and this is a valid approach.
So, personaly I continue to invest, beleiving they will be around.
I have no crystal ball and no guarentees that they will, but this is my beleif and I am backing my belief.
Also I would not assume as Sony is large, that they will stay in the camera business.
Sony are new to the Mirrorless 35mm ILC business, under 10 years. Nikon have been making cameras for over 100 years. Sony could simply decide they don't want to be in this type of business. As they have done that before. I am not saying they will do that, but I am suggesting that being a large company does not guarentee protection from closing a division which does not make enough profit.
Sony had no competition in this space for the first 5 years, now with Canon online and pushing very hard, and Nikon also creating great products, this makes it harder for Sony. Profits will decline as they have to yeild market share.
As for other youtubers, I suspect some of the large channels you are talking about, it is in their interestes to create drama. So my advice it be sure they are giving you the full picture.
Ultimately I cannot say for sure what will happen with any of these comapanies. And you must make your own decision.
For my usecase Nikon make the best cameras and I am very happy. And I am not alone, there are millions of Nikon users out there, and we will all keep spending over time.
Just read the comments from my last few videos and you can see a lot of excited people, who plan on spending a lot of cash over the coming year.
Cheers
Matt
@@MattIrwinPhotography thanks Matt. I appreciate your feedback. I’m going to focus on enjoying my camera now and try not too live too much into the future.
@@erichramone7812 I think that is a great approach, these cameras and lenses are amazing today, and they will be for the next 20 years. That will not change :)
Interesting thoughts.