Nikon announces new NIKKOR wide-angle zoom

Image courtesy: Nikon

Nikon has announced a new full-frame Z mount wide-angle zoom lens. The NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 looks to have a great combination of a wide field of view and a large maximum aperture. Let’s take a look at its full specification.

Low light

The NIKKOR Z 17-28mm lens has a large maximum aperture of f/2.8 which should make it great for low-light filming. In addition, the aperture stays constant throughout the zoom range. This is essential for video filming to ensure that your exposure doesn’t change as you change focal length. The nine-bladed iris should give a smooth round bokeh in out-of-focus areas of your image. In addition, the iris control ring is clickless, so you can change exposure smoothly while filming.

Focus

Image shot with the NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 lens
Image courtesy: Nikon

The NIKKOR Z 17-28mm lens has a high-speed stepping motor (STM) for fast, accurate and silent autofocus. There is also a full-time manual focus override if you need to take control. In addition, the lens features a great close focus distance of only 7.56 inches (19 cm). Nikon states that the NIKKOR 17-28mm has minimized focus breathing. This means that your image won’t change size as you pull focus.

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Optical construction

The NIKKOR Z 17-28mm has 13 lens elements in 11 groups. These include two Extra-low Dispersion (ED) elements, one super-ED element and three aspherical elements. The glass also has an antifouling coating which resists dirt, fingerprints and smudges. Another great feature for video shooters is that the lens doesn’t change length when you zoom. This makes it ideal for use on a gimbal since the balance of the lens doesn’t change.

Build quality

NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 lens
Image courtesy: Nikon

The NIKKOR Z 17-28mm is a lightweight lens, weighing only 15.9 ounces (450 g). It’s also compact, measuring only 4 inches (101 mm) in length. The NIKKOR Z 17-28mm is sealed to prevent dust and water ingress so you can be confident about shooting in challenging environments. The filter thread is 67 mm.

Verdict

The NIKKOR Z 17-28mm gives you a wide field of view and a useful zoom range for reframing your shots if you can’t move the camera. The constant wide maximum aperture of f/2.8 also promises a good low light performance and attractive bokeh. In addition, the 17-28 mm lens is a good partner for Nikon’s recently released NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8 lens.

Pricing and availability

The new NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 wide-angle zoom lens will be available in late October 2022. The suggested retail price is $1,199.