Nikon unveils fast, wide-angle Nikkor Z 24mm f/1.8 S prime for its mirrorless camera system
posted Tuesday, September 3, 2019 at 11:00 PM EST
Alongside the development announcement for the Nikon D6 DSLR and Nikkor 120-300mm f/2.8 F-mount lens, Nikon has also announced a fast prime lens for its mirrorless Z camera system, the Nikkor Z 24mm f/1.8 S. The new S-Line lens is designed for capturing a variety of images, including cityscapes, environmental portraits, night sky images, street photos and more. Further, the lens has been designed to take full advantage of the large Z mount and deliver a fast lens with sharp performance, even when shooting wide open.
Of the Nikkor Z 24mm f/1.8 S lens, Nikon's Executive Vice President, Jay Vannatter, said the following:
"The NIKKOR Z 24mm f/1.8 S continues our commitment to offering exciting prime lenses to Nikon Z 7 and Z 6 users, while also providing exceptional level of quality achieved by the S-Line of NIKKOR Z lenses. The combination of wide-angle perspective and a fast f/1.8 aperture is optimal for all types of photography including landscapes, making the NIKKOR Z 24mm f/1.8 S a must-have lens to unleash the full potential of the Nikon Z series."
The 24mm f/1.8 S includes 9 rounded aperture blades, promising circular bokeh. In terms of its optical design, the lens includes a dozen elements across 10 groups, including 4 aspherical lens elements and one Extra-Low Dispersion (ED) element to stave off aberration. The lens also includes Nikon's patented Nano Crystal Coat to help prevent ghosting and flare.
In order to deliver fast, reliable autofocus for both still photography and recording video, the lens includes Nikon's Multi-Focusing System, which utilizes a pair of AF drives simultaneously. For video in particular, the lens has reported near-silent stepping motors, reduced focus breathing and a customizable control ring for smooth aperture or exposure compensation control. Further, the minimum focus distance of the new prime lens is 0.82 feet (0.25 meters).
With a 72mm filter thread, the Nikon 24mm f/1.8 S lens has a maximum diameter of 3.1 inches (78 millimeters). It is 3.8 in. (96.5mm) long and weighs 15.9 ounces (450 grams). The Nikkor Z 24mm f/1.8 S lens will be available in mid to late October for a suggested retail price of $999.95 USD. The 24mm f/1.8 S lens will be the seventh native lens in Nikon's Z mount system and the fourth f/1.8 prime lens. When it hits store shelves this fall, it will be the widest prime lens in the system and also the fastest lens wider than 35mm.
Stay tuned for more to come when we're able to get a sample into our lab!