Nikon Tips 26mm and 85mm Lenses for Z Mirrorless

Nikon is offering up details on a pair of prime lenses that have been on its development roadmap for some time. The slim Nikkor Z 26mm F2.8 and chunky Nikkor Z 85mm F1.2 S bolster options for photographers using Z mirrorless cameras. The former is the first pancake prime for the system, and the latter sports background-blurring optics in a portrait-friendly focal length.

Nikkor Z 26mm F2.8

The Nikkor 26mm F2.8 comes in as the smallest and lightest prime for Z mirrorless cameras. It earns the pancake designation with its 1-inch height, and weighs just 4.5 ounces. Despite the slim form, the lens includes a hybrid focus-control ring. A lens hood is included too, and is required if you want to add a filter.

(Credit: Nikon)

Nikon is billing it as dual-purpose lens, one that make sense as an everyday prime on both full-frame cameras and DX (APS-C) models. On the former, its 26mm angle is similar to the starting point of most standard zooms, as well as the main lens on most smartphone cameras. It’s a familiar angle for creators coming from all types of backgrounds. Put it on a DX camera like the Z fc and it becomes a more moderate wide angle (39mm), one that’s still quite useful for documentary-style images and environmental portraiture.

There’s already a Nikkor Z 28mm available for the system, but where Nikon positioned the 28mm as a $300 budget lens, the Z 26mm is mid-tier. It’s not a part of the premium S Line, but it does include dust and drip protection, and a metal lens mount—the Z 28mm sports a plastic mount and skimps on weather protection.

(Credit: Nikon)

The Nikkor Z 26mm F2.8 is coming in at a higher price than the 28mm. Nikon is pricing it at $499.95, and expects it to ship in early March.

Nikkor Z 85mm F1.2 S

The Z 85mm F1.2 S is the second 85mm for the system. It sets itself apart from the mid-priced Z 85mm F1.8 S by way of its optical formula. The F1.2 aperture gathers twice the light as an F1.8 lens, for razor-thin depth of field. For video use, focus breathing is minimized.

(Credit: Nikon)

As an S Line lens, the Z 85mm F1.2 is built with performance in mind. We’ve not tested the lens, but Nikon promises fast, accurate autofocus with dual STM motors, good results into backlight with Nano Crystal anti-reflective coating, and pleasing bokeh that’s free of distracting onion skin effects. An 11-blade circular aperture is included for rounded highlights.

On-barrel controls include a big manual focus ring, a discrete control ring, and an L-Fn control button. The barrel is magnesium, with dust and drip protection. Of course, lenses with extra-bright f-stops are typically expensive, and this one is no exception. The Nikkor Z 85mm F1.2 S will set you back $2,799.95 when it arrives in late March.