Nikkor Z 28-75mm f/2.8
£949/$997
This could be our new favourite near-trinity lens
The Nikkor Z 28-75mm f/2.8 is a fascinating proposition. Technically it’s not quite a trinity lens, yet it boasts a constant f/2.8 aperture and near S-lens performance. Obviously, it’s longer but not as wide as the trinity sibling it will be compared to, the Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S, but it has a significant trick up its sleeve: it’s about half the price. Getting trinity trappings in a lens like this, with everything from the constant fast aperture to weather sealing, means that this is one of the best Nikon Z lenses for professionals and enthusiasts alike. Indeed, we tested it on the Nikon Z 9 under some very challenging indoor sports conditions and we would happily take it with us on any pro commission. So how good is it, and is it worth buying over the Z 24-70mm f/2.8?
Performance
While this isn’t an S-line lens, it delivers optical performance that is very, very good. In particular, centre sharpness is exquisite throughout the focal and aperture ranges, including when shooting wide open. That said, corner sharpness doesn’t really become worth writing home about until you start hitting f/8 or so.
The autofocus is sharp and snappy, more than capable of keeping up with the Nikon Z 9 when tracking erratic subjects, and obviously it handles everyday shooting subjects with no problem at all. The AF mechanism is also very quiet, meaning that the 28-75mm f/2.8 is ideally suited to videography. We had no problems finding focus in dark and dimly lit conditions, which admittedly had a lot to do with the Z 9, but again it speaks highly of this lens that it can keep up with the flagship camera without having the S designation.
The quality of rendering is quite something, capturing real three-dimensionality, and the bokeh produced is also very pleasing. Shooting at the long end, wide open, will deliver portraits with almost prime-worthy subject separation. James Artaius