Nikon Z MC 50mm f/2.8

£649/$647 www.nikon.co.uk

Nikon’s second mirrorless macro lens, the Nikon Z MC 50mm f/2.8, is billed as a “compact, lightweight and versatile lens that’s ideal for starting macro photographers who want to shoot vibrant close-ups”. Photographers can use markings on the lens barrel to see whether they’re shooting at a 1:4, 1:2 or 1:1 magnification ratio, while the f/2.8 rounded nine-blade constant aperture should be perfect for capturing stunning bokeh. The lens features a minimum focus distance of just 0.16m, which means that photographers can capture sharp shots even when the front of the lens is just 5.6cm away from the subject. Meanwhile, the AF focus limit switch enables the lens to focus more quickly on subjects within the 0.16m to 0.30m range. Rob Harmon, Senior Commercial Lead, Nikon Northern Europe, says: “The new 50mm macro lens is ideal if you want to start shooting true macro images. And if you simply want a versatile 50mm lens that will also let you capture incredible close-ups, then this is it.”

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

At two-thirds the price of the 105mm lens, this is a more affordable proposition, and a 50mm focal length translates to 75mm on a crop-sensor Nikon. There’s no VR in this lens though, and we’re eager to see how this non-s-line lens performs when compared to its more upmarket bigger brother.