Nikon Z MC 50mm f/2.8

£649/$647 Nikon’s smaller, cheaper Z-mount macro

If you don’t major on macro shooting, it makes sense to buy a lens that can perform dual functions. Most have a portrait-friendly focal length, but this one works better as a standard prime for general shooting, as well as having full 1x magnification for those extreme close-ups. And close-up shooting is pretty extreme at the minimum focus setting, with a working distance of just 5cm (a couple of inches) between the front of the lens and what you’re shooting.

That’s partly due to the focal length, but also because the inner barrel extends. A plus side is that focus distance and magnification factor scales are printed on the telescoping inner barrel. The optical path includes one aspherical and one ED element, along with a fluorine coating on the front element.

Performance

Autofocus is quick and accurate, while manual focusing is smooth and precise. Image quality is excellent overall, although edge-sharpness at wide apertures lags behind that of the S-line Z MC 105mm lens on test.

N-photo verdict

It’s a neat standard prime, but the working distance can feel uncomfortably close in full 1x macro mode.