NPhoto

The need for speed

How much do you want an extra f-stop and is it really worth it?

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Most Nikon prime lenses have an f/1.8 aperture rating, which keeps the cost, size and weight to manageable proportion­s. If you want to go for broke with a 50mm lens, the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2 S is an f-stop faster. However, it’s somewhat at odds with all of the lenses we’ve chosen. It’s comparativ­ely huge at 90x150mm and weighs in at 1090g, that’s about 2.5 times the weight of the Z 50mm f/1.8 S on test. It’s also about four times the price, at a wallet-busting £2299/$2097. So what do you get for the extra outlay? Bokeh is beautiful when shooting wide-open and remains so when stopping down a little, although bokeh discs from defocused lights or bright spots take on noticeably irregular shapes towards the edges of the frame. Mid- to edgesharpn­ess is also less impressive at wide apertures.

 ?? ?? Ultimately, the hefty and pricey Z 50mm f/1.2 S is something of a specialist lens. Nikon’s Z 50mm f/1.8 S will prove a much better fit for most of us.
Ultimately, the hefty and pricey Z 50mm f/1.2 S is something of a specialist lens. Nikon’s Z 50mm f/1.8 S will prove a much better fit for most of us.

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