NIKON’S NEW ZOOM COULD BE THE ONLY LENS YOU NEED
Nikkor Z 28-400mm f/4-8 is Nikon’s most versatile lens for full-frame Z mount
Nikon has unveiled the Nikkor Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR, a full-frame superzoom for its Z-mount mirrorless cameras that sets a new standard for an all-in-one zoom lens with its phenomenal 14.2x zoom ratio. The lens is also compatible with APS-C DX Nikon cameras, such as the Z50 and Zfc, on which the effective focal range becomes 42-600mm.
Superzoom lenses offer an all-inone solution, covering everything from wide-angle to telephoto focal lengths, and opening up new possibilities for your photography or filmmaking. The longest-range superzoom previously available for Nikon cameras was the Tamron 18-400mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC
HLD, which could only be used on Nikon F-mount DX-format DSLRs.
Whether you’re shooting sports or wildlife, or in any scenario where subject distance varies continuously, this lens enables you to adapt to any situation with ease. Its versatility means you could rely on just this one lens to capture a wide range of scenes, eliminating the need to switch between multiple lenses.
What’s more, the lens excels in closeup photography, with a minimum focus distance of just 0.2m at the widest angle and 1.2m at the maximum telephoto position, while offering a maximum reproduction ratio of 0.35x.
It features a stepping motor
(STM) for fast autofocus, and built-in Vibration Reduction provides up to a 5-stop benefit. Despite its impressive telephoto reach, the lens has a compact and lightweight design, weighing approximately 725g, which makes it the perfect lens for travel and everyday use.
The Nikon Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR will go on sale from mid-April priced at £1,399 / $1,299.
Abstract photography is a dynamic and varied genre that presents endless opportunities to explore and unleash your creativity. In the early days of photography, there was little room for abstract frames. The first cameras served the sole purpose of capturing scenes as they appeared in real life, providing a more accurate depiction than paintings.
However, like most art forms, photography evolved, and began to find its creative voice as a reaction against expressionism in the 1920s, when photographers such as Albert Renger-Patzsch freed the medium from its initial function. This period saw the emergence of movements such as New Objectivity and New Vision, where photographers embraced a fresh approach to discovering the technical possibilities of photography to showcase structures, forms and angles in innovative and exciting ways.
To create frames that offer a fresh and unique perspective on familiar subjects, the key is to break away from preconceived notions by transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary. This often means removing subjects from their usual context, which renders the functions of objects less important. Instead, the focus shifts to the optical characteristics of materials and colours.
To experience subjects in a new and extended way, we need to train our eyes and develop the necessary observation skills, while also trusting our vision. Breaking traditional photographic rules is an important part of this process, even though it may be easier for some than for others. However, abstract photography is a genre that allows us to have fun, experiment and discover.
Over the next few pages we’ll explore some abstract techniques that you can adapt to other photographic genres, and which will let you showcase your creative side. You’ll learn how to find fresh perspectives on everyday objects and familiar scenes, and how to transform them in a game of hide and seek with the viewer.