News Summary:
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First announced in January as a lens in development alongside the Nikkor 85mm f/1.2 S lens, the Nikkor Z 26mm f/2.8 is described as a premium pancake for everyday use. Nikon says it offers excellent sharpness and excellent background blur, as well as a fast f/2.8 maximum aperture, despite its small size.
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Nikon’s new 26mm f/2.8 is an ultra-thin wide-angle prime lens for Z-mount mirrorless cameras and is the thinnest and lightest full-frame autofocus lens ever.
The 26mm f/2.8 is his first Nikkor Z lens thin and light enough to be considered a true pancake lens, less than an inch (23.5mm) thick and about 4.5 ounces (125 grams).
Consisting of eight elements arranged in six groups, the 26mm f/2.8 is compatible with both full-frame and crop sensor Nikon Z-mount cameras (DX and FX). When mounted on a DX format camera, the focal length is equivalent to 39mm, which Nikon says is close to a “standard angle of view” lens. It uses what Nikon calls an “all-element” focus system and three aspherical lens elements to keep its small size.
Nikon says the advantage of such a small, lightweight optic is that it can be easily carried anywhere. “Whether you’re shooting street photography, travel vlogs, or landscape photography in unique locations, the Nikkor Z 26mm f/2.8 is the perfect companion wherever you take it,” says Nikon.
There is no internal onboard stabilization, relying on the attached camera’s on-sensor stabilization to reduce vibration. The aperture range of the lens is f/2.8 to f/16 with a 7-blade aperture. The 26mm f/2.8 has a minimum focus distance of about 0.2 meters, is focused by a single stepper motor, has a new lens cap and lens hood, and is especially slim and designed to work with filters at 52mm. . Functions such as aperture and exposure compensation can be assigned to the control ring.
Nikon says the lens has some degree of weather resistance, specifically “dust and splash proof.”
