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The beginning of the Nikon's Z system was untypical – the first fixed focal lenses with that mount were quite huge and relatively expensive f/1.8 models – first with 50 and 35 mm focal length, then with 85 and 24 mm focal lengths.

When it comes to standard lenses, the formidable and very fast Nikkor Z 58 mm f/0.95 S Noct was the next step. After a while the Nikkor Z 50 mm f/1.2 S was shown, also quite big. Then the offer was complemented with the macro Nikkor Z MC 50 mm f/2.8 and a small and handy Nikkor Z 40 mm f/2.0 that, to some extend, can also be considered a standard lens.

In this situation you could hardly expect any new launches in this segment and yet Nikon managed to surprise everyone. In the middle of 2024 they presented two new instruments. First was shown at the end of June – it was the Nikkor Z 35 mm f/1.4; then on 10th September another classic standard, the Nikkor Z 50 mm f/1.4 was launched.

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Prices of new models were a very pleasant surprise as well. Top-of-the-range optics producers have made us used to the fact that contemporary 1.4/50 class instruments are expensive. Usually you have to pay for them over $1000. Imagine my surprise when I found out that the official price of the new Nikon 50 mm device on the day of its launch reached just 2399 PLN ($500). Now it is even lower, on a level of 2100 PLN and I admit it can be called really affordable.

It's worth reminding here that the last Nikon lens with such parameters, the Nikkor AF-S 50 mm f/1.4G, was launched in September 2008 with a price of 1500 PLN ($450). Mind you it wasn't anything special, certainly not a construction that would blow your mind away with its parameters, just an ordinary double gauss. In a period from September 2008 to now official inflation rate in Poland amounted to almost 77%. 1500 PLN from 2008 corresponds to roughly 2650 PLN now. Compared to that the contemporary Nikkor Z 50 mm f/1.4 seems to be far more affordable than old gauss 1.4/50 devices that you had to purchase for less than 1500 PLN a decade ago. It seems Nikon proved that it is possible to produce a really interesting lens in this segment and that made us want to test the new Nikkor thoroughly and present our findings.

Courtesy of the Polish subsidiary of Nikon, that sent us one specimen of the tested lens really fast we could do exactly as we planned – thank you!

We decided to test the Nikkor Z 50 mm f/1.4 as first even though it was launched later – it is a novelty so it took top priority. Of course we didn't forget the 35 mm device, we are going to test it soon as well.