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| Photo: Nikon |
Nikon has announced the Nikkor Z DX Micro 35mm F1.7, an APS-C macro lens with a roughly 53mm equiv. focal length and the ability to focus on subjects as close as 0.16m (6.3″) away.
The lens’s formula uses eight elements in seven groups, with one ED lens. And while in most scenarios it’ll have a relatively bright F1.7 aperture, it’ll effectively be knocked down to F3.2 in extremely close-focus scenarios. Nikon claims the lens can achieve 0.67x magnification, which it says is “life-size equivalent” in full-frame terms.
It’s lightweight at 220g (7.8 oz), and is 72mm (2.8″) long, which means you can take pictures of subjects that are 0.09m (3.5″) away from the front element. Autofocus is handled by a stepper motor, and the company says it has minimal focus breathing.
The lens’s design is minimal; it has a single control ring, which can be customized to adjust focus, ISO, aperture, etc.
The lens is available to order today, and retails for $449.
Pre-production samples
Please do not reproduce any of these images on a website or any newsletter/magazine without prior permission (see our copyright page). We make the originals available for private users to download to their own machines for personal examination or printing; we do so in good faith, so please don’t abuse it.
Note: At Nikon’s insistence, these samples are re-sized out-of-camera JPEGs, and therefore include corrections and processing that we wouldn’t usually include. This is not our standard way of presenting images, so they should be considered as illustrative and not used to assess the lens’s performance.
Press release:
NIKON EXPANDS DX LENS LINEUP WITH TWO NEW NIKKOR LENSES: THE NIKKOR Z DX 16-50MM F/2.8 VR AND THE NIKKOR Z DX MC 35MM F/1.7
MELVILLE, NY (OCTOBER 16, 2025) — Today, Nikon Inc. announced the release of two new APS-C/DX-format NIKKOR Z lenses, the NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR standard zoom lens with a constant f/2.8 aperture, and the NIKKOR Z DX MC 35mm f/1.7 standard micro lens. Whether shooting portraits that pop, low-light street snaps, or extreme close-ups, both lenses grant immense versatility and extraordinary creative possibilities for Nikon DX-format mirrorless camera users.
A Brighter View: The NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR
The new NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR is a standard DX-format zoom lens that covers a focal length range that is equivalent to wide-angle to medium telephoto, with the benefit of a fast, constant maximum aperture of f/2.8. This focal range is similar to the popular 24-75mm full frame /FX-format equivalent, making it ideal for subjects of all kinds, including wide landscapes, intimate interiors and flattering portraits. With its large f/2.8 aperture, the lens excels in low light capture by allowing more light in and enabling creative shallow depth of field for emotive portraits with blurred backgrounds.
This lens is an excellent entry point to discovering the impressive optical performance of NIKKOR Z lenses. It delivers the large, natural bokeh characteristics of an f/2.8 maximum aperture, as well as high-resolution rendering of details when stopping down. The built-in lens-shift vibration reduction (VR) mechanism (5.0-stop compensation)1 reduces the effects of camera shake, even when slower shutter speeds are used in low-light conditions. For video and content creators, the lens also uses a stepping motor (STM) for exceptionally quiet autofocus and features an optical design that minimizes focus breathing.
Features of the NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR Lens
- The fast constant maximum aperture of f/2.8 throughout the zoom range allows for large, natural bokeh and reduces the effects of camera shake when shooting in low-light conditions.
- Coverage for the 16mm to 50mm wide-angle to mid-range of focal lengths supports a wide variety of scenes and subjects.
- A minimum focus distance of 5.9 in (0.15 m) at the wide-angle end and 9.8 in (0.25 m) at the long end allows users to get close to their subjects for dynamic shots.
- Equipped with a lens-shift vibration reduction (VR) mechanism with camera-shake compensation equivalent to a 5.0-stop (at the center) increase in shutter speed.
- Portable and lightweight, with a total length of approximately 3.4 in (8.8 cm) and weight of approximately 11.6 oz (330 g) enables easy hand-held shooting.
- Optimized for video recording with a design that suppresses focus breathing and incorporates a stepping motor (STM) for quiet autofocusing.
- Customizable Control Ring allows for direct control over focus, aperture, exposure compensation or ISO sensitivity.
- One ED glass and two aspherical lens elements effectively minimize various lens aberrations2.
- Nine-blade aperture produces circular, natural bokeh.
- When recording video using the Z50II, Hi-Res Zoom3 expands the zoom range to the equivalent of 16-100mm (6.25× zoom) while still maintaining a constant maximum aperture of f/2.8 with no loss in resolution.• When recording video using the Z50II, Hi-Res Zoom3 expands the zoom range to the equivalent of 16-100mm (6.25× zoom) while still maintaining a constant maximum aperture of f/2.8 with no loss in resolution.
- Designed with consideration of dust and drip resistance4.
Make the Everyday Extraordinary: NIKKOR Z DX MC 35mm f/1.7
The NIKKOR Z DX MC 35mm f/1.7 is a fast, lightweight standard micro lens. It pulls double duty as a capable lens for macro photography, as well as an everyday fast prime lens. It is the first APS-C-size/DX-format NIKKOR Z lens to achieve a maximum reproduction ratio equivalent to life-size5, giving users the ability to get closer than ever to reveal intricate details. The very short minimum focus distance of 6.2 in (0.16 m) lets users explore the hidden world that exists in the ordinary. Familiar things like pets, flowers, insects, food, or textiles are all rendered in beautiful, sharp detail like never before.
With a fast f/1.7 aperture and a natural 35mm focal length similar to the field of view of the human eye6, the lens also excels as a fast, go-anywhere companion prime lens. From tabletop photos to portraits, or snapshots to low-light cityscapes, this lens gives users the ability to shoot in minimal light and blur the background to draw attention to the subject.
Features of the NIKKOR Z DX MC 35mm f/1.7 Lens
- A maximum reproduction ratio of 0.67×, which is life-size equivalent in FX/35mm [135] format, enables the capture of small subjects at a larger size.
- The fast f/1.7 maximum aperture allows users to make the most of large bokeh and minimize noise in low-light conditions.
- Users can get extremely close to their subjects with an approximately 2.8 in (7 cm)7 working distance from the front of the lens, and a minimum focusing distance of only 6.2 in (0.16 m) to reveal stunning up-close details.
- Adoption of an aspherical ED glass element effectively minimizes chromatic aberration.
- An internal focusing (IF) system eliminates any change in the total length of the lens.
- Adoption of a stepping motor (STM) realizes quiet autofocusing.
- The customizable control ring allows for direct control over focus, aperture, exposure compensation or ISO sensitivity.
- Designed with consideration of dust- and drip-resistance4.
Price and Availability
The new Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR Lens will be available in late October 2025 for a suggested retail price of $899.95*. The new Nikon NIKKOR Z DX MC 35mm f/1.7 Lens will be available in late October 2025 for a suggested retail price of $449.95*.
1. Based on CIPA 2024 Standard. Yaw/pitch correction performance with the Nikon Z50II (telephoto end, NORMAL mode)
2. When using the Z50, camera firmware must be updated to the latest version.
3. Hi-Res Zoom is available when used with the Z50II, and [1920×1080; 30p], [1920×1080; 25p], or [1920×1080; 24p] is selected for [Frame size/frame rate] in the video recording menu. AF-area mode is fixed at [Wide-area AF (L)], and the focus point is not displayed. Additionally, [Electronic VR] in the video recording menu is set to [OFF].
4. Thorough dust- and drip-resistance is not guaranteed in all situations or under all conditions.
5. Equivalent in FX/35mm [135] format. Maximum reproduction ratio of 0.67×.
6. Angle of view equivalent to that of a 52.5 mm lens in FX/35mm [135] format.
7. Working distance: The distance from the end of the lens to the subject. Without the lens hood.
*SRP (Suggested Retail Price) listed only as a suggestion. Actual prices are set by dealers and are subject to change at any time.
Nikon Nikkor Z DX Micro 35mm F1.7 specifications:
| Principal specifications | |
|---|---|
| Lens type | Prime lens |
| Max Format size | APS-C / DX |
| Focal length | 35 mm |
| Lens mount | Nikon Z |
| Aperture | |
| Maximum aperture | F1.7 |
| Minimum aperture | F16 |
| Aperture ring | No |
| Optics | |
| Elements | 8 |
| Groups | 7 |
| Special elements / coatings | 1 ED |
| Focus | |
| Minimum focus | 0.16 m (6.3″) |
| Maximum magnification | 0.5× |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Motor type | Stepper motor |
| Focus method | Internal |
| Physical | |
| Weight | 220 g (0.49 lb) |
| Diameter | 70 mm (2.76″) |
| Length | 72 mm (2.83″) |
| Colour | Black |
| Filter thread | 52 mm |
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Nikon is finally making a fast zoom for APS-C