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| Images: Nikon |
Nikon has announced the Nikkor 28-135mm F4 PZ, a lens geared toward professional video shooters, and the company’s first full-frame power zoom lens. It’s the latest result of Nikon’s increased focus on video, best exemplified by its purchase of Red Digital Cinema in March of 2024.
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The lens comprises 18 elements in 13 groups, with three ED elements, four aspherical elements and one aspherical ED element. It has a “Meso Amorphous” coating to reduce ghosting and flaring and a fluorine coating to repel oil and water from the front element. Its aperture has nine blades. It’s not optically parfocal but can use the autofocus system to maintain focus while zooming. The focus ring on the lens is also compatible with follow-focuses if you prefer to pull focus manually.
The 28-135mm can accept 95mm screw-on filters, though given its target audience, it seems just as likely its users will opt for matte box-mounted filters. It weighs 1210g (2.67lb) with the removable tripod foot, and Nikon says its center of gravity won’t move around much while zooming, which will be a big plus to those using it on a gimbal. It has a matched pair of programmable buttons.
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| Photo: Nikon |
The lens has a power zoom lever, which can be used to adjust its focal length. Nikon says you’ll be able to adjust the lens’ zoom speed depending on the effect you’re going for. You’ll also be able to use a physical ring on the lens to control the focal length, and you can customize its rotation direction.
The video-first design is a first for Nikon’s Z-mount lenses. Nikon is pitching the lens to people who shoot documentaries, sports, news and commercial video, and it’s likely not a coincidence that it’s being announced alongside the introduction of Z-mount Red cameras. While the company’s cinema-focused bodies aren’t generally used for most of those genres, it’s another clear signal that Nikon is taking video very seriously right now – with the Z9 getting the ability to shoot using shutter angle instead of speed, it’ll likely be just a good a match for this lens as a Z-mount V-Raptor.
The 28-135mm F4 PZ will be available in April and will retail for $2599.
Press Release:
One lens, infinite possibilities: Nikon releases the NIKKOR Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ power zoom lens for professional videographers
Cinematic NIKKOR Quality Plus All of Your Most Commonly Used Focal Lengths in a Single Versatile Lens
MELVILLE, NY (February 12, 2025)- Today Nikon Inc. announced the release of the NIKKOR Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ, a full-frame power zoom lens for the Nikon Z mount made especially for video professionals. Featuring a truly versatile focal range, a customizable power zoom function1, precise manual controls and agile handling, this is the first dedicated NIKKOR Z lens that is designed to empower small-footprint productions and solo videographers with a lightweight cinematic tool that fulfills numerous roles.
The first thing that grabs your attention is the appearance of this lens– the pronounced yellow ring around the bayonet and the bold typography on the barrel stand out, indicating its rightful place in a production environment. The NIKKOR Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ looks different than other NIKKOR Z lenses, incorporating an updated design and precise controls made to augment the workflow of cinematographers and videographers, with maximum flexibility.
“There is a long history of professional cinematographers in Hollywood and beyond using NIKKOR lenses to bring their vision to life, and the new NIKKOR Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ builds upon this legacy, going a step further to provide exceptional versatility meeting the needs for today’s solo filmmakers,” said Fumiko Kawabata, Sr. Vice President of Marketing and Planning, Nikon Inc.
The NIKKOR Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ is a power zoom lens that spans many of the most commonly used focal lengths, from a wide 28mm for establishing shots, to 135mm for close-up/telephoto coverage. It also covers everything in between, from interviews to events, live or spot news, sports and more. The NIKKOR Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ gives videographers superior operability and functionality in situations that require agility, such as when shooting corporate content, documentaries, or on-location coverage, when reshoots just aren’t an option.
The NIKKOR Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ offers precise control, letting the user smoothly zoom throughout the focal range, but also offers a choice of 11 different zoom speeds2 to match a specific creative style and vision. The lens is superbly balanced, minimizing shifts in the center of gravity that occur with zooming. This lets the user shoot with confidence, even when constantly using the power zoom feature on a gimbal. The NIKKOR Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ also supports a variety of video accessories such as follow-focus controllers, matte boxes and more to help videographers capture the footage they want on location, as well as offering remote control capabilities using a computer or smartphone.
Thanks to the superior NIKKOR Z optical performance, this lens enables users to capture beautiful full-frame, high-resolution 8K video. The lens uses Nikon’s best anti-reflection coating, a Meso Amorphous Coat, to significantly reduce ghosting and flares, while the optical formula is optimized for video with a design that minimizes focus breathing. Additionally, the inclusion of a stepping motor (STM) ensures fast and accurate autofocusing.
Primary Features of the NIKKOR Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ
- The NIKKOR Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ supports a convenient 28-135mm range of focal lengths, allowing for a variety of compositions without changing lenses.
- When used with the Nikon Z8/Z9, Hi-Res Zoom can be used for an angle of view equivalent to that of the 270mm focal length with 4K video recording. Additionally, from 135mm-270mm, the zoom is effectively parfocal.
- The lens supports dynamic close-ups with a minimum focus distance of just 13.3 in (0.34 m) in the 28mm to 50mm range and 22.4 in (0.57 m) in the telephoto range.
- Zooming speed can be selected from 11 speeds and assigned to the zoom lever or one of the camera’s Fn buttons.
- Zoom ring angle and direction of rotation can be customized to suit individual preferences.2
- Synchro mode enables simultaneous optical zoom and Hi-Res Zoom using a single control with video recording.3
- Professional video accessories, including matte boxes and follow focus systems are supported.
- Adoption of an internal zoom mechanism allows for comfortable zooming without concern for shifts in the center of gravity that may upset the balance of the camera-lens setup, especially useful when using a gimbal.
- Adoption of Meso Amorphous Coat, Nikon’s best anti-reflection coating, significantly reduces ghosts and flares.
- Adoption of a stepping motor (STM) ensures fast and accurate autofocusing.
- Optimized for video recording with a design that suppresses focus breathing.
- Support for linear MF drive enables smooth focusing.
- Comes with a rectangular HB-116 lens hood that helps users control the amount of light entering the lens for less ghosting and flares. A filter adjustment window allows users to adjust circular polarizing and variable ND filters while the hood is attached.
- Zooming can be controlled remotely from a computer, smartphone, or tablet using NX Tether, SnapBridge, or NX Field.
- Customizable L-Fn buttons are positioned on the side and top of the lens for convenient operation of assigned functions, even when shooting in vertical (portrait) orientation.
- Nikon’s fluorine coat applied to the front lens element effectively repels dust, water droplets, grease, and dirt.
- Designed with consideration for dust and drip-resistance.4
Price and Availability
The new NIKKOR Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ lens will be available in April 2025 for a suggested retail price of $2599.95* .The lens will also be available as part of a bundle with the new RED KOMODO-X Z Mount camera. For more information on these products, please visit RED.com. For more information about the latest Nikon products, including the vast collection of NIKKOR Z lenses and the entire line of Z series cameras, please visit?nikonusa.com.
For more information about the latest Nikon products, including the vast collection of NIKKOR Z lenses and the entire line of Z series cameras, please visit nikonusa.com.
Specifications, equipment, and release dates are subject to change without any notice or obligation on the part of the manufacturer.
1. The camera must be running the latest firmware to use some functions.
2. Firmware may require updating before using this feature. See the product page for compatible cameras. We plan to add support for some models with a future firmware update.
3. Control ring operation is not supported.
4. Thorough dust and drip-resistance is not guaranteed in all situations or under all conditions.
*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 28-135mm F4 PZ specifications
| Principal specifications | |
|---|---|
| Lens type | Zoom lens |
| Max Format size | 35mm FF |
| Focal length | 28–135 mm |
| Lens mount | Nikon Z |
| Aperture | |
| Maximum aperture | F4 |
| Minimum aperture | F22 |
| Aperture ring | No |
| Number of diaphragm blades | 9 |
| Optics | |
| Elements | 18 |
| Groups | 13 |
| Special elements / coatings | 3 ED, 4 asph., 1 ED asph., Meso Amorphous coat, flourine coat |
| Focus | |
| Minimum focus | 0.34 m (13.39?) |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Motor type | Stepper motor |
| Focus method | Internal |
| Distance scale | No |
| DoF scale | No |
| Physical | |
| Weight | 1210 g (2.67 lb) |
| Diameter | 105 mm (4.13?) |
| Length | 178 mm (7.01?) |
| Colour | Black |
| Zoom method | Rotary (internal) |
| Power zoom | Yes |
| Filter thread | 95 mm |
| Hood supplied | Yes |
| Hood product code | HB-116 |
| Tripod collar | Yes |
Our DPREVIEW Tribute:
After nearly 25 years of operation, DPReview closed on 10 April 2023. This difficult decision was part of the annual operating plan review that parent company, Amazon, shared earlier this year.
Over the course of 25 years, DP Review built up a reputation as being one of the most informative places to go for information about that new camera or lens you’re after. DP Review began as an independent reviews site based in the UK in 1998, the brainchild of Philip and Joanna Askey, but it was eventually purchased by Amazon in 2007 and relocated over to Seattle in the USA in 2010.
Cheers DPReview – thanks for the great work and content that guided photographers, videographers and techno junkies the world over!
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