On February 13, 2025, Nikon introduced their latest Z Mount lens: the Nikon Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ. The “PZ” within the identify stands for “Energy Zoom” – certainly one of some ways during which this lens is supposed for videographers or hybrid shooters. At $2600, it is a very specialised lens, but it surely additionally represents an thrilling new step for Nikon within the realm of videography. Right here’s what you have to know.
Specs
- Full Identify: Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ
- Mount Sort: Nikon Z Mount
- Focal Size: 28-135mm zoom (4.8x zoom)
- Angle of View (Full Body): 75° to 18°
- Most Aperture: f/4
- Minimal Aperture: f/22
- Aperture Blades: 9, rounded
- Filter Measurement: 95mm
- Lens Components: 18
- Lens Teams: 13
- Particular Components: 4 aspherical, 3 ED, 1 aspherical ED
- Picture Stabilization: No
- Inside Focusing: Sure
- Inside Zoom: Sure
- Management Rings: Zoom, focus, customized
- Operate Button: Sure (duplicated on facet and prime)
- Switches: Zoom lever and A/M swap
- Focus Motor: STM
- Minimal Focus Distance: 34 cm (13 inches) at 28mm; 57 cm (22 inches) at 135mm
- Most Magnification: 0.25× (1:4)
- Mount Materials: Metallic
- Climate/Mud Sealing: Sure
- Dimensions (Size × Diameter): 178 x 105 mm (7.0 x 4.1 inches)
- Weight: 1120 g (2.47 lbs)
- MSRP: $2599.95 (Pre-order right here)
Along with these bodily specs, the Nikon Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ has plenty of handling-related options which might be tailor-made to videography. The main focus and zoom rings are knurled for compatibility with follow-focus equipment. The lens is tailor-made to be used with the Excessive-Res Zoom function discovered on the Nikon Z8 and Z9, permitting you to zoom from 28mm into (the cropped equal of) 270mm whereas sustaining 4K high quality. Nikon designed the 28-135mm f/4 PZ to zoom internally and keep the same distribution of weight at totally different focal lengths, which makes it a pure match for video gimbals.
As for the ability zoom functionality itself, it permits for some helpful options not discovered on different Nikon lenses. First, the zoom lever on the facet of the lens lets you zoom very easily (at any of 11 pre-selected speeds). Past that, Nikon says that with digital camera firmware updates, it will likely be attainable to customise the zoom ring angle and the path of rotation. And it’ll even be attainable to regulate the zoom operation remotely from a pc or telephone utilizing NX Tether, NX Discipline, or SnapBridge.
Impressions
The Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ lens is a brand new step for Nikon, and an enormous one – particularly coupled with their acquisition of RED final 12 months. It signifies that Nikon sees high-end video as certainly one of their future enterprise avenues, and so they additionally see the Z Mount as being able to becoming a member of the prevailing PL and EF mount lenses that at the moment dominate that area.
That’s particularly clear on condition that this lens was paired with the announcement of the RED Komodo-X and V-Raptor X, the primary cameras from RED with a Nikon Z mount. The 28-135mm f/4 PZ, then, is smart both as a hybrid nonetheless/video lens (paired with one thing just like the Nikon Z8 or Z9), or as a part of a devoted, higher-end cine setup from RED.
For videography, the largest draw back that I see is that the 28-135mm f/4 PZ just isn’t parfocal – in different phrases, the main target level of this lens will change considerably as it’s zoomed. Nikon appears to have prioritized a scarcity of focus respiration as a substitute, so if you wish to keep the main target level whereas zooming, you’ll have to compensate with steady autofocus or pull focus manually.
This isn’t ideally suited, though for a lot of kinds of videography, focus respiration could be an even bigger concern than a lens that isn’t parfocal. However for genres like documentary videography and even informal YouTube-type movies, a parfocal zoom will be very useful. I stay up for testing how near parfocal the Nikon Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ actually is, and whether or not steady autofocus is ready to sustain with giant adjustments in focal size rapidly on this lens.
Lastly, should you’re purely a stills photographer, I don’t suppose that is doubtless the lens for you. It’s designed with video options in thoughts, each the place dealing with and optics are involved, and the outcome is a reasonably large and costly lens. Though the optical development contains a lot of Nikon’s greatest applied sciences, a lot of that’s in service of a lens that zooms internally and doesn’t have vital focus respiration. Whether or not or not it outperforms one thing just like the Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 S in a lab setting is an open query, and I wouldn’t be shocked if the reply is not any. In fact, I stay up for testing it and discovering out!
Pre-Order Hyperlinks
The Nikon Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ might be out there starting in April at an MSRP of $2599.95. You possibly can pre-order the lens at the moment on the hyperlinks under:
Press Launch
Nikon releases the NIKKOR Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ customary zoom lens for the Nikon Z mount system
In pursuit of superior operability and performance that helps skilled videography with built-in energy zoom
February 13, 2025
Nikon Company (Nikon) is happy to announce the discharge of the NIKKOR Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ, a normal zoom lens that’s appropriate with full-frame/FX-format mirrorless cameras for which the Nikon Z mount has been adopted. Growth of this product was introduced on October 30, 2024.
The NIKKOR Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ is a normal zoom lens geared up with an influence zoom*1 that covers a broad vary of focal lengths — from 28 to 135 mm. It affords videographers superior operability and performance in conditions that require agility, reminiscent of when capturing documentaries or capturing on location solo, and when reshoots aren’t an choice. As the primary NIKKOR Z lens with a zoom lever, the NIKKOR Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ not solely achieves easy zooming but additionally permits customers to select from 11 totally different zoom speeds*2 to match their artistic wants and allow all kinds of zoom kinds. As well as, shifts in focus place and the middle of gravity that happen with zooming have been minimized, permitting the consumer to shoot with confidence, even when always altering the focal size. The NIKKOR Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ additionally helps a wide range of video equipment that assist videographers seize the footage they need on location, in addition to providing distant management capabilities utilizing a pc or smartphone. Because of the superior NIKKOR Z optical efficiency, this lens permits customers to seize stunning high-resolution 8K video whereas supporting environment friendly video capturing.
Nikon will proceed to pursue a brand new dimension in optical efficiency whereas assembly customers’ wants, contributing to the event of imaging tradition, with the hope of increasing potentialities for imaging expression.
1 The digital camera have to be operating the most recent firmware to make use of some features.
2 Firmware might require updating earlier than utilizing this function. See the product web page for appropriate cameras. We plan so as to add help for some fashions with a future firmware replace.
Main options
- The NIKKOR Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ helps a handy 28-135 mm vary of focal lengths, permitting for a wide range of compositions with out altering lenses.
- The lens helps dynamic close-ups with a minimal focus distance of simply 0.34 m within the 28 mm to 50 mm vary and 0.57 m within the telephoto vary.
- When used with the Nikon Z9, Hello-Res Zoom can be utilized for an angle of view equal to that of the 270 mm focal size with 4K video recording.
- Zooming pace will be chosen from 11 speeds and assigned to the zoom lever or one of many digital camera’s Fn buttons.
- Zoom ring angle and path of rotation will be personalized to go well with particular person preferences.*1
- Synchro mode permits simultaneous optical zoom and Hello-Res Zoom utilizing a single management with video recording.*2
- Skilled video equipment, together with matte packing containers and comply with focus techniques, are supported.
- Adoption of an inner zoom mechanism permits for comfy zooming with out concern for shifts within the heart of gravity that will upset the steadiness of the camera-lens setup, particularly helpful when utilizing a gimbal.
- Adoption of Nikon’s greatest anti-reflection coating, Meso Amorphous Coat, considerably reduces ghosts and flares.
- Adoption of a stepping motor (STM) ensures quick and quiet autofocusing.
- Optimized for video recording with a design that suppresses focus respiration.
- Help for linear MF drive permits easy focusing.
- Comes with an oblong lens hood that helps customers management the quantity of sunshine coming into the lens for much less ghosts and flares. A filter adjustment window permits customers to regulate round polarizing and variable ND filters whereas the hood is connected.
- Zooming will be managed remotely from a pc, smartphone, or pill utilizing NX Tether, SnapBridge, or NX Discipline.
- L-Fn buttons, to which features will be assigned, are positioned on the facet and prime of the lens for easy operation of assigned features even when capturing in vertical (portrait) orientation.
- The lens is designed with a Nikon yellow ring round its mount.
- Nikon’s fluorine coat utilized to the entrance lens factor successfully repels mud, water droplets, grease, and grime.
- Designed with consideration for dust- and drip-resistance.*3
1 Firmware might require updating earlier than utilizing this function. See the product web page for appropriate cameras. We plan so as to add help for some fashions with a future firmware replace.
2 Management ring operation just isn’t supported.
3 Thorough dust- and drip-resistance just isn’t assured in all conditions or beneath all circumstances.