NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.2 S

Testers find the centre very good at f/1.2 and outstanding from f/2, with the midframe close behind and the corners the weakest zone until f/4. Distortion is negligible, coma is mild, focus breathing is very low and longitudinal colour fringing is mostly gone by f/2. Vignetting wide open sits around 2.5 stops uncorrected, which is average for the speed.

The drawbacks are physical. The lens is heavier than many zooms, AF is accurate and almost silent but no faster than Nikon's f/1.8 S primes, and flare with the sun inside the frame is only fair. Most conclude it is the better f/1.2 50 optically, but that the 50mm f/1.8 S comes close for a fraction of the price and weight.

Wedding, event and portrait shooters are its main audience, and owners say the clean wide-open rendering and reliable Eye-AF justify the bulk. The OLED panel showing focus distance and depth of field, plus the assignable L-Fn button, get frequent praise from video users.

The weight is the constant complaint, especially on Z5 and Z6-class bodies, and several owners mention bumping the smooth, unclicked control ring by accident. A few find the rendering too clinical compared with older, character-heavy f/1.2 designs.