NIKKOR Z DX 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ VR vs Nikon Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm F3.5-6.3 VR
Nikon Z
Both are DX zooms for Nikon's APS-C cameras, but with a different focus. The Z DX 12-28 PZ VR (April 2023) is, according to Nikon, the first NIKKOR Z lens with a built-in power zoom and is aimed at video. It zooms internally so the length stays the same, and it starts at a real wide-angle 12 mm (18 mm in 35mm terms). The Z DX 16-50 VR arrived in 2019 as the kit lens for the Z 50. It is retractable, weighs just 135 g and reaches 50 mm (75 mm equivalent).
Both are stabilized. The 12-28 goes wider, the 16-50 reaches further.
Which one suits whom?
- Z DX 12-28: You shoot video or vlog, want very wide architecture and landscape shots and value the power zoom.
- Z DX 16-50: You want the smallest possible everyday lens that goes from wide-angle to a short tele.
Key differences
- Focal length: 12-28 mm on the NIKKOR Z DX 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ VR, 16-50 mm on the Nikon Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm F3.5-6.3 VR.
- The Nikon Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm F3.5-6.3 VR is 70 g lighter (135 g vs 205 g).
- The Nikon Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm F3.5-6.3 VR is 32 mm shorter.
- The NIKKOR Z DX 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ VR focuses closer: from 19 cm instead of 20 cm.
- Filter thread: 67 mm on the NIKKOR Z DX 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ VR, 46 mm on the Nikon Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm F3.5-6.3 VR.
Specs side by side
The key specs of both lenses side by side.
| Lens | NIKKOR Z DX 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ VR | Nikon Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm F3.5-6.3 VR |
|---|---|---|
| Focal length | 12-28 mm | 16-50 mm |
| Max. aperture | f/3.5-5.6 | f/3.5-6.3 |
| Weight | 205 g | 135 g |
| Filter diameter | 67 mm | 46 mm |
| Min. focus distance | 19 cm | 20 cm |
| Length | 64 mm | 32 mm |
| Autofocus | yes | yes |
| Image stabilization | yes | yes |
Size comparison
- NIKKOR Z DX 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ VR: 64 × 72 mm
- Nikon Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm F3.5-6.3 VR: 32 × 70 mm
Side view to the same scale, length × diameter (without lens hood).