The Gear Vault Quest
I am on a journey to use every single Nikon Brand Z mount lens there ever has been or ever will be. While I have documented much of the testing at Youtube.com/zwadephoto, this page will always have my current opinions as they change over time. Here I give an overall score based on a point system and should be viewed as an “opinion” based on personal experience and high scrutiny.
Sharpness: 1pt (Sharp Enough) 2pt (Sharp) 3pt (Extreme Sharpness)
Contrast: 1pt (Flat) 2pt (Normal) 3pt (Very Contrasty)
Color Saturation: 1pt (Flat) 2pt (Average) 3pt (Great Color Saturation)
Black & White Ability: 1pt (Flat) 2pt (Good Enough) 3pt (Strong)
Versatility: 1pt (Niche) 2pt (Versatile) 3pt (High Versatility)
Build Quality: 1pt (Cheap Feel) 2pt (Z Expectation) 3pt (Robust)
Bag-ability: 1pt (Any Degree of Awkward) 2pt (Expected/Acceptable) 3pt (Take Anywhere)
Overall Image Quality: 1pt (Lesser) 2pt (Good) 3pt (Great) 4pt (Top)
Value for Money: 1pt (Bad Value) 2pt (Worth the Price) 3pt (High Value)
Special Look Bonus: 2pt
Nikkor Z 12-28mm f/3.5+5.6 PZ VR
“It’s kind of blatantly for content creation”
Score: 16
Sharpness: 2
Contrast: 2
Color Saturation: 2
Black & White Ability: 1
Versatility: 1
Build Quality: 1
Bag-ability: 3
Overall Image Quality: 2
Value for Money: 2
Special Look Bonus: 0
Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S
“It’s a good price for what you get. The optical quality is marvelous.”
Score: 22
Sharpness: 3
Contrast: 2
Color Saturation: 2
Black & White Ability: 2
Versatility: 2
Bag-ability: 3
Build Quality: 3
Overal Image Quality: 2
Value for Money: 3
Special Look Bonus: 0
Nikkor Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S
“I’m not exactly sure how Nikon did it but this lens is rad.”
Score: 25
Sharpness: 3
Contrast: 3
Color Saturation: 2
Black & White Ability: 3
Versatility: 2
Build Quality: 3
Bag-ability: 2
Overall Image Quality: 3
Value for Money: 2
Special Look Bonus: 2
Nikkor Z 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR
“It’s what a kit lens should be. Good enough that a new photographer wont’t think they suck. Thats it.”
Score: 15
Sharpness: 1
Contrast: 2
Color Saturation: 2
Black & White Ability: 1
Versatility: 1
Build Quality: 1
Bag-ability: 3
Overall Image Quality: 2
Value for Money: 2
Special Look Bonus: 0
Nikkor Z 17-28mm f/2.8
“For the price, I’m not sure the differences will be enough for most people to get the rich uncle version of this lens.”
Score: 18
Sharpness: 2
Contrast: 2
Color Saturation: 2
Black & White Ability: 2
Versatility: 2
Build Quality: 2
Bag-ability: 2
Overall Image Quality: 2
Value for Money: 2
Special Look Bonus: 0
Nikkor Z DX 18-140mm f/3.5-6.3 VR
“I wish things like this existed when I first started photography.”
Score: 16
Sharpness: 1
Contrast: 2
Color Saturation: 2
Black & White Ability: 1
Versatility: 3
Build Quality: 1
Bag-ability: 2
Overall Image Quality: 2
Value for Money: 2
Special Look Bonus: 0
Nikkor Z 20mm f/1.8 S
“The color saturation is so good RAW that you’d think it’s a JPEG. I didn’t think that was possible in modern glass.”
Score: 23
Sharpness: 2
Contrast: 3
Color Saturation: 3
Black & White Ability: 2
Versatility: 1
Build Quality: 2
Bag-ability: 2
Overall Image Quality: 4
Value for Money: 2
Special Look Bonus: 2
Nikkor Z 24mm f/1.8 S
“This is a lens that surprised me. I assumed the 20mm would be better in every way, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.”
Score: 20
Sharpness: 2
Contrast: 3
Color Saturation: 2
Black & White Ability: 3
Versatility: 2
Build Quality: 2
Bag-ability: 2
Overall Image Quality: 2
Value for Money: 2
Special Look Bonus: 0
Nikkor Z DX 24mm f/1.7
“It doesn’t have the qualities to make is super awesome, but there is an inherent ‘prettyness’ to it that I can’t quite put my finger on.”
Score: 17
Sharpness: 1
Contrast: 2
Color Saturation: 2
Black & White Ability: 1
Versatility: 1
Build Quality: 1
Bag-ability: 3
Overall Image Quality: 2
Value for Money: 2
Special Look Bonus: 2
Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S
“It really has no business being a kit lens. It’s image quality is way too good.”
Score: 23
Sharpness: 3
Contrast: 3
Color Saturation: 3
Black & White Ability: 2
Versatility: 2
Build Quality: 2
Bag-ability: 3
Overall Image Quality: 3
Value for Money: 3
Special Look Bonus: 0
Nikkor Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR
“I can’t do it. I’ll die on this hill. I absolutely hate this lens. Way overpriced.”
Score: 12
Sharpness: 1
Contrast: 1
Color Saturation: 1
Black & White Ability: 1
Versatility: 3
Build Quality: 1
Bag-ability: 2
Overall Image Quality: 1
Value for Money: 1
Special Look Bonus: 0
Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8
“Mid range f/2.8 zooms have made more money for pros than any other lens ever, and Nikon somehow made one with a ton of character.”
Score: 26
Sharpness: 3
Contrast: 3
Color Saturation: 3
Black & White Ability: 2
Versatility: 3
Build Quality: 2
Bag-ability: 2
Overall Image Quality: 4
Value for Money: 2
Special Look Bonus: 2
Nikkor Z 24-120 f/4 S
“There isn’t a single person in my comments that has this lens that doesn’t like it.”
Score: Coming Soon!
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Nikkor Z 24-50mm f/4-6.3
“If your first camera was a Z5, this is nothing more than ‘Your First Lens.’ It’s just OK.”
Score: 14-15
Sharpness: 1
Contrast: 2
Color Saturation: 2
Black & White Ability: 1
Versatility: 1
Build Quality: 1
Overall Image Quality: 2
Bag-ability: 3
Value for Money: 2 (if acquired as kit) otherwise 1pt
Special Look Bonus: 0
Nikkor Z 26mm f/2.8 Pancake
“When this lens was released, It was over shadowed by a much more anticipated lens, and that’s a shame because it kicks ass.”
Score: 23
Sharpness: 3
Contrast: 2
Color Saturation: 3
Black & White Ability: 3
Versatility: 1
Build Quality: 1
Bag-ability: 3
Overall Image Quality: 3
Value for Money: 2
Special Look Bonus: 2
Nikkor Z 28mm f/2.8
“What can I say? It’s dirt cheap and better than what you paid for it.”
Score: 15
Sharpness: 1
Contrast: 2
Color Saturation: 2
Black & White Ability: 1
Versatility: 1
Build Quality: 1
Bag-ability: 3
Overall Image Quality: 2
Value for Money: 2
Special Look Bonus: 0
Nikkor Z 28-75mm f/2.8
“I really just think this is a good option for everyone who doesn’t care about the extra sauce found in it’s rich S-Line uncle.”
Score: 19
Sharpness: 2
Contrast: 2
Color Saturation: 2
Black & White Ability: 1
Versatility: 3
Build Quality: 2
Bag-ability: 2
Overall Image Quality: 2
Value for Money: 3
Special Look Bonus: 0
Nikkor Z 28-400f/4-8 VR
“Coming soon.”
Score: Coming Soon!
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Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.8 S
“Is it Nikon’s best 35mm f/1.8 ever? Probably. But I can’t help but think this thing is over priced
Score: 17
Sharpness: 2
Contrast: 2
Color Saturation: 2
Black & White Ability: 2
Versatility: 2
Build Quality: 2
Bagability: 2
Overall Image Quality: 2
Value for Money: 1
Special Look Bonus: 0
Nikkor Z 40mm f/2
“Sure it’s a plastic mount, but this thing is priced at it’s .construction NOT it’s optical performance.”
Score: 20
Sharpness: 2
Contrast: 2
Color Saturation: 2
Black & White Ability: 3
Versatility: 2
Build Quality: 1
Bagability: 3
Overall Image Quality: 2
Value for Money: 3
Special Look Bonus: 0
Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.2 S
“This lens redefined how I shoot photography. It literally created a new genre that became my favorite genre.”
Score: 25
Sharpness: 2
Contrast: 3
Color Saturation: 3
Black & White Ability: 3
Versatility: 2
Build Quality: 3
Bagability: 1
Overall Image Quality: 4
Value for Money: 2
Special Look Bonus: 2
Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.8 S
“How this is cheaper than the 35mm, I have no idea. It’s good enough that I’m not sure many working professionals can justify the f/1.2.”
Score: 21
Sharpness: 2
Contrast: 2
Color Saturation: 2
Black & White Ability: 3
Versatility: 2
Build Quality: 2
Overall Image Quality: 3
Bagability: 2
Value for Money: 3
Special Look Bonus: 0
Nikkor Z MC 50mm f/2.8 S
“Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.”
Score: 21
Sharpness: 2
Contrast: 2
Color Saturation: 2
Black & White Ability: 2
Versatility: 3
Build Quality: 2
Bagability: 3
Overall Image Quality: 2
Value for Money: 3
Special Look Bonus: 0
Nikkor Z DX 50-250mm f-4.5-6.3
“Coming Soon!”
Score: Coming Soon!
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Nikkor Z 58mm f/0.95 S Noct
“Coming Soon!”
Score: Coming Soon!
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Nikkor Z 70-180mm f/2.8
“Coming Soon!”
Score: Coming Soon!
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Nikkor Z 70-200 f/2.8 VR S
“It’s Nikon’s fastest, sharpest 70-200 ever. It’s just doesn’t inspire me. It’s just a tool. The best tool for the job it does.”
Score: 22
Sharpness: 3
Contrast: 3
Color Saturation: 2
Black & White Ability: 2
Versatility: 3
Build Quality: 3
Bagability: 1
Overall Image Quality: 3
Value for Money: 2
Special Look Bonus: 0
Nikkor Z 85mm f/1.2 S
“Tonal gradation so good you’ll think you’re shooting on a medium format system!”
Score: 27
Sharpness: 3
Contrast: 3
Color Saturation: 3
Black & White Ability: 3
Versatility: 2
Build Quality: 3
Bagability: 2
Overall Image Quality: 4
Value for Money: 2
Special Look Bonus: 2
Nikkor Z 85mm f/1.8 S
“This lens is obnoxiously for portraits. Super sharp and real slow. I like it better in studio than outdoors, but again just for portraits it doesn’t do much else.”
Score: 20
Sharpness: 3
Contrast: 3
Color Saturation: 2
Black & White Ability: 3
Versatility: 1
Build Quality: 2
Bagability: 2
Overall Image Quality: 3
Value for Money: 1
Special Look Bonus: 0
Nikkor Z 100-400 f/4.5-5.6 VR S
“Coming Soon!”
Score: Coming Soon!
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Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S
“I predicted that this lens would launch at the price point that it did. I just didn’t expect it to be THIS good. It had NO business being that cheap. I’d pay a alot more.”
Score: 27
Sharpness: 3
Contrast: 3
Color Saturation: 3
Black & White Ability: 3
Versatility: 2
Build Quality: 2
Bagability: 2
Overall Image Quality: 4
Value for Money: 3
Special Look Bonus: 2
Nikkor Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena
“It does exactly what Nikon said it would. It has perfect bokeh. Some days I can’t decide if this or the 85 1.2 is my favorite lens of all time!”
Score: 27
Sharpness: 3
Contrast: 3
Color Saturation: 3
Black & White Ability: 3
Versatility: 2
Build Quality: 3
Bagability: 2
Overall Image Quality: 4
Value for Money: 2
Special Look Bonus: 2
Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR
“Coming Soon!”
Score: Coming Soon!
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Nikkor Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S
“Coming Soon!”
Score: Coming Soon!
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Nikkor Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S
“Coming Soon!”
Score: Coming Soon!
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Nikkor Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S
“Coming Soon!”
Score: Coming Soon!
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Nikkor Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S
“Coming Soon!”
Score: Coming Soon!
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Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S
“Coming Soon!”
Score: Coming Soon!
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