NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8 Review: A Versatile and Accessible Workhorse for Nikon Z

Nikon's mirrorless Z-mount system has rapidly expanded its lens lineup, offering a diverse range of optics for various needs and budgets. Among the standard zoom options, the NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8 stands out as a compelling alternative to its premium S-line counterparts, specifically the NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S. Designed as a compact and lightweight full-frame standard zoom, this lens promises a bright f/2.8 constant aperture across a versatile 28-75mm range, making it an attractive proposition for creators seeking performance and portability without the top-tier price tag. This review will delve into its capabilities, optical performance, and practical applications, offering a balanced perspective on where this lens truly shines.

Design, Build, and Ergonomics

Right out of the box, the NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8 impresses with its relatively light weight of just 565g. This makes it significantly less demanding to carry than many other f/2.8 standard zooms, fostering a more comfortable shooting experience, especially during extended sessions. Despite its lighter build, often featuring high-quality engineering plastic, the lens feels robust in hand. It boasts weather sealing, a crucial feature for professional and enthusiast photographers working in varied environmental conditions, offering peace of mind against dust and moisture.

The design is streamlined, typical of many non-S-line Z lenses. It features an internal focusing (IF) mechanism, ensuring the lens length remains constant during focus adjustments, which is beneficial for gimbal use in video and maintaining balance. The 67mm filter thread is a common size, making it easy to share filters with other lenses in a kit. Notably, the lens foregoes customisable L-Fn buttons or a display panel, which are often found on S-line lenses. While some might miss these advanced controls, their omission contributes to the lens's simpler interface and more accessible price point. The zoom ring operates smoothly, and the control ring can be assigned to various functions like aperture, ISO, or exposure compensation, enhancing user customisation.

Optical Performance

The core appeal of any f/2.8 constant aperture zoom lies in its ability to perform well in low light and provide subject separation. The NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8 largely delivers on this promise.

• Sharpness: In terms of sharpness, the lens performs admirably, particularly in the center of the frame across its focal range and wider apertures. It produces sharp, detailed images, especially when stopped down slightly. While it may not reach the absolute corner-to-corner perfection of the much more expensive NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S, especially wide open, its performance is more than sufficient for most applications. The inclusion of ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass and Aspherical elements is crucial in controlling aberrations and ensuring good image quality throughout.
• Aperture and Bokeh: The constant f/2.8 maximum aperture is a significant asset. It allows for excellent light gathering in challenging conditions, making it suitable for low-light photography in events or street scenes. Furthermore, it enables photographers to achieve beautifully shallow depth of field, rendering pleasing background blur (bokeh). The 9-blade rounded diaphragm contributes to smooth, circular out-of-focus highlights, which is highly desirable for portraiture.
• Chromatic Aberration and Distortion: Both chromatic aberration and distortion are generally well-controlled, especially with in-camera corrections applied. There might be some noticeable barrel distortion at 28mm and pincushion distortion at the telephoto end, but these are easily corrected in post-processing.
• Flare and Coatings: The front element benefits from a Fluorine Coating, which repels dirt, dust, and moisture, making the lens easier to clean and maintain, a practical advantage for fieldwork. While some flare can be observed in extreme backlit situations, it is generally well-managed, allowing for confident shooting even with strong light sources in the frame.

Autofocus Performance

Equipped with a Stepping Motor (STM), the NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8 offers fast, precise, and remarkably quiet autofocus. This is a significant advantage for both still photography and video applications. The silent operation ensures that no unwanted motor noise is picked up by onboard microphones during video recording. Its internal focusing design further contributes to smooth and consistent performance, preventing focus breathing that can be distracting in video. The minimum focus distance of just 0.19m (at 28mm) and a maximum magnification of 0.34x allows for surprisingly close-up shots, adding to its versatility and enabling unique perspectives for subjects like details, food, or small objects.

Use Cases Where It Excels

This lens's combination of a versatile focal range, bright constant aperture, and relatively compact design makes it exceptionally well-suited for a broad spectrum of photographic genres:

• Portraiture: The f/2.8 aperture combined with the 75mm telephoto end provides excellent subject separation and flattering compression for portraits, producing beautiful bokeh.
• Events: From weddings to corporate gatherings, the 28-75mm range covers wide establishing shots to tighter subject compositions, while the f/2.8 aperture ensures solid performance in typically challenging indoor lighting. Its lighter weight is a blessing for long event days.
• Street Photography: Its relatively discreet size and weight, coupled with the versatile zoom, make it a superb companion for street photographers who need to adapt quickly to different scenes and maintain a low profile.
• Landscape: While not the widest, 28mm is a perfectly respectable wide-angle for many landscape scenarios, and the excellent central sharpness ensures detailed scenic shots.
• Video: The quiet STM autofocus and internal focusing are paramount for videographers. The constant f/2.8 aperture allows for consistent exposure when zooming and provides control over depth of field, making it a valuable tool for cinematic footage.
• Low-light Photography: The f/2.8 aperture throughout the zoom range is ideal for capturing images in dimly lit environments without resorting to excessively high ISO settings, preserving image quality.

Conclusion

The NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8 is a compelling offering in the Nikon Z lens ecosystem. It positions itself as an accessible, high-performing standard zoom that balances optical quality with practicality and value. While it doesn't aim to outshine the absolute optical prowess of the NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S, it delivers a genuinely strong performance that will satisfy the vast majority of photographers. Its lightweight, weather-sealed design, fast and quiet autofocus, and constant f/2.8 aperture make it an incredibly versatile lens. For Nikon Z users seeking a single, general-purpose workhorse that excels across a variety of genres—from portraits and events to street photography and video—without breaking the bank or weighing down their kit, the NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8 is an outstanding choice that offers exceptional utility and image quality for its class.