great review.....28 mm is my favourite focal length for street and landscape......50 years with Nikon, switched to Sony...going back to Nikon soon....thank you

Interesting. Thank you as always, Ricci, for your transparent reviews of these lenses and other gear!

Very helpful review. It provides a good counter-balance to another reviewer, who cannot be named, who said: "This lens is for people who want a plastic lens that looks like one of Nikon's greatest manual-focus lenses. Personally I prefer practical over cute..." For me, its big selling points are its very light weight as a walkaround lens, its lack of focus breathing (especially for video), and the very practical 28mm focal length. In the past 40 years I've mostly used zooms, but before that I shot with manual primes and I found the 28mm to be ideal for street scenes, photojournalism and other such uses. I appreciated seeing your test shots, even though I'm not a pixel peeper. You've helped to convince me that this is a must-buy lens to go with my new Z6ii, which I bought in part because I'm getting too old to carry around heavy glass.

Always the best Nikon content. Keep it up!

I'm super excited to get a hold of this lens once its more widely available for my Z5 for a lightweight travel + street setup. Excellent review. Keep it up. The 28mm on the Z7ii looks really sharp.

Thanks for the image samples and an AWESOME video review with the 28mm! I'm really looking forward to this lens. I didn't think the 28mm focal length was for me until I got a 28-75 2.8 zoom and most of the time, I was at 28mm!

Commenting before watching because I'm hyped to hear you talk about this lens, will be back when done watching to comment again because algorithm 😂😂

Great review… Good luck on the 30,000..!!!😎

I bought this lens (actually the 28mm non SE version) a couple of days ago and I'm amazed at the image quality it produces. This lens punches way above its price range! A no-brainer purchase if you ask me.

I was hoping you were going to release a video about the 28 SE...and here it is! Thank you for the video.

Great first look - really looking forward to the Zfc kit on the way with it. Plastic mount is immaterial, there’s plastic and plastic!

I want to give myself a reason to buy this, I feel like id love it for walk around street stuff. I'm very surprised at how well it stood up with the 24-70. And ugh the aesthetic of the lens. So awesome.

I personally love the retro look of this lens and the fact that is compact and light.. a must have for me.. thanks for the great review.. really enjoy your vids✌️

I pre ordered this within an hour or it was posted on Adorama’s site. When Nikon first introduced their full frame Z system, I’ve been waiting for a 28mm lens. For me, I only need two lenses to do everything… a 28mm prime and a 70-200. Those two lenses is all the kit I’d ever need to do anything… weddings, family, events. I used to have the Fujifilm X100F with the wide conversation adapter which made that camera a 28mm equivalent. This was a dream, a small 28mm camera. I feel like my Z 6ii and this lens will be small like the X100F. 28mm is just a do-everything focal length for me. AND this version is retro style. I’m so excited for this to come in.

I agree, my first wide angle lens was a 28mm f 2.5 Minolta RC lens back in the 70's and today I have a 28mm F1.8 Nikon F mount lens. You stay what you're used to. Thanks, great video

Great video. I hope I will get this 28mm soon for my Z6.

This brings me back to my college days shooting a Pentax film camera; the 28mm was my favorite lens.

Great review and love how you place it next to other lenses!

You deserve 10 times as many subscribers! Exactly the video I was looking for. Do you think the “Regular’ Z version, to come out eventually, will have the same amount of glass in it? Will it simply be a packaging and construction difference? Thanks again.

Thanks for reviewing!

I’ve been awaiting the 28mm f2.8 and 40mm f2 lens reviews. Thanks!

Yup. I am drooling for the 28, 40 compact primes. I have the original 28, 50 and 100 E lenses from the 80's on my FE2, so this just feels right.

Wonderful, as expected. I have the Sigma 28mm 1.4 Art which is also terrific, and of course can do all those amazing f/1.4 things, but I think I would really enjoy having the Z lens for the size, convenience, video AF, and picture quality.

This lens reminds me so much of the late 1970s version called the AI-S E lens. Cheaper versions of the higher-quality 28mm lenses that Nikon had at that time, but still excellent. At that time I used a Minolta SRT-202 (was my mom's but she let me "borrow it"). We had the 50mm 1.7 Minolta-Rokker lens and a 28mm Minolta-Rokker, and I loved the later's focal length.

Great video, as always. Do you know if the non SE version will have weather sealing around the mount (given it is intended for the full frame cameras)?

Best Nikon information on KZfaq!!!

It’s fantastic that Nikon is cool with you making these videos.

I ordered the kit w 16-50mm because I loved the look and it will be my second camera (first is Z6ii) for lightweight city walks, and the fact that I think my daughter will take the Zfc back to college at some point (She has my old F3 right now). Really liked your review so I ordered given that it will work well on both cameras and can't beat the price given your review. Thanks!

Fabulous, I like the 28mm focal length as well and having it alongside my 50/1.8S in my camera bag will be ideal for having less weight and size when I want to pack light with my Z6. I’d be interested in seeing how flare resistant this lens is when shooting into the sun and also the degree of edge coma when shooting at night.

Great review. I was very curious about this lens but there is not much information on it. Thank you very much.

This might be my first Z mount lens, along the whole F mount army :) Others are too expensive considering that I have everything covered in F mount versions. But this one will be affordable, doesn't need adapter, light, good IQ, seems like perfect choice for "pocket size" combination with my Z6.

I don’t get why you don’t have over 40k subs already. Come on people let’s go! Ricci’s videos are 👍

Great review and comparison. I cannot wait until the 40mm f/2 comes out. If it has comparable quality to this lens, it'll be a definite winner. Love the idea of an affordable, compact alternative to the 35mm and 50mm f/1.8.

I’m diggin this lens as a lightweight 28 f/2.8 that is like my old 28mm f/2.8 ais that I love . I’m a 28mm freak also and have many Nikkor 28s and the Sigma Art 28mm f/1.4 . It’s one I use on my d850 and d810 all the time . I hope Nikon does something crazy and would develop a 28mm f/1.2 . That would be my dream 28 for the live music I shoot . I’ll use it for live music video also .

Thank you! Again a wonderful video. After seeing it, I would have bought the lens if I hadn't already done so - including the Z fc.

I appreciate how you work. Thanks for doing what you do how you do it.

Brilliant review

Always enjoyable informative and educational. Tour de Force.

youre the only reviewer that actually figured out how to set aperture mode on tht lens than to nitpick like others do "i only wished the lens has aperture ring on this lens" , im sold because of your review haha ,also if u hate the size of the nikon ftz adapter. try zhongyi lens turbo adapter for z mounts, it gives a few inches back to mimic a full frame without any loss of details in image quality, and it looks better with the previous F mount lens. cheers from Malaysia 😊

I dont even own any Nikon cameras. I just love hearing your depth of knowledge in these lenses and camera.. blows my mind everytime... nice work Ricci. Oh, and your editing is sick af

Great video Ricci! Are you doing a full in depth review of this one against the F-mount 28mm primes and the Z 24-70mm f2.8 ?? Please do so 🙏🏽

absolutely great review

i'm excited to try this with my z6ii. having to wait is agonizing!

Okay so please tell me there is a petition asking Nikon to make the upcoming 40/2 lens in an SE edition. Thanks for the review on this little lens.

Nice video. Thanks for your great work as always. In terms of focal length, wouldn't it be more apt to compare this with tbe z35mm rather than the 50mm ? Also please let us know if you tried this for indoor video shoot.

Looking very nice on both formats. Really hoping Nikon comes out with an anodized black FX version of the Zf (to match the S line), with the Z7 sensor (for cropping on compact primes, not worried about video), and a 40/2 SE.

Would like to know more about CA & fringing when you test a production version.

You can see a clearer more defined edge around the lettering on the colour chart at f4 with the f mount 28mm. Not a huge difference but still worth having I think. The image has more “snap” to it.

Really looking forward to this lens! Thank you! I find it kinda strange Nikon didn't release compact lenses earlier on when the Z system came out.

nice videos information. i got a question. would it be safe for me to shoot at a snow mountain (not snowing, just snow environment) with this lens on my z9? will it harm the z9 sensor due to mositure or whatever it may arise? i too like 28 or 35mm range.

Missed (in the first time I watched this) your comparison to the 24-70. I'm glad to see that the 28 SE stands up pretty well against the 24-70, enough that I think I may get this lens as a compact walkaround lens...

I plan on getting one for my Z6II, I like the special edition version. I think it will look good on the camera and make it a bit different than my other Z mount lenses. But with the supply chain issues, probably wont be a year till they are readily available.

I really hope Nikon releases a telephoto prime soon, or the 200-500 Z version. This 28mm and the ZFc is gonna be a niece product for sure, meanwhile there are 0 superteles if you wanna go mirrorless.

This lens is what I’d hoped all the other Z lenses be like - compact and light to go with the mirrorless trend

Nice video 💙

4:25 vs. GREATEST LENS EVER AF-S 50mm f/1.8 :-D 19 cm close focusing distance is great. Seems really quite sharp (not surprising for a Z-mount lens) and the bokeh wasn't bad. I'd love to have this on a Zfc! It would just be excellent for street photography. Great video as always, Ricci!

It’s so sharp omfgg

For $300 the 28 2.8 might just be another lens I'd recommend to Z shooters to have in their bag if they plan do any landscape or street photography, or even just as a compliement to a 50mm. I'm for sure going to get one (although after thinking about the Z fc, am going to pass on that camera for now, but I think Nikon is perhaps headed in a good direction with it and hopefully it sells well for them). I do like the idea of a 28mm FF lens, because on a crop body, the lens has a 42mm equivalent perspective which is probably closer to normal human vision I'd say than a 50mm (someone had told me 45mm is approximately what the average human eye perceives or can consiously focus on and so I think the 28mm on a crop sensor body is perfect, so it's like a dual-purpose lens). 28mm on a FF body is also very useful for landscapes and street photography IMO, and it's small size is nice too.

Looking forward to this 28mm 2.8 and the upcoming 40mm 2. Focal length aside, I far prefer the rendering of Nikon's 35mm 1.4G and 24mm 1.4G to the 28mm 1.4E.

I've always preferred 28mm, 50mm, and 105mm over the more common 35mm, 50mm, and 85mm prime trio. This SE version is a beautiful lens. Can't wait to see the full video with the production version of the lens. Thanks for the sneak peek.

Would be nice to have a dedicated aperture ring if Nikon wanted to create a retro looking lens

I pre-ordered this lens to use for street photography when I travel when the 24-200 Z lens is too bulky.

Will order it for my z7ii

Long live Nikon!!!!!!!

Thank you for your thoughts and the infos. Personally I don‘t like plastic mounts. When I‘m out in the streets for streetphotograghy, I want a complete weathersealed camera-lens combination that can handle heavy rain. Will the non-SE version also have a plastic mount without weathersealing?

Ricci, I waiting for your new Viltrox 24mm test!

Is this lens a good choice to use it on Z50 (DX) for taking photos of kids? I need a quicker lens with better autofocus than 16-50 or 18-140. Thank you.

Since the screw placement looks the same, I'm curious whether the plastic mount could easily be replaced with a metal bayonet?

This lens along with 40/2 very2 useful for cheapstreet object photography. Very light and quite good at f4-5.6 standard for street

This lens looks like a very good alternative! I had Nikkor Nikon MF 28mm F2.8 Ai, great lens + bunch of other primes! Now I'm debating with myself should I get this one (I'm prime lens shooter, but got tired of constantly changing lenses every time I travel) or wait for 18-140 for my Z50!? 🤔

Versus the (apparently) still in production manual focus 28mm AiS lens? Any thoughts?

Hoping the release of the non SE versions of 28mm and 40mm are announced this week.

Is it possible that the plastic lens mount provides some amount of sealing that we wouldn't expect from a metal mount?

Bump your volume up! Please! Any idea when the Nikon 28mm f/2.8 NIKKOR Z will be available?

Looks awesome, ordered and now waiting impatiently for it to show up. No ETA unfortunately.

hey ricci: nice you do retro lenses reviews. i have the manual 28mm f2 Ai. the distortion is much worse than of the manual 28mm f2.8 Ai. what do you think? oh you talk about z-mount... 😜 i overlooked this - the retrodesign ist realy confusing 👍 job well done nikon!

This will be an awesome street photography lens. AF speed looks quite good. 😍

Looks great, but struggling to find out how much just the lens would cost, as seems a good choice to go with my recently purchased Zii

My next lens for Z6.

Please check backlit portraits and sun flares on FF.

I have the 40f2 not realizing theres this lens. May have to get one.

Would be nice to see this lens with the new Zf

Hi - just read a review that says the AF is really bad in lowlight with the Z5. How did you find the AF in lowlight with the Z6.

For me personally the Z5 and this Lens would be perfect for 99% of my shooting anymore.

I noticed this lens has no special coatings as compared to other Z lenses, so I would love to see how it handles flare.

You should compare the Nikon Z fc and Z 6II with the 28mm f/2.8 lens to the Nikon 1 J5 with the 10mm f/2.8 lens. :)

Can all Nikkor lenses have the fantastic, iconic styling of the Z 28mm SE...please! It just says 'Nikon' with all it's great heritage of magnificent Nikkor manual and early AF lenses.

What would be difference in quality from 28mm f/2.8 SE "S" to future 28mm f/2.8 S? latter not being a kit lens?...like your videos!

I ended up getting the 24mm viltrox 1.4

So......when we getting that new firmware update for the Z6ii in September?

How many elements are in it? If it has 6 or so I'd love to get one for black and white shooting

If it is possible, it would be interesting to see sample images of a 28mm ais/ai lens alongside the Z 28mm 2.8SE in both DX and Full-frame.

Nice video and good information. How good would the Nikon Z 28mm F/2.8 be for astrophotography? Taking pictures of the Milky Way?

Would you recommend this lens for using the Z5 camera as a webcam for streaming? Good second lens, or should I get something else (all I have is the 24-50mm f/4-6.3 Kit Lens)

👍👍👍

Please, add bokeh and vignetting test to your reviews! i always miss them!

Hi Ric, As you I am fond of 28mm. I discovered it quite lately using before a lot of zooms but what a nice thing to walk through the town with only one short and light 28mm. The only cons Nikon should have avoid is the plastic mount… Why making this lens looking like the unforgettable AI line (which were full of metal )… and putting a plastic mount ??? Ok it won’t change the optical quality (which seems high)… but why why why :(. That said it won t prevent me to buy it :)

Wish they would make an 18mm se z dx lens to give us the 28mm field of view (full frame).

I have Nikon Z 50mm F1.2 , and I all ready preordered Nikon Z 28mm F 2.8 , because it’s small lens and prime , easy to travel with, thank you so much for this nice review 👌👌👌

You've been quiet for a while, are you learning what a Z9 can do, so you can tell us about it? My hope for the Z9 is that they crack the auto focus, so that it will trickle down to the other Z cameras. I finally bought a Z6ii/24-70/FTZ kit, very happy with it...