The Z 50mm f1.4 is Nikon’s second prime lens with a bright f1.4 focal ratio in the mirrorless Z series after the Z 35mm f1.4. Like its shorter sibling the new lens weighs only a bit over 400g, is relatively compact, and at 559 EUR / 497 USD / 499 GBP very affordable. And in a welcome deviation from their f1.8 line of prime lenses, Nikon also added a separate control-ring to the focus ring. The Z 50mm f1.4 is corrected for full-frame sensors and its focal length is popular for street photography and general-purpose use. On a cropped body like the Z fc the new lens is equivalent in angle-of-view and depth-of-field to a 75mm f2.1 lens. This makes it quite attractive for portrait photography on the smaller format sensor with good background isolation and blur. It should become available end of September.

The low price and the fact that the Z 50mm f1.4 is not an S-line lens hints at a good, but possibly not stellar optical performance. But we’ll have a look at this in detail in my upcoming full review. In the meantime head over to my Nikon Z 35mm f1.4 review to see how the shorter sibling fared.

Facts and features

Let’s compare Nikon’s Z 50mm f1.4 to their Z 50mm f1.8 S (for more details on that lens see my Nikon Z 50mm f1.8 S review). As usual I’ve rated the features with a [+] (or [++]), when it’s better than average or even state of the art, a [0] if it’s standard or just average, and [-] if there’s a disadvantage.

Size (diameter x length): 75 x 87mm (3.0 x 3.4in.), the lens hood adds 48mm (89mm diameter) and is the same as on Nikon’s Z 35mm f1.4. The Z 50mm f1.8 S is 76 x 87mm + 40mm lens hood. [+]

Weight: 420g (14.8 oz.) plus 30g for the plastic lens hood. The Z 50mm f1.8 S is 412g + 27g lens hood. [+]

Optics: 10 elements in 7 groups including 1 aspherical element while the Z 50mm f1.8 S has a more complex optical formula with 12 elements (including 2 special dispersion and 2 aspherical elements) in 9 groups. [+]

Minimum object distance is 0.37m (1.21ft.) which results in a working distance of 27cm. The Z 50mm f1.4 has a maximum magnification of 1:5.9 which is not much. A magnification of 1:10 is achieved at around 0.6m object distance. This is very similar to the Z 50mm f1.8 S. [0]

Image stabilization: Both lenses have no optical stabilization (VR). But Nikon’s full-frame Z bodies provide built-in sensor-shift stabilization over 5 axis – plus an optional electronic stabilization in video mode. [0]

Filter-thread: Both lenses use 62mm filters. [+]

Autofocus: Both lenses offer autofocus with built-in focus drive. Manual-focus override is by simply turning the dedicated focus ring. The focus ring has the usual variable gearing which allows for very precise manual focus when turned slowly. You can reverse the focus ring direction and switch to linear response with different settings for focus throw in camera. [+]

Aperture ring: The Z 50mm f1.4 has a slim multi-function control ring which can be assigned to operate the aperture (which is the default), exposure compensation, or ISO sensitivity – or simply switched off. It is located behind the focus ring. On the Z 50mm f1.8 S the focus ring can be configured to act as multi-function ring – but then you lose the manual focus override functionality. [+]

Lens profile: All Z-Nikkors come with a lens profile which can be controlled from the camera. Vignette control offers the usual options of High, Normal, Low and Off. Diffraction compensation can be activated or deactivated. Whether Auto distortion control is always On and cannot be deactivated I can only say when I get my review copy of the lens. [+]

Both lenses cover full frame/FX or smaller sensors. [+]

Price: 559 EUR (incl. 19% VAT) / 497 USD / 499 GBP. The Nikon Z 50mm f1.8 S currently sells for 530 EUR / 527 USD / 475 GBP. The manual focus Voigtländer 50mm f2 APO-Lanthar which I’ll use for comparing optical performance costs 1099 EUR / 899 USD / 849 GBP and the Nikon Z 50mm f1.2 S sells for 2000 EUR / 1900 USD / 2300 GBP [+]

The Z 50mm f1.4 comes without a pouch but the lens hood is included and reversible for transport. [0]

Sealing: yes. Both lenses have a rubber grommet at the lens-mount plus further special weather-sealing throughout the construction. [+]

Like the Z 35mm f1.4 Nikon’s new Z 50mm f1.4 turns out to be well featured with a score of 0[-]/3[0]/10[+]: The lens is pretty compact and lightweight, it has a large f1.4 focal ratio and comes at a price similar to the Z 50mm f1.8 S. Plus it has a multifunction ring in addition to the focus ring which makes handling of different functions much more comfortable than on the one-ringed Z 50mm f1.8 S.

If the new lens can also score with decent optical performance and a softer Bokeh the Z 50mm f1.4 should be a very interesting alternative to the Z 50mm f1.8 S.

Two f1.4 Z-Nikkors

Above: Nikon Z 50mm f1.4, Nikon Z 35mm f1.4

Sharpness and contrast

Let’s have a look at the theoretical performance of the Nikon Z 50mm f1.4 and compare it to their Z 50mm f1.8 S:

Above: Nikon Z 50mm f1.4 at f1.4 (left), Z 50mm f1.8 S at f1.8 (right)

These MTF charts show the computed lens-performance of lenses wide open at infinity without influence of diffraction at 10 line-pairs/mm (red) and 30 lp/mm (blue). Higher values are better (more contrast) and the closer the dotted and solid lines are together the less contrast dependents on the orientation of the test-pattern (less astigmatism). The x-axis displays the distance from the optical axis (=center of the sensor) in mm.

From the charts the Z 50mm f1.4 is definitively softer than the Z 50mm f1.8 S – but that is at f1.4. Stopping the new lens down to f1.8 might well bring central sharpness up to comparable levels. But while the Z 50mm f1.8 S stays pretty sharp even beyond the DX image-circle resolution of fine details outside the center of the Z 50mm f1.4 drops significantly.

In my full review we’ll see how this theoretical performance translates into real life results.