Z 50mm F1.2 S

Reviewer verdict

Across 22 YouTube reviews, the Nikon Z 50mm F1.2 S earns an Index score of 3.7/5, ranking #38 among Lenses. Reviewers most often praise its build quality, image quality, autofocus, while the most common criticisms concern build quality, image quality.

Reviewers consistently praise the Nikon Z 50mm F1.2 S for its outstanding optical performance, delivering incredible sharpness, contrast, and color rendering, even at its maximum aperture. The autofocus is lauded as extremely fast, quiet, and accurate, reliably locking onto subjects in challenging low-light conditions. This low-light capability, combined with the f/1.2 aperture, allows photographers to capture clean images at lower ISOs. Professionals appreciate its beautiful bokeh, strong subject separation, and minimal focus breathing, which is a major asset for videography. The lens also features a robust, weather-sealed build with useful controls like a function button and OLED display, solidifying its status as a top-tier professional tool for portrait, wedding, and event photography.

The most significant drawbacks are its substantial size and weight, which reviewers frequently describe as large, heavy, and sometimes unbalanced on camera bodies, making it cumbersome for all-day use or travel. This bulk is paired with a high price tag, placing it out of reach for many and leading some to question if the performance jump over the cheaper f/1.8 S lens is justified. The extremely shallow depth of field at f/1.2, while a creative benefit, also presents a challenge, requiring precise focus technique to avoid unintentionally soft results. Minor complaints include soft corners wide open and a large 82mm filter thread that can add to the overall cost.

Analysis based on 22 YouTube reviews (4h 27m of video) with 263 pros and 127 cons extracted.

Pros (263)

Cons (127)

Review sources

• REVIEW: Nikon Nikkor Z 50mm 1.2 S 26 pros, 9 cons
• Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2 Review & Sample Images by Ken Rockwell by Ken Rockwell — 16 pros, 15 cons
• Nikon 50mm 1.2 Review | 2 Years of Hands On Experience with the Nikon Nikkor 50mm 1.2 20 pros, 8 cons
• NIKON 50MM Z SHOWDOWN | F1.4 OR F1.8 S? by Dustin Abbott — 16 pros, 9 cons
• Nikon Z 50mm F1.2 Review : I Made A HUGE Mistake With This Lens 16 pros, 5 cons
• Nikon NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.2 S :: Massive but Gorgeous! by The Art of Photography — 15 pros, 6 cons
• NIKON Z 50mm f/1.2 S - Long Term (10 Month) Review | NIKON Z8 by David Lopez — 15 pros, 4 cons
• Nikon Z7II + Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2 | THE BEST 50mm?! by mathphotographer — 16 pros, 3 cons
• 5 Minute Reviews: Nikon Z 50mm f1 2 S 11 pros, 6 cons
• Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4: A Lens That Overdelivers… Or Does It? by Bobby Tonelli — 11 pros, 6 cons
• 54 jobs and running with the Nikon Z 50mm 1.2S - Pure Workhorse 12 pros, 5 cons
• Nikon Z 50mm 1.2 - Surprising Results! by Russ & Loz Productions — 8 pros, 8 cons
• NIKKOR 50MM F1.2 Z-Mount Praxisreview 📷 Krolop&Gerst by KROLOP & GERST — 9 pros, 7 cons
• Nikon Z 50mm f1.2S. First look. Including samples and AF tracking on Z 7ii/ Z 6ii. by Ricci Talks — 10 pros, 4 cons
• Is the Nikon Z 50 f/1.2 S The Ultimate Wedding Lens? by Kindred Wedding — 9 pros, 5 cons
• Nikkor Z 50mm f1.2 S & Z 14-24mm f2.8 S Review: Nikon at their Best by TECH360.TV — 10 pros, 4 cons
• I'm in love - review of the Nikon 50mm f 1.2 7 pros, 5 cons
• UNBOXING. PHOTOSHOOT. REVIEW. $2000 Nikon Z 50mm f1.2 S - NEW Portrait Photography Killer Lens by Martin Wong — 7 pros, 5 cons
• Nikon Z 50mm f1.2 the ultimate ? full test review 6 pros, 5 cons
• My TOP Wedding Photography Lens: Nikon 50mm f/1.2 Review 8 pros, 3 cons
• My thoughts on which Nikon f1.2 lens to get (35, 50 or 85 - and the one I picked) by Taylor Jackson — 6 pros, 4 cons
• I Shot The Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2 S For One Year, My Life Changed by ZWade Photo — 9 pros, 1 cons

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