Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 12-28mm PZ VR | Wide-angle power zoom lens with image stabilization for APS-C size/DX format Z series mirrorless cameras | Nikon USA Model

I've long been an amateur photographer, having started with a 35 mm film Nikon FTN. So, there has been a learning curve to change to digital. Recently, I took the plunge to purchase a Nikon Z50ii with both kit lenses. It meets my needs and I like it, but I'm gradually upgrading my lenses to a moderately long zoom telephoto, a 105 mm macro, and now this 12-28 mm zoom (to replace the kit, 16-50 mm zoom). Although the 16-50 is quite small, light and satisfactory to me, the thought that for a modest price I could get even wider attracted me to this lens. In the attached photo, you can see a comparison of the field of view about 10 ft across a room from the same position. For scene shots of tall trees when it isn't possible to move backwards (e.g., in tropical forests), the expanded field of view is worthwhile to me. Otherwise, like all Nikkor lenses, the lens is solid and well-made (although involving "plastics"). The length of the lens doesn't change with focal length, and the motorized change of focal length is very smooth (desirable for video zooming). I'm used to seeing numbers for focal length on the lens barrel, but one must look at the camera display if one needs to know that. After about a month of use so far, this widest-angle zoom seems well worth its price to me.

The Nikon Z DX 12-28mm lens has genuinely exceeded my expectations—even when shooting stills. Sharpness is excellent across the frame, and autofocus is both fast and reliable. Despite being a zoom-by-wire design, the handling feels natural and intuitive; I haven’t encountered any of the usual disconnect that sometimes plagues electronic zooms. I was particularly surprised by how much I enjoy shooting at 12mm (18mm full-frame equivalent). It’s proven incredibly versatile, whether I’m capturing expansive landscapes or working in tight interiors. The lens is also impressively lightweight, making it an ideal everyday companion for both photography and 4K video work. What stands out most is how this lens outperforms its price tag. Not only is it consistently sharp, but it also delivers high image quality and—almost unexpectedly—has a bit of character to its rendering. It’s rare to find a wide zoom that’s this fun to use. I’m genuinely happy with this lens; it’s become one of my favorites in the Z DX lineup. The VR seems to be a real 4.5 stops too.

This is my favorite lens for videography.It pairs perfectly with my nikon z30 and really elevates the feel and quality of the z30’s capabilities.

Perfect lens for my nikon z30

On a Z30 it works well with one hand with a dog on a leash on the other.

Such a great deal compared to elsewhere! Easy to install and works just as expected.

Picture shows it comes with a hood.It also shows it is compatible with cameras not even made. Z70 Z5300 etc.Need to fix this advertisement.Price was reduced on this lens right after return date :(However, the lens produces nice sharp images.

I have this paired with a Z5. I don't mind losing the pixels to the dx format because I don't need large images, and in fact I appreciate the smaller file size. I love the light weight and small size. Zoom ring is super smooth. I had been using a Canon 10-22 with an adapter - a known good lens, but the IQ of this lens is better. I miss the few mm on the wide end, but really like the extra reach on the long end. A favorably trade-off.One of the reasons I wanted this lens was the in-camera distortion correction. It works very well but not all apps open the RAW files with the corrections applied. Photoshop Elements 2024 (PSE) does open with corrections, but I tried several other consumer grade editing apps that don't, revealing the ample distortion, particularly on the wide end. I use some of these apps so I am batch converting the NEF files to TIFF using PSE, which preserves the corrections, and then edit in the other apps. Windows 10 default viewer also does not display the correction. The free IrfanView for Windows does display NEF with correction. Correction is also applied to videos.