Why Z lenses are so big? in anticipation of eventually Nikon releasing a Chrome Zf model I've been looking at Nikon Z lenses. I though that mirrorless were suppose to be smaller but...

Robert1 Loc: Davie, FL

in anticipation of eventually Nikon releasing a Chrome Zf model I've been looking at Nikon Z lenses. I though that mirrorless were suppose to be smaller but looking at them even a 50mm is bigger than a medium zoom lens I have for my F mount. not to mention how ugly they look (subjective). What gives? Anybody knows why even a "prime" lens is so big? a
Z 50mm f1.2 is 150mm (5.9")
AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G Lens is 54.2mm (2.13") almost 100mm less than the Z.
NIKKOR 50mm f/1.2 Lens 48.3mm (1.9") Manual. Understandable no autofocus mechanism. Still 150mm for the Z mount that's more or less a small zoom in F mount. It's actually bigger than my AF-S 24-120mm f1:4G lens.

BebuLamar

Robert1 wrote:

in anticipation of eventually Nikon releasing a Ch... (show quote)

Perhaps it's an F lens with the built in FTZ adapter??? So the rear section of the lens is just tube no lens inside?? I don't know really.

Robert1 Loc: Davie, FL

BebuLamar wrote:

Perhaps it's an F lens with the built in FTZ adapter??? So the rear section of the lens is just tube no lens inside?? I don't know really.

Funny, but even with the FTZ adapter my 24-120mm is just about the same size as the Z 50mm f1.2.

JFCoupe Loc: Kent, Washington

The right comparison would be a previous version of a 50 mm f1.2 to a new Z version 50mm f1.2. While all 1.2 lenses are going to be larger than an f1.8 version, I suspect that the Z versions are still a bit smaller.

BebuLamar

JFCoupe wrote:

The right comparison would be a previous version of a 50 mm f1.2 to a new Z version 50mm f1.2. While all 1.2 lenses are going to be larger than an f1.8 version, I suspect that the Z versions are still a bit smaller.

I think the Z version is bigger.

Robert1 Loc: Davie, FL

JFCoupe wrote:

The right comparison would be a previous version of a 50 mm f1.2 to a new Z version 50mm f1.2. While all 1.2 lenses are going to be larger than an f1.8 version, I suspect that the Z versions are still a bit smaller.

Nikon doesn't have a F mount 50mm f1.2 autofocus (that I know of). But if you compare the Z against the manual F mount f1.2 it is a cannon of a lens next to it. 150mm vs 54.2mm. That's huge. I can't see autofocus and/or stabilization making that huge difference for a 50mm lens. Never, ever in my life saw a 50mm f1.2 lens that big.

Robert1 Loc: Davie, FL

Moreover, that's just an example but looking a other Z lenses they're bigger than their F mound counterpart.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Robert1 wrote:

in anticipation of eventually Nikon releasing a Ch... (show quote)

I don't have a Z camera yet. But I do know this. If the mounting flange is moved 10mm closer to the sensor, each lens will have to be 10mm longer. Design changes might alter that a little bit, but physics is still physics.

Where some diameter might be saved is in eliminating VR and relying just on IBIS. Even more if you'd be willing to give up autofocus.

krvitali

Robert1 wrote:

in anticipation of eventually Nikon releasing a Ch... (show quote)

The 1.2 is a bigpiece of glass to get to 1.2 a more standard size look at the standard 1.8. Any fast lens is going to be huge. My staple is the Tamron 15 to 30 2.8 it's a monster. There is no 24 120 1.4 it's an f4 big difference.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Robert1 wrote:

in anticipation of eventually Nikon releasing a Ch... (show quote)

How long have you been involved in digital Photography?

Full-frame cameras are large and heavy, whether they have a mirror inside or not.

Full-frame lenses are large and heavy too, especially when:

a, They include the technology needed for VR - Vibration Reduction.

b, They include the technology needed for AF - Autofocus.

c, They have large maximum apertures, requiring immense front-end pieces of glass.

Robert1 Loc: Davie, FL

larryepage wrote:

I don't have a Z camera yet. But I do know this. If the mounting flange is moved 10mm closer to the sensor, each lens will have to be 10mm longer. Design changes might alter that a little bit, but physics is still physics.

Where some diameter might be saved is in eliminating VR and relying just on IBIS. Even more if you'd be willing to give up autofocus.

You're probably right. This 10mm closer if so, plays a big deal most likely.

Robert1 Loc: Davie, FL

krvitali wrote:

The 1.2 is a bigpiece of glass to get to 1.2 a more standard size look at the standard 1.8. Any fast lens is going to be huge. My staple is the Tamron 15 to 30 2.8 it's a monster. There is no 24 120 1.4 it's an f4 big difference.

I wrote 1:4 G, not f1.4 for the 24-120.

Robert1 Loc: Davie, FL

CHG_CANON wrote:

How long have you been involved in digital Photography?

Full-frame cameras are large and heavy, whether they have a mirror inside or not.

Full-frame lenses are large and heavy too, especially when:

a, They include the technology needed for VR - Vibration Reduction.

b, They include the technology needed for AF - Autofocus.

c, They have large maximum apertures, requiring immense front-end pieces of glass.

Still, what so far I see is Z lenses being sometimes much bigger than F mount lenses, case in point the 59mm samples I gave, to compare one from another. I'm actually looking and reading the specs, and some of these Z lenses are really bigger than anything previous.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Robert1 wrote:

Still, what so far I see is Z lenses being sometimes much bigger than F mount lenses, case in point the 59mm samples I gave, to compare one from another. I'm actually looking and reading the specs, and some of these Z lenses are really bigger than anything previous.

Yep.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

For the most part, Nikon's S lenses beat all others ( yes, I have seen the Imatest numbers) - Nikon planned it that way - no compromise for size or cost - but it takes LOTS of elements to do this - and lots of elements take up lots of room ! Nikon's mount is also bigger that everyone else's ....