Nikon Z DX 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ VR Lens

Nikon Z DX 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ VR Lens Summary

With a compact and lightweight design, the Nikon Z DX 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ VR Lens is a highly portable ultra wide angle zoom lens for crop sensor Nikon mirrorless cameras. At just 205g this compact little zoom is perfectly balanced on any DX camera, such as the Nikon Z Fc and Z 50.

The Z DX 12-28mm lens also features internal focusing, with a unique power zoom design, which enables you to zoom incredibly smoothly at various speeds to suit your content. What’s more, the power zoom can be controlled entirely without touching the lens, using programmable camera buttons, an optional remote controller or the Nikon App. It also boasts a close 0.19m minimum focus distance and built-in vibration reduction, which reduces camera shake by up to 4.5-stops.

The 1.5 magnification factor results in a full-frame equivalent 18-42mm zoom range, which makes the ultra wide Nikon mirrorless lens particularly well-suited to vlogging and video content, as well as for stills photography.

Key Nikon Z DX 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ VR Lens Features

• Ultra wide angle zoom for DX (crop) mirrorless Z cameras
• Incredibly compact design, which weighs just 205g
• Smooth, steady power zoom using camera buttons, App or optional Nikon ML-L7 Remote
• 0.19m minimum focus distance across the zoom range
• Ideal for vlogging, video and photography
• VCM voice coil vibration reduction up to 4.5-stops
• Internal; zoom mechanism enables use on camera gimbals
• Silent control ring and comprehensive weather seals
• Compact 67mm lens filter thread

Nikon Nikkor Z DX 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ VR Lens in More Detail

Power zoom design

With a unique power zoom design, the Nikon Z DX 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ VR Lens is ideal for video creators and vloggers, as well as photographers who enjoy ultra wide angle shots and close-ups. The power zoom enables more creative videos and vlogs, with smooth and steady zooming without needing to touch the lens itself.

You can simply zoom in using programmable buttons on the mirrorless camera body, use an optional camera remote controller, such as the ML-L7 Remote, or the SnapBridge app to control the zoom remotely.

Creative zoom functionality

With the power zoom feature you can create various zoom speeds for your footage from 11 presets. Whether you want attention grabbing fast zooming or slow, steady slow zooms, this features allows for precise control between 36 seconds and just over 0.5 seconds zoom throughout the entire range.

Built-in VR stabilisation

Enjoy up to 4.5-stops of built-in vibration reduction (VR) to help you capture blur-free video even when walking and talking or panning handheld. Choose between Sports VR and Normal modes in the camera body to optimise VR for the subject you’re shooting. For stills capture enabling VR does not reduce high-speed burst, helping to keep up with the action, now matter how fast paced it is.

Gimbal friendly design

With a well-balanced internal zoom design and low 205g weight, the Z DX 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ VR Lens is perfect for mounting onto a camera gimbal and stabiliser, such as the lightweight DJI RS 3 Mini.

Internal zooming means that the lens barrel doesn’t get longer or shorter while zooming in or out, so it stays perfectly balanced with a stable centre of gravity. Whether you’re shooting handheld or with a stabiliser this is a great feature to have.

Impressive image quality

Nikon is renowned for manufacturing extremely high-quality lenses and this model features an optical design with 12 elements in 11 groups. These include one ED and one aspherical special element, which deliver beautifully sharp and well controlled images throughout the zoom range. This is coupled with a 7-blade rounded aperture diaphragm and 0.21x maximum reproduction ratio.

Silent control ring

Another great feature for videographers is the control ring, which allows for silent, clickless aperture changes when shooting video. The ring can be used for ISO control as well as smooth aperture changes, in order to reduce unwanted click noise, whilst being extremely tactile thanks to a knurled easy to grip ring.

Travel-friendly build quality

This compact ultra wide mirrorless zoom has been sealed across the lens barrel and all moving parts, which is perfect for outdoor content creators who can be caught out during a downpour and shoot in dusty environments.

Compact 67mm filter thread

If you shoot video the chances are you’ll need a VND or ND filter to balance bright conditions and this lens features a 67mm thread for lens filters. Add a circular polariser to reduce glare and saturate colour, or a Protector Filter to reduce damage from accidental knocks when close focusing.

What’s in the box

• Nikon Nikkor Z DX 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ VR Lens for Nikon mirrorless Z mount
• Rear lens cap LC-67B
• Front lens cap LF-N1