Nikon has officially announced the NIKKOR Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ power zoom after teasing it late last year. This is the first dedicated NIKKOR Z lens that was designed to give small-footprint productions and solo videographers a lightweight lens solution that fulfills numerous roles.
Nikon has slowly been trying to make up ground in the hybrid mirrorless space when it comes to products and features for video shooters. This lens is being touted as a good option for documentary work, and events, as well as solo shooters and small crews.
The NIKKOR Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ is claimed to enable users to smoothly zoom throughout the focal range of 28-135mm.
It also offers a choice of 11 different zoom speeds. These can be assigned to the zoom lever or one of the camera’s Fn buttons.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t have a traditional zoom rocker mechanism, instead you just use a small lever.
Nikon claims that the lens is well-balanced, minimizing shifts in the center of gravity that occur with zooming. This could be useful if you were using the lens on a gimbal.
When used with the Nikon Z8/Z9, the Hi-Res Zoom function can be used for an angle of view equivalent to that of the 270mm focal length with 4K video recording. Additionally, from 135 mm to 270 mm, the zoom is effectively parfocal.
A Synchro mode enables simultaneous optical zoom and Hi-Res Zoom using a single control with video recording. This will require a future firmware update and it will only work with certain compatible cameras. Nikon plans to add support for some models with a future firmware update.
The optical design of the lens consists of 18 lens elements in 12 groups and it has 9 aperture blades. The front filter diameter is 95mm.
The lens weighs Approx. 1210g / 2.66 lbs with tripod collar. This is very similar to the 1215 g / 2.67 lbs of the Sony FE PZ 28-135mm f/4 G OSS Full-Frame Power Zoom Lens.
Customizable L-Fn buttons are positioned on the side and top of the lens for convenient operation of assigned functions, even when shooting in vertical (portrait) orientation.
The lens has a minimum focus distance of 13.3″ / 34cm in the 28mm to 50mm range and 22.4″ / 57cm from 50mm to 135mm.
The NIKKOR Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ also features pitch gears on the focus ring so it can be used with a manual follow-focus or motors. Strangely, there isn’t a similar pitch gear for the zoom. Additionally, users can access remote control capabilities. Zooming can be controlled remotely from a computer, smartphone, or tablet using NX Tether, SnapBridge, or NX Field.
The zoom ring angle and direction of rotation can be customized to suit individual preferences.
The lens uses Nikon’s best anti-reflection coating, a Meso Amorphous Coat, which is said to significantly reduce ghosting and flares. The optical formula has been optimized for video with a design that is claimed to minimize focus breathing.
A stepping motor (STM) is also stated to ensure fast and accurate autofocusing. Nikon claims that the lens also has a linear MF drive enabling smooth manual focusing.
The lens is claimed to offer dust and drip resistance, however, thorough dust and drip resistance are not guaranteed in all situations or under all conditions.
The lens comes with a rectangular HB-116 lens hood that helps users control the amount of light entering the lens for less ghosting and flares. In a nice touch, there is a filter adjustment window that allows users to adjust circular polarizing and variable ND filters while the hood is attached.
This NIKKOR Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ looks fairly similar to the Sony FE PZ 28-135mm f/4 G OSS Full-Frame Power Zoom Lens, but it doesn’t have any lens stabilization. The Sony FE PZ 28-135mm f/4 G OSS Full-Frame Power Zoom Lens retails for $2,398 USD.
Price & Availability
The NIKKOR Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ power zoom will be available in April 2025 for a suggested retail price of $2,599.95 USD. The lens will also be available as part of a bundle with the new RED KOMODO-X Z Mount camera.
Specifications
Thoughts
While it is always good to see new products coming to market, you need to make a lens that is arguably better or has a larger focal range than something that has already been out for many years to win users over. In saying that, this looks to be a decent offering for Nikon and RED users (if you have a new RED KOMODO-X Z Mount camera) and it adds something that wasn’t previously available in the Z lens lineup.
I think with the acquisition of RED, a lot of Nikon and RED shooters were perhaps hoping for Nikon to make cine lenses and not just a hybrid stills/cine lens, but nonetheless, these are still early days and sometimes it takes a while for the fruit to ripen before it can be pulled off the vine.
