One thing is, if you shoot the 26mm in 4:3 aspect ratio you get a really nice medium format look due to the aspect ratio and the horizontal FOV crop. It becomes much more manageable for street because it's actually just slightly narrower horizontally than the 28, but it's slightly taller in terms of vertical FOV. Then when you want it to be a little bit wider or for architecture, shoot it in 3:2 and for 16:9 landscapes the 26 can better accentuate that.
both lenses are great for what you can expect at their price point : - The 28 have faster AF with lower focus breathing ( it's really bad when shooting videos with the 26 ! ), have a "good enough" IQ an remains small and light. - The 26 is even shorter/lighter with better IQ ( not S lense lvl but not that far either ! ), metal mount ( with rubber gasket giving it a better weather sealing ) but for a higher cost. In short : - if you are low budget go for the 28 - you want the best IQ go for the 26 - if you do mostly video ( except maybe for vlogging ) go for the 28, the faster, quieter and lower focus breathing will help !
I replaced the 28 with the 26. I find the slightly wider view, pairs better with the 40 and prefer the smaller size. I think if one lens for street, was my main use, the 28 would be my choice. The AF noise on the 26 is irksome. I have no issues with plastic mounts or the image quality of either for my use. I am interested in the upcoming Laowa 15mm F5 FX "cookie" lens and I have their 10mm F4 DX cookie lens, for the ZFc, on the way.
I’ve been using the 28mm for a little over a year and I absolutely love it. No worries about the plastic mount - it’s so light that there’s no stress on it. It’s just a fun lens to use
The new Zf + the 28 f2.8 SE or 40 f2 SE are (for me) the ideal street and travel setup. Very compact and light (but still substantial), and importantly, the setup looks like an old film SLR rig. This makes it a theft deterrent, as it’s very discrete and unassuming.
I splashed out on the Z 26mm on my (45mpx) Z7 and just love it for a walkabout lens. Even on the Z7 it fits into a large jacket pocket or bum bag. I can always crop closer in Lightroom if needed and of course in DX mode it’s 39mm. The pancake lens is so inconspicuous I can walk around privately-owned Canary Wharf without any trouble from the security guards. It produces amazingly good quality photographs, colour or black and white. It’s such fun to use and that for me is the best selling point. Thanks for the videos. You guys are getting a bit good at this!
For street I would use an APC camera such as the Z50. It is small and lightweight. Coupled with the 28mm lens which becomes a 42mm lens on the Z50 is for me the ideal street combo. Don't mind the plastic mount; it is a very light lens so it doesn't matter.
Never understood the fear of plastic mount. If you hit the lens hard enough to break the plastic mount, it would be hard enough to break any other lens..
Both Z lenses are fantastic, taking advantages of the latest optical design in Nikon. Even the cheaper Z 28mm outperforms F mount 28mm in terms of sharpness, color fringing and flare resistance. Z 26mm showed huge improvements in a wide open situation and close-up photographs. Eventually, I sold Z 28mm and now I use Z 26mm :)
Nice overview! I've got the 28mm. It is pretty good, though I wish the optical performance was a bit better and it was f/2 maximum aperture. I might eventually get the 40mm to see if that focal length will work for what I do. With the diameter of the Z mount I personally don't see the point of the 26mm. The shifting inner focus barrel, no built-in filter thread, thinner focus ring, and higher cost don't feel worth it to get a somewhat smaller size when the camera is off compared to the 28 and 40mm lenses which are already a compact size that fit well with Z cameras.
i think the hidden use for the 26mm is on a second body for a wedding/event shooter who prefers using an 50, 85 or 70-200 but needs those quick wide shots - something that small and compact hidden in a bag or strap that can be used in a flash but not get in the way of a primary body/lens feels just right to me
Great channel and content. Very helpful info. I’m on the fence between the 26mm and 28mm for my Z6ii. Seems like the 26 is sharper? Would like it for low night, nighttime street, travel. Any suggestions TY
Love my z 28mm. It’s the only lens I take on holiday. I do need something smaller than my z9 though. Ergonomically fine actually but I do wish I could be less conspicuous.
Hello both, I have not got either of these lenses, but a good friend has the 26mm and what a smashing little work horse it is. Sharp with good contrast. Thanks for all work work. keep well, keep safe and stay happy.
Great video, if you don't mind me asking, I have a Nikon D5100 and still love it after so many years. but would love a super small lens for travel can you advise me on a good option. Cheers David
Loving this lens. I’ve seen so many reviews saying the hood doesn’t stay attached and I thought it to be true until I accidentally turned it all the way and it clicked lol. Awesome walk around lens, and I’m loving shooting with it. Was lucky enough to find this as it’s backordered and even being resold used for more than the retail price. Awesome lens
jujst picked up the 28 ... gonna sell my 40 because my MC 50 replaces the 40 basically ... all the Z lenses are to me astonishingly sharp ... even the "cheap" ones. Really a remarkable system in that regard. Both this lens and the 40 more so have a slightly "dreamy" quality which I like... I can't figure it out ... but are still sharp in a nice way ... the plastic mount is not a worry for me at all ... the motor noise in the 26 gets knocked more heavily in other reviews ...
I love my 28 f/2.8 Z lens (new Z style). I don't think it costs much more than my F mount Nikkor 28mm f/4 pre-AI lens which I bought 40 years ago. Can't go wrong. I got mine when NikonUSA offered it for $50 off. Kon, I loved your action shots decisive moment B&W shots of people on two wheels.
I picked up the 40 mm SE a while back and almost got the 28 but I already had the zimount 20 mm, 14-24, and the 24-120 so I kind of figured I had most of that covered. Glad I held off not getting the 28 because I did pick up the 26. Got it from B&H supposed to be here tomorrow morning I'm looking forward to getting out and shooting with it
To be quite honest with you because they've now released an SE version of it I'm still tempted to get the 28 mm but I'll see how the 26 does when I go out today. I'm about to go out the door and look for some whales so ironically I'll be taking nikons biggest and smallest Z mounts with me (The 800 6.3 and the 26 f2.8
Just perfect in time for me. Was contemplating getting the 26 and pairing it with the 50/2.8 - but your video reminded me of a few things to consider, so I think, I'll just stick to the 28 and use it either with the 50/2.8, 50/1.8 or even the 85/1.8 as a compact kit.
For a lot of people, if the 28mm had a metal mount and a gasket it would be the winner over the 26mm. I'm not sure the 26mm is a better focal length than the 28mm. The plastic mount is not a bad deal, but a lot of people just feel better with metal, the gasket might be more important. And if the 26mm didn't zoom in and out to where you probably need its hood, makes that less of a positive.
Currently on a work trip. Took 2 hours to walk around the city I’m in carrying my Zfc coupled to the 24-70 2.8. It was a bit large, but I love the shots it produced,.. Maybe one of these lenses would be nice,….
the Zfc with the 24-70 f 2.8 ? never thought i'll read some a paring ^^ isn't the lack of VR ( on both the lense and camera ) and heavy lense an issue ? even if i'm sure if you nail the shot you'll get great looking picture, some time for fun i use my 24-70 F4 on my Zfc and yes definitly a S lense, make great picture, let's hope one day nikon will release S lenses for DX cameras too ^^
@@malekith13 it is a bit of an awkward combination; the 24-70 2.8 is large for the Zfc. I am interested in trying some of the new Viltrox pro 1.2 lenses with my Zfc. From the youtube reviews they look very sharp, but really hard to tell how much you will like them until you get them into your own hands.
It would be great if Nikon or a 3rd party lens maker came up with a 16/18 - 50 f2.8 on day to couple with my Zfc. Until then I mainly use the z28 on it and love the combo for street.
I’d get the 28mm over the 26 probably myself. I don’t see the plastic as a downside. I do prefer a brass with chrome finish mount . I’d almost bet the new 26 is an aluminum mount for weight savings. The aluminum will probably wear quicker than brass and the plastic. I have the 40 and don’t feel the grab you get with metal. So I think the plastic isn’t going to wear like an extra grabbing metal like aluminum. For me plastic wins . As for fov I think that depends upon the photographer.
One thing is, if you shoot the 26mm in 4:3 aspect ratio you get a really nice medium format look due to the aspect ratio and the horizontal FOV crop. It becomes much more manageable for street because it's actually just slightly narrower horizontally than the 28, but it's slightly taller in terms of vertical FOV. Then when you want it to be a little bit wider or for architecture, shoot it in 3:2 and for 16:9 landscapes the 26 can better accentuate that.
both lenses are great for what you can expect at their price point :
- The 28 have faster AF with lower focus breathing ( it's really bad when shooting videos with the 26 ! ), have a "good enough" IQ an remains small and light.
- The 26 is even shorter/lighter with better IQ ( not S lense lvl but not that far either ! ), metal mount ( with rubber gasket giving it a better weather sealing ) but for a higher cost.
In short :
- if you are low budget go for the 28
- you want the best IQ go for the 26
- if you do mostly video ( except maybe for vlogging ) go for the 28, the faster, quieter and lower focus breathing will help !
Which one for Vlogging?
@@IIIM-or1bq the AF feels more sticky in video with the 28 and if you want some "bokeh" the 28's is softer
I replaced the 28 with the 26. I find the slightly wider view, pairs better with the 40 and prefer the smaller size. I think if one lens for street, was my main use, the 28 would be my choice. The AF noise on the 26 is irksome. I have no issues with plastic mounts or the image quality of either for my use. I am interested in the upcoming Laowa 15mm F5 FX "cookie" lens and I have their 10mm F4 DX cookie lens, for the ZFc, on the way.
How do you find 10mm cookie for DX? Are you satisfied with the quality?
I’ve been using the 28mm for a little over a year and I absolutely love it. No worries about the plastic mount - it’s so light that there’s no stress on it. It’s just a fun lens to use
The new Zf + the 28 f2.8 SE or 40 f2 SE are (for me) the ideal street and travel setup. Very compact and light (but still substantial), and importantly, the setup looks like an old film SLR rig. This makes it a theft deterrent, as it’s very discrete and unassuming.
I splashed out on the Z 26mm on my (45mpx) Z7 and just love it for a walkabout lens. Even on the Z7 it fits into a large jacket pocket or bum bag. I can always crop closer in Lightroom if needed and of course in DX mode it’s 39mm. The pancake lens is so inconspicuous I can walk around privately-owned Canary Wharf without any trouble from the security guards. It produces amazingly good quality photographs, colour or black and white. It’s such fun to use and that for me is the best selling point. Thanks for the videos. You guys are getting a bit good at this!
For street I would use an APC camera such as the Z50. It is small and lightweight. Coupled with the 28mm lens which becomes a 42mm lens on the Z50 is for me the ideal street combo. Don't mind the plastic mount; it is a very light lens so it doesn't matter.
Never understood the fear of plastic mount. If you hit the lens hard enough to break the plastic mount, it would be hard enough to break any other lens..
you mean, a GR IIIx? ;-)
I got z50 and use z35/1.8s. I plan on upgrade to either z6 or z7
Both Z lenses are fantastic, taking advantages of the latest optical design in Nikon.
Even the cheaper Z 28mm
outperforms F mount 28mm in terms of sharpness, color fringing and flare resistance.
Z 26mm showed huge improvements in a wide open situation and close-up photographs. Eventually, I sold Z 28mm and now I use Z 26mm :)
Nice overview! I've got the 28mm. It is pretty good, though I wish the optical performance was a bit better and it was f/2 maximum aperture. I might eventually get the 40mm to see if that focal length will work for what I do. With the diameter of the Z mount I personally don't see the point of the 26mm. The shifting inner focus barrel, no built-in filter thread, thinner focus ring, and higher cost don't feel worth it to get a somewhat smaller size when the camera is off compared to the 28 and 40mm lenses which are already a compact size that fit well with Z cameras.
i think the hidden use for the 26mm is on a second body for a wedding/event shooter who prefers using an 50, 85 or 70-200 but needs those quick wide shots - something that small and compact hidden in a bag or strap that can be used in a flash but not get in the way of a primary body/lens feels just right to me
Great channel and content. Very helpful info. I’m on the fence between the 26mm and 28mm for my Z6ii. Seems like the 26 is sharper? Would like it for low night, nighttime street, travel. Any suggestions TY
Love my z 28mm. It’s the only lens I take on holiday. I do need something smaller than my z9 though. Ergonomically fine actually but I do wish I could be less conspicuous.
I have 3 each of the 28mm and 40mm lenses but have the 26mm and love it. I also picked up the DX 24mm f/1.7 is a dream. Great video as always. Cheers!
Which cam do you use, crop or full frame?
@@IIIM-or1bq All Types. 1" to Full Frame. There is no way I am doing Street Photography with a Medium Format Camera. 🙂
@@randallbrander8157 thank you
coming here after Zf announcement. 28mm and Zf = street.
Nice review as always. Would be good to test it also on the Z50 or Zfc, maybe along with the z 24f1.7?
I originally bought the 28mm as a stop-gap to getting the 26mm. But it's so good I've just stayed with it. I also recommend the Viltrox 20mm 2.8
Agree! The Viltrox 20 is a must have 😂
Hello both, I have not got either of these lenses, but a good friend has the 26mm and what a smashing little work horse it is. Sharp with good contrast. Thanks for all work work. keep well, keep safe and stay happy.
Would love to know how the video stabilization goes on both cameras with both lenses. Cheers guys!
Thanks for doing this comparison. This is exactly my wonder and now I feel better about my decision. Thank you!
Great video, if you don't mind me asking, I have a Nikon D5100 and still love it after so many years. but would love a super small lens for travel can you advise me on a good option. Cheers David
26/28 may be wide for street in London, but in Tokyo, 24 is not too wide 😅. Great video
Cool vid, and hype free description of the trade offs and uses for the lenses - loved your capture tips on speed and aperture too!
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!
Loving this lens. I’ve seen so many reviews saying the hood doesn’t stay attached and I thought it to be true until I accidentally turned it all the way and it clicked lol. Awesome walk around lens, and I’m loving shooting with it. Was lucky enough to find this as it’s backordered and even being resold used for more than the retail price. Awesome lens
jujst picked up the 28 ... gonna sell my 40 because my MC 50 replaces the 40 basically ... all the Z lenses are to me astonishingly sharp ... even the "cheap" ones. Really a remarkable system in that regard. Both this lens and the 40 more so have a slightly "dreamy" quality which I like... I can't figure it out ... but are still sharp in a nice way ... the plastic mount is not a worry for me at all ... the motor noise in the 26 gets knocked more heavily in other reviews ...
Your field trips trying gear are always great.
I love my 28 f/2.8 Z lens (new Z style). I don't think it costs much more than my F mount Nikkor 28mm f/4 pre-AI lens which I bought 40 years ago. Can't go wrong. I got mine when NikonUSA offered it for $50 off. Kon, I loved your action shots decisive moment B&W shots of people on two wheels.
This is so nice! I am planning to go to the UK in the summer. Which area is that water feature that everyone was sitting around at?
I picked up the 40 mm SE a while back and almost got the 28 but I already had the zimount 20 mm, 14-24, and the 24-120 so I kind of figured I had most of that covered.
Glad I held off not getting the 28 because I did pick up the 26. Got it from B&H supposed to be here tomorrow morning I'm looking forward to getting out and shooting with it
To be quite honest with you because they've now released an SE version of it I'm still tempted to get the 28 mm but I'll see how the 26 does when I go out today.
I'm about to go out the door and look for some whales so ironically I'll be taking nikons biggest and smallest Z mounts with me (The 800 6.3 and the 26 f2.8
Just perfect in time for me. Was contemplating getting the 26 and pairing it with the 50/2.8 - but your video reminded me of a few things to consider, so I think, I'll just stick to the 28 and use it either with the 50/2.8, 50/1.8 or even the 85/1.8 as a compact kit.
For a lot of people, if the 28mm had a metal mount and a gasket it would be the winner over the 26mm. I'm not sure the 26mm is a better focal length than the 28mm. The plastic mount is not a bad deal, but a lot of people just feel better with metal, the gasket might be more important. And if the 26mm didn't zoom in and out to where you probably need its hood, makes that less of a positive.
I’ve got the 28mm and very much enjoy using it and the results it delivers on my Z7, Zfc and Z8.
With all those pixels, one could easily crop the 26mm to get a tighter field of view. I just wish the AF was faster.
what do you guys think for close up food? from what ive gathered the 28mm is pretty bad wide open and close -too soft etc
Currently on a work trip. Took 2 hours to walk around the city I’m in carrying my Zfc coupled to the 24-70 2.8. It was a bit large, but I love the shots it produced,.. Maybe one of these lenses would be nice,….
the Zfc with the 24-70 f 2.8 ? never thought i'll read some a paring ^^ isn't the lack of VR ( on both the lense and camera ) and heavy lense an issue ? even if i'm sure if you nail the shot you'll get great looking picture, some time for fun i use my 24-70 F4 on my Zfc and yes definitly a S lense, make great picture, let's hope one day nikon will release S lenses for DX cameras too ^^
@@malekith13 it is a bit of an awkward combination; the 24-70 2.8 is large for the Zfc. I am interested in trying some of the new Viltrox pro 1.2 lenses with my Zfc. From the youtube reviews they look very sharp, but really hard to tell how much you will like them until you get them into your own hands.
It would be great if Nikon or a 3rd party lens maker came up with a 16/18 - 50 f2.8 on day to couple with my Zfc. Until then I mainly use the z28 on it and love the combo for street.
I’d like to 28 mm focal length. I thought the 26 might have been a better Lenz, but it seems that the 28 is just a better value.
Why not APS-C. 39mm and 42mm more my style. Smaller lighter. Street shooting with a Z8?? Not something I wold do.
Love this!
I’d get the 28mm over the 26 probably myself. I don’t see the plastic as a downside. I do prefer a brass with chrome finish mount . I’d almost bet the new 26 is an aluminum mount for weight savings. The aluminum will probably wear quicker than brass and the plastic. I have the 40 and don’t feel the grab you get with metal. So I think the plastic isn’t going to wear like an extra grabbing metal like aluminum. For me plastic wins .
As for fov I think that depends upon the photographer.
Put the 26 on a Z30. Shoot from the hip at 40mm. ❤
Why was the 40mm not included?
Z5ii? The perfect street camera…
1:51 We got your wish! Zf is the camera for you.👍🏾
Why do you even need a camera to shoot at 24, 28, 35mm?
Cell phones are mich better at them.
Stick 85mm for portaits.
Quality comment!