Yongnuo has announced the YN 50mm f/1.8 Z DA DSM prime lens for APS-C Nikon Z mirrorless cameras.
As AsobiNet reports, the new lens promises to be an affordable option for Nikon Z shooters with APS-C cameras, like the Nikon Z50 and Zfc.
The lens, which has not yet appeared in Yongnuo’s United States online store, is available in Hong Kong for around $118, making it one of the most affordable lenses for the Nikon Z system.
The f/1.8 prime weighs only 148 grams (5.22 ounces) and is approximately 60 millimeters (2.36 inches) long. The lens has eight elements across eight groups and features a seven-bladed aperture diaphragm. The lens has a close-focus distance of about 0.45 meters (17.7 inches), resulting in a maximum magnification of 0.14x.
While it is easy to dismiss a lens as inexpensive as the Yongnuo YN 50mm f/1.8 Z DA DSM, it’s worth considering the company’s 85mm f/1.8 Z DF DSM lens. While designed for full-frame cameras, the $380 lens punches above its weight, as detailed in PetaPixel‘s review. And like that 85mm lens, the new 50mm prime also sports autofocus, which is an impressive accomplishment for a third-party lens at this price point.
Yongnuo has previously released a similar lens, the YN 50mm f/1.8 S DA DSM, for APS-C Sony E-mount cameras. Per the specs for the E-mount lens, the new Z-mount version is identical. It features the same number of lens elements, minimum focusing distance, and size and weight.
There is also a YN 50mm f/1.8 X DSM Pro lens for Fujifilm X-Mount, although that 50mm f/1.8 prime is slightly different than the Sony and Nikon-mount versions, as the X DSM lens incorporates a small OLED display and a slightly different and larger design.
While Yongnuo’s lens lineup can be a bit confusing with all the various models of lenses with similar focal lengths and maximum apertures, a common factor throughout the company’s lineup is that all the lenses are relatively affordable compared to their first-party counterparts, and the new YN 50mm f/1.8 Z DA DSM is no exception. The lens should be available soon on B&H and Amazon.
Image credits: Yongnuo