Nikon 28-135mm f/4 PZ Launched, Entering Pro Cine Zoom Market
Nikon announced full details including pricing and availability for the Nikkor Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ it announced last October. It will be arriving in April (just in time for the NAB show in Las Vegas) and will retail for $2,599.95.“The first thing that grabs your attention is the appearance of this lens — the pronounced yellow ring around the bayonet and the bold typography on the barrel stand out, indicating its rightful place in a production environment,” Nikon says. “
The Nikkor Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ looks different than other Nikkor Z lenses, incorporating an updated design and precise controls made to augment the workflow of cinematographers and videographers, with maximum flexibility.” The lens was designed “especially for video professionals” and features a mix of high-end optics, versatile zoom range, precise manual controls, and “agile handling.” It is the first dedicated Nikkor Z lens “designed to empower small-footprint productions and solo videographers with a lightweight cinematic tool that fulfills numerous roles.” It is also the first full-frame cinema lens Nikon has ever produced.
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The 28-135mm looks distinctly like a traditional video lens. The large square hood, geared focus ring and power zoom rocker are dead giveaways about this lens’ intended audience. I was slightly disappointed that there is not a mechanical focus clutch to assist with precise focus pulls but the focus ring is very well damped and, more importantly, responsive. Just remember to set the manual focus response to “linear” in the camera’s menu.
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The power zoom can be controlled several ways. The first with the power zoom rocker which I did find a bit fiddly. I wish there was a bit more resistance as it is easy to suddenly start zooming faster or slower than intended. I preferred instead dedicating a couple of buttons on the body (I like the front custom buttons around the lens mount) to enable a smooth zoom at a continuous rate. For the fastest zoom response, and the fun “crash-zoom” effect, you will need to use the zoom ring around the barrel. Just like the focus ring, this is extremely responsive, with none of the lag we saw in the much older Sony 28-135mm f/4 PZ for E-Mount. Additionally, zoom can be controlled through Nikon’s mobile or desktop software and with the MC-N10 video grip.
There are also custom buttons, a control dial I like to set to aperture (iris for my cinematographer friends), and manual/autofocus selector switch. The lens has been sealed to resist dust and moisture. One possible point of concern is the use of a massive 95mm filter thread. This means screw-on filters will be expensive and difficult to find, so I recommend a matte-box with drop-in filters for the users of this lens.
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Remote operation capabilities have been implemented through Nikon’s software ecosystem, including NX Tether for studio control, SnapBridge for mobile device operation, and NX Field for multi-camera setups. The lens supports standard follow-focus systems and professional matte boxes while offering weather-sealed construction with noted limitations.