NikonNIKKOR Z 20mm f/1.8 S Mirrorless Camera Lens JMA104DA

Value for money

I thought I would post a review of this lens as it's still fairly rare in the wild. First off the bat, I will say I had to try a few copies before I found a good sample. This has not been the case with other 'S' series lenses I have bought for the Z system. Perhaps I was just unlucky but it's something to keep in mind if your copy disappoints, because a good sample of this lens can really only be described as stunning. Here's what I am seeing on my Z7. Very pleasing sharpness wide open across perhaps 90% of the frame against beautifully rendered background blur with some of the smoothest transitions I've ever seen in a lens this wide. Combine this with the wide angle of view and very close focus capability, and you have the perfect lens for setting small details, such as flowers, in the wider landscape. Tack sharpness right into the extreme corners with moderate stopping down. No noticeable field curvature or focus shift; stop it down and depth of field expands in a predictable and consistent manner, just as you want it to. A total absence of fringing and (probably as a consequence of this) a wonderful sense of clarity and depth. Very well controlled distortion giving a very natural perspective without the unpleasant ' corner stretching' that often affects wide angle zooms (even very expensive ones). No, it isn't a small lens for a 1.8/20mm but, on the plus side, it's relatively light and will take standard threaded filters without vignetting. Perhaps the biggest competitor for this lens is Nikon's excellent 4/14-30 S. While the focal length versatility of the zoom counts for a lot, the 1.8/20 S will appeal to those who take a more considered and deliberate approach to focal length selection and want the ultimate image quality and the creative possibilities of that wide aperture and close focus capability. If you're one of them, you won't be disappointed. This is a world class wide angle prime, one of the very best I've ever owned. Highly recommended.

The rear lens cap as a tendency to jam on and is difficult to remove

I picked this up for interior wides when I switched to Nikon from Sony. I had been using the Zeiss Batis 18mm on Sony, with good results in interiors, pretty controlled distortion, unless the room was really just too small.I expected the Nikon to perform better, as it was not quite as wide, but I found it distorts most average size rooms, and is only suitable for larger / venue or commercial spaces. I sold it on and now just use the 24-70 for any wides (which doesn't distort much).I'm sure it's fine for landscapes, lightweight, but not compact.