Must Read: Nikon Z7 Aperture/Lens Diaphragm Behavior While Viewing/Focusing vs Focus Shift in Lenses
Related: focusing, Nikon, Nikon mirrorless, Nikon NIKKOR Z, Nikon Z7, optical focus shift
See my Nikon mirrorless wishlist and Sony mirrorless wishlist and and Canon mirrorless wishlist.
This page discusses how the Nikon Z7 behaves with respect to aperture behavior when viewing vs when focusing vs when shooting, including perspective on the Nikon D850 along with best practices for Nikon NIKKOR Z lenses vs model-citizen Zeiss Milvus and Zeiss Otus lenses.
Nikon Z7 Aperture/Lens Diaphragm Behavior While Viewing/Focusing
This is a must read for anyone shooting Nikon NIKKOR Z lenses. Includes a best practices discussion.
The Nikon NIKKOR Z lenses are a big disappointing to me because of poor performance at the wide end (24-70) and because of absurd amounts of focus shift (35/1.8). I don’t have high hopes for the Nikon NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 which I have not yet tested.
I cannot reconcile that marketing hype with the 35/1.8 actual performance. In my view, focus shift and field curvature are the #1 and #2 lens performance bugaboos, but apparently Nikon thinks otherwise.
...every S-Line lens achieves new-dimensional optical performance including outstanding resolution that can keep pace with future imaging demands...
How bad is the focus shift of the Nikon NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.8 S? And what to do about it?
Putting the behavior to comparative analysis (show-and-tell):
Focus Comparison: Refocusing for Each Aperture vs Focusing Wide Open (Stunted Aspen Amid Boulders)
NIKON Z7 + Nikon NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.8 S
ENV: Rock Creek about 3/4 mile below Mosquito Flat, altitude 10100 ft / 3078 m, 38°F / 3°C
RAW: LACA corrected
Focused once at f/1.8
[low-res image for bot]
