Nikon Z MC 50mm f/2.8 lens review with samples

Over the years I've come to appreciate just how enjoyable wider angle macro lenses can be for general use, and for close focus work. Let's see what this new Nikon lens can really do.
Find it here (Amazon affiliate link):
geni.us/NikonZMC50mm
All sample pictures taken by me on a Nikon Z7 camera.
Support me on Patreon! / christopherfrost
Equipment I use to make my videos (Amazon affiliate links):
Canon EOS R5: geni.us/CanonEOSR5Body
Canon EF-RF Adaptor: geni.us/CanonEFtoRF
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 'Art': geni.us/Sigma50mm14Art
Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS STM: geni.us/CanonRF35mm18Macro
Marumi Fit and Slim CPL Filter: geni.us/MarumiFitSlim77
AudioTechnica AT2020USB+ Microphone: geni.us/AT2020USBPlusMic
Rode Smartlav+ Microphone: geni.us/RodeSmartLavalierPlus
Rode SC3 adapter: geni.us/RodeSC3MicAdaptor
Zoom H1n Recorder: geni.us/ZoomH1nMiniRecorder
DJI Mini 2 Drone: geni.us/DJIMini2FlyMore
Music:
'Opportunity Walks', Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
creativecommons.org/licenses/b...

[@giklab]

Should be noted, that this lens actually has *two* filter threads. The 46mm inner one, on the extending barrel, and a second one on the fixed housing. That second one is for use with the ES-2 digitizing adapter (35mm slides, film, etc.).

[@FaddyVFX]

Best video of the day, great work and amazing video.

[@Rabe1907]

A 50 mm f 2.8 macro lens is the best allrounder ever ! 👍

[@ericthestone]

Another excellent performer for the Z system. I bought the 105 Z due to the better working distance.

[@brucegallagher4904]

Agree...the 105 on the Z7 is very easy to use, hand held. Cheers from Australia.

[@leoncfu]

I just ordered this lens for US$293 in an in store only deal at Best Buy in San Antonio, TX! They were also selling the Z 105 MC for $490, but was sold out. Looking forward to getting my first macro lens!

[@cryhavoc38]

that simple cheese pizza looks damn good. Brick oven baked for the win!!

[@firefly5717]

Venus Optics released some very interesting lenses such as a 12-24mm for example. I would love to see a review of this lenses by you.

[@bamboojled8919]

Seems like an excellent lens across the board.

[@ImpossibleVids]

Nice review ! Can you do next the Nikkor 200-500 and the 70-300 DX Please ? Keep up the good work !

[@Bayonet1809]

Does this lens have a flat field of focus at macro range, something very important for archive photography?

[@andrewkawlni6125]

Great performer...

[@carlosandreviana9448]

Is 16cm the minimum distance from the protruding element or from the main one?

[@lukasherngren]

Hi! Can you review the Nikon Micro-NIKKOR 55mm f/2.8 AI-s? I can lend you a copy for a couple of weeks if you want to do it. Best regards Lukas Herngren!

[@grumblewoof4721]

There is a new version of the 7Artisans 60mm f2.8 II or Mk2 1:1 macro lens from China that has many mount options including a Canon RF mount. It is only for APS-C sensors so Canon R bodies need to switch to ASP-C mode. Also it is only manual focus and has no electronic coupling. It would be great if you could review this lens as it is a cheap versatile lens and there are so few third party RF mount lenses available and you need to get a second mortgage to afford Canon RF glass. I am considering buying one of these 7Artisans but not before CF does a review :) thanks.

[@danishbhatti9764]

What about the portraits?

[@storm.57z23]

Who remembers the digitalrev music at the end

[@OccultDemonCassette]

If f16+ has diffraction then why do lenses go that high? Anyone know what use those would have?

[@XL1813]

Maybe If you absolutely need the depth of field or are taking photos of moving water without ND filter. Something like that.

[@starbase218]

DigitalRev outro music! :)

[@AmedeeBoulette]

The Fuji 90mm macro doesn’t have focus breathing. I regularly do focus stacking with it.

[@Vinterloft]

That lens also has the quadruple linear motor, focuses quicker than any macro known to man

[@straitjacketstudios]

any issues using this lens for video? Or better off with the NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S?

[@PiTdeLyX]

For video you absolutely want the z50/1.8 as it has basically no focus-breathing. Optically they are all more than enough for video.

[@fondfarewell2]

I want to buy a new lens but can't justify purchasing only for my apsc. Any recommendation on lens that is equally good for both ef and efs. Have 5d2 and sl2.

[@nicolasletellier6162]

If you mean a macro lens for L mount you have the sigma 105mm f\2.8 macro. It's a really good lens I own. And also you can take a look at Laowa they do some of their macro lenses for L mount too now, like the Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO. Sadly I still can't find it yet.

[@ronjenkins4257]

Christopher Frost seems to have given over testing lenses for Canon DSLRs. His older reviews have content of the sort that would apply to 5D2 and SL2.

[@rws531]

@@ronjenkins4257 the laowa 100 f/2.8 ultra macro 2:1 is EF and sharp af

[@fondfarewell2]

@@ronjenkins4257 true but I'm sure he still has some good insight to my question.

[@RealRaynedance]

Considering it seems like a lot of macro work is done with manual focus, it'd be interesting to see how an old school manual-focus Nikon macro lens holds up against this. The Micro-NIKKOR 55mm f/2.8 maybe, if either you can find one or someone is kind enough (or able) to lend you one. Also accounting for the fact that it "only" does 1:2 magnification, obviously.

[@Joelsfilmer]

The 55/2,8 was originally sold with the PK-13 extension tube making it go to 1:1.

[@SammydesinasNL]

I'll happily lend Nick a 55mm 3.5 pre-ai, 55mm 2.8 AI, and 60mm 2.8 AF for comparison.

[@jimstirling7223]

I am a keen macro shooter and have a lot of Nikon gear , none of the older manual focus micro lenses are on a par with this lens or 105mm Z . Sadly for my wallet so far every Z mount lens is better than any Nikon F mount

[@Joelsfilmer]

@@jimstirling7223 Yeah I don't think anyone argues otherwise. It's more of a question about how cutting edge you actually need (and/or want) your gear to be.

[@camerakid3317]

I have an unrelated question, I know you have tested out both the tamron 100-400mm and the sigma 150-600mmm contemporary, so which now do you think is sharper and which one has better af.

[@badiozamansulaiman8890]

I think it would be nice if nikon come up with a Z to Z mount speed booster.. this give more reason for nikon Aps-C user to buy full frame Z lenses (on upgrade path to full frame), or for full frame user to get z50 or zfc for backup.. otherwise limited lens for aps-c may hinder aps-c user turning nikon at the moment or nikon losing market to third party lenses.. there are third party speed booster avaible for other lenses (canon/sony)to z mount but that make its more difficult for aps-c nikon user to upgrade to nikon full frame and might as well switch to the other brand when they want to go full frame.. just my imho

[@thefringeminorityreport4797]

I have no issues using 100% crop sensor mirrorless z50. Amazing photos with the 50-250. I will be ordering this MC lense.

[@momchilyordanov8190]

As of now (Jun-24), in my country it is the equivalent of £475. Improving on it's main weakness ;)

[@shyland20]

have a third party alternative?

[@EugeneMaynard]

🙏🏾

[@alwinbenjamin]

❤

[@antonoat]

A bit pricey but it seems to perform pretty well overall.

[@AgnostosGnostos]

50mm full frame macro lenses are affordable but not very convenient with macro photography. Full frame macro (or micro as Nikon names them) lenses at around 100mm are a better choice but much more expensive.

[@thedondeluxe6941]

I still use my old pre-ai 55mm F3.5... maybe it's time for an upgrade?

[@Joelsfilmer]

If you do a lot of macro then maybe but with focus peaking and IBIS on mirrorless cameras the old glass is better than ever. Better corner sharpness, autofocus, and 1:1 magnification (unless you already have a PK-13 extension tube) is what you'll be paying for.

[@thedondeluxe6941]

@@Joelsfilmer Yeah, shooting with old glass is a breeze these days! I find older macro lenses with extension rings often have a bit of distortion too. Nothing you can't get rid of in post though. Corner sharpness is probably the main improvment with newer lenses.

[@Joelsfilmer]

@@thedondeluxe6941 Unless you're doing postage stamp replication perfect corner sharpness probably isn't super relevant for a casual macro photographer. Few things in nature are flat enough to fill the entire frame with one perfectly sharp subject from edge to edge. I'm sure focus stacking aficionados find it a lot more important, though.

[@thedondeluxe6941]

@@Joelsfilmer I occasionally use it to scan 35mm negatives, and that's pretty much the same size as postage stamps :-)

[@emkayjeong]

Impressive performance especially for close up photography. But i believe tamron semimacro lenses can be alternatives for sony users.

[@Rabe1907]

No !

[@tourinojacks5844]

Great review and you are a mind reader. I too believe that it is too high of a price to only be a 2.8. It just doesn't make sense. $250-$280 I would buy it today. $500-$600 I very well may NEVER buy it unfortunately. I'm still searching for an exceptional $200-$250 lens with great Image Quality (IQ.)

[@kevc.2958]

50mm 1:1 macro working distance is so close

[@Stonewall1815]

Third!

[@kronusaerospace8872]

What is even the purpose of that "hood"?

[@Joelsfilmer]

It does give some protection against bumping the front element by recessing it a bit further. Frankly these days that's the main use for hoods on medium length lenses.

[@ktcool4660]

I'll buy it when it comes down under $500 or buy it used.

[@iyzyz]

Always buy lenses used, you save tons of money.

[@zachhp]

First!!!!

[@TheRtesti]

5:35min Is it a pizza?

[@victorlim5077]

This looks like an APO lens.

[@ducnguyentai1668]

Fourth

[@kennymarianno]

SECOND

[@domm6812]

I like that you can praise the lens picture quality but still question the value for money. A lot of KZbinrs are unthinkingly praising everything about a lot of these Z lenses, saying that it all justifies the crazy prices. It doesn't. They might be worth what's being charged if they were also made from premium materials, but it's just plastic. As it stands, a lot of the Nikon Z lens line up is very overpriced. We need Sigma and other brands to come in and create good competition.

[@macmakka8214]

I suspect the reason why current Nikon products are so expensive is that they need to recoup the losses from ALL the rubbish products they have produced in recent years , the forgettable 1 series and lame wide angle action cameras come easily to mind.

[@aditya_gupta]

Nah...too expensive

[@craigw7136]

Nikon’s z mount lenses are way overpriced for what they offer.

[@livejames9374]

Same with canon and Sony. Tamron and sigma save the day.

[@Willymaze]

Disagree, Nikon has currently the best optics and this lens is comparable to the Z 105mm, and if you go to his review of the big brother he states that is the sharpest macro he's ever tested. All of this after his macro shootout video.

[@thisisbenji90]

This lens is in line price wise with the f-mount 60mm micro that it replaces no?

[@SunnySoCal]

i would not pay anything over $250 for this lens i don’t much care for nikon canon or sony’s prices on average lenses with average apertures

[@Joelsfilmer]

You're gonna be forever disappointed if those are your expectations. What additional traits do you think this lens should have to be worth more than a plastic framed double gauss? What are you going to do with a f/1,8 macro lens anyway?

[@ktcool4660]

aperture is not everything

[@livejames9374]

Are there any mirrorless 1:1 macro af lenses under $300-400?

[@Joelsfilmer]

@@livejames9374 Panasonic and Olympus make some for MFT but for bigger sensors that will be a struggle. Laowa has a whole bunch at $399 but those are a niche within themselves and don't have AF.