Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G vs Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 16–50mm f/2.8 VR

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AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G compared with NIKKOR Z DX 16–50mm f/2.8 VR

	NikonAF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G	NikonNIKKOR Z DX 16–50mm f/2.8 VR
Overview
Released
Released	June 2011	October 2025
Optics
Lens type
Lens type	Prime	Zoom
Focal length
Focal length	50 mm	16–50 mm
Maximum aperture
Maximum aperture	f/1.8	f/2.8
Minimum aperture
Minimum aperture	f/16	f/22
Optical construction
Optical construction	Seven elements in six groups	12 elements in 11 groups; internal focusing
Special elements
Special elements	One aspherical element	One ED and two aspherical elements
Coatings
Coatings	Super Integrated Coating	–
Aperture detail
Aperture detail	f/1.8–16; no aperture ring	f/2.8–22 throughout the zoom range
Diaphragm
Diaphragm	Seven rounded blades	Nine rounded blades
Angle of view
Angle of view	FX 47°; DX 31°30′	DX 83°–31°30′; 24–75 mm equivalent angle of view in FX format
Mount and compatibility
Mounts
Mounts	Nikon F mount	Nikon Z mount
Image circle
Image circle	Full frame	APS-C
Compatibility
Compatibility	Nikon F mount; full-frame/FX coverage, also usable on DX cameras. Built-in autofocus motor supports Nikon DSLRs without an in-body focus motor, as Photography Blog confirms	Native Nikon Z mount; designed for DX/APS-C format
Focus and stabilisation
Autofocus
Autofocus	Yes	Yes
Minimum focus distance
Minimum focus distance	0.45 m	0.15 m
Maximum magnification
Maximum magnification	0.15×	0.24×
Optical stabilisation
Optical stabilisation	No	Yes
Autofocus detail
Autofocus detail	Silent Wave Motor with manual focus override	Stepping motor; automatic or manual focusing
Focus distance detail
Focus distance detail	Minimum 0.45 m; Photography Blog confirms the outer barrel's length stays unchanged and the filter thread does not rotate during focusing, while noting this is not a true internal-focus lens	Minimum distances from focal plane are 0.15 m at 16 mm, 0.18 m at 24 mm, 0.21 m at 35 mm and 0.25 m at 50 mm
Magnification detail
Magnification detail	Maximum 0.15×; not a life-size macro lens	Maximum 0.24× at 50 mm; no separate AF/MF figure published
Stabilisation detail
Stabilisation detail	No lens optical VR	Lens-shift VR using voice-coil motors. UK maker states up to 4.5 stops under CIPA standards with a DX camera, Normal VR mode and maximum telephoto setting. Canada announcement gives 5 stops under CIPA2024 yaw/pitch testing with Z50II at telephoto in Normal mode; these claims use different stated test conditions
Video features
Video features	–	Suppressed focus breathing and quiet focusing. Nikon Canada specifies Z50II Hi-Res Zoom for Full HD 30p/25p/24p only; Wide-area AF (L), no displayed focus point and electronic VR off
Design
Dust and moisture resistant
Dust and moisture resistant	–	Yes
Filter diameter
Filter diameter	58 mm	67 mm
Maximum diameter
Maximum diameter	72 mm	74.5 mm
Length
Length	52.5 mm	88 mm
Weight
Weight	185 g (better)	330 g
Controls
Controls	Manual focus ring, M/A–M switch and focus-distance window; Photography Blog notes depth-of-field markings for f/16 only and no focus limiter	Customisable control ring for focus, aperture, exposure compensation or ISO; physical zoom ring; no AF/manual switch, as confirmed by both reviews
Zoom design
Zoom design	–	Barrel extends while zooming, as confirmed by both reviews; internal focusing does not change length. Focal-length markings 16, 24, 35 and 50 mm
Filter detail
Filter detail	58 mm screw-in filters	67 mm screw-in filters, 0.75 mm pitch
Weather resistance
Weather resistance	Both reviews confirm a rubber seal at the metal mount. Broader barrel sealing is not established, so no general weather-resistance rating is assigned	Designed for dust and drip resistance; resistance is not guaranteed under every condition
Dimensions detail
Dimensions detail	Approximately 72 mm maximum diameter × 52.5 mm length	Approximately 74.5 mm maximum diameter × 88 mm from mount flange
Weight detail
Weight detail	Approximately 185 g according to Nikon; Photography Blog reports 187 g, which is not substituted for the maker figure	Approximately 330 g
Lens hood
Lens hood	HB-47 included	HB-118 included
In the box
In the box	LC-58 front cap, LF-4 rear cap, HB-47 bayonet hood and CL-1013 pouch	LC-67B front cap, LF-N1 rear cap and HB-118 hood
Release detail
Release detail	Nikon USA's April 2011 announcement states 16 June availability. Earliest exact global and first UK day unconfirmed, so June precision retained. Photography Blog's URL includes DX and its image captions refer to 24mm, but the actual review tests this FX 50mm f/1.8G	Nikon Canada states late October 2025 availability; earliest exact retail day and first UK day unconfirmed, so month precision retained