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Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR Lens (Black)

BH #NIZ1650 • MFR #20084
11 reviews
Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR Lens (Black)
Key Features
  • Z-Mount Lens/DX Format
  • 24-75mm (35mm Equivalent)
  • Aperture Range: f/3.5 to f/16
  • One Extra-Low Dispersion Element
Compact and versatile, the Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR is a 24-75mm-equivalent zoom designed for DX-format Z-mount mirrorless cameras. Covering a wide-angle to portrait-length zoom range, this lens is well-suited to everyday shooting situations. Its optical design incorporates aspherical and extra-low dispersion elements, which help to reduce a variety of aberrations for sharper, clearer image quality throughout the zoom range. A Super Integrated Coating has also been applied to minimize ghosting and flare for increased contrast and color accuracy in bright and backlit conditions.
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Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR Overview

Compact and versatile, the Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR is a 24-75mm-equivalent zoom designed for DX-format Z-mount mirrorless cameras. Covering a wide-angle to portrait-length zoom range, this lens is well-suited to everyday shooting situations. Its optical design incorporates aspherical and extra-low dispersion elements, which help to reduce a variety of aberrations for sharper, clearer image quality throughout the zoom range. A Super Integrated Coating has also been applied to minimize ghosting and flare for increased contrast and color accuracy in bright and backlit conditions.

The lens's flexible focal length range is complemented by Vibration Reduction image stabilization, which minimizes the appearance of camera shake by up to 4.5 stops for sharper handheld shooting. A stepping motor provides quick, quiet, and precise autofocus performance along with full-time manual focus override to suit both stills and video applications. Also, a programmable control ring can be set for intuitive adjustment over a variety of camera and exposure settings.

Standard zoom is designed for DX-format Nikon Z-mount mirrorless cameras and provides a 24-75mm equivalent focal length range.
One extra-low dispersion element reduces color fringing and chromatic aberrations for improved clarity and color accuracy.
Four aspherical elements minimize spherical aberrations and distortion throughout the zoom range for greater sharpness and accurate rendering.
Super Integrated Coating suppresses flare and ghosting for improved contrast and color fidelity when working in strong lighting conditions.
Stepping motor delivers impressively smooth, quiet, and fast autofocus performance that is well-suited to both stills and video applications. Full-time manual focus override is also possible and an internal focusing design is used, where only the internal lens groups are moved during focusing, to maintain the overall length of the lens during use and to promote faster focusing speeds.
Vibration Reduction image stabilization minimizes the appearance of camera shake by up to 4.5 stops for sharper handheld shooting.
Programmable Control Ring is, by default, set to adjust manual focus but can also be used to control aperture or exposure compensation.
Specialized electromagnetic aperture mechanism provides greater exposure control stability that is especially beneficial when working with fast continuous shooting rates.
Rounded seven-blade diaphragm promotes a pleasing out of focus quality that benefits the use of shallow depth of field techniques.
UPC: 018208200849

Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR Specs

Focal Length16 to 50mm (35mm Equivalent Focal Length: 24 to 75mm)
Maximum Aperturef/3.5 to 6.3
Minimum Aperturef/16
Lens MountNikon Z
Lens Format CoverageAPS-C
Angle of View83° to 31° 30'
Minimum Focus Distance7.87" / 20 cm
Maximum Magnification0.2x
Optical Design9 Elements in 7 Groups
Diaphragm Blades7, Rounded
Focus TypeAutofocus
Image StabilizationYes
Filter Size46 mm (Front)
Dimensions (ø x L)2.76 x 1.26" / 70 x 32 mm
Length at Maximum Extension2.36" / 60 mm
Weight4.76 oz / 135 g
Packaging Info
Package Weight0.635 lb
Box Dimensions (LxWxH)4.9 x 4.9 x 4"

Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR Reviews

A Compact Z Lens for a Compact Z Camera

By William
Rated 4 out of 5
Date: 2022-08-19

This DX 24-75 mm equivalent is the perfect size to pair with the Z50 when you want a compact, light, relatively unobtrusive kit for street photography or a walkaround lens. I absolutely love my Z6 and the S-Class lenses, but they are a bit much for travel when photography is not the primary mission. I have not yet done enough shooting with this lens to make any comprehensive comments on IQ--so far, so good--but the optical design advantages of the Z mount assure that it will be at least as good and likely much better than any comparable F-mount lens. More after an upcoming trip.

Good, cheap, amazingly tiny

By Robert
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2021-12-03

Its tiny size makes this lens special. A Z 50 with the 16-50 mounted on it is about the size of a small SLR body with NO LENS WHATSOEVER (see photo). Some people are disappointed by the plastic lens mount, but Roger Cicala of lensrentals dot com has written that plastic vs metal seems to make no difference reliability-wise. That's good enough for me. Mine has good wide-open sharpness at all focal lengths. Which is nice, because THE negative of this lens is that it gets slow fast as you zoom from 16mm to 50mm. You'll be shooting it wide-open a lot.

Powerful compact zoom

By Henry
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2021-11-23

It's got a great range. It's got VR. It's as small as it can be. And the image quality rocks. A near-perfect all-a rounder.

Surprisingly nice partner for the Z50

By P Patrick
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2021-04-15

For its purpose, which is as a super-compact and light partner for the Z50, I have found it to be just about perfect. I was initially reluctant to go Z50 + this lens for a compact travel camera for a two reasons based on the lens (others based on the camera). First, I was irritated at the choice of f/6.3 for maximum aperture at the tele end. Second, I was irritated at 50mm for the maximum tele focal length. (Of course, what I thought I wanted would have made this lens much bigger and heavier and the combination more cumbersome, not the compact carry-around that it is.) In use, it has turned out to be a very nice combination suiting my basic objective of having a small and light carry-around camera that takes decent travel photos without worrying about carrying a lot of kit around. So I'm not deducting stars for those shortcomings. The camera is amazingly tiny and light yet easy to use with ample controls, and the lens is a great partner for it. It goes to 16mm, which covers most of my carry-around needs for wide shooting for interiors, urban spaces and whatever comes up traveling. The sensitivity of the sensor means it's perfectly usable indoors, even at f/6.3. At 100% enlargement, the images are sharp and contrasty, pretty much to the corners. The camera EVF is a real pleasure to use. So the fact that the camera exceeded my expectations, and I don't need to swap lenses to meet its intended purpose, makes Nikon's compromises appropriate to what I really most wanted in this combination. Quite pleased. When I want more capability for more demanding shots, I have the option to schlepp around the D500 and D810 with a range of excellent lenses - almost any camera and lens combo of which weighs in at at least 3x as much.

Soft

By Paul
Rated 2 out of 5
Date: 2020-08-28

Soft no matter AF tuning I tried, very cheap feel, Nikon should have bundled a better lens with Z50.

Super Lens / 3 Comments

By Craig
Rated 4 out of 5
Date: 2020-06-12

For performance, image quality, and it's compact size, I would have given this lens a 5-star rating. I'm really glad I bought it with my Z 50, especially at its kit price during Nikon's recent sale. I knocked off 1 star for 3 reasons - the first one is a major pet peeve, the other two are somewhat minor, and cost $30 to resolve. First - Nikon, please... no one ever feels good buying lenses with PLASTIC mounts. You're not saving any significant weight, certainly not worth the trade-off. And how much money does it save in manufacturing? I'd be happy to pay you the difference for a lens with a metal mount. The same comment applies to your (otherwise amazing) 10-20mm DX lens, which I also own. Second - the rear lens cap. It's basically a flexible water bottle cap without threads. Why? Again, charge me the $5 difference for the LF-N1 cap. Third - a debatable one I suppose, but... no lens hood included? I bought the HN-40 for $25. For the sale price of this kit lens, I can't complain about buying a rear cap and the lens hood. At the normal retail price, I absolutely would. But I'll always complain about plastic lens mounts. Is this lens a must-have for the Z 50? If you get the kit, for sure. But I wouldn't recommend paying full price for it.

Perfect Companion To The 50-250 DX Z Lens

By Jon
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2022-03-09

Small, compact (pancake-eee), sharp and with VR image stabilization.

Great for traveling

By Marco
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2021-12-31

This is a very light, small and great lens for traveling, discreet street photography and vlogging. It looks and works great on my Nikon Z fc. I'm traveling in Europe with it and it's just perfect for this.

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YOUR RECENTLY VIEWED ITEMS

Does this lens have any weather sealing?

Does this lens have any weather sealing?
Asked by: Ren
No, it is a kit lens.
Answered by: Craig
Date published: 2020-07-09

I'd like to use this lens on my Z6. Do I need to ...

I'd like to use this lens on my Z6. Do I need to go into the menus to set anything, or will the camera automatically go into crop mode when I attach the lens?
Asked by: M Jo
The camera will automatically crop when you put a DX lens on the Z6.
Answered by: Rob
Date published: 2021-11-08

Does this lens accommodate filters?

Does this lens accommodate filters?
Asked by: Anonymous
Yes. The filter size is 46mm.
Answered by: Steve
Date published: 2020-07-09

how does one update software for the VR on this ...

how does one update software for the VR on this lens? does it have to be on the Z50 camera itself and hooked up to the computer?
Asked by: yoly
With Nikon cameras/lenses, you will upload the firmware update file into the memory card and run the update via the "Firmware Version" option in the menu. For more information, see these two pages for the DX Z 16-50mm lens' firmware: https://bit.ly/3fXRej0 https://bit.ly/3wKkccZ
Answered by: Jeremy
Date published: 2021-11-08

Can this lens be used on the Z6 or Z7? Perhaps ...

Can this lens be used on the Z6 or Z7? Perhaps set to DX image area?
Asked by: Susan
Yes, you can use this on a Z6 or Z7 but in crop mode and 40% resolution.
Answered by: Rob
Date published: 2020-01-22

Does it come with a front cap?

Does it come with a front cap?
Asked by: Simon
Yes this lens will come with a front lens cap.
Answered by: Ryan
Date published: 2021-08-31
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