This isn’t Nikon’s first 50mmlens for its mirrorless cameras.

You’re not getting buttery-smooth out-of-focus light balls, but a slightly ‘fussy’ bokeh instead.

When you’re shooting at f/1.4 with such shallow depth of field, it’s noticeable.

Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 lens in the hands

Nikon’s new Z 50mm F1.4 lens alongside Nikon’s F-mount 50mm f/1.4G lens with Nikon Z-mount to F-mount adaptor

The only exterior controls are a generously-sized focus ring, plus a customizable control ring.

Autofocus is impressively quick and quiet.

But what is optical quality like beyond accurate focusing?

Nikon Z 50mm F1.4 alongside Nikon’s F-mount 50mm f/1.4G lens

Nikon’s new Z 50mm F1.4 lens alongside Nikon’s F-mount 50mm f/1.4G lens with Nikon Z-mount to F-mount adaptor

Overall, it’s just decent rather than spectacular.

Detail is very sharp.

The optical construction, as with most 50mm lenses, is relatively basic.

Nikon NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.4

However, if you stop down the Z-mount lens to f/2.8 you’ll see the more octagonal-like shaping.

For everyone else, bokeh quality is fine.

Vignetting which is the light fall-off in the corners of images is pretty standard.

Prime

Nikon Z 35mm f/1.4: sample images

Should you buy the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4?

You want an affordable fast-aperture lens

This is Nikon’s most affordable Z-mount lens with a f/1.4 maximum aperture.

It has tackled some tough tasks, such as shooting close-up photos of water droplets into the light.

Nikon NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.4 Lens

The resolution of the full-frame cameras used for this test was 24MP.

Adorama

Nikon NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.4…

Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 lens viewed from above

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Closeup of the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 lens' control ring

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Closeup of the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 lens front element

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Closeup of the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 lens aperture blades

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 lens in the hand

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Closeup of the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 lens rear mount

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 lens attached to a Nikon Z6 II, in the hand

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 lens on a Nikon Z6 II

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Head and shoulder portrait, outdoors, shallow depth of field, dappled light through tree leaves

Detail from the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 is sharp at f/1.4, and bokeh rounded. With lens corrections active, aberrations are controlled better. Stop the aperture down and bokeh becomes less rounded(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Head and shoulder portrait, outdoors, shallow depth of field, dappled light through tree leaves

By comparison, the Nikon 50mm f/1.4G AF-S lens for DSLRs is much softer at f/1.4, while its bokeh is cats eye-shaped in the corners. Conversely to the Z-mount lens, stop down to f/2.8 and bokeh becomes more rounded.(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Head and shoulder portrait, outdoors, shallow depth of field, dappled light through tree leaves

The Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 lens at f/1.4(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Head and shoulder portrait, outdoors, shallow depth of field, dappled light through tree leaves

The 50mm f/1.4G AF-S lens for DSLRs at f/1.4(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Backlit heather and dew-covered grass closeup

Left: f/1.4 aperture and aberrations in bokeh Right: f/5.6 fussy bokeh less rounded in shape Note, all lens corrections are switched off(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Backlit heather and dew-covered grass, taken with the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 at its various apertures

f/1.4(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Backlit heather and dew-covered grass, taken with the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 at its various apertures

f/1.8(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Backlit heather and dew-covered grass, taken with the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 at its various apertures

f/2(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Backlit heather and dew-covered grass, taken with the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 at its various apertures

f/2.8(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Backlit heather and dew-covered grass, taken with the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 at its various apertures

f/4(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Backlit heather and dew-covered grass, taken with the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 at its various apertures

f/5.6(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Footpath lined with long grass at first light, taken with the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 lens

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Deatils of heather and cobwebs, taken with the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 lens

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Grass and flowers in morning light, taken with the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 lens

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Head and shoulder portrait, taken with the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 lens

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Backlit portrait, taken with the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 lens

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Mushroom, taken with the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 lens

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Mushroom from ground perspective, taken with the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 lens

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Tips of grasshead covered in dew, taken with the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 lens

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Cobweb on heather, taken with the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 lens

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)