I recently got the Nikon Z50 mirrorless camera and I'm looking to get a good all-around lens for it. The kit lens (16-50mm) is decent but I'd like something better for things like portraits, low light, etc. Any recommendations? Preferably under $500. Thanks!
TL;DR: Skip the expensive Nikon S lenses for now and look at Viltrox or TTArtisan primes. Theyre way cheaper, faster, and fit the Z50 body much better than the full-frame glass mentioned earlier. Regarding what #14 said about "bump" - glad this stayed active. Most people here are pushing the Nikon NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S which is a killer lens, but honestly, it felt so unbalanced on my Z50. I used it for a month and felt like the lens was carrying the camera, not the other way around. Plus, it eats up your whole $500 budget and then some. I switched to the Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 Z and havent looked back. It usually goes for about $280. The f/1.4 aperture is a massive jump from the kit lens for low light, and the 33mm focal length is much more useful for general shooting than a 50mm on a crop sensor. If you are really pinched for cash, the TTArtisan 35mm f/1.8 AF is surprisingly decent for around $150.
- Better balance on the Z50 body
- Save hundreds compared to Nikon S glass
- Real physical aperture rings on the Viltrox ones They arent perfect... the purple fringing can show up if youre shooting wide open in harsh light, but for the price, it beats the nifty fifty for real-world DX use imo.
