Just picked up a Z50 for my trip to Japan next month and I am so stoked! Ive been using the kit lens but I really want that blurry background look for street photos. Im on a total budget though, maybe like 300 bucks max. Does anyone know which prime lens is best for a beginner like me?
Congrats on the Z50, it is a fun little shooter for travel. If you want that creamy background blur on a tight budget, look no further than the Nikon NIKKOR Z 40mm f/2 Lens. In my experience, it is basically the only logical choice for your price range. Here is why it works for street stuff:
- Sharpness is surprisingly high for the cost.
- The focal length is perfect on a crop sensor body like yours, giving you a field of view equivalent to 60mm.
- It is tiny so you wont feel like a tourist lugging around heavy gear. Just remember to keep your aperture wide open at f/2. It makes a huge difference compared to your kit zoom lens. Honestly, dont overthink it, just get this lens and enjoy Japan.
^ This. Also, honestly consider the Viltrox 23mm f/1.4 Z-mount. I had issues with the autofocus hunting sometimes, but it is way cheaper than native glass for Japan.
To add to the point above: if you really need that background separation on a budget, dont ignore the TTArtisan 35mm f/1.4 manual lens. Yeah, its manual focus only, but for street stuff in Japan, you can just zone focus and leave it. Super cheap, tiny, and the character is actually pretty fun. TL;DR: The Z 40mm is the smart, sharp choice, the Viltrox is for autofocus fans, and the TTArtisan is for when you want to save cash and get artsy. Honestly, with your Z50, I was super satisfied with a vintage Nikon Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D adapted to the Z mount. You can find them used for peanuts. Just grab a cheap adapter and you are golden. Manual focus takes a sec to learn but its worth it for the look. Have a blast in Japan!
Can confirm this works. Did the same thing on mine and its been solid ever since.
Exactly what I was thinking