Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 28mm
Rokinon Series II 85mm f/1.4 85mm
What Buyers Say
Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 28mm
The Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 lens is highly praised for its sharpness, compact size, and excellent low-light performance. Users love its versatility for travel, video, and long exposures, often pairing it with other lenses in the budget trinity. A few note it's not as premium as the S-line or Nikon 14-30mm, but most agree it offers incredible value for the price.
Pros
- Sharp image quality
- Compact and lightweight
- Excellent low-light performance
- Great value for money
- Versatile for travel and video
Cons
- Not as premium as S-line lenses
- Some prefer wider 14-30mm range
- Build not as exceptional as premium trinity
Rokinon Series II 85mm f/1.4 85mm
The Rokinon 85mm f/1.4 manual lens offers exceptional value for astrophotography and portrait work, delivering sharp images and smooth bokeh at a fraction of the cost of autofocus equivalents. Users praise its center sharpness wide open and excellent performance when stopped down to f/2.8, especially for capturing stars. However, the purely manual focus and aperture can be fiddly, and build quality inconsistencies like a missing hood or accidental aperture ring bumps are noted. Overall, it's a highly recommended budget lens for those comfortable with manual operation.
Pros
- Sharp center wide open
- Smooth bokeh
- Excellent for astrophotography
- Great value for money
- Solid build quality
Cons
- Fiddly manual aperture ring
- Missing lens hood in some packages
- No autofocus
- Front-heavy with adapter on some cameras
- Accidental aperture ring bumps
Scores
Specifications
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 28mm | Rokinon Series II 85mm f/1.4 85mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | prime |
| Focal Length Min | 17 mm | 85 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 28 mm | 85 mm |
| Elements | 13 | 9 |
| Groups | 11 | 7 |
| Aspherical Elements | 3★ | 1 |
| ED Elements | 3★ | 1 |
| Coating | Multi-Coated | Ultra Multi-Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/1.4 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | f/1.4 |
| Constant | ✓ | ✓ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9 | 9 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Nikon Z | Canon EF |
| Format | full-frame | full-frame |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.45 kg★ | 0.54 kg |
| Filter Thread | 67 mm | 72 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Stepping Motor★ | manual focus only |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✗ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 190 mm★ | 1.00 m |
| Max Magnification | 1:5.26 | 1:9 |
Pros & Cons
Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 28mm
- Strong user sentiment (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Strong bokeh (89th percentile)89th %ile
- Strong optical (88th percentile)88th %ile
- Strong aperture (87th percentile)87th %ile
Rokinon Series II 85mm f/1.4 85mm
- Strong bokeh (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong aperture (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong social proof (76th percentile)
- Strong build (68th percentile)
- Below average af (14th percentile)14th %ile
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
Pricing
Rokinon Series II 85mm f/1.4 85mm offers 2.7x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 91 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 21 specs.
