The premium build quality and bright optics of Nikon’s Nikkor Z 28-75mm F2.8 ($1,199.95) lens make it a versatile choice for work in low light, and we enjoy its above-average macro capabilities. But it’s based on the older Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 RXD design, which is a step behind the revamped Tamron 28-75mm G2 ($999.99) in terms of both optical quality and autofocus speed. The latter ultimately earns our recommendation as an affordable f/2.8 zoom, but the Nikkor Z 24-120mm F4 S ($1,099.95) remains our overall Editors’ Choice winner for midrange zooms thanks to its consistently excellent image quality across a broader focal range.Editors’ Note: This review was updated on March 27, 2024 to add comparisons to the Tamron 28-75mm G2, now available in Z mount. It was originally published on April 14, 2022. We’ve changed the rating from 4 stars to 3.5 stars to reflect our updated buying advice.
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A Compact and Bright DesignThe Nikkor Z 28-75mm stands out from the Z 24-70mm F4 S ($999.95) and the Z 24-120mm F4 S ($1,099.95) since its f/2.8 optics gather twice as much light. That advantage is meaningful if you often work in challenging lighting, but is less crucial for use under the sun.
(Credit: Jim Fisher)
The 28-75mm isn’t a member of Nikon’s top-tier S-Line family but it still has a premium build. Its barrel uses a high-quality composite material and incorporates dust and splash protection, while the front glass has an anti-smudge fluorine coating. The box includes front and rear caps, as well as a reversible petal-style lens hood. For comparison, the Tamron 28-75mm G2 is just as sturdy and has similar seals and coatings.
Its dimensions are fairly standard. The lens measures 4.7 by 3.0 inches (HD) when you set it to the 28mm focal length and extends a bit when you zoom in, much like all the other standard zooms for the system to date. At around 1.2 pounds, it falls between the slimmer 24-70mm F4 S (3.5 by 3.1 inches, 1.1 pounds) and the heftier 24-70mm F2.8 S (4.9 by 3.5 inches, 1.8 pounds). Meanwhile, the Tamron 28-75mm G2 is a tenth of an inch shorter and weighs the same.
(Credit: Jim Fisher)
The lens features just a few on-barrel controls, which is a bit disappointing. The zoom ring has standard rubberized ridges, while the plastic focus control sports a diamond texture pattern for a readier grip. The focus ring is rather narrow, but it’s suitable for fingertip control because it turns easily and stays in place when you leave it alone. Missing here are an on-lens focus toggle and a dedicated function button.The focus ring serves a second purpose—if you set your camera to autofocus mode, it works as a control ring for aperture, ISO, or EV adjustments. This is one advantage this Nikkor has over the Tamron G2, which doesn’t support such controls. I often find Nikon’s control rings a little too sensitive to use reliably in the field, though the experience varies based on your camera body. You’re stuck with a single setting on the Z 6 II, but the top-end Z 9 lets you set it to respond at Low or High speeds. I found the Low option ideal, as accidental nudges don’t change camera settings.
Nikon Z 9, 28mm, f/2.8, 1/1,000-second, ISO 64 (Credit: Jim Fisher)
A stepping motor drives autofocus. It’s snappy to respond and racks from infinity to close focus in about 0.6 seconds on the Z 9 in stills mode. Video racks are a bit smoother, with a minimal focus breathing effect. There’s almost no change in the angle of view when you rack focus at the wide end and just a modest one at 75mm. I don’t recommend the lens as highly for manual focus fans because the nonlinear focus response means you can’t reliably repeat focus pulls from take to take. The zoom direction is reversible, however. The Tamron 28-75mm G2 works better here. You can configure the manual focus response to be linear or nonlinear via a mobile or desktop app, and the linear autofocus motor nets a quicker response. The 28-75mm focuses as close as 7.6 inches at its widest angle, good enough for 1:2.9 life-size magnification. It can’t get quite as close at the long end, but the lens still manages a minimum focus distance of 15.4 inches at 75mm. Of its standard zoom peers, only the Tamron 28-75mm G2 (1:2.7) and Nikkor Z 24-120mm F4 S (1:2.6) offer larger macro magnification.Nikkor Z 28-75mm F2.8: In the LabI paired the Z 28-75mm F2.8 with the 45.7MP Z 9 and software from Imatest to check its resolution in the lab. It’s a very good performer wide-open throughout the range, showing around 3,700 lines of resolution. The sharpest results are in the center, though the naturally shallow depth of field should hide any edge softness for most scenes.
Nikon Z 9, 28mm, f/8, 1/60-second, ISO 220 (Credit: Jim Fisher)
Using a smaller f-stop nets clearer results from edge to edge and lets you bring more of a subject into focus. By f/8, the zoom delivers outstanding contrast through most of the frame, with sharp detail at the edges. The lens draws its best 18-point sunstars at f/22.The optics show some distortion, including the barrel effect at the wide angles and an inward pincushion one when you zoom in. If you stick to a JPG capture mode, automatic in-camera corrections take care of those issues. For Raw capture, Adobe Lightroom Classic includes a profile that also compensates for the vignette visible at f/2.8.
Nikon Z 9, 52mm, f/2.8, 1/60-second, ISO 64 (Credit: Jim Fisher)
The f/2.8 aperture optical formula is a familiar one—as Imaging Resource reports, it’s an exact match for the older, aforementioned Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 Di III RXD. My time with the lens certainly reflects that finding—the optical characteristics are identical down to the characteristic outline around defocused highlights that makes for busier backgrounds. The Tamron VXD G2 does a better job with bokeh, drawing softer backgrounds without the bright-edged highlights.
Nikon Z 9, 28mm, f/8, 1/125-second, ISO 64 (Credit: Jim Fisher)
Outclassed in Several WaysAt the time of its release, the Nikkor 28-75mm F2.8 made plenty of sense if you wanted a quality f/2.8 standard zoom for your Z series camera. But the updated Tamron 28-75mm G2 version now slots in as our pick for affordable, bright zooms on the platform thanks to its equally good build quality, faster focus performance, and upgraded optics. If you mostly work in decent light, however, the Nikkor Z 24-120mm F4 S is an even better midrange choice because of its impressive performance across a more useful focal range. Meanwhile, most pros should upgrade to the $2,399.95 Nikkor Z 24-70mm F2.8 S, which nets impeccable results and matches the wider starting angle of the 24-120mm.
Nikon Nikkor Z 28-75mm F2.8
Pros
Crisp f/2.8 optics
Quiet focus with minimal breathing
Dust, splash, and fluorine protection
Carry-friendly design
1:2.9 macro focus
View
More
Cons
Omits 24mm wide-angle coverage
Control ring is a little narrow
Skips on-lens focus toggle and function buttons
The Bottom Line
The value-oriented Nikon Nikkor Z 28-75mm F2.8 standard zoom lens captures sharp images and easily blurs backgrounds, but newer, more capable alternatives lessen its appeal.
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