Borbin the 🐱

The day Nikon announced their new DX 16-50mm f/2.8 lens¹, I opened the optical upgrade protocol with a preorder 🚀

My previous lenses lined up for eBay, forming a support group titled "Former Stars of the Camera Bag". They successfully negotiated their exit strategy with descriptions that read like dating profiles: "Still sharp, loves sunsets, seeks photographer who appreciates vintage charm and no diffraction tests under f/8".

Inside the Upgrade Shop²

Announcement - October 16, 2025 📰

The new NIKKOR DX lens is available soon. Compact, fast, and ready to redefine the setup.
Optical upgrade protocol signaled.

Preorder - October 16, 2025 🛒

Optical upgrade protocol opened.
Shipping date: October 30, just in time for the Halloween magic³

Delivery - November 5, 2025 📦

Signature required delivery confirmed, package has achieved indoor status.

The First Light 🌅

Optical upgrade protocol in progress: lens mounted and ready for action.
Lens on a Z30 and Z50 II

Through the New Lens

First Frames In: Precision and Agility from the Start
(All pictures taken with the Nikon Z50 II)

1/160s f/6,3 ISO 100/21° 16-50mm f/2,8 VR f=16mm/24mm

1/320s f/2,8 ISO 100/21° 16-50mm f/2,8 VR f=23mm/35mm

1/125s f/5,6 ISO 100/21° 16-50mm f/2,8 VR f=50mm/75mm

1/160s f/5,6 ISO 100/21° 16-50mm f/2,8 VR f=32mm/48mm

1/3200s f/2,8 ISO 100/21° 16-50mm f/2,8 VR f=50mm/75mm

1/400s f/2,8 ISO 100/21° 16-50mm f/2,8 VR f=50mm/75mm

1/80s f/6,3 ISO 100/21° 16-50mm f/2,8 VR f=25mm/37mm

1/640s f/2,8 ISO 100/21° 16-50mm f/2,8 VR f=50mm/75mm

1/640s f/11 ISO 1600/33° 16-50mm f/2,8 VR f=50mm/75mm

1/320s f/16 ISO 1600/33° 16-50mm f/2,8 VR f=50mm/75mm

1/160s f/22 ISO 1600/33° 16-50mm f/2,8 VR f=50mm/75mm

1/80s f/4 ISO 100/21° 16-50mm f/2,8 VR f=24mm/36mm

1/200s f/4 ISO 100/21° 16-50mm f/2,8 VR f=50mm/75mm

1/640s f/2,8 ISO 100/21° 16-50mm f/2,8 VR f=50mm/75mm

1/160s f/6,3 ISO 100/21° 16-50mm f/2,8 VR f=16mm/24mm

1/125s f/6,3 ISO 100/21° 16-50mm f/2,8 VR f=16mm/24mm

1/200s f/6,3 ISO 100/21° 16-50mm f/2,8 VR f=50mm/75mm

1/400s f/5,6 ISO 100/21° 16-50mm f/2,8 VR f=50mm/75mm

1/320s f/2,8 ISO 100/21° 16-50mm f/2,8 VR f=50mm/75mm

Why Does This Lens Show Strong Vignetting at 50mm f/2.8?

Observe the heavy vignetting at 50mm f/2.8, along with the visible distortion. Zoom in and it disappears. Left side is without correction, right side with correction using NX Studio.

The sample image shows noticeable darkening in the corners at 50mm and f/2.8. This effect is called vignetting and it is an unfortunate but common characteristic of optical design, especially in compact zoom lenses with a bright aperture.

The NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR combines a constant f/2.8 aperture with a small, lightweight form factor. To achieve this, the front element is relatively small. At longer focal lengths and wide apertures, light rays entering from the edges are partially blocked, which results in corner shading.

Vignetting increases when the angle of light hitting the sensor becomes steeper, as happens when zooming in. Eliminating this effect completely would require much larger lens elements and a heavier construction. A lens designed to avoid vignetting at f/2.8 would be significantly bigger, heavier, and more expensive, which goes against the goal of a compact DX zoom.

For this reason, some level of vignetting is considered acceptable and is typically corrected in-camera or during post-processing. If you shoot RAW, most software applies lens profiles to fix this. For JPEGs, Nikon's vignette control can reduce the effect.

Protocol Complete ✅

Adding this lens makes the setup minimal and faster, ready for decisive moments.
The 16-50mm f/2.8 combines a constant aperture with a compact design for a balanced, practical setup. From landscapes to portraits, the zoom range provides complete framing control while keeping everything light and portable. No lens swaps, just a responsive system that adapts quickly. Vibration Reduction works together with the bright aperture to maintain sharp, balanced results even in challenging light.