Nikon has been talking about the development of the 58mm F0.95 Noct lens since the launch of the Z camera line. The manual focus lens is the fastest that the company has ever made—intended for a very specific and discerning type of photographer—and its $8000 price tag certainly reflects that. Here is what we know about the lens:
- 17 elements in 10 groups, including three aspherical elements
- Nano Crystal coating cuts down on flare and ghosting
- A newer Arneo coating cuts down on light reaching the lens from vertical directions
- Weighs 4.4 lbs
- Dimensions of 4.01 x 6.02 inches
- Small display on the lens barrel shows focus distance, aperture and depth of field
- Features a customizable control ring
- Tripod foot
- Available October 31 for $8000
This long-talked about lens is based on the original Noct-NIKKOR 58mm f/1.2 lens that was released in 1977. The lens, as the name suggests, was designed specifically for astrophotographers for its ability to capture point light sources (like stars) as point images. It’s fast aperture made it perform exceptionally in low light situations. The new 0.95 version was possible thanks to the new, larger Z mount. The new Noct is both Nikon’s most expensive and most impressive lens in the lineup of Z glass.