NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR

Go Anywhere. Capture Moments.

Product image of the NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR, showing the product logo in the front | Nikon Cameras, Lenses & Accessories
Side view of the NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR lens | Nikon Cameras, Lenses & Accessories
Product image of the NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR mounted on the Z50II | Nikon Cameras, Lenses & Accessories

Made for Every Day.

Go wherever your imagination takes you with the NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8. It captures stunning portraits, expansive landscapes, beautiful bokeh and dynamic videos with clarity in any lighting. Versatile and ideal for all creative styles.

f/2.8

Max. Aperture

~330g

Lightweight design

0.15m

Min. focus distance

0.24x

Min. reproduction ratio

Wide angle image taken by NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR of three people in white dresses on a pier in front of the ocean

Let Creativity Lead the Way.

Unleash Your Artistic Expression.

Sun flares through forest trees captured by the NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR | Nikon Cameras, Lenses & AccessoriesSun flares through forest trees captured by the NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR | Nikon Cameras, Lenses & Accessories

Limitless creation with a lens as versatile as you.

With a wide end of 16mm1 and  a mid-telephoto end of 50 mm, capture everything from expansive landscapes with stunning clarity to intimate portraits with beautifully captured skin tones.

Close-up image taken by NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR of a women holding a seashell | Nikon Cameras, Lenses & AccessoriesClose-up image taken by NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR of a women holding a seashell | Nikon Cameras, Lenses & Accessories

Isolate subjects with beautiful bokeh.

Create with artistic and expressive flair with a constant f/2.8 aperture. Dial in the perfect amount of background or foreground blur to make your subjects pop. 

Portrait with the NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR of a joyful woman outdoors with sunlit curly hair | Nikon Cameras, Lenses & AccessoriesPortrait with the NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR of a joyful woman outdoors with sunlit curly hair | Nikon Cameras, Lenses & Accessories

Capture dynamic shots and picture-perfect portraits.

Shoot with true compositional flexibility with a focus distance of 0.15 m (at wide end) and 0.25 m (at telephoto end). Get up-close and personal with subjects and shoot with comfort, even when you’re in a tight spot.

The NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR capturing accurate, sharp low light images of a beach house | Nikon Cameras, Lenses & AccessoriesThe NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR capturing accurate, sharp low light images of a beach house | Nikon Cameras, Lenses & Accessories

Built for better image quality.

With chromatic aberration effectively minimised thanks to an advanced optical build, capture clear and sharp images even at max aperture.

Deliver Your Vision With Clarity.

Let lens-shift Vibration Reduction (VR) expand your creative horizons. Capture stunningly clear images in low light, at night, or handheld in any crowd. 

Low light, wide angle image of a plane flying with a sunset backdrop, taken by the NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR | Nikon Cameras, Lenses & AccessoriesLow light, wide angle image of a plane flying with a sunset backdrop, taken by the NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR | Nikon Cameras, Lenses & Accessories
Grain free of pizzas in stone pizza oven, displaying the low-light capabilities of the NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR | Nikon Cameras, Lenses & AccessoriesGrain free of pizzas in stone pizza oven, displaying the low-light capabilities of the NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR | Nikon Cameras, Lenses & Accessories
Artistic image of a lady in a pond with low lighting, taken by the NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR | Nikon Cameras, Lenses & AccessoriesArtistic image of a lady in a pond with low lighting, taken by the NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR | Nikon Cameras, Lenses & Accessories
Vibration Reduction: steady shots every time. You don’t need to bring your tripod along! Bring clarity to low-light environments, you get grain-free photos even at higher ISO. Up to 5.0-stops2 compensation, best for night scenes.
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The compact, lightweight build, fast operation, and high reliability make this an excellent lens for capturing those spontaneous moments while traveling. 

— Anna Heupel

Travel/Lifestyle Photographer

The lightweight NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR mounted on the Z50II, carried by the photographer | Nikon Cameras, Lenses & Accessories
Photographer using the NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR with one hand in an outdoor environment | Nikon Cameras, Lenses & Accessories
Photographing berries in an extreme close-up using the NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR | Nikon Cameras, Lenses & Accessories

Control in Your Hands.
Creativity in Your Frame. 

Lightweight at 330g.

Perfect for your everyday set-up, meaning you’re ready wherever and whenever inspiration hits.

The lightweight NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR mounted on the Z50II, carried by the photographer | Nikon Cameras, Lenses & Accessories

Portable at 74.5mm x 88mm.

Move freely with a compact design that allows for agile handling, so you can concentrate on the shot.

Photographer using the NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR with one hand in an outdoor environment | Nikon Cameras, Lenses & Accessories

Smooth-operating control ring.

Assign functions like manual/auto focus, exposure, or ISO sensitivity for simple and intuitive control.

Photographing berries in an extreme close-up using the NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR | Nikon Cameras, Lenses & Accessories
Photographer using the NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR with one hand, and adjusting the viewfinder with another | Nikon Cameras, Lenses & AccessoriesPhotographer using the NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR with one hand, and adjusting the viewfinder with another | Nikon Cameras, Lenses & Accessories

Built for Video.

Enjoy natural video expression with the tactile control ring and Hi-Res Zoom3. Smoothly adjust zoom, focus and brightness for seamless storytelling.

Minimise focus breathing4 with a fixed angle of view when adjusting focus. Shoot high quality, stable footage like a pro.

No distracting noise with an advanced STM (stepping motor) for exceptionally quiet autofocus.

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Frequently asked, expertly answered.

 A brief snapshot of our most common queries.

Which cameras are compatible with the NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR?

This lens is designed for Nikon DX-format (APS-C) Z mount cameras, such as the Nikon Z50II, Zfc, and Z30. It can also be used on Nikon full-frame (FX-format) Z mount cameras in DX crop mode.

Can I use the NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR for close-up photography?

Yes. It offers a minimum focus distance of 0.15 m at the wide end and 0.25 m at the telephoto end, allowing you to capture detailed close-ups with an outstanding bokeh.

Is this lens good for travel photography?

Absolutely. Its dust- and drip-resistant build, compact size, and versatile zoom range make it perfect for travel, street photography, and spontaneous shooting.

How does the constant f/2.8 aperture benefit my photography?

The bright f/2.8 maximum aperture lets in more light for cleaner, sharper images in low-light conditions.

Is the NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR good for shooting indoors or at night?

Yes. The fast aperture combined with the built-in Vibration Reduction of up to 5.0 stops stabilisation allows handheld shooting in dim light, reducing blur and noise without needing a tripod.

How effective is the Vibration Reduction in the NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR?

The lens-shift VR system provides up to 5 stops of stabilisation, allowing slower shutter speeds without blur. With Synchro VR on compatible cameras such as the Z6III, this increases up to 5.5 stops of compensation effect.

Is the NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR suitable for video recording?

Yes. It features a silent stepping motor (STM), minimised focus breathing for stable framing, and a smooth control ring for precise adjustments while filming. Hi-Res Zoom is also available when paired with the Z50II, extending the zoom range of up to 2x with no resolution loss.

What is focus breathing and how does the NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR minimise it?

Focus breathing is a change in the angle of view when shifting focus between subjects. This lens is designed to minimise the shifts and keeps framing consistent in video.

Is the autofocus fast enough for action shots?

Yes. The STM delivers quick, accurate, and silent autofocus, making it suitable for moving subjects in both stills and video.

What filters fit the NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR?

The lens has a 67mm filter thread, compatible with polarising, ND, and UV filters.

What can I photograph with this lens?

The NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR is perfect for portraits, landscapes, cityscapes, travel scenes, tabletop photography, and everyday shooting. Its wide-to-mid zoom range makes it highly versatile.

1 Angle of view equivalent to that of a 24-75mm lens in FX/35mm [135] format.
2 Based on CIPA 2024 Standard. Yaw/pitch correction performance with the Nikon Z50II (telephoto end, NORMAL mode).
3 Hi-Res Zoom is available when used with the Z50II, and [1920×1080; 30p], [1920×1080; 25p], or [1920×1080; 24p] is selected for [Frame size/frame rate] in the video recording menu. AF-area mode is fixed at [Wide-area AF (L)], and the focus point is not displayed. Additionally, [Electronic VR] in the video recording menu is set to [OFF].
4 Focus breathing may be noticeable depending on the distance between the lens and the subject due to the characteristics of the lens.