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Hands-on with the Nikon Z 58mm Noct Lens

It’s not every day you get the chance to shoot with a legendary lens, so naturally I jumped at the opportunity to get hands-on with the iconic Nikon Z 58mm F/0.95 S Noct. This model has been immortalised by renowned YouTubers Chris Niccolls and Jordan Drake, who coined the term ‘a Noct’ as a unit of weight, which is derived from the Noct’s substantial 2kg heft.

Nikon released this premium standard focal length prime in October 2019, just one year after the Z mount was introduced, showcasing the potential of the new mirrorless mount. The Noct features a somewhat unusual 58mm focal length, manual-only focusing, and a 2000g weight. I remember admiring the original sample images (you can see some original samples here) and wondering what it would be like to shoot with such an iconic lens.

Fast forward five years to 2024, and I got the chance to spend a few sessions shooting with the Nikon Noct, thanks to Park Cameras offering a used Nikon Z 58mm F/0.95 S Noct Lens for sale, which was perfect timing for this first impressions look. Sometimes I do feel very lucky indeed!

Nikon Noct 58mm f/0.95 sample images

In order to showcase the lens’ unique attributes all of the sample images included in this post are straight out of camera jpgs. Nick Dautlich captured these photos handheld without a tripod, with the Noct mounted to a Nikon Z7 II camera body. Right click to view larger.

Sample 1 Butterfly. Camera settings 1/500 sec. f/0.95. ISO 64

What is a Nikon Noct lens?

The original Noct NIKKOR from 1977 was designed to shoot wide open at night, which is what ‘Noct’ means - being derived from ‘nocturnal’ which has its roots in Latin. With an f/0.95 aperture it’s easy to see why the Nikon Z 58mm f/0.95 S lens continues this tradition.

Many of the industry’s most accomplished full-frame lenses feature an f/1.2 or f/1.4 aperture, so Nikon really did push the boundaries with the wide f/0.95 aperture. It does of course come with a cost, which can be measured in both weight and price. Buckle up as we find out just how much this marvel costs.

Sample 2 Seedpod in waiting. Camera settings 1/2000 sec. f/0.95. ISO 64

How much is the Noct?

Due to being so niche, finding a new Nikon Z 58mm F/0.95 S Noct Lens is rare, and will cost you around £8,299.00. You can save a significant amount by purchasing a used Nikon Z Noct lens, which is priced at around £6,599.00.

Either way, this is an expensive option, but you’re investing in a legacy, with something truly extraordinary and undeniably unique as I discovered while shooting with it.

Sample 3 Americana. Camera settings 1/8000 sec. f/1.0. ISO 64

Technical specifications

The Noct is a powerhouse of the S-Line design ethos with 17 lens elements, including 3 aspherical and 4 ED glass elements. It houses 11 aperture blades and boasts a handful of the coatings available to the Z range, including an Arneo Coat and Nano Crystal Coat.

Incredibly it accepts 82mm screw-in filters, and despite weighing the pros and cons of a UV lens filter I opted not to use one to maintain the purest image quality possible. The elephant in the room? It's manual focus only, but how does that impact shooting? Let’s find out.

Sample 4 Backlit. Camera settings 1/2500 sec. f/0.95. ISO 64

Is it hard to use a manual focus lens?

There are both drawbacks and benefits to using a manual focus lens. I admit being apprehensive before shooting with the Noct, considering its price and manual focus limitation. However, once shooting, my apprehension faded as the long focus throw and clear viewfinder made it both easy and enjoyable.

I started by shooting static subjects and over several sessions progressed to capturing my kids jumping in a field, a paraglider flying over the Sussex Weald, and other increasingly challenging subjects. The Z7 II’s green focus assist light was reliable, making it easier to achieve pin-sharp focus, especially for more distant subjects, and even when shooting wide open at f/0.95.

For very close subjects the lens’s shallow depth of field is again a blessing and a challenge, requiring more concentration to control the limited focal plane. However, this is precisely where the joy lies, rather than thinking about external factors you can immerse yourself in the process of image-making.

Sample 5 Cat. Camera settings 1/1600 sec. f/0.95. ISO 64

The Nikon Noct lens helps you to live in the moment

Pre-focusing was another technique to achieve sharp focus, and is especially useful with faster moving subjects, such as capturing my kids jumping around

When you nail critical focus, the results are incredibly rewarding, with smooth defocus areas, soft backgrounds, and beautiful transitions between in and out of focus points. The resolving power is astonishing, and I’ve yet to use another lens that achieves such a shallow depth of field.

Sample 6 Cabin Fever. Camera settings 1/320 sec. f/0.95. ISO 125

What is a 58mm lens good for?

Nikon bills the Noct as being most suited to portraits, night photography and moviemaking. During my time with the lens I also tried to capture as many diverse subjects as possible, and with patience I believe this could excel for:

• Wedding photography
• Fashion and lifestyle
• Still life and fine art

While it’s not an everyday walk-around lens, it works beautifully for everyday subjects. The minimum focus distance of 0.5m isn’t especially close, but it does allow you to experiment and get creative with focus planes and defocus areas.

Sample 7 Jumping. Camera settings 1/8000 sec. f/1.1. ISO 64

What is it like shooting at f/0.95?

As mentioned, shooting with such a wide aperture comes with pros and cons. The pros include the ability to work in very low light while maintaining a low ISO and high shutter speed. Many of the sample images demonstrate just how fast this lens is.

The downside is the extremely shallow depth of field, which can be both an advantage and a limitation depending on the situation, often leaving only small areas in focus. However, this allows for creative experimentation with dreamy, cinematic images and stunning portraits.

In brighter conditions, you’ll need to use an ND filter or increase the aperture, as some shots here are taken at f/1.0 or f/1.1 due to the camera’s 1/8000 sec shutter speed limit. With a Z8 or Z9, you can retain the aperture for a couple more stops thanks to their 1/32000 sec shutter speed.

Sample 8 Daydream. Camera settings 1/6400 sec. f/0.95. ISO 90

Build quality and handling

The Nikon Noct is immaculately constructed as you would expect from a lens of this calibre. It features a useful OLED display panel, which provides a quick view of settings such as aperture, focus distance, and depth of field, and it also has a customisable Fn button and control ring.

Weighing in at 2kg you’d expect the Noct to be difficult to shoot with, but I found it perfectly balanced and found a natural flow, with one hand supporting the lens, while adjusting the focus ring.

Truly one of a kind

Having been fortunate to work in the photography industry for years and enjoy numerous reviews including the Z 85mm F/1.2 S Lens review, I can safely say that the Noct provided the most unique hands-on experience. It is large and manual focus only, but these are its strengths, which you come to appreciate after just a short time.

The Noct is what I imagine it’s like to own an Italian sports car, which is somewhat temperamental, expensive, and a masterpiece that can deliver stunning results with experience and patience. If you are in a position to work with this lens, I wouldn’t hesitate for a moment.

You can wait for a new Z 58mm F/0.95 S Noct, or save by buying a used Nikon Noct lens, although you’ll need to act fast, as these rarely come up and tend to be snapped up quickly.

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By Nick Dautlich on 17/09/2024