NIKKOR Z 28mm f/2.8 vs NIKKOR Z 20mm f/1.8 S
Should you prioritize the 28mm lens's smaller listed size and weight, or the 20mm lens's wider published angle of view and f/1.8 maximum aperture?
Products compared
ASIN B09M62RJK2
NIKKOR Z 28mm f/2.8
You prefer the smaller listed lens dimensions and lower listed weight: about 70 × 43 mm and 155 g.
Last observed offer
$226.95
List Price: $299.95
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Size: 4.60
Price checked
Observed condition: new. Coupon and subscription requirements unverified.
ASIN B084QPDT1H
NIKKOR Z 20mm f/1.8 S
You need the wider published angle of view: 94° on FX or 70° on DX.
Last observed offer
$1,046.95
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Size: 4.70
Price checked
Observed condition: new. Coupon and subscription requirements unverified.
Prices are per listed package. Pickoryx may earn a commission from qualifying purchases through the paid Amazon links on this page, at no added cost to you.
Published by Pickoryx · Published 2026-10-17 · Source checked 2026-10-17 19:14 UTC
The main trade-off
The 28mm is specified as much smaller and lighter, while the 20mm gives a wider published view and a wider maximum aperture; the choice depends on which constraints matter more for the intended setup.
Quick verdict
For the smaller listed carry package, the standard 28mm f/2.8 is the clearer fit; for a wider published view or an f/1.8 maximum-aperture specification, the 20mm f/1.8 S is the fit. Nikon lists FX and DX angles separately, so compare the same format on both sides. These specifications do not establish image quality or low-light results.
Choose NIKKOR Z 28mm f/2.8 if
- You prefer the smaller listed lens dimensions and lower listed weight: about 70 × 43 mm and 155 g.
- A 75° FX or 53° DX published angle of view suits your framing better than the 20mm's wider values.
Choose NIKKOR Z 20mm f/1.8 S if
- You need the wider published angle of view: 94° on FX or 70° on DX.
- The f/1.8 maximum-aperture specification is a requirement, and you accept the larger listed dimensions and weight.
When the recommendation changes
- Use the angle-of-view values for the camera format you own: Nikon lists separate FX and DX values for both lenses.
- If neither lens's focal length fits the composition you need, compare other focal lengths instead of treating this pair as a universal choice.
The differences that matter
| Decision point | NIKKOR Z 28mm f/2.8 | NIKKOR Z 20mm f/1.8 S |
|---|---|---|
| Format Specific Framing | 28 mm focal length; FX angle of view 75°; DX angle of view 53°.[1, 3] | 20 mm focal length; FX angle of view 94°; DX angle of view 70°.[2] |
What this changes: On the same camera format, Nikon's listed values make the 20mm the wider-framing option. Compare FX with FX or DX with DX; do not mix the two formats.[1, 3, 2] The better fit depends on your priorities | ||
| Maximum Aperture And Carry Dimensions | Maximum aperture f/2.8; approximately 70 mm maximum diameter × 43 mm from the mount flange; approximately 155 g; 52 mm filter size.[1, 3] | Maximum aperture f/1.8; approximately 84.5 mm maximum diameter × 108.5 mm from the mount flange; approximately 505 g; 77 mm filter size.[2] |
What this changes: The 28mm has the smaller published dimensions and lower listed weight; the 20mm has the wider maximum-aperture specification. Treat the dimensions as lens specifications, not a promise about packed-bag volume or carrying comfort.[1, 3, 2] The better fit depends on your priorities | ||
Best for your routine
Prioritizing lower listed lens weight and shorter dimensions
Best fit: NIKKOR Z 28mm f/2.8
Based on listed features, not comparative testing.
Nikon lists the standard 28mm at about 155 g and 70 × 43 mm, compared with about 505 g and 84.5 × 108.5 mm for the 20mm. Whether this difference feels important depends on the user's kit and carry needs.
Prioritizing the wider published angle of view on the same camera format
Best fit: NIKKOR Z 20mm f/1.8 S
Based on listed features, not comparative testing.
Nikon lists 94° vs 75° on FX and 70° vs 53° on DX for the 20mm and 28mm, respectively.
Value and trade-offs
One or both observed offers have eligibility conditions, so no unrestricted price difference is shown.
Compare live offers at purchase time. The 20mm's wider framing and f/1.8 specification may matter to a buyer who needs those features, but this page does not establish a price premium or value winner.
There is insufficient price-history evidence for purchase timing advice; current offers can change.
Limitations
- This is a specification-based comparison; no hands-on or controlled side-by-side test was performed.
- Maximum aperture is a lens specification, not proof of a particular low-light exposure result, image quality, depth-of-field result, or astrophotography outcome.
- No relative autofocus, optical-quality, distortion, flare, comfort, durability, or reliability conclusion is supported here.
- Published dimensions use the manufacturer's diameter × distance-from-mount-flange convention; they do not measure the total packed space with caps, hood, case, or camera attached.
- Prices remain dynamic. This comparison has no verified long-term price history and does not make a purchase-timing recommendation.
Questions shoppers ask
Is this the Nikon Z 28mm f/2.8 SE?
No. This comparison covers Nikon's standard NIKKOR Z 28mm f/2.8. Nikon's page names it without the SE designation; the 20mm option is the NIKKOR Z 20mm f/1.8 S.
Do the angle-of-view figures change on a DX camera?
Nikon publishes separate values for each format. On DX, it lists 53° for the 28mm and 70° for the 20mm; on FX, it lists 75° and 94°. Compare the same format when choosing.
Do the listed lens dimensions equal the space each takes in a camera bag?
No. Nikon's values are lens-body dimensions measured from the mount flange, not a packed-kit measurement. They do not include the space taken by the camera or accessories in a particular bag.
Methodology and sources
Compared Nikon's listed FX angle with FX and DX angle with DX, then compared the published maximum aperture, lens-body dimensions, listed weight and filter size. No measured image outcome was inferred.
This comparison organizes Nikon's published specifications into a conditional buying guide. Pickoryx did not conduct hands-on testing.
View 3 sources
- 1.NIKKOR Z 28mm f/2.8 | Z mount LensesNikon Consumer · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-17 19:14 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- Model heading and Specifications: focal length, maximum aperture, FX/DX angle of view, filter size, dimensions and weight.: Identifies the standard NIKKOR Z 28mm f/2.8 (without the SE designation) and publishes the specifications used for product A.
- 2.NIKKOR Z 20mm f/1.8 S | Z mount LensesNikon Consumer · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-17 19:14 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- Model heading and Specifications: focal length, maximum aperture, FX/DX angle of view, filter size, dimensions and weight.: Identifies the assigned NIKKOR Z 20mm f/1.8 S and publishes the specifications used for product B.
- 3.NIKKOR Z 28mm f/2.8 | interchangeable lens for mirrorlessNikon Imaging USA · Official support · Source checked 2026-10-17 19:14 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- Tech Specs and Specifications: Nikon Z mount, 28 mm, f/2.8, FX/DX, angles of view, dimensions, weight and filter size.: Nikon USA's standard-model product page corroborates model name, mount, format compatibility and the core specifications for product A.