This year, perhaps more than any other, we’ve been truly amazed. N-Photo has been running for 12 years now and, for each and every one of them, we’ve had a sparkling stream of new kit passing through our hands and our test lab. Some cameras, lenses and accessories have always shined more brightly than others, but over the past 12 months, we’ve tested and reviewed kit that has a real wow-factor. Not just once or twice, but over and over again. All in all, it’s been a bumper year for new launches, while other recent products have also resurfaced in big tests. Two new camera launches over the past year really stand out but the emphasis in 2023 has been on lenses. Z-mount glass has mightily impressed us right from the start, but everything just keeps getting better, with new lenses to suit every need and budget. Here’s the kit that’s really bowled us over…
BEGINNER/BUDGET
WINNER: PANCAKE PRIME LENS
Nikon Z 26mm f/2.8 £529/$497 Tested in issue 150
* WHAT WE LOVE
Tiny but mighty, we love that the Z 26mm truly qualifies as a ‘pancake lens’, being just under an inch thick. You’d be forgiven for thinking that Nikon can’t really squeeze much quality glass into such a small package, but we’ve been hugely impressed by the image quality from this lens. It’s a superb optic for walkabout and travel photography with fullframe Z cameras, and also works a treat on DX format bodies, where it has a very natural 39mm effective focal length.
* WHAT’S MISSING?
You can only fit filters via the circular HB-111 hood, which is supplied with the lens.
* WHY UPGRADE?
If you’re after a versatile, fairly fast prime lens that you can slip into a spare pocket, look
