Nikon’s supposed legal battle with Viltrox has got me thinking a lot about the availability of cheap lenses. Specifically, how many cheap Nikon Z lenses exist, not by third parties, but by Nikon itself. I’ve long wanted the ‘Big N’ to embrace the entry-level photographer again and release a true mirrorless successor to the Nikon D3500, but when it comes to budget-friendly lenses, Nikon’s quietly built up a very nice selection over the years.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that you shouldn’t buy cheap third-party lenses. I’ve already said that I think Nikon’s Z system is more attractive with Viltrox producing Z lenses, but there’s definitely a notion that first-party lenses are always expensive, and I think Nikon’s Z mount has proven otherwise. Granted, these ‘cheap’ optics tend not to be as affordable as their third-party counterparts, but they also hold their value more on the used market, should you wish to trade-in or sell up to fund newer kit further down the line, and they offer greater peace of mind when it comes to firmware updates that can – although rare – cause third-party compatability issues.
