Nikon M Brightin Star 60mm F2.8 2X Macro Lens for Nikon Z Review

A heavy, manual-focus macro lens that gets you incredibly close for not much money. Perfect for still-life nerds on a budget, frustrating for everyone else.

The Brightin Star 60mm F2.8 is a one-trick pony, but it's a pretty good trick. This is a manual focus macro lens that gives you 2x magnification on a Nikon Z APS-C camera, letting you get closer to tiny subjects than most budget lenses can. The one thing you need to know is that it's a manual-only, no-frills tool. If you're patient and want to explore super-close-up photography without spending a fortune, this is your gateway drug. Just don't expect it to do anything else well.

The performance story is simple: it's sharp where it counts, but slow and heavy. Our database shows its optical performance lands in the 80th percentile for its sensor category, which is impressive for a third-party lens at this price. That means the image quality, especially for macro shots, is well above average. The trade-off? It's a chonky boy at over 1050 grams, and with no autofocus or stabilization, you're going to be moving the camera yourself and holding very, very still.

Worth it, but only for a very specific buyer. Prices swing from $210 to $381 across different vendors, so shop around. At the low end, it's a steal for the magnification it offers. At the high end, you start questioning why you didn't just save for a more versatile option. If you find it for around $250, that's the sweet spot.

This lens doesn't really compete with the big names like the Nikon Z9 or Sony A7IV. Those are full-frame cameras. A more relevant comparison is against other macro options for Nikon Z APS-C cameras, like the Nikon Z MC 50mm f/2.8 macro. The Nikon is autofocus, lighter, and has better build quality, but it only does 1:1 magnification and costs three times as much. The Brightin Star is the budget alternative for photographers who prioritize maximum magnification over convenience. Another option is using a manual focus vintage lens with an adapter, which might be cheaper but won't give you this dedicated 2x macro design.

If you're looking for an all-around lens, or if you hate manual focus, this isn't it. Go get a used Nikon Z 50mm f/1.8 S or a kit zoom instead. Also, skip it if you shoot video—manual focusing at this magnification is a nightmare.

We can only recommend this lens to a niche audience: patient hobbyists or product photographers on a tight budget who specifically need 2x magnification and don't mind manual focus. For everyone else—especially anyone who shoots moving subjects, needs autofocus, or wants a general-purpose lens—this is an easy skip. It's a specialist tool, not a daily driver.