The Nikon Nikkor Z DX 16-50 mm f/3.5–6.3 VR is a DX-format (APS-C) zoom lens with a variable aperture of f/3.5–6.3, manufactured by Nikon for use on Nikon Z-mount mirrorless cameras.

On October 10, 2019, Nikon announced the first DX-format (APS-C) Z-mount camera, the Nikon Z50.^[2] Along with the camera, two DX lenses were also released, the Nikkor Z DX 16-50 mm f/3.5–6.3 VR and the Nikkor Z DX 50-250 mm f/4.5–6.3 VR.^[3] According to Nikon, at the time of release, the lens was the absolute smallest Nikkor Z lens (superseded by the full-frame Nikkor Z 26 mm f/2.8 in 2023), and also the smallest APS-C/DX-format lens ever.^[4] It sports an all-plastic construction and a plastic mount, to make the lens lighter.^[5] The lens has a retractable design, making it more compact when not in use. Unlike previous DX-format kit lenses for the F-mount, the 18-55 mm f/3.5–5.6 zooms, this lens offers a shorter focal length on both ends (by 2 and 5 mm, respectively), with a darker aperture on the telephoto end (f/6.3 instead of f/5.6). The lens does not come with a lens hood.

On June 29, 2021, Nikon also announced an otherwise both optically and design-wise identical silver version of the lens, alongside the release of the Nikon Zfc and the Special Edition version of the Nikkor Z 28 mm f/2.8 (SE) prime lens.^[6] The "SL" designation is used in the product name by retailers, to distinguish the two versions.

• 16-50 mm focal length (approximately equivalent field of view of a 24-75 mm lens on a full-frame format camera)
• Autofocus using a stepping motor (STM), focus-by-wire manual focus ring
• 9 elements in 7 groups (including 1 ED and 4 aspherical lens elements)
• 7-blade rounded diaphragm
• Vibration Reduction (VR) optical stabilization
• Internal focusing (IF lens)
• One customizable control ring at the back (manual focusing by default, aperture, ISO and exposure compensation functions can be assigned to it)

• 
  On a Nikon Z50
• 
  On a Nikon Z50
• 
  On a Nikon Z30
• 
  Silver version (SL), mounted on a Nikon Zfc

• 
  At 16 mm, f/3.5
• 
  At 16 mm, f/4.5
• 
  At 16 mm, f/5.6
• 
  At 16 mm, f/8
• 
  At 16 mm, f/8
• 
  At 18.5 mm, f/3.8
• 
  At 19 mm, f/3.8
• 
  At 28 mm, f/6.3
• 
  At 50 mm, f/8

• Nikon Z-mount

• Nikkor Z DX 16-50 mm f/3.5-6.3 VR product page at Nikon USA's Website
• Nikkor Z DX 16-50 mm f/3.5-6.3 VR on imaging.nikon.com

• Nikon Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR Review - Photography Life
• Nikon Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR lens review with samples - Christopher Frost