Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G Lens Review
If you are looking for a fast, sharp, and versatile prime lens for your Nikon DX-format DSLR camera, you might want to consider the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G Lens. This lens is one of the most popular and affordable lenses in the Nikon lineup, and for good reasons. In this article, we will review the features, benefits, and drawbacks of this lens, and compare it with some of its competitors. We will also provide some sample images and customer reviews to help you decide if this lens is right for you.
Features
The Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G Lens is a prime lens, which means it has a fixed focal length of 35mm. This focal length is equivalent to 52.5mm on a full-frame camera, which is close to the human eye’s perspective. This makes it ideal for a variety of photography genres, such as portraits, landscapes, street, and general-purpose photography.
The lens has a fast maximum aperture of f/1.8, which allows you to capture sharp images in low-light situations, and create beautiful background blur (bokeh) for your subjects. The aperture is controlled by a rounded seven-blade diaphragm, which produces smooth and natural-looking out-of-focus areas.
The lens features an aspherical element, which helps to reduce distortion and spherical aberrations, and enhance sharpness and contrast across the frame. The lens also has a Super Integrated Coating, which minimizes flare and ghosting, and improves color accuracy and saturation.
The lens has a silent wave motor (SWM), which provides fast, accurate, and quiet autofocus performance. The lens also has a manual focus override function, which allows you to fine-tune the focus by turning the focus ring at any time. The minimum focus distance of the lens is 11.81 inches (30 cm), which means you can get close to your subjects for more creative compositions.
The lens is compact and lightweight, measuring 2.76 x 2.07 inches (70 x 52.5 mm) and weighing 7.05 ounces (200 g). It comes with a reversible lens hood, which helps to block stray light and protect the front element from dust and scratches. It also comes with a soft pouch, a front cap, and a rear cap.
Benefits
The Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G Lens offers many benefits for Nikon DX-format DSLR users. Here are some of them:
– It is affordable: The lens costs less than $200, which makes it one of the most budget-friendly lenses in the Nikon lineup. It is a great value for money, considering its performance and quality.
– It is versatile: The lens can be used for various types of photography, thanks to its standard-angle field of view and fast aperture. You can use it for portraits, landscapes, street scenes, indoor events, and more.
– It is sharp: The lens delivers excellent image quality across the frame, even at wide-open apertures. It resolves fine details, textures, and colors with accuracy and clarity.
– It is bright: The lens allows you to shoot in low-light conditions without using a flash or a tripod. It also enables you to isolate your subjects from the background with shallow depth of field effects.
– It is easy to use: The lens has a simple design and operation. It has no switches or buttons on the barrel, only a focus ring. It has a smooth and responsive autofocus system that works well with most Nikon DSLR cameras.
Drawbacks
The Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G Lens is not without flaws. Here are some of the drawbacks that you should be aware of:
– It is not compatible with full-frame cameras: The lens is designed for DX-format cameras only, which means it will not work properly on FX-format cameras or film cameras. If you attach it to an FX-format camera, you will have to use it in crop mode, which will reduce your resolution and field of view.
– It has some distortion: The lens exhibits some barrel distortion at close distances, which means straight lines will appear slightly curved towards the edges of the frame. This can be corrected in post-processing or by using a distortion correction profile in your camera.
– It has some chromatic aberration: The lens shows some purple fringing in high-contrast scenes, especially at wide-open apertures. This can be reduced by stopping down the aperture or by using a chromatic aberration correction tool in your editing software.
– It has no image stabilization: The lens does not have any built-in optical or electronic stabilization system, which means you will have to rely on your camera’s stabilization (if any) or your own hand-holding skills to avoid blurry images due to camera shake. A general rule of thumb is to use a shutter speed that is at least equal to the inverse of the focal length, or faster. For example, if you are using the lens at 35mm, you should use a shutter speed of 1/35 second or faster.
– It has a narrow and rough focus ring: The lens has a manual focus override function, but the focus ring is not very comfortable to use. It is narrow, hard to grip, and feels rough when turning. It also makes some noise when rotating, which can be annoying for video recording.
Comparison
The Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G Lens has some competitors in the market, such as the Sigma 30mm F1.4 DC HSM Art and the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens. Here is a brief comparison of these lenses based on some key specifications:
| Specification | Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G Lens | Sigma 30mm F1.4 DC HSM Art | Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 35mm (52.5mm equivalent) | 30mm (45mm equivalent) | 50mm (80mm equivalent) |
| Maximum Aperture | f/1.8 | f/1.4 | f/1.8 |
| Minimum Aperture | f/22 | f/16 | f/22 |
| Angle of View | 44° | 50.7° | 40° |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 11.81 inches (30 cm) | 11.81 inches (30 cm) | 13.78 inches (35 cm) |
| Maximum Magnification | 0.16x | 0.14x | 0.21x |
| Optical Design | 8 elements in 6 groups (1 aspherical element) | 9 elements in 8 groups (4 aspherical elements) | 6 elements in 5 groups (1 aspherical element) |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7, rounded | 9, rounded | 7, rounded |
| Autofocus System | Silent Wave Motor (SWM) | Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) | Stepping Motor (STM) |
| Image Stabilization | No | No | No |
| Filter Size | 52 mm | 62 mm | 49 mm |
| Dimensions (Diameter x Length) | 2.76 x 2.07 inches (70 x 52.5 mm) | 2.91 x 2.48 inches (74 x 63 mm) | 2.72 x 1.54 inches (69 x 39 mm) |
| Weight | 7.05 ounces (200 g) | 9.35 ounces (265 g) | 5.64 ounces (160 g) |
| Price | $196.95 [Buy Now] | $427 [Buy Now] | $125 [Buy Now] |
Reviews
The Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G Lens has received many positive reviews from customers and experts alike. Here are some of the highlights:
– “This lens is amazing! It is sharp, fast, and lightweight. It produces beautiful bokeh and colors. It is perfect for portraits, landscapes, and low-light situations. I highly recommend it to anyone who owns a Nikon DX camera.” – Amazon Customer
– “This lens is a must-have for any DX-format DSLR shooter. It is versatile, affordable, and high-quality. It delivers excellent image quality across the frame, even at wide-open apertures. It has a smooth and quiet autofocus system that works well with most Nikon DSLR cameras.” – PCMag
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