In this review, we look at Nikon’s important lens for the Z mount, the Z 35mm F1.8 S. This is a great street and portrait lens to own, but there is a price to pay.
Price aside, when it is mounted on the Nikon Z bodies, it actually looks handsome, like a gentleman in a tuxedo suit. This is one of the pioneer lenses Nikon launched together with the Z 6 and Z 7 bodies. With the large F1.8 aperture, the Nikkor Z 35mm F1.8 S lacks the impressive size of 35mm F1.4 lenses, but it keeps the lens small and compact, and it matches the Z bodies perfectly.
Built
On the exterior, there is a wide focus ring taking up most of the front part of the lens, and this can be custom set to adjust the ISO setting or EV compensation when the lens is in AF mode. While in MF mode, the focusing speed changes according to your speed of turning the lens. A very neat feature and we hardly detect any lag. Looking through the lens from the high-resolution EVF, we can easily bite the focus, even without the help of focus peaking in place.
The exterior was also built to resist extreme weather, such as hot, sandy, freezing and rainy weather. This is especially useful for travel and for work in the wild and different continents. Probably this is what you pay for the price of this lens. Although this lens is weather-proof, it is not actually waterproof. Minimal splash of water still okay, but you should avoid it altogether.
Performance
We ran a couple of test on this lens, the edge to edge sharpness is unbelievably good until we need to snap the shots a few more time to re-check. Fringing is basically non-existent on this lens. The benefits of large mount helps. The lens could be designed closer to the sensor to let more light in and minimise distortion. Being said, this lens is not quiet distortion free, but it is so minimal that you are unlikely to notice it.
This lens creates very nice bokeh for portrait while maintaining sharp focusing on the subject even at wide open at F1.8. The benefits of the large aperture also allows the lens to see much better in low light, and paired with the IBIS, it works a few stops down hand held.
In my opinion, this is a great 35mm lens designed for the Z mount where it is light and feature-packed, the ouch-part is its heavy price tag at RM3,898. Just look at the optical performance and your ouch-part will be immediately diluted.
Visit www.nikon.com.my.
Nikon Z 35mm F1.8 S Specifications
- Mount Type: Nikon Z Mount
- Focal Length: 35mm
- Maximum Angle of View: 63°
- Aperture Range: f/1.8 to f/16
- Aperture Blades: 9 (rounded)
- Filter Size: 62mm
- Lens Elements: 11
- Lens Groups: 9
- Special Elements: 3 Aspherical, 2 ED
- Nano Crystal Coating: Yes
- Super Integrated Coating: Yes
- Electronic Diaphragm: Yes
- Focus Motor: STM Stepping Motor
- Rear Focusing: Yes
- Minimum Focus Distance: 0.25 meters
- Maximum Reproduction Ratio: 0.19x
- Weather/Dust Sealing: Yes
- Mount Material: Metal
- Dimensions: 73 x 86mm
- Weight: 370 g
