Nikon 35mm f/1.8G AF-S DX Nikkor Wide Angle Lens
Many were surprised when Nikon announced
DX AF-S 35mm lens. With all the FX cameras currently available and the fast aging stable of fast Nikon prime lenses, many were hoping for some new full frame lenses. Instead Nikon announced second DX
prime lens.
Let's see how the lens functions on a DSLR APS-C camera. The 35mm field-of-view becomes a
52.5mm
equivalent lens mounted on an FX full frame camera, so the Nikkor pretty much acts like a normal SLR lens when mounted on a DX camera. Up until now this market niche has been dominated by the
Sigma EX f/1.4 30mm HSM lens. Most likely the main reason not to make a 35mm FX lens was affordability: from day one the lens was available for $300.
It features decent build quality thanks to having an outer barrel created from high quality plastic. The DX 35 looks and has the feel that it could be a little brother of the
Nikon AF-S 50mm AF-S lens, except there is no distance scale on the 35.
There's a rubberized focus ring which somewhat damped and functions reasonably smooth. Nevertheless, there's a little bit of play when shifting the direction of focus while in the manual focus setting. It's not much, but it is a little disturbing while fine tuning. During this mode, the lens being tested also allowed a slight shift in the entire image as the direction of focus was switched, although not much. The effect is not visible in the viewfinder, although easy to see while in maximum magnification using Live View.
The lens physical length stays constant throughout all focus settings as it has a rear focusing group.
Additionally the front element has no rotation allowing use of a polarizer filter. There is a 52mm filter thread which is pretty much standard for short
Nikkor prime lenses. it features a short dedicated hood with a bayonet mount as a part of the overall package, along with a pouch for storage and lens protection.
As the lens is AF-S the DX 35mm is works with every current Nikon DSLR cameras (this includes the
motor less starter level D3000,
D3100, D5000 as well as the discontinued,
D40, D50,
D60 and D70 Cameras). There's also full time manual override along with silent operation mode but the AF will not set any speed records.
Distortions
There are pronounced barrel distortions of about 1.7%, which is a lot more than you would anticipate from any prime lens of this focal array.
Vignetting
DX only lenses almost always are diagnosed with higher vignetting as compared to an FX lens mounted on the same body. Although you can
specifically expect this performance from a fast prime lens. Although, the DX 35 shot wide open only allows moderate vignetting which has no relevance at the field level at f/4 on.
MTF (resolution)
The 35mm produces excellent resolution figures from the middle throughout the whole aperture range, the border MTF is almost identical values which are very good from wide open through f/2.8 while resolution is excellent from f/4 and f/5.6. Extreme borders are noticeably softer while wide open and only get good value marks, however stopping down increases the resolution. The peak is highest by f/2.8 with somewhat lesser, although still very good amounts all the way down through f/8.
Chromatic Aberration (CAs)
Chromatic aberration (color shadow with harsh disparity transitions) are moderate at maximum, aperture, but show rather high figures for the entire balance of the aperture span. This behavior is disappointing to some extent, however lateral CAs can easily fixed in post processing while a majority of the later model Nikon DSLRs already correct this internally (along with most current RAW image converter programs).
Bokeh
At wide open it's unfortunate that the 35mm shows a rather large amount of outlining and as a consequence bokeh is slightly nervous . From f/2.8 on these outlines go away completely and the bokeh
smoothes out considerably, although the background highlights remain unsettled by LoCAs Additionally, despite having rounded aperture blades, background highlights from f/5.6 on begin to losing their circular structure.
Overall
The Nikon AF-S DX 35mm f/1.8G lens delivers very sharp images wide open. Bokeh, perhaps one of the main facets for shooting with a fast prime lens, is well formed and generally pleasurable (at least when stopped down a little). The lens has a few drawbacks, though, there's specifically rather significant distortions and CA, both lateral and longitudinal. Even
though it's sonic wave powered, the AF is never going to win any speed contests. However, with its affordable price tag, the lens features a very high performance level and is an appreciated newcomer to the limited array of prime lenses useable on DX cameras as normal primes.
It's hard to understand why there is no distance scale provided on this lens. it could at least have a minimal sort of DOF scale (adjusted to go with the DX format) and a couple of aperture markings to go with the distance scale that's not there. This could not have added very much to the lens cost, which would have rendered it operationally more sound by providing zone and hyper-focus.
Apr 1, 2011
|
Lens Chart for Nikon Cameras without built-in Motor: D40/D40x,
D60, D3000,
D3100, D5000 |
Invasive
Fisheyes |
Pre-AI
Modes |
AI Converted***
Exposure
Modes |
AI, AI-s***
Exposure
Modes |
AF, AF-D screw
Exposure
Modes |
AF-S, AF-I
Exposure
Modes |
VR* |
G**
Exposure
Modes |
|
No
Breaks
Mirror
|
Yes
No Meter
Manual
|
Yes
No Meter
Manual
|
Yes
No Meter
Manual
|
AF: No
Program,
Shutter,
Aperture, Manual
|
AF: Yes
Program,
Shutter,
Aperture, Manual
|
|
AF: Yes
Program,
Shutter,
Aperture, Manual
|
Features
AF-S Autofocus lens featuring a Silent wave,
coreless, integrated, focus motor (unwrapped in 1996). Basically an
updated AF-I Autofocus-Silent sporting a "Silent Wave Motor" (ultrasonic) to
focus near silently and fast.
AS -
Aspherical lens elements
- Nikon unveiled the first lens in 1968 featuring aspherical camera lens elements. What makes them different? Aspherical lenses all but eliminates the issues of coma and related kinds of lens aberrations
even when employed at the maximum aperture.
DX - NIKKOR - Compact and lightweight
Nikon DX lenses feature a lesser image circle and are specifically created and
optimized for the Nikon D-series, digital SLR camera bodies. An ideal option for
photographers and enthusiasts who require shooting of expansive landscapes with
Nikon DX DSLR
G - labeled after the f-number.
All the newer AF lenses, including AF-S and specifically G, are also D.
Nikon no longer makes an effort to mark the D.
G-lenses contains no aperture ring, therefore aperture may only be
electronically controlled by the camera and only autofocus camera bodies
featuring function dials have the capacity to control G lenses
IF- Internal Focusing
The ability to have a lens focus while it's size remains unchanged. Nikon’s
IF engineering allows that to happen. All internal optical travel is contained
within the inside of the non-extension lens container.
M/A mode
AF-S Nikon lenses include the exclusive Nikon M/A focus function, that permits
switching from auto to manual focus virtually without time lag - even while the
AF servo is in operation regardless of the AF mode in play.
RD- Rounded 7 Blade Diaphragm
Soft-focus images of point light resources create accepted polygonal shapes that
mirror the form of the cavity produced by the diaphragm blades..
RF - Rear Focusing
Nikon’s Rear Focus system divides all lens elements into express lens groups,
allowing only the back lens group to move for focus purposes
SIC - Nikon Super Integrated Coating
Nikon uses an elite multilayer lens coating to augment the operation of its
lens elements which also helps diminish ghosting and flare to minute levels.
Nikon Super Integrated Coat also accomplishes several purposes,
SWM- Silent Wave Motor
Nikon AF-S engineering is yet one more rationale why professional
photographers like Nikon telephoto optical lenses.
Lens Includes
HB-46 Bayonet Lens Hood;
LC-52 Snap-On Front Lens Cap;
LF-1 Rear Lens Cap;
CL-0913 Soft Case
