Nikon AF-S Nikkor 35mm 1:1.8G DX review (original) (raw)
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
| Previous | 1 Introduction | 2 Next |
|---|
The AF-S Nikkor 35mm F1.8G DX is Nikon's latest lens, announced in February for PMA 2009. Its introduction came as something of a surprise to many observers, not because it's an updated 35mm lens with a built-in autofocus motor, but because the 'DX' designation indicates that it's designed for use on DX format bodies, and isn't fully compatible with Nikon's growing FX format camera range. According to Nikon, this has allowed the company to design a lens that is smaller, lighter and cheaper than it would have been had it offered full coverage of the FX image circle. In effect, the lens is primarily targeted as an inexpensive, large aperture option for users of the entry-level (D40 / D40X /D60) series of DSLRs.
The 35mm focal length is roughly equivalent to 50mm on an FX camera, and the lens therefore fits into the 'standard' category, with an angle of view offering none of the 'perspective distortion' associated with wideangle or telephoto lenses. The fast F1.8 maximum aperture admits more than four times as much light as the AF-S 18-55mm F3.5-5.6G VR DX kit lens, which is useful for shooting in low light while keeping shutter speeds reasonably high. The 'Silent Wave Motor' allows autofocus on all of Nikon's DSLR bodies, with the added bonus of allowing the user to tweak focus manually in AF mode if desired.
The 35mm F1.8G features an optical design of 8 elements in 6 groups, including an aspherical element for the correction of aberrations usually associated with large aperture prime lenses. However unlike the typical 50mm standard prime for the full frame (FX) format, this lens's focal length is rather shorter than the flange distance from the lens mount to the imager. This necessitates the use of a so-called 'retrofocal' design, which is more usually associated with wideangle lenses; unfortunately this often results in increased aberrations relative to traditional near-symmetric 50mm designs. So how does the 35mm F1.8 DX measure up?
Headline features
- 35mm focal length; fast F1.8 maximum aperture
- Silent Wave Motor allows autofocusing on all Nikon DSLRs
- Full-time manual focus override
- For DX format cameras
Angle of view
The picture below illustrates the angle of view (click here for comparisons with the Nikon 50mm F1.4D):
 |
|---|
| 35mm (DX format) |
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 35mm 1:1.8G DX specifications
| Street price | • $200 (US) • £200 (UK) |
|---|---|
| Date introduced | February 2009 |
| Maximum format size | DX |
| Focal length | 35mm |
| 35mm equivalent focal length | 52.5mm |
| Diagonal Angle of view | 47º |
| Maximum aperture | F1.8 |
| Minimum aperture | F22 |
| Lens Construction | • 8 elements / 6 groups • 1 hybrid aspherical element |
| Number of diaphragm blades | 7, rounded |
| Minimum focus | 0.3m (1.0 ft) |
| Maximum magnification | 0.16x |
| AF motor type | • Ring-type Silent Wave Motor (ultrasonic-type) • Full-time manual focus |
| Focus method | Internal (rear) focus |
| Image stabilization | • None |
| Filter thread | • 52mm • Does not rotate on focus |
| Supplied accessories | • Front and rear caps • HB-46 hood |
| Optional accessories | |
| Weight | 210g (7.4 oz) |
| Dimensions | 70mm diameter x 52.5mm length (2.8 x 2.1 in) |
| Lens Mount | Nikon F only |
* Supplied accessories may differ in each country or area
Gear in this story
Gear in this story
You may also like
More about gear in this article
The Nikon D3400 might not be the most exciting camera in terms of outright specification, but over the past week of photographing everyday life for our real-world samples gallery, we've found it to be capable of capturing excellent results with ease. See gallery
The Nikon D3300 continues on the path of its entry-level DSLR predecessors, with plenty of built-in shooting and retouch modes, a small footprint, and beginner-friendly user interface. It has a 24.2 megapixel CMOS sensor with no optical low-pass filter, as well as an Expeed 4 image processor. The camera's ISO range tops out at 25,600 and with continuous shooting up to 5 fps. We've been out and about with the D3300, shooting everyday situations and family life. See gallery
Latest sample galleries
Latest in-depth reviews
Fujifilm's X-M5 is an entry-level mirrorless APS-C camera that's a solid, though not perfect, choice for beginners.
Sony's Alpha 1 II adds pre-capture and improved autofocus to its high-speed, high-res pro mirrorless model.
The Lumix S9 is Panasonic's newest full-frame mirrorless camera. It allows users to create their own custom looks for out-of-camera colors and is the first full-frame Lumix camera aimed squarely at social media content creators.
The Nikon Z50 II adds a color profile button – sound familiar? – 3D tracking, cloud connectivity, and more.
We don't usually test a product for ten years before reviewing it, but after a decade of using the Lowepro Photo Sport 300 AW II on an almost daily basis, Managing Editor Dale Baskin tells us why he loves this pack.
Latest buying guides
The fixed lens camera market may be niche, but it's home to some of the best cameras you can buy.
What's the best camera for shooting landscapes? High resolution, weather-sealed bodies and wide dynamic range are all important. In this buying guide we've rounded-up several great cameras for shooting landscapes, and recommended the best.
If you want a compact camera that produces great quality photos without the hassle of changing lenses, there are plenty of choices available for every budget. Read on to find out which portable enthusiast compacts are our favorites.
Around $1000 is increasingly becoming the entry point for modern interchangeable lens cameras. We look at what you can get for your money, and which we think is best.
Whether you’re just sharing clips with friends or you’re launching an online on-camera career, vlogging matters. We looked at cameras with selfie-friendly screens, wide-angle lenses, microphone inputs and great video quality, and selected the best.