Nikon has just launched its first full frame mirrorless camera and a few native lenses. The Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.8 S ($849.95) is the first prime lens to ship—there's a 50mm f/1.8 coming next month. It's great if you love the 35mm angle. The lens captures sharp images and has a bright aperture that allows for low light photography and shallow depth of field. It is also sealed to keep dust and moisture out. This lens is excellent, but it has a high asking price. It will suit Z buyers looking for a prime 35mm lens.
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It's light and bright
This Nikkor Z35mm lens shares the same exterior look as the Z 24-70mm F/4 S. The Z-24-70mm f/4 S is almost a plain black lens with metal and polycarbonate construction. The markings in the Z 35mm are done in a subtle white font, which is a change from the shiny gold Nikon used for modern SLR lenses. Only a shiny Nikkor S logo is visible on the barrel.
It balances very well on the Z 7 frame. The 35mm is lightweight at 13.1 ounces and compact at just 3.4 by 2 inches (HD). The standard rear and front lens caps are included, as well as a reversible lens cover and soft carrying bag. It supports a 62mm filter.
The internal seals protect your lens and camera from moisture and dust. Lensrentals rated the Z 7 as one of the most sealed cameras. You can use the Z 7 in harsh weather conditions. Fluorine is used to repel oil and water. Both front and back elements have fluorine coatings. This means that raindrops won't bead but slide off, and fingerprints can easily be removed with a microfiber towel.
The side panel has a single switch marked A/M. This switch switches between manual and automatic focus. It occupies a large portion of the barrel and is quite heavy. The bare plastic finish is complemented by ridges that allow for better gripping. Although I prefer a rubberized Nikon finish, it appears that we will be using this design for the manual focus rings of the Z system. Rubber is reserved for zoom control.
You can also set the control circle to do another function when autofocus has been enabled. The Z 7 currently supports f-stop and EV control via the ring. But there's a problem—while it's easy to make minor adjustments to focus, even a small turn of the ring can dial in extreme changes to the EV compensation or aperture setting. You can do more damage than good by allowing the ring of the camera to rotate while it's attached to a strap. You can disable the control ring function until Nikon addresses the issue with sensitivity via firmware.
Close focus can be achieved up to 9.8 inches. It's not a macro by any means—at best it magnifies objects at 1:5.3 life-size. You can still get close to the object, but it won't capture all of the details inside a flower. Nikon doesn't have a macro prime yet for Z, however it is compatible with Micro-Nikkor SLR lens using the FTZ adapter.
However, optical stabilization is not available on the lens. The Z 7 and Z 6 cameras that it can be used with, however, do. Although I have only tested the lens with Z 7, it is excellent at stabilizing video and handheld photos.
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Crystal Clear Photography
I used the Nikkor Z35mm and the 45.7MP Z 7, as well as Imatest software. It delivers a very high resolution of f/1.8, with approximately 3,379 lines across the entire frame. The majority of frame matches or exceeds this average. However, the edges are a little behind with just 2,051 lines. That's a notably soft result—we want to see at least 2,750 lines from the Z 7's sensor.
At f/2, results are almost identical. At f/2.8, we see an increase in resolution. Average score rises to 4,041 lines. This puts the 35mm in good territory. While edges may not be as sharp as they used to, 3,156 lines is still a very respectable number. The average score rises to 4,396 line at f/4, and the perimeter of the frame is just short of 3,700 lines.
For outstanding results, increase the aperture to F/5.6. The lens is just about at its best here (4,652 lines), with edges that hover around 4,300 lines—outstanding results all around. Similar results are seen at f/8 (4,597 line) and f/11 (4,649 line). Although you can still shoot at F/16, diffraction reduces the resolution slightly; however, we still managed to see 4,090 lines.
Automatic lens corrections are added to Raw files by the Z system, much like what cameras do with JPGs for many years. Adobe Lightroom Classic adds them to your images, and you cannot turn them off. These corrections correct for color distortion, vignetting and other effects that may detract from images.
The 35mm will show about 1.9% barrel distortion if you don't use Raw conversions or shoot JPGs with in-camera corrector disabled. If you do not alter settings or use Adobe products for processing Raw images, there will be no barrel distortion in your photos.
When shot with larger apertures, the 35mm can cast quite a heavy vignette around corners. The default Normal setting of the Z 7 Vignette Control will result in a drop of -3EV at corners at f/1.8 and f/2.6EV respectively at f/2 and f/2.8. The vignette doesn't show up at smaller apertures. This gives photos a bit of a natural frame, a plus for portraits—you can always dial in a bit of additional manual Lightroom correction if you don't like the look. Landscape shots will likely require a larger aperture, with consistent lighting from the corners to the center.
Be aware that the Vignette will be heavier if you are working in Raw images with different software. The lens displays a -4.3EV in the corners, at f/1.8 with correction off. It lessens as you stop down—there is -3.8EV at f/2, -2.3EV at f/2.8, and about -1.3EV at f/4 and smaller f-stops. Although I believe most photographers will love Nikon's automatic adjustments to Raw images, I wish Adobe could allow me to turn them off.
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The Potential Workhorse
The Nikon Nikkor Z35mm f/1.8 S is not flashy, or even sexy. However that doesn't mean it can't be used. This lens has the potential of being the best choice for Z-system photographers, who appreciate the moderately wide angle look offered by the 35mm. There are very few prime lenses available. The only alternative to an F-mount SLR is the FTZ Adapter.
This is a great option if you are looking for a longer focal length, a shorter aperture 35mm, or a cheaper way to use your current lenses. The Z 50mm F/1.8, which is cheaper and due to start shipping in the near future, will offer a narrower view angle. The Z 50mm f/1.8 is available in wide-angle format. There's also a 20mm version for next year. A 24mm version for 2020 will be released. However, additional information is not yet available.
But if you're shopping for a native lens, and a 35mm is what you're after, the Nikkor Z is an excellent performer—it's plenty sharp, usable in rough weather, and bright. It's definitely not an affordable option. It's $850 more expensive than the Nikkor AF/S 35mm f/1.8G, which retails at around $600. However, the Nikkor Z lens is more durable and does not require adapters for Z 6 or Z 7 use.