What's wrong with the Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.8 S lens?

[@t.k.1448]

I recently added this lens to my bag - I always gravitated to zooms out of fear of "not having the right focal length with me". Well, two things: 1. being forced out of your comfort zone will make you a better photographer, 2. the optical qualities of this lens are insane. Forget measurements of sharpness, coma, vignetting, etc. The images you show speak for themselves and I am soooo glad I bought it.

[@edrohan3271]

Love your photos. I am switching from the Fuji xt-4 to the Nikon Z7 II a new adventure for an amateur enthusiast.

[@csc-photo]

Never owned a 35 prime before, so I'm considering picking this up as it's currently on sale ($250 off!). Appreciate the info here! Great images as well!

[@taku_kumabe]

Many thanks!

[@thedoggiehumansquad9478]

Can you walk us how you got the shot of the dog at min 6:35? did you have a foreground light? The dog is perfectly lit yet you have the sun behind! flash? setting? Thanks!

[@taku_kumabe]

ahh yes. You are correct in that it's back lit so normally the dog would have been a silhouette. In fact the dog was in the shadows and I simply increased the shadows on the dog so he popped out more (inside Adobe Lightroom). Normally you would do this with a flash or strobe but I did not have one and this was not my dog-he just happened to stop in front of me when he was chasing a stick the owner had thrown to the right.

[@thedoggiehumansquad9478]

@@taku_kumabe Thanks!

[@jimbolic0809]

OOH! I love the image at 6:22! I also recently got this lens a couple of weeks ago, after owning my Z7 camera for 4 or so years. Great lens and quite versatile!

[@taku_kumabe]

Thanks for the feedback! Appreciate that!

[@tomworthjr]

Great work, and amazing photos! I have a Z6 II and the z 24-120 f4, along with a Tamron telephoto zoom that I love, and continually struggle with the prime decision between the 50 1.8 that everyone says is the greatest, or the 35 1.8. As your work shows, and as my own photo reviews show me, I just naturally land around 35mm for the majority of my shots, not a lot of 50mm u less I am actively deciding to work in that. But the thing is, even though I naturally gravitate to 35mm compositions, more often than not I find that when I am occasionally wowed by one of my own shots it is something around the 50-70 range. So do I get a prime for what most of my shots are, or do I get it for the shots that I love the most? Or just stick with the 24-120 that hardly ever leaves the camera?

[@taku_kumabe]

Isn't that a great problem to have? haha... Like you I love that 24-120mm f/4 lens too. I have another video on that lens too. I'd say stick with the lens that you think would get the most use. Also what about the 50mm images makes it a "wow" image? If it's more composition related you can easily use the 35mm lens in DX mode to get a 52mm equivalent so you see things the same way you would with a 50mm lens. Then take photos with it to see if you get any "wow" images that way. It may save you from having to decide between the two!

[@tomworthjr]

That’s a great idea. I haven’t done the DX mode before but I’ve heard of it. I also shoot Fuji, APS-C, and my understanding is that the DX mode is basically like turning the full frame into APS-C when engaged. Need to experiment with that and see if I still live the image quality!

[@taku_kumabe]

@@tomworthjrYes that is correct. DX mode for Nikon is the same as APS-C. For Nikon it's 1.5x the full frame equivalent. ie. 35mm x 1.5 = ~52mm

[@robinc-k7162]

thanks for the video! the 35mm Z mount is high on my wish list. I didn't realize that it isn't as well regarded as the 50mm. It sure looks good in your images, though. For the big sunstar at the 4:06 minute mark, what fstop did you use? The star looks very nice and sharp, even though this is a 9 blade lens. I've read that having an even number of blades produces the best "stars".

[@taku_kumabe]

Disregard that fact that it isn't as well regarded. Pick a lens that suits you best! I love this lens and don't regret buying it at all. That photo was from High Park at f/10. I don't know what you mean by "best" stars-that's all relative if you ask me. If you like the look of it, and you think you'd use the lens, then I'd say that's reason to consider it!

[@kurotaka007]

Just found you and subscribed as I am looking to add a 35mm. I’m new to Nikon, coming over from Fujifilm GFX and XH2 & S to Z8 and ZF. Really enjoying Nikon. I retired from Chicago to Kamakura and enjoying a clean slate of photo opportunities. 1.8 S seems a bit bulky??? Been also considering the Voigtlander 35 f2 as well. Good stuff… appreciate your video.

[@taku_kumabe]

Thanks for watching. Chicago and Kamakura are two very different views! I'm sure you will enjoy your new surroundings. I don't mind the size of the 1.8 S as it's still quite light. Keep in mind Nikon is still set to come out with the 1.2 version as well.

[@robert_may]

Great lens, but I think it struggles against the 40mm f/2, which is far better than its price would suggest. I actually did own both; even though the 35mm f/1.8 is definitely better, I found I never really used it because the 40mm is so much more convenient.

[@taku_kumabe]

Ah yes. That is certainly a viable option being so much smaller and less expensive. Focal length wise isn't too much of a difference either so I can understand. I'm beginning to wonder what will happen to me once the Z 35mm f/1.2 comes out!

[@WhoIsSerafin]

Gosh, after coming from using 4/3 and m4/3 for almost 18 years I got a Nikon ZF with the 40mm f2. And I’m really not liking rendering and look of the sharpening from that lens at all. The lens really frustrates me and am looking at this lens and few other 35mm options. Maybe I have a bad copy?

[@furkanozcan77]

Thanks for the video. As you mentioned this lens doesn’t seem to get enough coverage. Happy to form an opinion with your use case and nice photos.

[@taku_kumabe]

thanks very much!

[@kurt.wang.photography]

Great review and beautiful work, Taku! You know I'm not a Nikon user, but always want have a 35mm 1.8 of 1.4 for night street photos. The prime lenses I use the most are 24mm 1.8, 50mm 1.2 and 16mm 2.8

[@taku_kumabe]

Thanks Kurt! I didn't know you used so many primes. I've always been a zoom person myself. But I'm happy I went with this 35mm from the start! Thanks for watching!

[@baobo67]

Thanks Great lens and has pushed my 24-120 f4 S off my Z6II Cheers from Australia.

[@KeenAesthetic1]

That's a small 35mm 1.8?

[@PanagiotisEqui]

This lens is a SUPER gem !!!

[@snasayed]

Beautiful video. How to get to the island in toronto during winter. In summer there are water taxis but can you drive to that location as well? Could you share the address?

[@taku_kumabe]

The ferry still runs in the winter time as far as I know. You'll have to check their schedule. I believe the water taxis still run too, but I could be wrong about that.

[@CindyWeber-u7e]

Great photos!😀

[@taku_kumabe]

Thanks so much Cindy!

[@Mr09260]

Thank you Taku .. this would be a great Astro lens Fast and giving Straight lines to Buildings in the Image

[@taku_kumabe]

Yes! I've taken night shots with that lens too. Just wait until that 35mm f/1.2 comes out! ;)

[@thedarkslide]

I think Nikon didn't do themselves a favor with the 50mm f1.8 S being so stellar AND being considerably cheaper than the 35mm f1.8 S. They should have priced the 35mm identically to the 50mm. I picked a new 35mm S up over the holidays as they had a discount offer going, bringing the price down to the 50mm price. The regular price is about USD250 too high for what it is in comparison to the 50mm.

[@Butterflyeffect1975-d6b]

Pardon.... The title is 'Whats wrong with the" .... ??? . As for the slides , they are nice , thank you for sharing.

[@billmoyer3254]

Taku, the crown jewels of Nikkor lenses have historically been 28mm. 35mm was favored by journalists, and by my eye stands in no man's land. Ironically, that's the argument younger, videocentric photographers give about the 28mm focal length. Sadly, Nikon has passed on the 28 as well in S lens specification. The older F mount 28mm f1.4 E is an incredible optic.

They have to refresh it it is old

[@KeenAesthetic1]

It's more expensive than the sharper, less LoCA, better for portrait nifty fifty 1.8 - at amazon uk a discounted £625/635 for the 35mm/85mm £465 the 50mm which is sharper and only loses to the 85 for headshots

[@fangli]

35mm not sharp as the 50mm,, and now the new 35mm f.1.4 is coming,,

[@portalphenom4558]

Too expensive, too little advantage over her FX sibling.

[@taku_kumabe]

True it's pricier. I never had experience with that lens so I don't know its performance but I am happy I got this version. Thanks for the comment!

[@thezeek2745]

No. Huge advantage

[@thezeek2745]

Absolutely nothing. It’s incredible. Man i hate clickbait titles

[@taku_kumabe]

It wasn't intended to be. It was a genuine question-which you seemed to have answered in your comment-since I had the feeling it wasn't getting a lot of attention for the quality of lens that it was.