Nikon AF-S DX 35mm f1.8G Lens
Posted by Notcot on May 4, 2012 in Photography |
Nikon 35mm f/1.8G AF-S DX Lens
- Lens structure (elements/groups): 8 / 6
- Viewing angle: 44 °
- Fixed focal length: 35 mm
- Closest focusing distance: 0.30 m
- Minimum aperture: f/1.8
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Nikkor 35mm f1.8G AF-S – A star performer!,
I was looking for a fast prime lens to complement my recently purchased Nikon D60. Unfortunately, and despite being warned about this before I bought the D60, I can only use AF-S lenses with built in focus motors – all other AF lenses rely on a focus motor in the camera body, which the D60 doesn’t have. So, when I started looking, choice was limited… but during my search, Nikon announced this 35mm f1.8 lens – perfect!
After a few weeks of waiting for suppliers to get this lens in stock, I found this one on Amazon. Delivery was quick and on receipt, it was straight on my camera!
So far, after only a couple of days of use, I am very, very impressed. Low light pictures are very good – I can take a decent photo indoors at night with only one lamp on in the room, and with the lens at f1.8, shutter speeds of 1/15 or 1/30 can be achieved at ISO 400. Also, as another comparison, I tried the same composed shot with this lens in the kit 18 – 55 VR – just a general shot of my desk, phone and wall. With all settings the same, zoom (on the kit lens), composition, ISO etc., the only difference being the aperture – at 35mm, the kit lens was f4.0 I think… shutter speed for the kit lens was 1/30s and the f1.8 was 1/300s! 10 times faster!
The other thing to comment on is the depth of field – portraits are so much better with the background being so much more blurred (in a good way!)with a DoF at the largest aperture of only a couple of inches.
I also think the pictures are a lot sharper and more detailed. I don’t know if this is normally expected with a prime vs a kit zoom, but it’s noticeable.
So… if you are after a fast general purpose lens for your focus-motor-less Nikon D40, D40x or D60, then this is the one to get. It’s not cheap, but having just forked out for it, I would say it’s worth it.
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|DX Superstar!!!,
I have had this lens for almost 18 months now and I find myself using it all the time -along the 16-85 DX.
This lens is sharp, light, focuses very fast and handles very well. What else can you ask?
It has a bit more distortion than I would like but NX2 and LR3 can correct it very easily and very well.
Keep this in mind: there is no substitute for sharpness and speed.
You can correct the little distortion it has, and the inevitable CA of every lens. But no software can make up for the lack of sharpness or speed of a lens.
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The hidden benefit of using a prime
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I made a recent trip to Berlin and this was the only lens I took along with my D90. When I got back home, the quality of the images blew me away (once more). The pictures were tack-sharp and I had great flexibility to move from bright daylight to the dark night.
However, the pictures were better in another sense: my composition was much better than what usually is with zoom lenses. Why? Because a fixed focal length forces you to think harder about your composition!!!
If you really want to improve your photography put this gem in your DX body and leave it there for the next three months. You’ll be amazed with the results.
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|Almost a Bargain!,
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I’ve had this lens for a few months now, it was my first purchase for my D90 kit and while it’s not a cheap lens, it’s not expensive either and for what it can do, I can’t imagine spending my money better.
The lens equates to a ‘normal’ view lens on a DX camera (what the eyes see, basically) and so it is a general pupose lens – ok, we can pretty much rule out macro work and long range telephoto shots, but it is just great for everything and I do mean ‘everything’ in between.
For your money you get f=1.8 glass, that’s fast enough for pretty much anyone I reckon, a couple of stops in at most and you’ve got sharp subjects and lovely dof.
There are forums and discussion sites, chewing the cud over which is the best ‘portrait lens’, the 35, 50 or 85mm (or indeed the 105mm) and being fairly new to this game, I’m trying to learn from people who speak reason and the best statement I’ve found so far was in response to this question – ‘if you view a particular lens as only having one job, based on its focal length, then you’re going to take pretty much average pictures with minimal creativity’. Personally, I’ve found it’s much better to grab a short prime (this one!), run around, get loads of pictures, make your legs do the zooming so you can focus (no pun intended) on composing a great shot and see what happens…and just for the record I have taken some great head and shoulder portraits with this lens.
The only other thing I can add, while I’m on the soap box and handing out free advice, is in relation to people criticising plastic mounts on some of the DX lenses (this one included) and the fact that they apparently break when their camera is banged or dropped. The conclusion that I have come to so far is that it’s best not to drop your prized and hard earned posession, as damage will likely ensue. Should you be one of the unfortunates who does treat their camera to a good pasting, surely it is better that the plastic mount breaks (possibly repairable), rather than the expensive glass work, or the camera case, or the internals of the camera….sorry if I sound sarcastic, but I’ve only been in this game for 6 months and already I’m sick of people bleating about this. If you agree, click the ‘useful’ button on this review, hopefully, I’m not alone!
Now go and buy the lens, it’s great.
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