Richard Murdey
Senior Member
Solid optical performance and good ergonomics / functionality in a relatively light, compact, and inexpensive package.
It makes an excellent standard lens on DX dSLRs like the D3300. Yes, it's worth it over the 35/1.8DX for the nicer and more controlled rendering. This is not open to debate.
On FX cameras like the D750, a good case can be made for the older AF 35/2D for being cheaper and smaller and just as useful, but at the end of the day that AF-D lens is really soft at wide apertures, the corners in particular are quite dire. In some situations that's no big deal, but other times it is.
The AFS 35/1.8G was seemingly designed to excel where the AF 35/2D stumbles most: low light / night photography. Not only is it optimally sharp by f/2.8 already, but flare and ghosting are kept rigorously in check and there is little in the way of color fringing or coma. Bokeh is smooth and attractive with a clean, slightly sterile rendering typical of modern lenses.
A quick note that manually focusing this lens is pretty OK. Modern Nikkors can be a bit hit or miss with laggy coupling or stiff focus rings, but the geared drive here is smooth and light with only a tiny bit of dead time when switching direction. The wide, comfortable rubber focus ring can be moved easily with one finger. I'm cool with it, and I am more picky than most.
AF is of course fast, quiet, and sure.
The only obvious flaw, since I don't consider the mild vignetting wide open on FX important or significant, is the geometric distortion. There is a very slight "moustache" correction, but it leaves a lot barrel distortion especially in the middle of the frame (all the frame on DX crop). It's worse than the AF35/2D and quite a lot worse than my Zeiss 35/2 ZF or, thinking cross-platform, my FA31/1.8 Limited. Overall it is just on the limit of acceptable. While I find it a distraction on any architecture photo it's no so bad as to be noticeable otherwise ... and before you ask: no the software correction doesn't do a satisfactory or pleasing job and fixing it in my opinion.
In summary, this lens is a full recommend. If you can dual-purpose it to both FX and DX bodies, it becomes a no-brainer. It is no classic, however. Instead, Nikon has given us a solid workhorse optic particularly well-suited for low light and general use.
It makes an excellent standard lens on DX dSLRs like the D3300. Yes, it's worth it over the 35/1.8DX for the nicer and more controlled rendering. This is not open to debate.
On FX cameras like the D750, a good case can be made for the older AF 35/2D for being cheaper and smaller and just as useful, but at the end of the day that AF-D lens is really soft at wide apertures, the corners in particular are quite dire. In some situations that's no big deal, but other times it is.
The AFS 35/1.8G was seemingly designed to excel where the AF 35/2D stumbles most: low light / night photography. Not only is it optimally sharp by f/2.8 already, but flare and ghosting are kept rigorously in check and there is little in the way of color fringing or coma. Bokeh is smooth and attractive with a clean, slightly sterile rendering typical of modern lenses.
A quick note that manually focusing this lens is pretty OK. Modern Nikkors can be a bit hit or miss with laggy coupling or stiff focus rings, but the geared drive here is smooth and light with only a tiny bit of dead time when switching direction. The wide, comfortable rubber focus ring can be moved easily with one finger. I'm cool with it, and I am more picky than most.
AF is of course fast, quiet, and sure.
The only obvious flaw, since I don't consider the mild vignetting wide open on FX important or significant, is the geometric distortion. There is a very slight "moustache" correction, but it leaves a lot barrel distortion especially in the middle of the frame (all the frame on DX crop). It's worse than the AF35/2D and quite a lot worse than my Zeiss 35/2 ZF or, thinking cross-platform, my FA31/1.8 Limited. Overall it is just on the limit of acceptable. While I find it a distraction on any architecture photo it's no so bad as to be noticeable otherwise ... and before you ask: no the software correction doesn't do a satisfactory or pleasing job and fixing it in my opinion.
In summary, this lens is a full recommend. If you can dual-purpose it to both FX and DX bodies, it becomes a no-brainer. It is no classic, however. Instead, Nikon has given us a solid workhorse optic particularly well-suited for low light and general use.
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