new 35mm z F/1.4 vs older 35mm z F/1.8

[LCohen777]

Here are some comparison shots between the new Z 35mm F/1.4 vs the older Z 35mm F/1.8:

 

[LCohen777]

older 1.8 vs newer at 1.6

 

[LCohen777]

older 1.8 vs newer at 1.8

 

[LCohen777]

older 1.8 vs newer at 1.8

 

[LCohen777]

older 1.8 vs newer at 1.6

 

[LCohen777]

older 1.8 vs newer at 1.4

 

[Laqup]

Thanks for providing the comparison.

The 1.4 has very busy bokeh in your examples. It is so apparent that the 1.8 actually looks like the lens with wider aperture even with the 1.4 lens at 1.4.

For sure a great buy if you like that kind of bokeh. It matches well with the 40mm 2.0 and the 28 2.8.

I don't like those lenses at all (highly subjective of course).

 

[Fabian Joya]

Here are some comparison shots between the new Z 35mm F/1.4 vs the older Z 35mm F/1.8:

Thanks for sharing these. To me, the bokeh on the f/1.8 looks better, less busy. :-(

Also, either the f/1.4 has significant field curvature, or the lens is decentered. Look at the top left corner on the 2nd set of images, where the f/1.4 lens is significantly less OOF.

 

[LCohen777]

The sun came out and I took these pictures:

 

[Fabian Joya]

The sun came out and I took these pictures:

What is your impression of the two lenses?

 

[kenw]

Thanks for taking the time to do these test shots and share them!

These illustrate well what some early samples/reviews have shown - the 35/1.4 bokeh is pretty busy with lots of line doubling and soap bubbles. Seems if folks didn’t like the 35/1.8S bokeh this new lens isn’t likely to please them either!

As Fabian pointed out the edge/corner bokeh on the 35/1.4 seems less blurred than the 35/1.8S. That could be some field curvature as suggested, or perhaps more significant catseye or the soap bubble bokeh making it appear sharper.



Anyway, nicely done samples and thanks again for sharing!

 

[jjz2]

Thanks for providing the comparison.

The 1.4 has very busy bokeh in your examples. It is so apparent that the 1.8 actually looks like the lens with wider aperture even with the 1.4 lens at 1.4.

For sure a great buy if you like that kind of bokeh. It matches well with the 40mm 2.0 and the 28 2.8.

I don't like those lenses at all (highly subjective of course).

I was going to say same thing. The 1.8 looks blurrier and smoother at same aperture also. Quite noticeable.

Think the 35 1.8 z would still be the winner unless you really really need 1.4.

 

[SonyX]

The sun came out and I took these pictures:

Thank you for this excellent comparison!
Somehow, new Nikkor 35/1.4 bokeh reminds me old lenses, like 35/1.4 AI-S.


MF 35/1.4 AI-S

It would be also interesting to compare sharpness and CA on the full size images or 100% crops

--
Alex

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[pyang88]

Thanks for all the sample shots. I agree with others that the bokeh on the 35mm/1.4 is quite busy and (for my subjective tastes) less pleasant than the bokeh on the 35mm/1.8 S. I'll stick with my 35mm/1.8 S.

 

[J2daV]

If that is where Nikon is going, I like it. 1.2’s for buttery amazingness. 1.8’s for high quality modern rendering. 1.4’s for retro rendering. I’m down. Bring more!

 

[RustyRus]

If that is where Nikon is going, I like it. 1.2’s for buttery amazingness. 1.8’s for high quality modern rendering. 1.4’s for retro rendering. I’m down. Bring more!

I agree 100%

As soon as I started seeing pictures pop up about this lens, I was pretty intrigued by it. It had a look that really appealed to me. I love vintage and modern Leica glass and I immediately went to a 35 Lux as what it reminded me of.

By no means am I saying they are the same or any of that but this has a very nice look to it.

There are SO MANY BORING 35's that all are perfect. Love what Nikon created here- Was is by mistake? Did they mean to make in somewhat retro? Is it a cheap deisgn for modern terms and they got lucky?

Whatever happened I am really digging this lens. Happy to provide more sample pics of the lens in real world use- Good discussion on Fred Miranda site as well-

I took two comparison shots just for fun- One with the Leica 35 Summilux and one with the 35 1.4 - Again by no means saying they are the same but to me, this 35 is a really nice addition to the Nikon Lineup. I love the it

Shots below-

 

[Dan_168]

Here are some comparison shots between the new Z 35mm F/1.4 vs the older Z 35mm F/1.8:

Not that the Bokeh this 35 1.8 produces looks good, but the one from the 35 1.4 just looks ugly. it's probably the first time I see a better Bokeh from a F1.8 lens better than their F1.4 counterpart.

 

[SonyX]

Here are some comparison shots between the new Z 35mm F/1.4 vs the older Z 35mm F/1.8:

Not that the Bokeh this 35 1.8 produces looks good, but the one from the 35 1.4 just looks ugly. it's probably the first time I see a better Bokeh from a F1.8 lens better than their F1.4 counterpart.

to my view, up to this moment, Z35/1.8s is far from being perfect, but the best from all of the Nikons 35mm primes.

--
Alex

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[kenw]

If that is where Nikon is going, I like it. 1.2’s for buttery amazingness. 1.8’s for high quality modern rendering. 1.4’s for retro rendering. I’m down. Bring more!

Yep, even if the bokeh/rendering isn’t to a particular person’s taste, at least it is different than the others! And as more than one person has posted, it is to some folk’s taste.

 

[Richard B99]

So, having looked through the comparison shots, I simply fail to see any point in buying the 1.4 if you already have a 1.8 version. The 1.8 is fractionally better and there seems to be nothing much in the ‘character’ that would be of particular interest. OP, will you be keeping the 1.4. If so, I’d be interested as to why.