{"id":883,"date":"2014-02-22T03:59:11","date_gmt":"2014-02-22T09:29:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pixelarge.com\/?p=883"},"modified":"2020-05-14T13:43:55","modified_gmt":"2020-05-14T08:13:55","slug":"nikkor-nikon-35-mm-f2-d-af-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pixelarge.com\/nikkor-nikon-35-mm-f2-d-af-review\/","title":{"rendered":"NIKKOR Nikon 35 mm f\/2 D AF Lens – Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

Prologue<\/a> | Specifications<\/a> | Performance<\/a>\u00a0| Recommendation<\/a> | Ratings<\/a><\/h2>\n

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\"Nikon<\/h2>\n

Price-<\/h2>\n

About $355<\/p>\n

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Prologue-<\/h2>\n

This lens is the grand old man of Nikon\u2019s 35 mm line-up<\/strong> still holding its place amid the newbie glasses. It has a classic appearance with its markings and depth of field scale.<\/p>\n

It is a prime lens<\/strong>, thus it is an obvious choice for capturing pictures in available light given its wide aperture.<\/p>\n

The Nikon 35 mm f\/2 D AF\u00a0is a full format camera lens which doesn’t means that you can\u2019t use it with your APS-C cameras (popularly called the DX format cameras). This lens works on most film cameras as well<\/strong> , since it has an aperture ring, which is not seen in newer variants. It can be a deciding factor for video shooter to opt this lens over the newer version for its flexibility to adjust aperture while shooting the video<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

With new lenses being put up in market by the company, this isn’t my favorite piece of glass for my work. But it is a good optical design that is still doing rounds in the photography arena for its simplicity, versatility of use , and affordability<\/strong> in terms of money and space in your bag.

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Specifications-<\/h2>\n

Focal length<\/h3>\n

The 35mm focal length<\/strong> of this lens is most useful one on DX and FX format cameras equally. On FX format camera, it acts as a moderate wide angle glass. On DX format camera it gives the popular 50 mm field of view<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Nikon<\/p>\n

Since it is a FX lens it gives you just the sweet spot of the centre on crop sensor<\/strong>, and hence you see the best this lens can offer. That\u2019s one reason why I shoot with this lens on my D7000.<\/p>\n

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Aperture<\/h3>\n

\"Nikon<\/p>\n

The maximum wide aperture is f\/2<\/strong>. Such wide aperture allows for good low light performance. This also yields good \u201cbokeh effect\u201d where the subject is isolated from background by blurring the backdrop and foreground.<\/p>\n

The minimum aperture goes down to f\/22<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Diaphragm<\/h3>\n

There are seven regular diaphragm blades<\/strong> on Nikon 35 mm f\/2 AF-D. It gives sharp sun-stars.<\/p>\n

In a few batches of this lens, Nikon left some oil\/lubricant on the diaphragm blade which became apparent with use. This problem has not been reported in new batches but such lenses are out there. I have been told, keeping the lens upright on its rear reduces the problem<\/strong>. Lucky me, my piece was free from this issue.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Barrel and rings<\/h3>\n

\"Nikon<\/p>\n

The build quality of the outer barrel feels solid in hand.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The small focus ring is in the front and allows smooth manual focus operation<\/strong>. This ring rotates during auto-focus operation, and it is highly recommended to stay clear of its path during AF to avoid damage to the lens. I find this a bit of nuisance. So I shoot manual with this lens<\/strong>, it gives me control and freedom to work on the other areas such as composition rather than dividing my attention on the position of my hand around the focus ring.<\/p>\n

There are markings for depth of field scale and IR scale which are useful on the film camera.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nikon 35 mm f\/2 D AF\u00a0has an aperture ring as I already mentioned.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Mount<\/h3>\n

\"Nikon<\/p>\n

We get a metal mount in this lens<\/strong> which gives sustainability to the lens especially for the people who indulge in changing lenses all the time. It survives rigorously long duration of wear and tear process. Though, I will not suggest lifting the camera by grabbing mounted lens<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Filter thread<\/h3>\n

\"Nikon<\/p>\n

It’s non rotating 52 mm plastic filter thread<\/strong> is desirable and ensures easy use of polarizing and graduated ND (natural density) filters. The 52mm filter size is a common denomination for Nikkor lenses these days.<\/p>\n

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Hood<\/h3>\n

The HN-3 screw-in metal hood<\/strong> is recommended model for this lens. It is not supplied in the kit<\/strong> , maybe because of the superior performance of the lens in flare control , you won\u2019t need the hood anyway<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Lens construction<\/h3>\n

\"Nikon-35-mm-f2-D-lens-construction\"<\/p>\n

#Courtesy Nikon<\/em><\/p>\n

There are 6 elements in 5 groups<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Size and weight<\/h3>\n

Nikon 35 mm f\/2 D AF\u00a0stretches 2.5 inches or 64.5 mm in diameter and 1.7 inches or 43.5 mm in length. Hence it is the smallest 35 mm lens in production.<\/p>\n

This lightweight lens weighs approximately 205 grams or 7.5 oz<\/strong>.

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Performance-<\/h2>\n

Focus<\/h3>\n

The close focus distance is 0.85 feet or 0.25 m<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The auto focus is very accurate and fast<\/strong>. I assume it\u2019s because of the light weight of \u00a0glass.<\/p>\n

There is no AF motor in the lens so only mid range and above cameras can have the AF working for you. The lower level consumer cameras such as D5200, D3300 and D3200 lacking auto focus motor will not AF on this lens, on them one has to do with manual focusing only.<\/p>\n

I found manual focus smooth and handy<\/strong> to use with enough span on the focus ring.<\/p>\n

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Sharpness<\/h3>\n

This piece of glass is simple in design and yet capable of giving decent sharp images<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Nikon<\/p>\n

#Courtesy Nikon<\/em><\/p>\n

While using the lens on FX , I had to stop down the aperture to 2.8 and beyond to 5.6 for sharp pictures . This is not very pleasing performance but at f\/8 , it is flawless. <\/strong>I have some of the best pictures from this lens shot at this aperture. Wide open at f\/2 vignetting (reduced sharpness at corners) is visible on both FX or DX. This means pictures shot at widest aperture are not sharp in the periphery<\/strong>. I don\u2019t shoot with that aperture for shallow depth of field on this lens, its better to opt for higher focal lengths like 50 mm or 85 mm for narrow depth of field, which will yield similar result without compromising on sharpness<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

On the DX camera, the results were much better in terms of sharpness. This is because of its sharp sweet spot in the center. Stopping down aperture up to f\/5.6 gives very sharp pictures<\/strong> .<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Distortion<\/h3>\n

\"Nikon<\/p>\n

#Straight grid as seen by camera<\/em><\/p>\n

There is\u00a0moderate barrel distortion at wide angle f\/2<\/strong>. I won\u2019t bother about it much as I correct such things in post-processing. That\u2019s why I invested in my $2000 PC so that I can compromise on such limitations, <\/strong>they\u00a0are easily done away with the use of software technology. This saves me lot of money that I would have had to spend on more expensive lenses which would do the same thing anyway.<\/p>\n

Also, the distortion on this lens is much lower than what we see on other lenses so it does not interfere in any practical use.<\/p>\n

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Chromatic aberration<\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

No problem at wide angle. There is moderate lateral chromatic aberration<\/strong> ( color contrast shadows) on stopping down. This can be corrected in post processing.<\/p>\n

Longitudinal chromatic aberration would render the neutral objects in far distance green and in near range blue<\/strong>. It is apparent in most observations and tricky to remove. But then this being a fast prime lens , I would accept the drawback.<\/p>\n

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Flares and ghosting<\/h3>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Flares are no problem<\/strong> in both the conditions of light source being in the frame and outside the frame. When the sun is not in frame there is a visible loss of contrast but nothing like flaring explicitly<\/strong>. So flaring is not an issue with this lens.<\/p>\n

I did not encounter ghosting either.<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Nikon
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Pixelarge Recommendation-<\/h2>\n

If i have to list the positives<\/strong> of Nikon 35 mm f\/2 D AF\u00a0they would \u00a0be,<\/p>\n