Nikon Z 35mm f/1.4 vs Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S
This is going to be the comparison on everyone’s mind. What do you get when you spend $250 more for a dimmer lens? Hopefully better image quality – and that is indeed the case:
(As a side note, I also tested the Nikon Z 35mm f/1.4 at an aperture of f/1.8, although it’s not shown in the chart. There, it measures 2632, 1693, and 932 LW/PH MTF50 in the center, midframes, and corners respectively.)
On balance, the Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S is the sharper of these two lenses. It reaches a higher maximum in every part of the frame, and it never falls to the same lows as the Nikon Z 35mm f/1.4. However, I have to give the Nikon Z 35mm f/1.4 credit. It’s actually sharper in the center at f/1.8 and f/2. And once you stop down to f/2.8 and beyond, the corner sharpness of the two lenses is pretty close to one another (with the 35mm f/1.4 even winning at f/2.8 specifically). Sure, the Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S is somewhat sharper overall.
The Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S has other advantages, such as better flare performance, less distortion, and less chromatic aberration. But where sharpness is concerned, the new lens isn’t much worse than its higher-end cousin, at least depending on where you look.
Nikon Z 35mm f/1.4 vs Nikon AF-S 35mm f/1.4G
How does the new 35mm f/1.4 for Nikon’s mirrorless system compare to the venerable Nikon AF-S 35mm f/1.4G for their DSLRs? I know that the F-mount lens has fans even today, and although I’m not really one to put much stock in things like “lens rendering” and “feel,” there definitely is something special about the AF-S 35mm f/1.4G. But where pure sharpness is concerned, the new Nikon Z 35mm f/1.4 measures much higher:
It’s really no contest – the newer lens is much sharper overall. It’s not a complete shutout – the two lenses are basically the same from f/8 through f/16, and corner sharpness at the wider apertures is also comparable. However, apart from that, the Nikon Z 35mm f/1.4 is clearly ahead. In some areas, it effectively trounces the older lens.
Nikon Z 35mm f/1.4 vs Nikon Z 40mm f/2
If you’re on a budget, the Nikon Z 35mm f/1.4 isn’t the only prime lens you should be considering. Nikon’s Z 40mm f/2 is also a strong option – not a record-breaking lens optically, but very small and inexpensive. How does it compare to the Nikon Z 35mm f/1.4?
At f/2, the Nikon Z 35mm f/1.4 is clearly sharper in the center and midframes, and effectively tied in the corners. At f/2.8, the Nikon Z 35mm f/1.4 is noticeably sharper in every part of the frame. At f/4, it’s a closer comparison, with slightly better central and midframe sharpness on the 35mm f/1.4, but slightly sharper corners on the 40mm f/2. Finally, the slight winner from f/5.6 to f/16 is the Nikon Z 40mm f/2 – although at those apertures, the two lenses are so close in sharpness that any differences are effectively irrelevant.
Note that we’ve tested a lot of 35mm lenses over the years, and at this point have measured every Nikon Z lens in the lab. If the comparison you’re after isn’t listed above, check our lens review page for all of our reviews, or the lens tests on our Member Page for as-yet unpublished results from other lenses.
The next page of this review sums up everything and explains the pros and cons of the Nikon Z 35mm f/1.4. So, click the menu below to go to “Verdict”:
Table of Contents