Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S Review

Introduction

This review covers everything that you need to know about the Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S, an advanced prime lens for Nikon’s full-frame mirrorless Z System. Although the Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S is relatively small and minimalist, you can’t judge a book by its cover. Beneath the simple exterior is a high-performance lens with impressive build quality and optics. After all, the “S” in the name of this lens refers to Nikon’s S-Line, which is comprised of lenses built to Nikon’s highest standards.

The Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S was announced in August 2018 and, notably, was the first prime lens available for the Nikon Z System. (The Nikon Z 50mm f/1.8 S was announced at the same time but had a slight delay in shipping.) Thus, alongside the Nikon Z 24-70mm f/4 S zoom, the 35mm f/1.8 S is the lens that has been in the bags of Nikon Z photographers the longest.

Despite the Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S being one of the very first Nikon Z lenses, it continues to offer an impressive balance of weight, price, and optical performance by today’s strict standards. Even though Nikon and third parties continue to add more alternatives every year, it’s hardly a surprise that the Z 35mm f/1.8 S lens has remained so popular over the years.

The 35mm focal length is famously useful for travel photography, street photography, and event photography. This lens’s f/1.8 maximum aperture also makes it a great choice for working handheld in low light. In short, even though it can’t zoom, the Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S is an extremely versatile lens. With its retail price of $850, however, it’s not the cheapest option you’ll find – especially considering that its F-mount predecessor, the Nikon 35mm f/1.8G ED, sold for $530.

Does the optical quality of the Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S justify its somewhat higher price? To answer that question and more, our team at Photography Life tested the Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S extensively both in the field and in the lab over the course of several years. The result is one of the most comprehensive hands-on reviews of the Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S that you’ll find online. Below, we will take a look at how this lens performs on Nikon Z cameras, discuss its build quality and handling characteristics, and compare it head-to-head against alternative lenses that you may be considering.

Build Quality

Similar to high-end Nikon F primes, the Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S is built very well, with extensive weather sealing and a tough plastic shell. Although some photographers prefer all-metal lenses for their long-term durability, I personally favor plastic over metal for several reasons.

First of all, plastic handles much better in extremely cold weather conditions, while metal gets too cold to touch with bare hands. Second, the use of plastic significantly reduces the weight of lenses, which makes a huge difference when traveling. Third, tough plastic absorbs shocks better if you accidentally bump it against hard surfaces.

Of course, the lens mount of the Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S is made of metal, with a total of four locking ears for a very secure and tight attachment. To prevent dust and other debris from getting into the lens and the camera, Nikon incorporated a rubber gasket on the part of the mount that touches the camera. The lens has an internal-focusing design, and there are a total of six separate rubber rings within the lens to protect it from the elements.

I have used the Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S in hot, sandy, freezing, and rainy weather conditions, and I have not encountered any problems with its weather sealing. That said, you should keep in mind that while the lens is weather-resistant, it is not fully waterproof, so you should still make an effort to keep it dry if possible.

Similar to other Z-series lenses (including the pro-grade Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S), the filter thread of the Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S is plastic. And as expected from a modern lens, the front section of the lens does not rotate when focusing, which makes it easy to use such filters as polarizing and variable ND filters.

Speaking of filters, the Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S has a 62mm filter size. If you decide to also purchase the excellent Nikon Z 50mm f/1.8 S, you will be able to share filters between the two, as both use identical filter size. More good news is that the front element of the lens is not recessed too deep, making it easy to clean and maintain in dusty environments.

The plastic HB-89 bayonet hood is fairly big and does a great job protecting sun rays from reaching the front lens element. It attaches, locks and unlocks very easily, and if you want to reduce the footprint of the lens when storing it in your camera bag, you can attach it in reverse position.

Then we have the lens’s size and weight. At 370 grams (0.82 pounds) and 86 millimeters long (3.4 inches), it’s a little on the large side for a modern 35mm f/1.8 lens. By comparison, the previous-generation Nikon AF-S 35mm f/1.8G weighs 305 grams (0.67 pounds) and measures 71 millimeters long (2.8 inches). Likewise, the Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro also weighs just 305 grams, and it’s the shortest of all three of these lenses at 63 millimeters / 2.5 inches long.

That’s not to say the Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S is a large and heavy lens by any stretch. However, it might not fit in your jacket pocket as well as other 35mm f/1.8 lenses could – or especially a pancake lens like the Nikon Z 28mm f/2.8 or the Nikon Z 40mm f/2.

Handling

The Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S has a very sparse design with hardly any handling features. There’s an autofocus/manual focus switch, and there’s the focusing ring. That’s it.

For an S-line lens, this is rather disappointing in my opinion. I wish that Nikon had at least added a custom function button and an additional customizable ring to the lens. It also could have benefited from a vibration reduction switch (even though it would only control the camera’s in-body image stabilization system) and perhaps a focus limiter switch.

On the bright side, Nikon decided to go with a very large focusing ring, which is great for handling.

Specifications

• Full Name: Nikon NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.8 S
• Mount Type: Nikon Z Mount
• Focal Length: 35mm prime
• Angle of View (Full Frame): 63°
• Maximum Aperture: f/1.8
• Minimum Aperture: f/16
• Aperture Blades: 9, rounded
• Filter Size: 62mm
• Lens Elements: 11
• Lens Groups: 9
• Special Elements: 3 aspherical, 2 ED glass
• Nano Crystal Coating: Yes
• Super Integrated Coating: Yes
• Fluorine Coated Front Element: Yes
• Electronic Diaphragm: Yes
• Vibration Reduction: No
• Internal Focusing: Yes
• Control Rings: One (focus ring)
• Function Button: None
• Focus Motor: Stepping motor
• Minimum Focus Distance: 25 cm (9.8 inches)
• Maximum Magnification: 0.19× (1:5.3)
• Mount Material: Metal
• Weather/Dust Sealing: Yes
• Dimensions (Length × Diameter): 86 × 73 mm (3.4 × 2.9 inches)
• Weight: 370 grams (0.82 lbs)
• MSRP: $850
• Lowest Sale Seen: $700 (check current price)

Here is the construction of the lens, courtesy of Nikon:

The next page of this review covers the optical characteristics of the Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S, including focusing performance and sharpness tests in the lab. Click the menu below to go to “Optical Performance”: