Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S vs Nikon 35mm f/1.8G ED
How does the Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S compare to its Nikon F-mount predecessor, the Nikon AF-S 35mm f/1.8G ED? Let’s take a look at the Imatest results from both lenses:
While both lenses are fairly similar at large apertures, once the lenses are stopped down to f/2.8, the Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S takes off. It is clear that the Z 35mm f/1.8 S is designed for more modern, higher-resolution sensors. The Nikon AF-S 35mm f/1.8G is hardly a bad lens, though.
Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S vs Nikon Z 40mm f/2
Some photographers may be considering the Nikon Z 40mm f/2 as a smaller, less expensive alternative to the Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S. Here’s how the two perform head-to-head:
The Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S is the sharper of these two lenses, but the cheap 40mm f/2 holds its own, especially as you stop down. From f/5.6 and narrower, the two lenses are pretty much indistinguishable – it’s in the range from f/2 to f/4 where the Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S has the advantage, at least on balance. This is pretty impressive considering that the Nikon Z 40mm f/2 only costs $300, compared to $850 for the Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S.
Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S vs Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro
For the sake of context, sometimes it’s really interesting to compare lenses across brands to see how each different manufacturer is holding up. With that in mind, here’s a comparison with the Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro:
The two lenses are pretty similar in sharpness overall, with the “winner” depending upon the portion of the frame and the aperture that you’re considering. The Canon lens is sharper in the center wide open and at f/2, whereas the Nikon lens is sharper in the corners overall. Midframes are surprisingly even between the two lenses.
Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S vs Nikon Z 50mm f/1.8 S
If you’re not picky about your focal length, and you just want a sharp normal prime, perhaps you’re trying to choose between the Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S and the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.8 S. The good news is that both of these lenses have great optical quality. My recommendation is to pick them based on focal length, not sharpness. Even so, here’s our comparison between these two lenses in the lab:
Even though both lenses are sharp, the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.8 S reigns supreme among Nikon’s f/1.8 normal lenses. Apart from being slightly weaker in the corners at f/1.8 and f/2, the 50mm lens is the sharper of the two (or effectively tied) at every aperture and portion of the frame. The biggest difference is in center sharpness wide open, where the 50mm lens is far ahead. It goes to show that no matter how good the Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S is, there’s always room for improvement!
Overall, based on the above tests, it is clear that the Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S is a very sharp lens. The only weakness is that the performance at f/1.8 falls behind today’s best-in-class f/1.8 lenses like the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.8 S. Even then, however, it’s still more than usable – and a clear improvement over its F-mount predecessor.
The next page of this review sums up everything and explains the pros and cons of the Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S. So, click the menu below to go to “Verdict”:
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