How does it compare to the sigma 35mm 1.4 art lens, I still use one with the ftz adapter ?
SteveTQP
December 6, 2023 12:22 pm
Nice, comprehensive review as always, Spencer! Being a sharpness and detail “fanatic” though, I think I’ll stick with the stellar Nikkor Z 24-120 f/4. For my style of photography, I value center and mid sharpness over corner sharpness every time. Thank you, and Happy Holidays to you and Nasim! :-)
Thank you, Steve, and you as well! You can’t go wrong with the 24-120mm f/4.
James
December 5, 2023 12:51 pm
I feel like this lens was made to review well on Youtube. The ridiculous amount of metal everything feels like it was designed specifically for the whiners who always complain that new Nikon and Canon lenses are made of polycarbonate instead of metal.
Personally, I’m not a fan of metal lenses. They scratch easily and show the scratches where polycarbonate lenses don’t. If you drop them, the metal is less likely to absorb the impact without permanent deformation. Also, metal lens hoods are terrible. They’re heavier than plastic, and since they’re stronger, it’s more likely that a drop or impact will damage the lens, rather than the hood absorbing the impact without transferring it to the lens.
Rant over. I thought the conclusion was quite fitting. It’s a decent lens that doesn’t really compare optically to the 35mm 1.8S, but if you want a 35 that’s “native” Z mount that won’t break the bank, this is kind of your option. If you can be flexible in focal length, it looks like the 40mm f2 might be a better choice, since it is pretty sharp and has some sealing as well, but if you need 35, you need 35.
Thanks, James! I think you nailed it. I also prefer plastic over metal these days, especially for the lens hood.
Rob
November 30, 2023 11:48 am
I have the Viltrox 85mm f/1.8 and have found it to be surprisingly good. My reasoning for getting it was that I wanted an 85, but I didn’t really need an 85, so it was nice to save $400. But I love the 35mm FOV and in this case reasoned that I needed an excellent 35mm lens, and so in that case I didn’t hesitate to get the Nikon 35mm f/1.8 S lens.
What makes the difference that we do have these Chinese AF-lenses for Z-Mount, but we lack any excellent Sigma lenses? Does Viltrox, Meike, Sirui etc have an agreement with Nikon or do they produce the lenses without any agreement? Reverse engineering?
I don’t think they have an agreement with Nikon. I believe Nikon only allows 3rd party AF lenses to complement Nikon’s lineup. Tamron’s 70-300mm is an example.
QUOTE SIGMA launches interchangeable lenses for Nikon Z mount system 2023‑04‑03
SIGMA Corporation is pleased to announce the upcoming launch of interchangeable lenses for Nikon Z mount system… Three F1.4 prime lenses (16mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary, 30mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary, 56mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary), which are currently available in five mounts (Sony E-mount, Canon EF-M mount, FUJIFILM X Mount, Micro Four Thirds mount and L-Mount) will be simultaneously released in Z mount.
Yes, the Chinese-made AF lenses like those from Viltrox, Yongnuo, TTArtisan, etc., are most likely reverse engineered.
I believe that Sigma and Tamron are the only two companies that have licensed the Z mount autofocus information so far, but if someone knows of another, I’d appreciate being corrected.
Bernhard J.
November 29, 2023 1:11 am
Earlier this I had to make the decision if I buy a brand new Viltrox or add another 50$ for a used Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S. Even when the optical performance would be identical I would always go fro a used native lens as long as it is in good condition. Loss of value is already over at this moment and reselling a native lens is always much easier.
I think you made the right choice, that’s an unusually good price you found for a used Z 35mm f/1.8 S.
Thomas Herren
November 29, 2023 12:48 am
35mm is a focal lenght a rarely use. So, the Nikkor Z is definitely and by far too expensive and I have the AF-S NIKKOR 35 mm f/1.8G ED with EFZ which is not a bad lens at all.
On a budget, that would be my choice too. Used copies of the AF-S 35mm f/1.8G sell for about $250 and have weather sealing, plus better sharpness and image quality on balance. (To be fair to the Viltrox, its corners are sharper from f/1.8 to f/8, if that’s your primary concern with a 35mm lens – everywhere else, the Nikon is sharper.)
Kay S.
November 28, 2023 11:33 pm
Viltrox’s 24, 35, 50 and 85mm 1.8 are their oldest full frame AF lenses, and i don’t expect them to be exceptional, but this brand itself is actually one of the main factors that made a number of my friends stay on nikon instead of jumping ship after moving on from DSLRs. A lot of Z5 and Z6 users have Viltrox lenses.
What I’m really interested in, is their upcoming 16mm 1.8 and the already released 75mm 1.2 for apsc. I may have read and watched a number of (rather glowing) reviews beforehand, but the reviews i trust the most are from this site. I hope you will review every autofocus Viltrox lenses for Z mount!
Thanks, Kay! I’m not sure when I’ll get to my next Viltrox reviews. Native Nikon Z, Canon, and Sony lenses are my priority for the rest of this year and 2024. It depends how quickly I can publish these reviews, but I’ll try to test some third-party glass too.
How does it compare to the sigma 35mm 1.4 art lens, I still use one with the ftz adapter ?
Nice, comprehensive review as always, Spencer! Being a sharpness and detail “fanatic” though, I think I’ll stick with the stellar Nikkor Z 24-120 f/4. For my style of photography, I value center and mid sharpness over corner sharpness every time. Thank you, and Happy Holidays to you and Nasim! :-)
Thank you, Steve, and you as well! You can’t go wrong with the 24-120mm f/4.
I feel like this lens was made to review well on Youtube. The ridiculous amount of metal everything feels like it was designed specifically for the whiners who always complain that new Nikon and Canon lenses are made of polycarbonate instead of metal.
Personally, I’m not a fan of metal lenses. They scratch easily and show the scratches where polycarbonate lenses don’t. If you drop them, the metal is less likely to absorb the impact without permanent deformation. Also, metal lens hoods are terrible. They’re heavier than plastic, and since they’re stronger, it’s more likely that a drop or impact will damage the lens, rather than the hood absorbing the impact without transferring it to the lens.
Rant over. I thought the conclusion was quite fitting. It’s a decent lens that doesn’t really compare optically to the 35mm 1.8S, but if you want a 35 that’s “native” Z mount that won’t break the bank, this is kind of your option. If you can be flexible in focal length, it looks like the 40mm f2 might be a better choice, since it is pretty sharp and has some sealing as well, but if you need 35, you need 35.
Thanks for the great review!
Thanks, James! I think you nailed it. I also prefer plastic over metal these days, especially for the lens hood.
I have the Viltrox 85mm f/1.8 and have found it to be surprisingly good. My reasoning for getting it was that I wanted an 85, but I didn’t really need an 85, so it was nice to save $400. But I love the 35mm FOV and in this case reasoned that I needed an excellent 35mm lens, and so in that case I didn’t hesitate to get the Nikon 35mm f/1.8 S lens.
I think that’s the exact reason to get, or not get, a Viltrox lens :)
But who knows, maybe one day they’ll follow Sigma and Tamron’s route and go from cheap to high-end surprisingly fast.
Looking forward to the upcoming 35/1.2 S Nikon lens!
Same here!
What makes the difference that we do have these Chinese AF-lenses for Z-Mount, but we lack any excellent Sigma lenses? Does Viltrox, Meike, Sirui etc have an agreement with Nikon or do they produce the lenses without any agreement? Reverse engineering?
I don’t think they have an agreement with Nikon. I believe Nikon only allows 3rd party AF lenses to complement Nikon’s lineup. Tamron’s 70-300mm is an example.
Sigma example…
QUOTE
SIGMA launches interchangeable lenses for Nikon Z mount system
2023‑04‑03
SIGMA Corporation is pleased to announce the upcoming launch of interchangeable lenses for Nikon Z mount system… Three F1.4 prime lenses (16mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary, 30mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary, 56mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary), which are currently available in five mounts (Sony E-mount, Canon EF-M mount, FUJIFILM X Mount, Micro Four Thirds mount and L-Mount) will be simultaneously released in Z mount.
www.sigma-global.com/en/ne…/03/20609/
END OF QUOTE
NB for each of those three lenses, its web page states:
*This product is developed, manufactured and sold under the license agreement with Nikon Corporation.
Yes, the Chinese-made AF lenses like those from Viltrox, Yongnuo, TTArtisan, etc., are most likely reverse engineered.
I believe that Sigma and Tamron are the only two companies that have licensed the Z mount autofocus information so far, but if someone knows of another, I’d appreciate being corrected.
Earlier this I had to make the decision if I buy a brand new Viltrox or add another 50$ for a used Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S. Even when the optical performance would be identical I would always go fro a used native lens as long as it is in good condition. Loss of value is already over at this moment and reselling a native lens is always much easier.
I think you made the right choice, that’s an unusually good price you found for a used Z 35mm f/1.8 S.
35mm is a focal lenght a rarely use. So, the Nikkor Z is definitely and by far too expensive and I have the AF-S NIKKOR 35 mm f/1.8G ED with EFZ which is not a bad lens at all.
*length*, *FTZ*
On a budget, that would be my choice too. Used copies of the AF-S 35mm f/1.8G sell for about $250 and have weather sealing, plus better sharpness and image quality on balance. (To be fair to the Viltrox, its corners are sharper from f/1.8 to f/8, if that’s your primary concern with a 35mm lens – everywhere else, the Nikon is sharper.)
Viltrox’s 24, 35, 50 and 85mm 1.8 are their oldest full frame AF lenses, and i don’t expect them to be exceptional, but this brand itself is actually one of the main factors that made a number of my friends stay on nikon instead of jumping ship after moving on from DSLRs. A lot of Z5 and Z6 users have Viltrox lenses.
What I’m really interested in, is their upcoming 16mm 1.8 and the already released 75mm 1.2 for apsc. I may have read and watched a number of (rather glowing) reviews beforehand, but the reviews i trust the most are from this site. I hope you will review every autofocus Viltrox lenses for Z mount!
Thanks, Kay! I’m not sure when I’ll get to my next Viltrox reviews. Native Nikon Z, Canon, and Sony lenses are my priority for the rest of this year and 2024. It depends how quickly I can publish these reviews, but I’ll try to test some third-party glass too.