Nikon Z 35mm 1.8 S

The Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.8 S is a very good lens, although it stays a little short of the high expectations that we had from our previous reviews of Z-mount prime lenses. The center quality is very good even at f/1.8 but the outer image field is somewhat mediocre at this setting. This improves substantially when stopping down to f/2.8 and the results are truly impressive around f/5.6. Lateral CAs are generally very low. The same goes for image distortion. However, it is advisable to rely on auto-correction for vignetting compensation which is on the high side for such a lens. The quality of the bokeh is better than average with a smooth background rendering and clean highlight discs - with some deterioration towards the corners. The build quality is typical for Nikon's standard set of Z prime lenses. There are some plastic parts on the lens body but the quality is reassuring and solid. Controls on the lens are reduced to a minimum with just an AF/M switch and the focus-by-wire control ring. The latter works electronically with variable speed and can be customized to control a (small) selection of other functions. The stepping AF motor is both fast and quiet. It may not be our top choice among the new Nikkor prime lenses but for the vast majority of applications, it gets the job done with grace. It is a little overpriced in the grand scheme of things though.

Editor's Choice – An outstanding 35mm lens for full-frame Nikon Z mirrorless cameras.

The Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.8 lens is one of two lenses available to buy for the Nikon Z series cameras from launch – the other being the Nikkor 24-70mm f/4 S lens. A 50mm f/1.8 lens will also be joining the series in the very near-future. Designated with the “S” moniker, it’s thought that other series of lenses will be created for the Nikon Z range, but the S series is designed for ultimate sharpness. It features 11 elements in 9 groups, to include 2 ED elements, 3 aspherical elements and elements with Nano Crystal Coating. It is a prime lens offering the classic 35mm focal length, which equates to around 52.5mm if you use the lens in the DX crop mode.

The Nikon Z 35mm F1.8 S is a solid medium-wideangle lens for the Z series, which offers excellent sharpness and pleasant handling characteristics on the Z6 and Z7. Low light fans might miss a wider aperture, and optically, the 35mm cannot compete with its (cheaper) cousin the Z 50mm f1.8 S, but for Nikon Z shooters that need wide-aperture sharpness, the Z 35mm F1.8 S is definitely worth looking at.

The Nikon Z 35mm f1.8S is a good mild wide angle prime for owners of Z-series mirrorless bodies: Resolution and contrast is as good as or even better than from the Zeiss 28mm f1.4 Otus - which is no small feat. It also delivers very good close-up performance and retains its high contrast exceptionally well even in contra-light situations. Plus its size and weight makes it a good match for the compact Z-series bodies it's designed for. The new Z Nikkor also focuses fast and reliably and is sealed as thoroughly as the Z 24-70mm f4S. But its relatively strong loCA show up clearly in high contrast situations when the lens is used wide open, and the Bokeh in the farther background can be quite distracting which is a pity for an f1.8 prime lens. These drawbacks of the Z 35mm f1.8S prevent the lens from getting the top rating but it certainly deserves a Recommended!