Nikon 35mm F2 (AF & AFD) Review

[Evin Grant]

35mm f2 AF Nikkor

History:
The 35mm AF Nikkor was redesigned in 1988 for the auto focus version. It's one of those lenses that is truly superior to it's AI/AIS manual focus version. It even rivals the 35mm f1.4 AI/AIS which is legendary. It was updated to the (AFD) version in the 90s but optically is identical.

Sharpness (edge enhancement) was set to 10 in Adobe ACR.

Performance:
A testiment to this optic is that it only barely gets better as you stop it down.

Use the Zoomify links for 10%-100% viewing

http://www.reduser.net/evin/35mmf2/Zoomify/35mmWf2.html
http://www.reduser.net/evin/35mmf2/Zoomify/35mmMf2.html
At f2 the contrast is lower and a small amount of fringing can be detected but it's resolving loads of detail. A much better wide open performance than the 50mm f1.4.

http://www.reduser.net/evin/35mmf2/Zoomify/35mmWf4.html
http://www.reduser.net/evin/35mmf2/Zoomify/35mmMf4.html
By F4 there is nothing really to complain about. The small issues that might have been visable at 100% at F2 are now gone.

http://www.reduser.net/evin/35mmf2/Zoomify/35mmWf11.html
http://www.reduser.net/evin/35mmf2/Zoomify/35mmMf11.html
F11 shows the most detail and micro contrast (but not by much) and offers the best choice for deep focus shots. All CA, fringing and other issues are nonexistant here.

http://www.reduser.net/evin/35mmf2/bokehtest.gif
Bokeh is very plesant, not as smooth as the 50mm 1.4 or the 35mm f1.4 AI Nikkor but nice none the less.

http://www.reduser.net/evin/35mmf2/breathtest.gif
This lens does exhibit some breathing, especially in close to medium transitions. At medium to far distances it is much less visable.

Build and adaptability to cinema shooting:
The standard AF Nikkors do not have the bulletproof build of their manual focus or professional AFS brethren. None the less thay are perfectly able to withstand the rigors of professional use. The focus is smooth although a larger focus draw would be nice. The aperture ring is plastic but sturdy.

Application:
This is very high performing optic in the normal range (58mm Equiv. in 35mm still) of the Red's use. If your budget keeps you from owning a 35mm f1.4 AI this is a much better choice than the f2 manual focus version. It will focus very close as well (9 inches!) so shooting wider inserts is no problem. However it is debateable weather this lens add's anything over the 17-35mm f2.8 AFS Nikkor other than size and one F stop.

Price/Value:
With a new price of $330 and a used price in the $200-$300 range it's obvious this lens holds value for a reason. Either way try to find one in good condition. If you're putting together an inexpensive prime set it's ideal and worth every penny.
I suggest http://www.keh.com

Uncompressed Tiffs (27MB each, please be patient)
http://www.reduser.net/evin/35mmf2/35mmWf2.tif
http://www.reduser.net/evin/35mmf2/35mmMf2.tif
http://www.reduser.net/evin/35mmf2/35mmWf4.tif
http://www.reduser.net/evin/35mmf2/35mmMf4.tif
http://www.reduser.net/evin/35mmf2/35mmWf11.tif
http://www.reduser.net/evin/35mmf2/35mmMf11.tif

 

[Martin Drew]

Thanks Evin

M

 

[Sanjin Jukic]

Evin rocks again. Thanks a lot.

 

[Axel]

Evin,
what do you think of the older Nikkor 35mm 1,4 only manual which I bought years ago for my F2? Probably around ´1975
Axel

 

[Evin Grant]

That's a great lens, hopefully I'll get to review that one soon. I don't actually own one though, I have the 28mm F1.4 instead.

 

[Stephen Williams]

Evin,
what do you think of the older Nikkor 35mm 1,4 only manual which I bought years ago for my F2? Probably around ´1975
Axel

Hi,

Thats a good lens IMHO, the 85mm 1.4 is also a gem.

Stephen

 

[Don Woods]

Thanks Evin another good one.

 

[Alexander Nikishin]

That's a great lens, hopefully I'll get to review that one soon. I don't actually own one though, I have the 28mm F1.4 instead.

Evin, you're more than welcome to shoot with my set for a day for evaluation..

24mm f2 ai
35mm f1.4 ais
50mm f1.2 ais
85mm f1.4 ais
105mm f1.8 ais

All manual focus.

 

[Jeff Kilgroe]

Evin,

I have a few Nikkors I'm planning to use and I just upgraded my digital camera to a D2Xs. Since this is the same camera you're using (or at least the second revision of it), would you be open to me posting a few tests of my own? I could test the same way, just with different scenery to take pictures of.

I have a couple of the same lenses Alexander has -- 24mm f2, 50mm f1.2. I will have a 50-300mm AI f4.5 zoom. I'll definitely give the zoom a thorough test as it will be arriving tomorrow (bought it off ebay the other day). My (second attempt at a good one) D2Xs arrived this morning...

 

[Policar]

The 35mm f1.4 is NOT a great lens...

The 35mm f1.4 is NOT a great lens...

I adore my 50mm f1.4 AI lens; it's relatively sharp wide open, decently contrasty, and provides a nice image in general. I love it and use it wide open pretty freely.

I have a 35mm f1.4 AI lens that's both newer and in better condition, and don't like it nearly as much. It has a major hotspot (this has been documented) that is as bad as a couple stops difference between the center and edges when wide open and it's very soft and washed out at f1.4 (2.0 seems okay, though)...all in all, it's just not as good a lens. I still like it just fine, but I prefer the 50mm in almost every way. (Although to be honest, the shot at f2 here doesn't seem that great, either, but certainly acceptable.)

 

[Sanjin Jukic]

Tests with moving images 24 fps

Tests with moving images 24 fps

I do have the following Nikkor lenses:

++Primes:
** Nikkor-N 24 mm f/1:2.8
** Nikkor-AIS 28 mm f/1:2.8
** Nikkor-A 35 mm f/1:1.4
** Zeiss Planar T* 1.4/50 mm ZF
** Nikkor 50 mm AF f/1:1.8D
** Nikkor 85 mm AF f/1:1.8D
** Nikkor 105 mm f/1:2.5
** Zeiss Sonnar Olympia 180 mm f/2.8
("The inexpensive Zeiss Jena Sonnars provide a lot of bokeh quality for the buck">>
>>this extraordinary lens participates in a famous bokeh test at
http://www.rickdenney.com/bokeh_test.htm)

++Zooms:
** Nikkor AF 35-80 mm AF f/1:4-5.6 D
** Nikkor AF 70-210 mm f/1.4-5.6
** Soligor Nikon f Mount 100mm-300mm 1:5

 

[Evin Grant]

Alexander, I may take you up on that, I just got a 135mm F2 AIS from KEH. Beautiful lens. AP, I'm really trying to stay consitent wih the reviews, including subject, exposure and file processing. So let me do the initial reviews, but if you like and have the D2Xs and the same optic, shoot some "Real world" images and post them under the review, that will give people more of a feel of what that optic can really do.

 

[Jeff Kilgroe]

AP, I'm really trying to stay consitent wih the reviews, including subject, exposure and file processing. So let me do the initial reviews, but if you like and have the D2Xs and the same optic, shoot some "Real world" images and post them under the review, that will give people more of a feel of what that optic can really do.

Understandable, that's why I asked first. And as you post entries for lenses I have at my disposal, I'll shoot a few things for supplemental purposes. I will probably pick up a couple more lenses and should have a better variety of them here in a week or two. Two shops in town have decent used Nikkor selections and ebay has been a pretty good source lately too. I haven't got brave enough to bid on one of those 500mm or 600mm telephotos yet. Something about spending $1K or more on a piece of glass without even seeing it, just doesn't feel right.

 

[S. Um]

However it is debateable weather this lens add's anything over the 17-35mm f2.8 AFS Nikkor other than size and one F stop.

Thanks Evin. Are you going to be testing the 17-35mm soon? It would be nice to see how the image compares.

 

[Evin Grant]

Yes, but mine is in the shop getting a CLA (Clean, lubricate, adjust).
Hopefully it'll be done next weekend.

 

[Miguel "Macgregor" De Olaso]

where do you get that lens new for that price?

 

[pensound]

that is as bad as a couple stops difference between the center and edges when wide open and it's very soft and washed out at f1.4 (2.0 seems okay, though

I agree.
I own 3 lenses(Ais 50mmF1.4 / 35mmF1.4 / micro 55mm F2.8)
Ais_35mmF1.4 have much flare. Ais_35mmF2.0 are very sharp.
However, the expression of 35mmF1.4 is not bad

 

[pensound]

shot with 35mm f1.4 lens, with 135 nega-film

LINK: worker-bee.jpg, 1000yen.jpg