Hot on the heels of debuting its new Nikon Z6 III camera, which is slated to start shipping any day now, Nikon has announced a new, highly requested lens: the Nikon Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.4.
And no, that name is not a typo. Unlike the slower Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.8 S, Nikon’s new fast prime lens is not part of the company’s S-Line series of professional lenses. For those unfamiliar, Nikkor S lenses are the Z System’s answer to Nikon’s old gold-ring DSLR lenses, meaning that a lens must reach very high optical and build quality standards to be included.
That doesn’t mean that the new Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.4 won’t be great — there is no reason to believe that — but does mean that Nikon prioritized affordability over using its best and most expensive technologies in the new 35mm prime. By opting for a cheaper lens, there are some tradeoffs. While S-Line lenses promise impeccable sharpness, even when shot wide open, Nikon says of the new 35mm f/1.4 that it realizes “incredible sharpness” when the aperture is stopped down.
It is not often a company’s “best” lens at a specific focal length is not its fastest. Nikon photographers have been clamoring for speedier glass, but presumably, many of them expected professional S-Line lenses with f/1.4 apertures.
There was good reason to anticipate the new 35mm prime to be part of the S-Line, too. In Nikon’s final Nikkor Z lens roadmap released last fall, there was a 35mm S-Line lens included.
The Nikon Z 35mm f/1.4 includes 11 lens elements across nine groups, but the company provided no details concerning specialized optics. The lens can focus as close as 0.27 meters (10.6 inches), resulting in a max magnification of 0.18x. Nikon also promises suppressed focus breathing, ensuring the lens works well for video applications. The lens has a nine-bladed aperture diaphragm and promises “smooth, creamy out-of-focus backgrounds.”
The lens weighs just 415 grams (14.6 ounces) and is 86.5 millimeters (3.4 inches) long. It has a 62mm front filter thread. It also has a dust and drip-resistant construction.
The most obvious lens to compare the Z 35mm f/1.4 S against is its slower S-Line sibling, the Z 35mm f/1.8 S. That lens is almost the same length and has a 62mm filter thread. However, the f/1.8 prime weighs 370 grams (13.1 ounces), a fair bit lighter than the f/1.4 prime. It has 11 elements in nine groups, roughly the same minimum focusing distance, and nine aperture blades.
However, the S-Line badge comes with some advantages, including a more robust build quality and Nikon’s Nano Crystal and Super Integrated Coatings. While these promise superior image quality, it will be fascinating to see precisely how Nikon’s two 35mm prime lenses compare during real-world testing. As for Nikon’s sample images, they look good, per usual.
Sample Images
Pricing and Availability
There is also another difference, and it could be a big one for many photographers: price. The Nikon Z 35mm f/1.4 will hit store shelves in mid-July for $599.95, about $250 less than the Z 35mm f/1.8 S. That said, the 35mm f/1.8 S is currently available for $696.95 after a limited-time $150 instant savings. Fast f/1.4 aperture versus S-Line badge? It might be a challenging choice for Nikon Z shooters.
It will also be interesting to see how the Nikon Z 35mm f/1.4 compares to lenses like the Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM ($1,398) and Canon RF 35mm f/1.4 L VCM ($1,499). While Sony and Canon have positioned their 35mm f/1.4 prime lenses as elite, flagship-level lenses, Nikon has gone in a different, more affordable direction.
Image credits: Nikon