TEST: Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.4 - Bright & Affordable Wide Angle

The Nikkor Z 35mm F/1.4 lens becomes the first lens in the Z system with a fixed aperture of f/1.4. The slightly brighter Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.8 S has been available since the start, but also has the S designation in its name to indicate the better premium segment “S-Line”.

With or without S - the Nikkor Z 35mm F/1.4 has the classic focal length for documentary or street photography, and also delivers good image quality, even if everything is not perfect.

The lens is relatively compact for its brightness and weighs slightly over 400 grams, which can be compared to the f/1.8 S version that has a similar size and weight - largely because the lens construction is also relatively similar except that the construction is actually simpler.

The lens feels robust and of high quality in line with most Z lenses and is also weather-sealed. The focus ring itself is generously sized and has a good feel, as does the slightly stiffer control ring that can be programmed to whatever function you want it to have, such as aperture adjustment for photography or stepless ISO adjustment for filming.

The manual focusing is also simple and precise, with the ability to change direction and use linear manual focusing. The autofocus also works really well: the lens focuses quickly and securely.

Shooting or filming at f/1.4 allows you to achieve that really cozy blur in the background while highlighting what you're photographing - and the lens's bokeh is also really nice. If you are close to the minimum focusing distance of 0.27 meters, the background becomes even softer, and you can achieve cool effects.

As a classic lens for photographing events, street scenes, or reportage images, the lens also works well, giving you the opportunity for good images in low light because the lens is bright, which is suitable for low-light environments, evenings, or nights, where all light is needed.

Conclusion

The Nikkor Z 35mm F/1.4 offers good image quality, and compared to the slightly less bright Nikkor Z 35mm F/1.8 S, you have 2/3-stop better optics. This might be the reason to choose the f/1.4 version over the f/1.8 lens if you are shooting in low light.

Optically, the lens is not flawless; it has visible vignetting and visible chromatic aberration in certain situations, something that is the trade-off for the brighter optical construction.

The sharpness is there and is good across the entire image, but the f/1.8 S is still sharper than the 35mm f/1.4 at f/1.8.

Despite its shortcomings, the lens still gives you as a photographer the opportunity to have a brighter lens in Nikon's Z lineup, and this in the focal length where it might also be needed. Depending on the type of photographer you are, the f/1.4 might suit you.