Nikon 35mm 1.8G First impressions

03/12/2009 10:09:53 PM · #1

So I got mine today, and I felt the urge to share with everyone my first impressions and here they are:

Pros: (so far what I have seen)
SHarp! edge to edge even at 1.8! MUCH BETTER THAN THE 35mm f/2-d (note ( I had to use +10 in AF fine tune)
Crazy good contrast and color even wide open (especially at this price)
great bokeh! not the best Ive seen but it's a lot better than most lenses I've seen lately (much better than the newer 50 f1.4G)
Price, $199 I'd say it's a steal.

Cons:
slower AF than the 35mm f/2D (not much slower but noticable)
Similar AF characteristics to the 18-55DX lens (does not speed up with better lighting)
feels cheap, yes, it is lighter than the 35mm f/2D and feels a lot cheaper.
CA (purple fringing) at the extreme corners even stopped down when high contrast/ back lit.

Other thoughts:
I might have a 35mm F/2D up for sell soon. :)

chromeydome

03/12/2009 10:28:11 PM · #2

I believe someone must post the following per the Official Terms of Service At DPC:

03/12/2009 10:56:11 PM · #3

I am feeling a bit lazy, but I will get something up soon.

Ok, here are a few pics...

Some notes, both lenses are shot widest aperture, picture control settings are:
Sharpening: 1
Contrast: 0
Brightness: -1
Sat: 0
hue: 0
auto WB
Both lenses are fine tuned to be their best. Well, maybe not the new 35mm f1.8G...

Message edited by author 2009-03-12 23:09:05.

MelonMusketeer

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

03/12/2009 11:16:07 PM · #4

I don't have any problems with my 35 year old one. Here's a sample with a crop shot in the description. It's a Nikkor "O" from about 1973. It's not auto focus, but it's all metal and glass. It's one of the 3 sharpest that I use. The other two are the old 85 1.8 "H C" Ai, and the 180 2.8 Ai ED.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

03/12/2009 11:35:40 PM · #5

Originally posted by MelonMusketeer:

My only beef with the older lenses is that the D300 doesn't like them or something. Like as if the D300 has too much resolution, showing/amplifying any CA, softness and etc...

Anti-Martyr

Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro

03/13/2009 06:15:18 AM · #6

Really? I've never experienced a problem with older lenses on my D300. Except for my 180 f/2.8. It was the non ED version, though. And I think it was just me, but I could never get a sharp shot out of it. Except 1, which was a test shot :<

Tygerr

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

03/13/2009 08:29:17 AM · #7

Got my 35mm 1.8G now at lunch. It's still sitting in its box next to me here at work...
Can't wait to get home and use it. I've been wanting a 'standard' lens for my DX format sensor ever since I got my DSLR (the first camera I ever shot with was an old 35mm film Pentax with a 50mm prime lens). Somehow shooting a prime just makes you feel more energetic, because if you're gonna do any cropping/extending during composition, you actually have to run around to get the FOV you want.

I'll post some pics from it as soon as I've done some shooting...

Tygerr

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

03/13/2009 08:53:07 AM · #8

PS. I've just asked site admin to add it to the Lenses list.

Anyone else shooting with this lens yet?

03/13/2009 11:27:56 PM · #9

I JUST picked one up at Henry's (Canada)

it was $279 cdn... It is really sweet!!!

I'm going to post some pics tomorrow once I get a chance to use it

03/13/2009 11:36:24 PM · #10

Does anyone want any particular pics of the actual lens? the pic in the add doesn't show everything.... let me know

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12-24mm f/4.0G IF-ED

03/13/2009 11:50:34 PM · #11

My main reason for getting one is because I REALLLLLY miss my old Nikon EM camera (I still have it) but I miss that small camera feel with the nice 50mm lens... the 35 is PERFECT!!! it gives that nice normal 50mm view I (and many other) were used to...

To complete the package I picked up a new Nikon D40 ($280 cdn) because it is very small (close to Nikon EM/FM/FE/FG)

this will be my sleeper camera =) it's small enough to slip into your jacket pocket and take into those no-photo places, and it looks like a Shoot camera, so you can get away with more, but this sweet lens makes it really sweet!!!

here are some pics comparing my D40 with 35 f/ 1.8 to my Nikon EM with 50 f/ 1.8

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jbsmithana

Nikon D300

03/14/2009 01:01:23 AM · #12

Thanks Eric. When you get a few shots with the new lens it would be nice to see more sample images. 100% crops would be nice. It would be interesting to see if there is any diff using the D40 and the D90 considering the sensors are so different. I know you are just sitting around waiting to do our research for us!

Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G

03/14/2009 03:06:39 AM · #13

Dang that was quick!

photozone 35 1.8 review

dankman

Nikon D40

03/14/2009 12:33:20 PM · #14

I just picked one up and am having some fun with it as I write this. It's about time Nikon made another AF-S prime lens.

03/14/2009 09:23:46 PM · #15

I was at a car show all day today, I have pics using the 35 on both my D90 and D40,

I'll post a bounch of them tonight (original and 100% crop)

it might take an hour or so, but i'll put them up tonight =)

it was pretty sweet though! i shot most of the carshow with my new 35 on my new D40 at iso 400, f/1.8, 1/50 sec handheld with great results!

it's VERY sharp even wide open, (as you will find on the curve dealies in the reviews)

03/14/2009 10:09:37 PM · #16

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ok, these pics were taken on my D90 with the new 35mm f/1.8 AF-S... since they were shot wide open, a 100% crop won't tell much, but i'll add some shortly anyways...\

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03/14/2009 10:21:48 PM · #17

ok... I'm reluctant to add the 100% crop... the shots were handheld, at iso 400... they are in no way a true representation of what this lens can do..

these shots ONLY show what you can do with this lens at iso 400 with a D40 (D90 in my previous post) Wide Open...

Remember, these are 1/50 sec, wide open (f/ 1.8) Hand Held, at iso 400 (no flash)... with all that taken into account, i think it preformed quite well

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100% crop...
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03/14/2009 10:36:56 PM · #18

More with the D40...

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03/14/2009 10:53:03 PM · #19

soooo... what does everyone think???

the pics would be MUCH better if I stopped down about 1/2 a stop, dropped to iso 200, and used a tripod....

BUT, my whole reason for buying this lens and the D40 was to get a nice quality camera to use as a "point and shoot" camera... so a tripod would defeat the purpose for me...

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03/14/2009 11:00:01 PM · #20

ok a side note... here's another one from the show (obviously not with the 35...)

a bit over processed, but I like it =)

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Message edited by author 2009-03-14 23:09:22.

03/15/2009 01:41:05 AM · #21

Here's another one shot with the D40, iso 400, f/1.8, 1/50 sec, Hand-held, no flash

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Message edited by author 2009-03-15 01:41:39.

03/15/2009 01:47:33 AM · #22

As I said earlier, the shots would be better stopped down... these shots are hand held quality shot wide open... which is what I think many people want to use this lens for... so far it's a pretty sweet little walk around lens!
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I suggest a D40 to go with it =P (you can get them refurbished from Nikon for $280 cdn)

Message edited by author 2009-03-15 01:48:12.

03/15/2009 10:25:39 PM · #23

anybody have any other input on the lens?

is anyone planning on adding it to the lens list?

rj324