| Image: Nikon |
Nikon has announced the Nikkor Z 35mm F1.4, its first F1.4 lens for its Z-mount mirrorless system. Until now most of the company’s prime lenses have been F1.2, F1.8 or F2.8.
Interestingly, the Z 35mm F1.4 is not part of the company’s premium ‘S’ line of lenses, and is priced lower than the 35mm F1.8 S, coming to market with a recommended price of $599, rather than the $849 originally asked for the F1.8. We understand this is not the ‘S’ line lens that previously appeared on Nikon’s lens roadmap.
The lens is constructed with eleven elements arranged in nine groups, with two of these being aspherical elements. These basic specs align with Samyang’s lens for Sony FE mount but the optical formulae and published MTF charts are very different. This suggests it isn’t an existing lens being re-bodied and re-badged for Nikon, which might otherwise have explained the pricing.
The lens uses a stepper motor to drive its autofocus, as most Z-mount lenses do, and includes a control ring that can customized to operate a range of functions.
The 35mm can be used as a slight wide-angle lens on full-frame cameras or as a roughly 53mm equiv. with one of Nikon’s ‘DX’ APS-C cameras.
The 415g (14.7oz) lens is 75 x 87mm (3.0 x 3.4″) and accepts 62mm filters. Nikon says it will be available in mid July at a recommended price of $599.95.
Press Release:
Fast and affordable: Nikon releases the NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.4, a natural wide-angle lens for the Nikon Z mount
Elevate Your Artistry with the Latest NIKKOR Z Prime Lens
MELVILLE, NY (June 26, 2024) – Today Nikon announced the release of the NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.4, a wide-angle prime lens that is compatible with Z mount full-frame/FX format mirrorless cameras. This fast, versatile lens offers a natural angle of view, popular among street and portrait photographers, with the creative freedom provided by a bright maximum aperture of f/1.4–all at an affordable price.
Not only does the NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.4 allow users to enjoy beautiful soft bokeh and three-dimensional rendering at wide apertures, its versatile 35mm focal length and short minimum focus distance of 10.6 in. (0.27 m) make it ideal for capturing a wide variety of scenes and subjects. From landscapes and street photography to portraits and photos of flowers and pets, photographers and filmmakers will enjoy outstanding sharpness, beautifully-blurred backgrounds and exceptional versatility in low light.
Despite its large f/1.4 maximum aperture the NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.4 is a great “carry everywhere” lens for day-to-day shooting, weighing just 14.6 oz (415 g) and measuring only 3.4 in. (86.5mm)1 in length.
The superior optical performance unique to NIKKOR Z lenses allows for clear images with outstanding clarity including close-up portraits that emphasize the subject with a pleasant background blur. Stopping down the aperture when photographing landscapes realizes incredible sharpness. As a wide-angle prime lens with superior cost performance, the NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.4 supports the capture of a wide variety of scenes and subjects, and will appeal to a wide variety of enthusiast creators.
Primary features of the Nikon NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.4:
- Beautiful bokeh: Max aperture of f/1.4 allows photographers and filmmakers to achieve smooth, creamy out of focus backgrounds while precisely controlling depth-of-field for ideal subject and background separation.
- Versatile focal length: The 35mm focal length is close to that of human vision, making it ideal for capturing a wide range of scenes and subjects. On DX format Z cameras, the NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.4 becomes a 52mm equivalent prime lens, close to the classic “standard” 50mm.
- Close minimum focus: Close focus of just 10.6 in (0.27 m) is ideal for capturing details in food and flowers with a beautifully blurred background.
- Compact and well-balanced: The NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.4 weighs just 14.6 oz (415 g), making it is easy to carry and comfortable to use for hand-held shooting.
- Fast and quiet autofocus: The use of a stepping motor (STM) for autofocus ensures fast and quiet autofocus for both stills and video.
- Clickless control ring: Easily control key exposure settings including aperture, ISO sensitivity and exposure compensation.
- Suppressed focus breathing: Advanced optical design means the NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.4’s focal length stays consistent during focusing, which is ideal when recording video.2
- Dust and drip-resistant: Seals throughout the design help prevent dust and water droplets from entering the lens.3
Price and Availability
The new Nikon NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.4 lens will be available in mid July 2024 for a suggested retail price of $599.95.* For more information about the latest Nikon products, including the extensive lineup of NIKKOR Z lenses and the entire range of Z series cameras, please visit Nikonusa.com.
*SRP (Suggested Retail Price) listed only as a suggestion. Actual prices are set by dealers and are subject to change at any time.
1. Distance to end of lens from camera lens mount flange.
2. Focus breathing may be noticeable depending on the distance between the lens and the subject due to the characteristics of the lens.
3. Thorough dust- and drip-resistance is not guaranteed in all situations or under all conditions.
Nikon Nikkor 35mm F1.4 specifications
| Principal specifications | |
|---|---|
| Lens type | Prime lens |
| Max Format size | 35mm FF |
| Focal length | 35 mm |
| Image stabilization | No |
| Lens mount | Nikon Z |
| Aperture | |
| Maximum aperture | F1.4 |
| Minimum aperture | F16 |
| Aperture ring | No |
| Number of diaphragm blades | 9 |
| Optics | |
| Elements | 11 |
| Groups | 9 |
| Special elements / coatings | 2 aspherical elements |
| Focus | |
| Minimum focus | 0.27 m (10.63″) |
| Maximum magnification | 0.18× |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Motor type | Stepper motor |
| Full time manual | No |
| Focus method | Internal |
| Distance scale | No |
| DoF scale | No |
| Physical | |
| Weight | 415 g (0.91 lb) |
| Diameter | 75 mm (2.95″) |
| Length | 87 mm (3.43″) |
| Sealing | Yes |
| Filter thread | 62 mm |
| Hood supplied | Yes |