Nikon’s recent NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.4 seems natural in the development of the line. The company started their mirrorless Z-mount lens lineup with a series of excellent f/1.8 primes and now ups the game. Every full-frame system offers at least one 35mm f/1.4; it’s a classic, so this move is to be expected from Nikon. Oddly, though, Nikon hasn’t endowed this lens with their prestigious “S” monicker. The new 35mm f/1.4 is about the same size as its f/1.8 sibling, and to complete the oddity – the f/1.4 version is more affordable! So what’s going on here? Let’s dive in. Nikon was among the last players to enter the mirrorless game. The company took an initial shot with their innovative (but rather unsuccessful) “1 series” in 2011, but it wasn’t until late 2018 that the Japanese manufacturer announced the Z series. The company also initially blocked third-party optics and only recently allowed some development, so they are still heavily dependent on in-house R&D and production. Nikon NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.4. Source: Nikon Nikon has produced some impressive optics for the Z-Mount over the years and took an innovative path regarding their mirrorless lineup. Arguably, the most prominent set of the Z-Mount is the f/1.8 “S” prime line. Taking the higher road, these lenses denounce the affordability associated with f/1.8 prime lenses for a new approach. Modern optics and better build made them larger than traditional f/1.8 primes, but that was partially offset by the modest aperture, so the set is...
Published By: CineD - Monday, 1 July