p.2 #1 · Official Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.4 Image Thread
In the end Nikon will have an stellar lens line up. The 1.8 S are the best bang for the buck by ANY manufacturer. The 1.4 will have that special look and be priced very well, and then the 1.2 S is for those who need the absolute best.
p.2 #2 · Official Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.4 Image Thread
Ok, so after looking at my images from this morning, I think I'm really going to like this lens. It isn't perfect for sure, but overall, I was really pleased with how the lens draws. I was only out shooting for a short while and nothing particularly exciting, but got to do a few torture test scenarios and also just casual shooting scenarios.
I was shooting on the Zf, so just 24MP to stress the lens, but in my shooting today, sharpness at f/1.4 was more than adequate. Sharp enough where it needs to be, though not clinical. The overall rendering is generally pleasing, though it certainly gets some serious character / busyness at more moderate distances wide open if the background is busy. For portraiture, I think it's plenty sharp. Good detail where it counts, but still pleasing with a slight glow. Overall, I'm pretty pleased. Bunch O Samples below:
Close up @ f/1.4:
Same composition @ f/2:
f/1.4:
Stopped down:
Here's what I was talking about with the flare. If the sun is very close to the center of the frame, it will ghost quite strongly (as seen in the next image), however, if the sun is outside the center (shot after that), there is almost no visible flare or ghosting at all. As such, it's very easy to avoid, as it only really flares in one part of the frame:
Some test shots with busy foliage and filtered sunlight behind (sort of a torture test, and as you can see, at aroun d full body height distance, the bokeh gets busy with a busy background. Retro vibe, though. Smooths a bit closer up, but still has character. Both of the next two at f/1.4:
And finally a snapshot environmental portrait of my colleague at f/1.4:
p.2 #5 · Official Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.4 Image Thread
This looks like a solid lens, but it's only $100 cheaper than the 1.8S at the current sale price. Size and weight are very similar. I think I'd be happier with the 1.8S if I were in the market for a 35.
p.2 #6 · Official Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.4 Image Thread
Thanks Jordan!
OK, Jordan and everyone else, help me out here. Why is this bokeh an improvement over the 35/1.8S that some folks like to lambast? I'm not seeing it from these samples, but of course there are only a few samples here. I've also looked at some posted other places that seem to show similar characteristics, but still only a handful.
I'm seeing some obvious color fringing in the bokeh. I'm tempted to say probably worse than the 35/1.8S, but really not enough samples to say. More confidently I'd say I don't see any improvement over the 35/1.8S.
I'm seeing a tendency for doubling in the transition zone at portrait distances that's making things funky and harsh. This looks worse than the 35/1.8S as well.
The 35/1.8S wasn't particularly loved for its bokeh on distant subjects, but again I'm certainly not seeing an improvement from the 35/1.4.
Obviously the 35/1.8S is the more expensive lens, and not as fast, so we really should expect it to be better. And one could still say the 35/1.8S doesn't have the value they want.
But I feel I have been hearing the narrative:
"The 35/1.8S traded sharpness and correction for a less appealing bokeh and rendering. The 35/1.4 is all about the rendering and bokeh and we like it better because of that."
I'm not seeing that. I'm seeing the 35/1.8S is sharp and well corrected and has at least as good bokeh and rendering as the 35/1.4. The 35/1.4 gives up some sharpness, has similar bokeh, a bit faster, and less expensive.
So to me that says the 35/1.4 is of good value and is a great addition to the Z line, and will especially be so when it starts to get discounts akin to the 35/1.8S that makes its price even more appealing. What I'm not seeing is that this is somehow an improvement over the 35/1.8S in any area, including rendering and bokeh.
But of course "rendering" and "bokeh" are loose terms and everyone is sensitive to different aspects of them. So that's what I'm asking:
What are folks seeing in the 35/1.4 that makes them think the bokeh/rendering is substantially improved over the 35/1.8S? Honest question - I don't shoot my 35/1.8S that frequently so I don't personally feel like I've got a strong opinion or substantial experience to back up any opinion.
Once again, thanks Jordan for taking the time to share these!
p.2 #7 · Official Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.4 Image Thread
I'm not sure anyone can answer that question before they get their own in hand and have a chance to compare against the 35 1/8 they own in their own way.
p.2 #8 · Official Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.4 Image Thread
RoamingScott wrote:
I'm not sure anyone can answer that question before they get their own in hand and have a chance to compare against the 35 1/8 they own in their own way.
Fair point, and presumably in not too long we will have some side by side sample photos on a few review sites (though I typically find what the FM users post is more useful than most review sites).
That said, maybe I've been reading things between the lines that weren't there, but I've already gotten the vibe of "if you care about rendering the 35/1.4 is going to be your lens and if you care about sharpness the 35/1.8 is going to be your lens" in some posts without any such careful side by side experience. So I was curious if there were obvious things I'm missing (very possible) that are easy for others to see and describe so I can see them too!
p.2 #12 · Official Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.4 Image Thread
The 1.4 seems to have the same issues that kept me from buying the 1.8: busy bokeh and noticeable LoCA. Overall though the 1.4 seems like the better choice. Increased blur should mask some of the unpleasantness in busy backgrounds and increased low light ability is always welcome, in addition to lower price. I feel like Ill probably end up picking up both the 1.4 and future 1.2, and skip the 1.8.
p.2 #13 · Official Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.4 Image Thread
itai195 wrote:
This looks like a solid lens, but it's only $100 cheaper than the 1.8S at the current sale price. Size and weight are very similar. I think I'd be happier with the 1.8S if I were in the market for a 35.
That’s a bit of the problem with it: price. I think the 1.4 has a unique look to it and it’s a really nice look. Rocco’s photos were stellar. I had a 35mm 1.8 and for some reason I didn’t truly like it. I think this thought is different. Photos don’t always have to be tack sharp, corrected, and perfected. I like what I’m seeing with the 35mm 1.4
p.2 #15 · Official Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.4 Image Thread
kwalsh wrote:
Fair point, and presumably in not too long we will have some side by side sample photos on a few review sites (though I typically find what the FM users post is more useful than most review sites).
That said, maybe I've been reading things between the lines that weren't there, but I've already gotten the vibe of "if you care about rendering the 35/1.4 is going to be your lens and if you care about sharpness the 35/1.8 is going to be your lens" in some posts without any such careful side by side experience. So I was curious if there were obvious things I'm missing (very possible) that are easy for others to see and describe so I can see them too!...Show more →
I agree that the key details one needs to make the decision on this will ultimately come from actually using this lens. Your basic statement of rendering vs sharpness seems appropriate. But I would suggest that the word rendering has some subtleties to it. My rejection of the 35 1.8S stems around its somewhat clinical, almost boring look, more so than on either the 50/85 1.8s. This opinion is certainly not shared by everyone so I doubt this will ever be fully elucidated in any review. The new lens compensates for some of this by the shallower DOF but frankly the jury is out on how it may actually work in some situations due to focus transition questions that can only be resolved by real life examples. The OP is commended for putting up some examples however. The sharpness factor does not seem to be a show stopper for intended use. The quality of the bokeh is not top flight from what I see (not like the Tamron 35 1.4) but is more than acceptable nevertheless.
Based on what I have seen so far, it looks like it could be a go. Disappointed though that the lens is now on backorder. The key for me is the accuracy of AFC in low light on a Z7II. I assume that will not be a problem.
Looks like it may prove to be a good seller for Nikon. I suspect more like this in the future.
p.2 #17 · Official Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.4 Image Thread
aerospace99 wrote:
I agree that the key details one needs to make the decision on this will ultimately come from actually using this lens. Your basic statement of rendering vs sharpness seems appropriate. But I would suggest that the word rendering has some subtleties to it. My rejection of the 35 1.8S stems around its somewhat clinical, almost boring look, more so than on either the 50/85 1.8s. This opinion is certainly not shared by everyone so I doubt this will ever be fully elucidated in any review. The new lens compensates for some of this by the shallower DOF but frankly the jury is out on how it may actually work in some situations due to focus transition questions that can only be resolved by real life examples. The OP is commended for putting up some examples however. The sharpness factor does not seem to be a show stopper for intended use. The quality of the bokeh is not top flight from what I see (not like the Tamron 35 1.4) but is more than acceptable nevertheless.
Based on what I have seen so far, it looks like it could be a go. Disappointed though that the lens is now on backorder. The key for me is the accuracy of AFC in low light on a Z7II. I assume that will not be a problem.
Looks like it may prove to be a good seller for Nikon. I suspect more like this in the future....Show more →
This is largely how I feel. No, the 35/1.4's rendering isn't especially amazing, though it does have character, and a character that I mostly like. And the 35/1.8S also has a generally fine character. The thing is, in the 35/1.8, I always felt like it was one of those lenses that is trying to be a technically outstanding lens, but it falls just short. It's plenty sharp, but then the bokeh is average, and with hefty CA, which means that it then is in this strange middle ground between a character lens and a modern high-grade optic, and that middle ground never felt great for me, especially for an f/1.8 lens that is fairly expensive.
I can forgive those flaws a bit more in a faster lens that is also cheaper, and I think the bokeh is even slightly more flawed with the f/1.4...but in a lens like this that's honestly fine, and adds to the feel I get. I don't know...it's hard to explain. I will say that I'm definitely keeping my 35/2 APO as well, because then I get all that goodness that the 35/1.8 has, but also with almost zero CA and without some of the flaws.
If someone wants a technically amazing 35mm f/1.4, they can adapt a Sony GM for $1,300, or they can wait for the 35/1.2S, which I'm sure will be incredible, or they can adapt a Tamron 35mm f/1.4 SP, which is awesome, but very large and heavy, especially with the adapter added.
p.2 #18 · Official Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.4 Image Thread
Why does everything need a picture thread? I wish people would just post on one thread of all the Nikon Z bodies so we could see everything- Instead we have 50 threads with a trickle of photos- that ends up dying once the excitement is over
p.2 #19 · Official Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.4 Image Thread
RustyRus wrote:
Why does everything need a picture thread? I wish people would just post on one thread of all the Nikon Z bodies so we could see everything- Instead we have 50 threads with a trickle of photos- that ends up dying once the excitement is over
I originally just posted my thoughts so people could see what was up with the new lens and it was requested to make it the picture thread. It’ll be nice to have as an archive at least for those who want to refer to it later, even if it dies off.
p.2 #20 · Official Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.4 Image Thread
Counterpoint: why does every lens thread need a complainer? It’s very easy to cross post, which many of us often do. It’s also nice to have a lens specific thread to look back on if you are thinking of buying one.
RustyRus wrote:
Why does everything need a picture thread? I wish people would just post on one thread of all the Nikon Z bodies so we could see everything- Instead we have 50 threads with a trickle of photos- that ends up dying once the excitement is over
