"Best" 35mm focal length lens, for Nikon F mount

MultiFormat Shooter

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 24, 2016
Messages
547
Format
Multi Format
I know "best" is subjective, and can mean different things, to different people. In this case, I'm looking for the 35mm focal length lens with the greatest sharpness, best color fidelity, and least distortion, that will work on Nikon film cameras (i.e. not an electromagnetic aperture); G-type lenses are fine.

Thanks, for any insight.
 

ic-racer

Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2007
Messages
16,480
Location
USA
Format
Multi Format
Very few duds in the F mount.

On paper the 58mm/1.4 is pretty nice (above.)

I have no use for a 58mm. My personal favorite is the 28mm/1.4.
 
Last edited:

jimjm

Subscriber
Joined
May 2, 2007
Messages
1,222
Location
San Diego CA
Format
Multi Format
My experience is with the Nikkor 35/2.8 and 35/2.0 AI/AIS lenses. I found the 2.8 lens was not a very good performer, so upgraded to the 2.0, which is much, much better.
Stick with the later AI/AIS lenses for the better multicoatings, versus the previous non-AI lenses which may tend to flare.
The Nikkor 35/1.4 has a good reputation, with a price tag to match.
 

dynachrome

Member
Joined
Sep 16, 2006
Messages
1,741
Format
35mm
The 35/2.8 'K' and early AI versions have 6 elements and are excellent performers. The late AI and AIS versions have only 5 elements and are not as good.
 

Paul Howell

Subscriber
Joined
Dec 23, 2004
Messages
9,478
Location
Scottsdale Az
Format
Multi Format
Vivitar 35mm 1.9 Komine has 8 elements, pretty sharp and not that much money. I think it was in AI mount. could have out as a AIS as well.
 

Angarian

Member
Joined
Sep 4, 2018
Messages
231
Location
Europe
Format
Multi Format

Definitely the Sigma Art 1.4/35. It has become a quite famous lens, and that for really very good reasons:
- extremely sharp from f2.0 on; and already very good sharpness at open aperture
- excellent contrast
- excellent color transmission
- lowest distortion level of all 35mm lenses available for Nikon
- classic mechanical aperture lever
- very good buil quality.

Another option, which offers also outstanding optical quality, but also outstanding, perfect mechanical quality:
Zeiss Milvus 1.4/35.
 

Paul Howell

Subscriber
Joined
Dec 23, 2004
Messages
9,478
Location
Scottsdale Az
Format
Multi Format
Forgot the Sigma 35mm 1.4 Art lens, in AFG mount. Never used the lens, the reviews Ive seen it is sharp. Pretty sure is it full frame.
 

Angarian

Member
Joined
Sep 4, 2018
Messages
231
Location
Europe
Format
Multi Format
Paul Howell said:
Forgot the Sigma 35mm 1.4 Art lens, in AFG mount. Never used the lens, the reviews Ive seen it is sharp. Pretty sure is it full frame.
Click to expand...

Yep, it is of course full frame.
And it is much sharper and higher resolving than all 35mm Nikkor lenses from the "non-AI, AI, AI-S and AF-D era".
Been there, done that.
The Sigma Art 1.4/35 is really an outstanding lens: It was Sigma's huge step into the market of highest quality lenses.
It was Sigma's first Art lens, and a huge success because of its excellent quality at a very affordable price.
 

Angarian

Member
Joined
Sep 4, 2018
Messages
231
Location
Europe
Format
Multi Format

Yes, of course it is a G type lens.
But so what?
The OP is asking for the highest performance 35mm focal length lens available for Nikon.
Therefore it would make sense to use it with the highest performance Nikon SLRs:
- F801 (P, S mode)
- F801s (P, S mode)
- F4 (P, S mode)
- F90 (P, S mode)
- F90X (P, S mode)
- F80 (all modes)
- F100 (all modes)
- F5 (all modes)
- F6 (all modes).
All those can use the G lenses. And with the exception of the F6, all the above listed high-performance Nikons are currently very cheap on the used market.

Furthermore G lenses can also be used with the cheaper models F401s, F601, F70, F55, F60, F65, F75.
 

Paul Howell

Subscriber
Joined
Dec 23, 2004
Messages
9,478
Location
Scottsdale Az
Format
Multi Format
I only mentioned that the Sigma is a G lens as OP stated a G lens would be fine. If he has an AF body a AF lens makes sense. The Sigma 35 1.4 is modern, good coating, downside is that with 13 elements somewhat on the heavy side. I have 2 art lens in Minolta A mount, as good as any glass I have ever used. My only thought as I am thinking about it is that if shooting only film then any lens that will resolve Tmax 100 is as sharp wide open as stopped down is good enough. If shooting a high pixel count digital body then the sharper the better.
 
OP
OP

MultiFormat Shooter

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 24, 2016
Messages
547
Format
Multi Format
Thank you, everyone, for your replies! It looks like the Sigma ART 35mm F/1.4 is the way to go (at least for me). I would be using it on an F6.
 

RalphLambrecht

Subscriber
Joined
Sep 19, 2003
Messages
14,552
Location
K,Germany
Format
Medium Format

Nikon 35mm f/2
 

MFstooges

Member
Joined
Feb 10, 2010
Messages
955
Format
35mm

Only the last three of those cameras work with Nikon G lens. The others will work only with one aperture.

I didn't know there is such thing as Nikon E lens with electromagnetic aperture before this post. I always thought Nikon E lens is the cheaper and shittiest performing lens from Nikon produced in the 80s. Learned something new today.

So the E aperture was introduced in 2007 with no backward compatibility. Meaning none of of those film cameras will work with electromagnetic aperture. Not even these Nikon DSLRs will work with E aperture : D1, D1h, D1x, D2x, D2h, D2xs, D2hs, D40, D40x, D50, D60, D70, D70s, D80, D90, D100, D200, D3000

Sigma website doesn't mention specifically if 35mm F1.4 ART uses electromagnetic aperture but the 14mm F1.8 ART does use it.

And this seller put electromagnetic aperture as one of the specifications of 35mm F1.4 --> Sigma 35 mm F1.4 ART

The best bet is to use older lens.
 

Film-Niko

Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2009
Messages
708
Format
Multi Format
MultiFormat Shooter said:
Thank you, everyone, for your replies! It looks like the Sigma ART 35mm F/1.4 is the way to go (at least for me). I would be using it on an F6.
Click to expand...

Perfect combination. Period. Go for it!
I can say from my own experience that the Sigma Art 1.4/35 is significantly surpassing all 35mm Nikkors.
In comparison to the old manual focus Nikkors the difference is huge. The old ones cannot compete at all.
But the Sigma also surpasses the latest AF Nikkors.

Here some reviews:

Sigma AF 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM | A ('Art') (Nikon FX) - Review / Test Report

Sigma Art 35mm f/1.4 DG Review (FX)
photozone.de

Sigma A 35 mm f/1.4 DG HSM review - Introduction - LensTip.com

Best digital cameras and lens reviews. If you are looking for the information about digital cameras and lenses you are in a right place. We have many professional tests of digital photography equipment.
www.lenstip.com

Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Review

photographylife.com

Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM ART Review - DustinAbbott.net

Photographer Dustin Abbott shares a thorough, real world review of the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 ART while comparing it to new, current competitors.
dustinabbott.net
 

Oren Grad

Member
Joined
Feb 17, 2005
Messages
1,617
Format
Large Format
The Zeiss Milvus 35/1.4, already mentioned, is a really outstanding lens. I had the opportunity to test one on a D850, which is a very demanding platform, but it should be spectacularly good on film too. The two drawbacks are that it's manual focus, so obviously no good if you need AF, and it's a brick - 1131g in the F-mount version - and hand-held use can get fatiguing pretty fast. If you're going to work mostly from a tripod with the idea of slowing down and pushing technical quality to the limit, it would be a fine choice. It happens to be 20% off at B&H at the moment, too.
 

Film-Niko

Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2009
Messages
708
Format
Multi Format
RalphLambrecht said:
Nikon 35mm f/2
Click to expand...

Bad advice.
Because the OP is asking for the best optical performance. And the Nikkor 2/35 (neither the manual, nor the AF version) cannot compete in that regard with the modern 35mm lenses like the Sigma Art.
Also the current Nikkor AF-S 1.8/35 G ED is significantly better than the 2/35 Nikkor variants.
There has been a lot of technological progress in lens design in the last 30 years.
 

MFstooges

Member
Joined
Feb 10, 2010
Messages
955
Format
35mm
I guess the previous link that I posted has inaccurate information. This guy tried the Sigma 35mm and it works with Nikon F100

Sigma 35mm 1.4 ART Lens Review – Taken on a Nikon D800 & F100

I have wanted a 35mm lens with shallow depth of field capabilities ever since I sold off my Fuji X100. I loved the 35mm equivalent angle of view on the Fuji, but one thing that it always lacked was the ability to get really nice shallow depth of field photos. You certainly can with the…
www.chebirchhayesphotography.com
 

Film-Niko

Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2009
Messages
708
Format
Multi Format
MFstooges said:
Only the last three of those cameras work with Nikon G lens. The others will work only with one aperture.
Click to expand...

That is completely wrong. The list above posted by Angarian is correct.
I am using G-type lenses with several bodies on that list. So I can guarantee you that it is working.
Have also a look here:

MFstooges said:
I didn't know there is such thing as Nikon E lens with electromagnetic aperture before this post.
Click to expand...

They exist for many years. Looks like you have quite limited knowledge about Nikkor lenses.
And it looks like you are mixing up G-type and modern E-type lenses (with electromagnetic aperture). That is not automatically the same!
There are lots of G-type lenses, which are not E-type.


They work at open aperture.
Or stopped down when the stop down was done on a DSLR switched on, and then the lens taken off the camera (then the stopped down aperture will stay).

MFstooges said:
Sigma website doesn't mention specifically if 35mm F1.4 ART uses electromagnetic aperture but the 14mm F1.8 ART does use it.
Click to expand...

The Sigma Art 1.4/35 has the classic mechanical aperture lever! It can therefore be used without problems with the Nikon film SLRs listed above by Angarian.

MFstooges said:
The best bet is to use older lens.
Click to expand...

No, the best bet is just to read all the easily available information. Or just ask the numerous photographers who are using that lens with their film cameras .
 
Last edited:

RalphLambrecht

Subscriber
Joined
Sep 19, 2003
Messages
14,552
Location
K,Germany
Format
Medium Format

some of us spend those last 30 years reading lens reviews, others making photographs
 

MFstooges

Member
Joined
Feb 10, 2010
Messages
955
Format
35mm

I don't consider a multiple aperture lens functioning with one aperture is working. I had F90 and there is no way I can set an aperture on G lens with that body.

And no, I don't confuse G lens and electromagnetic aperture lens.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…