CONFIRMED! New Nikkor AF-S DX 35mm f/1.8G Prime Lens

[YSLee]

So, compared to the 35/2:

- Faster by 1/3 a stop
- Cheaper by about $150 (2/3rds the price of a 35/2)
- No focusing distance marks
- Only works with DX
- AFs with the cheap DSLRs though
- Potentially sharper (not like the 35/2 is a slouch)
- 0.3m MFD compared to 0.25 MFD

Overall, (still) a bit of a meh.

 

[YSLee]

Yes, same thing that is bugging me as well.
why did Nikon omit it?

Due to the way AF system driven by a piezoelectric motor works; the AF ring doesn't move when its focusing, so you cannot do the cheap thing and put the distance marks there. It has to be done internally, on the focusing barrel itself, and I'm assuming the extra parts needed to bring that to reality is a penny too much for Nikon's profit margin.

 

[blackdrakes]

Due to the way AF system driven by a piezoelectric motor works; the AF ring doesn't move when its focusing, so you cannot do the cheap thing and put the distance marks there. It has to be done internally, on the focusing barrel itself, and I'm assuming the extra parts needed to bring that to reality is a penny too much for Nikon's profit margin.

Yeah, it seems nikon is going that way.
but without the distance scale and the markings,
the lens looks somewhat.. Plain. :bsmilie:

 

[whkoh]

So, compared to the 35/2:

- Faster by 1/3 a stop
- Cheaper by about $150 (2/3rds the price of a 35/2)
- No focusing distance marks
- Only works with DX
- AFs with the cheap DSLRs though
- Potentially plastic mount
- Potentially sharper (not like the 35/2 is a slouch)

Overall, a bit of a meh.

Metal mount as pointed out already.

 

[copycat]

Yeah, it seems nikon is going that way.
but without the distance scale and the markings,
the lens looks somewhat.. Plain. :bsmilie:

And cheapo..
I dun like the appearance. resemble the 18-55mm

 

[Saycheese78]

And cheapo..
I dun like the appearance. resemble the 18-55mm

Haha why, cheapo looking got problem? Very hard to shoot for BnS?

Lucky no 1 ask, why no VR?

 

[rotisiao]

did the focusing distance increase from 25cm to 30cm?

 

[Hexlord]

did the focusing distance increase from 25cm to 30cm?

Apparently yes!

 

[Lumiere]

Come'on Nikon, its time to move on! Where's our new weather-sealed FX 24 1.4, 35 1.4, 50 1.2 and 85 1.2.

everyone is asking and comparing this with canon...but if Nikon ever produce all these...how many pple actually will go...oh yes...i'll get it once its on the shelf...

I dun really see many non-professionals canon users with the L primes line up?

look at the new 50mm f1.4...everyone asked for a new AF-S for 50mm and 85mm...when it comes out...how many pple actually buy?

Likewise for Nikon coming out with FX...when D3 is out..pple asked for 5D competing camera...so D700 is out...why so many still stuck with DX...

Don't simply hope for some actions...becoz the manufacturers need to make sure there are enough supporters than empty buckets

 

[Cactus jACK]

frankly...

if i was on FX, would i buy it? eeerrr... no, maybe wait for my AF-S 35mmf1.4G
if i was on DX, would i buy it? yes!! esp if it's nearer $300. rounded diaphragm, metal mount... you don't loose much against the AF-D.
if i was on D40 or D60 or similar, would i buy it? just tell me where to sign up for pre-order...

 

[hongjone]

Took them so long for a replacement, then it's 1.8. At first, I still thought it's for FX, yet it's for DX. Sigh.... What happened to 1.4??? Hmphh...

 

[Cactus jACK]

look at the new 50mm f1.4...everyone asked for a new AF-S for 50mm and 85mm...when it comes out...how many pple actually buy?

i agree only in part...

looking at the AF-S50mmf/1.4G, although ppl asked for one, i don't think that they expected it to be $750, 60% - 70% more than the AF-D version... yes, they include a hood and pouch, and it's AF-S. i'm not trying to argue whether it's worth the additional 70% nor am i doubting their pricing strategy, but the high price didn't nec help potential buyers at the margin.

and i'm sure many didn't expect the feedback on the slow AF-S compared to the AF-D... last comment is not substantiated by me, but lots of here-say around the various forums.

both the above would have contributed to making the switch from the AF-D to the AF-S less attractive... as such, some who asked for it, might not have bought it...

regardless, i'm sure nikon continues to make a healthy profit from the lens!! :bsmilie:

 

[Lumiere]

i agree only in part...

looking at the AF-S50mmf/1.4G, although ppl asked for one, i don't think that they expected it to be $750, 60% - 70% more than the AF-D version... yes, they include a hood and pouch, and it's AF-S. i'm not trying to argue whether it's worth the additional 70% nor am i doubting their pricing strategy, but the high price didn't nec help potential buyers at the margin.

and i'm sure many didn't expect the feedback on the slow AF-S compared to the AF-D... last comment is not substantiated by me, but lots of here-say around the various forums.

both the above would have contributed to making the switch from the AF-D to the AF-S less attractive... as such, some who asked for it, might not have bought it...

regardless, i'm sure nikon continues to make a healthy profit from the lens!! :bsmilie:

yup 100% agree with u...thats why when pple ask for the f1.2 from Nikon...are they prepared to pay over $2k for it? becoz its not cheap over the other camp...

 

[bigpond]

Dun understand why Nikon has to make it so ugly looking. Sorry, it just looks too plasticky in this already overly plasticky world. Is it just so that it looks like the 18-55 kit lens? This makes me think that if they'd designed a 35/1.8 that is truly superior optically to the 35/2, they would have jazzed it up, marketed it differently and prob at a higher price point. Let's wait and see.

 

[jacob]

Due to the way AF system driven by a piezoelectric motor works; the AF ring doesn't move when its focusing, so you cannot do the cheap thing and put the distance marks there. It has to be done internally, on the focusing barrel itself, and I'm assuming the extra parts needed to bring that to reality is a penny too much for Nikon's profit margin.

and a higher repair cost?:cry:

i'd get it if it's for FX.


hmn..... DX will still be there for quite a long while. that's good news for me!:bsmilie:

 

[Lord Soth]

....... Don't simply hope for some actions...becoz the manufacturers need to make sure there are enough supporters than empty buckets ....

From many online forums, lots of people have expressed their desire for faster wide angled primes.

This time round, Nikon has clearly targeted the D40/D40x/D60 users with the light weight and low cost of the DX prime.

DX users far outnumber the FX users. It also makes sense for Nikon to release a new product at a consumer price to the masses, especially during these troubled times.

yup 100% agree with u...thats why when pple ask for the f1.2 from Nikon...are they prepared to pay over $2k for it? becoz its not cheap over the other camp...

For serious users, it's a definite yes considering how popular the NOCT lens was (and still is).

When you take the popularity of the 85 f/1.4 lens into account, there will therefore also be a market for the f/1.2 lens which you mentioned.

As long as the product is good, people are willing to fork out the money for expensive Nikkor lenses!

 

[giantcanopy]

Kinda slow to roll out, but it goes to show how much commitment Nikon is to support its DX users. With a tag much cheaper than the Sigma 30mm f1.4, Nikon might just fill up that gap.

Would be a lightweight setup especially for the D40/D60 users.

But ok .. maybe the fast FX primes are round the corner :bsmilie:

Ryan

 

[YSLee]

Of course it's freaking cheaper. It's a f/1.8 vs f/1.4. With many things done to cut down the price!

Really, it's not that comparable to many things on the market. Optically it probably is closest to the 50/1.8. Mechanically it's closer to the 18-55 kit lens. But with a metal mount. Size-wise it's closer to a 50/1.8 rather than the new AF-S 50/1.4 or the Sigma 30/1.4. Price-wise it feels too much. Maybe I'm more used to standard 50/1.8 prices.

And I'm really sick of the moaning for sub-f/1.4 FX primes. Like someone pointed out, are you going to really buy the lot of them? And while I'm on it, do you guys take photos in bat caves or something?

 

[ch130176]

i believe when ppl say they want more primes to be made available, eg with f1.4 or larger, AF-S, VR, N, it makes ppl feel pround of being on this camp.

some really dun need and can't afford, but at least there is the possibility of owning one some time, eh? that's what dreams are about.

 

[nakedtoes]

Hiaz.. F1.8.. if come out f1.4 i would probably sell my sigma 30mm to get it.. F1.8 is a downgrade