What Digital Camera reviews the Nikon AF-S 35mm f/1.4G to find out if it's worth the high asking price

Design build and performance

The high price

Announced on September 15, 2010, Nikon's new lens offers enthusiast photographers a fast prime lens ideal for low light photography, featuring impressive optics and image quality, all packaged in a professional grade, weather resistant, magnesium alloy body.

The Nikkor AF-S 35mm f/1.4G was announced September 2010 as the last prime to complete the updated series of 24mm, 50mm, and 85mm f/1.4 models in Nikon's line-up.

While I hope to create a full Nikon 35mm f/1.4G AF-S Lens, my first priority is to include results from this lens in the lens comparison tools available on the site. This page currently exists because it is required by the database and content management systems for me to post information and...

Last month we tested the industry's least expensive 35mm f/1.4 lens (the $500 Rokinon 35mm AS UMC). This month, we shift to the opposite end of the pricing spectrum to one of the most expensive: Nikon's $1,800 full-frame 35mm f/1.4G lens.

It took Nikon a while to get into gear regarding their fast primes, but at least in case of the AF-S 35/1.4 G the result is impressive and was worth the wait. The image center is very sharp right from the largest aperture, the borders and corners follow only slightly behind and offer very good...

Optically, the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 35mm f/1.4G is a stunningly good lens. Sharpness is remarkably high at f/1.4, and simply excellent from f/2 onwards. Lateral chromatic aberrations are kept to a minimum, and the fast lens' ability to separate the subject from the background is outstanding for a...

I think lens tip has either got a lemon for their test or the test wasn't done in a proper way (look at the samples wide open - that will tell you a lot...). I don't understand why they didn' t proof their results with a second sample. Very odd in my eyes and not very professional.

Tack sharp and contrasty from 1.4 on; The lens renders the pictures in a very natural way

A little bit expensive

Handling and features Performance Verdict Specification This wide angle lens from Nikon costs around ￡1300 and sports a bright f/1.4 maximum aperture, silent internal focusing and nano-crystal coatings to help control ghosting and flare.

Very sharp in the centre of the frame; Silent focusing; Low distortion; Very low CA; Highly resistant to flare; Durable weather-sealed magnesium construction

Falloff of illumination towards the corners at wide apertures; Sharpness towards the edges of the frame falls behind the performance in the centre of the frame

The image quality of this lens is great. Sharpness, contrast are very good straight from the maximim aperture. Bokeh is good too. Unfortunately there is rather a high amount of CA. The auto focus speed is fast enough, but not as fast as the 24-70mm f/2.8G.

Sharpness; contrast; focus speed; build quality; speed

Auto focus accuracy and speed; CA; price