I don't think you NEED to embrace the 35mm. Shoot with the 50mm as much as possible and count how many times a wider angle than 50 would have been useful. If it's a lot of times, get the 35.
I only wish that the new generation of reviewers would do a bit of research into the design brief of a lens before passing comments. The great majority of the 35mm F1.4 lenses of the late 60s, 70s and early 80s era were mainly desinged for photojournalism on manual focus cameras such as the Nikon F, F2, F3 and so on. Even my 35mm F1.4 Leica M- Summilux Aspherical ( the first one after the AA ) was designed for photojournalism with film cameras in very low light, although costing nearly $4000.00 when it was introduced, the performancehad to match the price. Over 90% of the photos published in newspapers and magazines were B&W then with very few colour photos. For colour an M.F camera was used in 90% of the time like the Hasselblad 500C or the Pentax 67. So, it didn't matter if the lens exhibited a slight softness @ F1.4 or the C.A level was high, as it would have never shown up in a photo published in a magazine or newspaper, even in colour. The mission was to set the the Tri-X or the HP5 @ iso 800 and get the picture at any cost. These stuff that people constanly talk about these days, such as C.A or corner to corner sharpness or Coma are the ills of the digital sensors due to their nature. Film is a homogeneous analogue recording medium. A digital sensor is made up of millions of photosites or pixels, and these being in the order od a few microns in size with as large a gap between them split the incoming light and cause all sort of mayhem, so lenses for digital use are designed with every inch of the performance and correction squeezed out of them. Use these old film era lenses for what they are and forget all this nonsense about wide open sharpness and this and that. Photography is not about corner to corner sharpness or pixel peeping. I hope you didn't mind my little interjection.
I saw a video recently that compared this lens to a Leica 35 1.4 Summilux and it was surprisingly sharper than that lens. I owned the f2 Ais version for years and loved but I found the 1.4 for $300 Canadian and jumped at it. At F2 the 1.4 is definitely sharper than the F2 and also has the CRC to help at close distances. It also has better flare control. It’s still my favourite lens and most used.Having a 9 blade aperture also helps the bokeh balls to look more rounded. All in all a great lens which is also the smallest 1.4 SLR lens on the planet. Great review and excellent b-roll and editing. I also own the 50 1.2 and I agree it is an awesome lens and really creamy wide open but super sharp at F2. Regards Gerry
The Nippon/Nikkor 35mm f/2.0 Is also a phenomenal lens . f/2 is pretty sharp on it and by f/2.8 it’s great. Give it a try . And shooting at these wider angles you’ll not get the buddery backgrounds . I love 28mm at f/1.4 ooooo
nice review man, I'm thinking of getting a nikon film body along with a 35mm lens. your review really helped me get to know about this lens in detail which is exactly what I'm looking for. Cheers m8
I shot a 50mm lens with my first 35mm SLR camera. I used the 50 in a 28/50/200mm lens kit. However, the 50mm was too “telephoto” for my taste and the SLR was too unreliable. When I replaced my unreliable SLR with a more reliable Nikon SLR, I also bought a 35mm f/2 Nikkor lens instead of a 50mm. I used the 35mm f/2 for years in a 35/85/180mm lens kit. Eventually, I replaced the 35 f/2 with a 35 f/1.4. The 35mm f/1.4 has been my personal favorite lens since 2002.
very nice... I'm curious to ask a nikon 35mm 1.4 ais user... does the rear glass element where the mount is, rotate? or does it move back and forth? I'm planning on doing a anamorphake adapter to the rear element and it cannot spin. Thank you.
I find the Nikkor O 35mm f2 to be a much better performer. It was a popular lens in the 70s to convert by cinematographers. The director Carroll Ballard used it often.
The lens has a dedicated aperture ring, so you won't be able to adjust your aperture using the command dials on your camera. I shoot only in manual mode, but I did a test in aperture priority mode and YES AIS lenses will work and adjust your shutter speed and or ISO. I tested it on the Z6 and Nikon D750.
Listen to this person! I've got a 1973 model that was converted to AI - my favourite lens ever! I bought mine in 1987 for peanuts and it's still going strong.
The 35mm f/1.4 AIS is still available for purchase brand new from Nikon's website. I got mine from Adorama. I just rechecked Nikon's site and it's available through special order only -- "subject to limited availability"
Nikon manual focus wide-angle lenses are great if you are using them on F-mount camera or other DSR bodies. But, if you are adapting classic manual focus lenses to a mirror less camera, it might be to better look at lenses which were designed for rangefinder cameras which don't suffer the limitations of retro focus designs.
I think there are a couple other factors. I have taken some photos at 1.4 and have been very pleased with the results. Editing in Lightroom helps remove some fringing, in body stabilization of the Z6 helps, but pixel peeping you can still see it's not as sharp as f/2 or 2.8. I try some more shots... The other thing is that maybe it's sharper with film and digital really exaggerates the softness. At any rate, it's still a neat lens.
E series are junk, AIS are overpriced/their shorter focus throw bad for videos, Ai'd lenses are my favorite, specifically the multicoated K series lenses
Bokka ? No shots on film....no lens hood. I question your assertions that this lens is not sharp at F1.4. Your soft.:) Me thinks you missed focus. Do another review on a film body and get a lens hood. Calling the Nikkor 35 1.4 AI-s is a novelty is an insult.
Will do, thanks! I've warmed up to this lens a little more over the years, but it's not often I ever want to take my Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 AIS off of my F3. There's some film shots on my instagram too, but like I said -- it's rare the 50mm leaves my F3.
Being a F/1.4 this 35mm is designed for low light applications. Ideal accompaniment with the Cinestill 800T.
Mmmmmmm I need to pick up a roll of Cinestill 800T now!
I don't think you NEED to embrace the 35mm. Shoot with the 50mm as much as possible and count how many times a wider angle than 50 would have been useful. If it's a lot of times, get the 35.
This is actually a good method. The only reason I just bought this lens is because of this reason.
I'm in New Orleans with my 50mm zeiss, using my f3. Wish I bought a 35mm before coming here haha.
I only wish that the new generation of reviewers would do a bit of research into the design brief of a lens before passing comments. The great majority of the 35mm F1.4 lenses of the late 60s, 70s and early 80s era were mainly desinged for photojournalism on manual focus cameras such as the Nikon F, F2, F3 and so on. Even my 35mm F1.4 Leica M- Summilux Aspherical ( the first one after the AA ) was designed for photojournalism with film cameras in very low light, although costing nearly $4000.00 when it was introduced, the performancehad to match the price. Over 90% of the photos published in newspapers and magazines were B&W then with very few colour photos. For colour an M.F camera was used in 90% of the time like the Hasselblad 500C or the Pentax 67. So, it didn't matter if the lens exhibited a slight softness @ F1.4 or the C.A level was high, as it would have never shown up in a photo published in a magazine or newspaper, even in colour. The mission was to set the the Tri-X or the HP5 @ iso 800 and get the picture at any cost. These stuff that people constanly talk about these days, such as C.A or corner to corner sharpness or Coma are the ills of the digital sensors due to their nature. Film is a homogeneous analogue recording medium. A digital sensor is made up of millions of photosites or pixels, and these being in the order od a few microns in size with as large a gap between them split the incoming light and cause all sort of mayhem, so lenses for digital use are designed with every inch of the performance and correction squeezed out of them. Use these old film era lenses for what they are and forget all this nonsense about wide open sharpness and this and that. Photography is not about corner to corner sharpness or pixel peeping. I hope you didn't mind my little interjection.
I saw a video recently that compared this lens to a Leica 35 1.4 Summilux and it was surprisingly sharper than that lens. I owned the f2 Ais version for years and loved but I found the 1.4 for $300 Canadian and jumped at it. At F2 the 1.4 is definitely sharper than the F2 and also has the CRC to help at close distances. It also has better flare control. It’s still my favourite lens and most used.Having a 9 blade aperture also helps the bokeh balls to look more rounded. All in all a great lens which is also the smallest 1.4 SLR lens on the planet. Great review and excellent b-roll and editing. I also own the 50 1.2 and I agree it is an awesome lens and really creamy wide open but super sharp at F2. Regards Gerry
Get an 85 f/2 or a 105 f/2.5 if you want some real old gold! Super-sharp and lots of character.
I think one could go with a classic Distagon 1.4/35 ZF.2 for the manual focus setup. The Nikkor 35mm 1.4 AI-S is nice, but not great optically.
I too love the AIS 50mm f/1.2 . . . my all time favourite . Thought I might try the AIS 35mm f/1.4 but the price just didn't warrant it.
Your thoughts on the 35mm F2 would be interesting? For me, it's quite a "funky" lens with poppy color.
If I could only have one focal length it is 35mm hands down. This 1.4 version is on my watch list to shoot B&W film on my F3hp with but the $$$ 😳
digging your vintage lens reviews. thanks!
The Nippon/Nikkor 35mm f/2.0 Is also a phenomenal lens . f/2 is pretty sharp on it and by f/2.8 it’s great. Give it a try .
And shooting at these wider angles you’ll not get the buddery backgrounds .
I love 28mm at f/1.4 ooooo
+1. The Non-AI f/2 version has lots of character and was my mainstay for many years.
-1 my AI 35 f/2 sucks. Awful until f/4, and even then the colours are nasty.Worst lens I own by far.
nice review man, I'm thinking of getting a nikon film body along with a 35mm lens. your review really helped me get to know about this lens in detail which is exactly what I'm looking for. Cheers m8
It''s great if shooting portrait orientation with a 35mm generally, landscape a bit wide generally, then 50mm is good.
I shot a 50mm lens with my first 35mm SLR camera. I used the 50 in a 28/50/200mm lens kit. However, the 50mm was too “telephoto” for my taste and the SLR was too unreliable.
When I replaced my unreliable SLR with a more reliable Nikon SLR, I also bought a 35mm f/2 Nikkor lens instead of a 50mm. I used the 35mm f/2 for years in a 35/85/180mm lens kit. Eventually, I replaced the 35 f/2 with a 35 f/1.4. The 35mm f/1.4 has been my personal favorite lens since 2002.
Maybe you should try those 40mms, or 45mm ? Im considering the voigtlander ultron 40mm f2 :)
I almost got a Voigtlander 58mm 1.4, but settled on the Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 instead.
Where did you get the roger deakins shirt lol?
very nice... I'm curious to ask a nikon 35mm 1.4 ais user... does the rear glass element where the mount is, rotate? or does it move back and forth? I'm planning on doing a anamorphake adapter to the rear element and it cannot spin.
Thank you.
It's rotate
Great review.
I love this Nikkor ais 35/1.4 too. Not the greatest one but the budget one.
I find the Nikkor O 35mm f2 to be a much better performer. It was a popular lens in the 70s to convert by cinematographers. The director Carroll Ballard used it often.
Are a is lens aperture controlled in camera? Able to use in aperture priority mode?
The lens has a dedicated aperture ring, so you won't be able to adjust your aperture using the command dials on your camera. I shoot only in manual mode, but I did a test in aperture priority mode and YES AIS lenses will work and adjust your shutter speed and or ISO. I tested it on the Z6 and Nikon D750.
@@TylerGajewski thank you :)
GREAT JOB!
Let me suggest the Nikkor 105 mm f/2.5 Nikkor-P·C to you. Find the nicest one, and you will never regret. You find them from $ 80 to $ 200.
I picked up the 105mm f/1.8 -- Nice lens, but haven't shot a lot with it.
Listen to this person! I've got a 1973 model that was converted to AI - my favourite lens ever! I bought mine in 1987 for peanuts and it's still going strong.
@@TylerGajewski the f/2.5 is much nicer IMO, and a lot lighter.
I think 35mm is the best storytelling lens, but I understand it isn’t for everyone.
Still in production? Do you mean the newer version equivalent with AF?
The 35mm f/1.4 AIS is still available for purchase brand new from Nikon's website. I got mine from Adorama. I just rechecked Nikon's site and it's available through special order only -- "subject to limited availability"
And I just looked even closer and it is Out of Stock on Nikon's site.
Beautiful bokeh. ❤️
What's with the music being louder than your voice? :)
Nikon manual focus wide-angle lenses are great if you are using them on F-mount camera or other DSR bodies. But, if you are adapting classic manual focus lenses to a mirror less camera, it might be to better look at lenses which were designed for rangefinder cameras which don't suffer the limitations of retro focus designs.
Could someone tell me if it is true that these lens have a soft focus at f 1.4?
please
in 03:16 min you can see…
of course its normal
cool!!
brother, my copy is extremelly sharp @1.4 . try another sample. great video. best brazilian regards
I think there are a couple other factors. I have taken some photos at 1.4 and have been very pleased with the results. Editing in Lightroom helps remove some fringing, in body stabilization of the Z6 helps, but pixel peeping you can still see it's not as sharp as f/2 or 2.8. I try some more shots... The other thing is that maybe it's sharper with film and digital really exaggerates the softness. At any rate, it's still a neat lens.
Dunno. For landmark i prefer 28 ie 35. I dunno where 35 fit in.
Nice
I'd rather buy the 35mm zf.2 zeiss over this badboy.
Which aperture?
Nikon's old e series is the answer
I've seen so many E lenses not working for whatever reason. The other nikon's are almost unbreakable
E series are junk, AIS are overpriced/their shorter focus throw bad for videos, Ai'd lenses are my favorite, specifically the multicoated K series lenses
It's not that great on DX bodies, love it on my D3 tho
Really bad audio... Sorry... Back button
Bokka ? No shots on film....no lens hood. I question your assertions that this lens is not sharp at F1.4. Your soft.:) Me thinks you missed focus. Do another review on a film body and get a lens hood. Calling the Nikkor 35 1.4 AI-s is a novelty is an insult.
Will do, thanks! I've warmed up to this lens a little more over the years, but it's not often I ever want to take my Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 AIS off of my F3. There's some film shots on my instagram too, but like I said -- it's rare the 50mm leaves my F3.