The AF-Southward Nikkor 35mm F1.8G DX is Nikon's latest lens, announced in February for PMA 2009. Its introduction came every bit something of a surprise to many observers, not because it's an updated 35mm lens with a born autofocus motor, but considering the 'DX' designation indicates that it's designed for use on DX format bodies, and isn't fully uniform with Nikon'southward growing FX format camera range. According to Nikon, this has allowed the company to blueprint a lens that is smaller, lighter and cheaper than it would have been had it offered full coverage of the FX image circle. In effect, the lens is primarily targeted every bit an cheap, large discontinuity option for users of the entry-level (D40 / D40X /D60) series of DSLRs.

The 35mm focal length is roughly equivalent to 50mm on an FX photographic camera, and the lens therefore fits into the 'standard' category, with an angle of view offering none of the 'perspective distortion' associated with wideangle or telephoto lenses. The fast F1.8 maximum aperture admits more than than iv times as much light as the AF-S xviii-55mm F3.5-5.6G VR DX kit lens, which is useful for shooting in depression light while keeping shutter speeds reasonably high. The 'Silent Moving ridge Motor' allows autofocus on all of Nikon's DSLR bodies, with the added bonus of assuasive the user to tweak focus manually in AF mode if desired.

The 35mm F1.8G features an optical design of 8 elements in half-dozen groups, including an aspherical element for the correction of aberrations ordinarily associated with big aperture prime lenses. However unlike the typical 50mm standard prime for the total frame (FX) format, this lens's focal length is rather shorter than the flange distance from the lens mountain to the imager. This necessitates the utilise of a and then-called 'retrofocal' design, which is more usually associated with wideangle lenses; unfortunately this often results in increased aberrations relative to traditional nigh-symmetric 50mm designs. So how does the 35mm F1.8 DX measure up?

Headline features

  • 35mm focal length; fast F1.8 maximum aperture
  • Silent Wave Motor allows autofocusing on all Nikon DSLRs
  • Full-fourth dimension transmission focus override
  • For DX format cameras

Angle of view

The flick beneath illustrates the angle of view (click hither for comparisons with the Nikon 50mm F1.4D):

35mm (DX format)

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 35mm 1:one.8G DX specifications

Street cost • $200 (United states of america)
• £200 (Great britain)
Date introduced Feb 2009
Maximum format size DX
Focal length 35mm
35mm equivalent focal length
52.5mm
Diagonal Angle of view 47ยบ
Maximum aperture F1.8
Minimum discontinuity F22
Lens Structure • eight elements / half-dozen groups
• 1 hybrid aspherical element
Number of diaphragm blades seven, rounded
Minimum focus 0.3m (1.0 ft)
Maximum magnification 0.16x
AF motor blazon • Ring-type Silent Wave Motor (ultrasonic-type)
• Total-time manual focus
Focus method Internal (rear) focus
Paradigm stabilization • None
Filter thread • 52mm
• Does non rotate on focus
Supplied accessories • Front and rear caps
• HB-46 hood
Optional accessories
Weight 210g (7.4 oz)
Dimensions 70mm diameter x 52.5mm length
(2.8 ten 2.ane in)
Lens Mountain Nikon F only

* Supplied accessories may differ in each country or surface area