Nikkor 35mm f/2 AI Review
This review is a work in progress and will be updated
Overall: 4 out of 5
Optics: 4.5
Price on Used Market: ~$200 USD
Value at $200 USD: 3.5
A fast wide-normal, the 35 f/2 AI is a lens design Nikon used for generations (non-ai through AI-S) due to its great IQ.
Nikkor 35mm f/2 AI
My copy of this lens has seen better days, but it’s still sharp despite scratches on the front element.
Assorted Information
| Max Aperture | f/2 |
| Min Aperture | f/22 |
| Aperture Blades | 7 |
| Close Focus | 0.27m/.9ft |
| Filter Thread | 52mm |
| Hard Infinity Stop? | Yes |
| Built in Hood? | No |
Image Quality
Image quality the strong suit of this lens. It’s sharp and contrasty all the way from f/2, sharpest at f/4, and good through f/11. Edge sharpness isn’t great at f/2, but improves significantly by f/5.6. Boke is good for a 35mm lens, but you’ll get better results on any of nikon’s 50mm f/1.4 used on full frame as compared to this on a DX crop. It has no problems with chromatic aberration, and no problems with distortion. There can be, however, some ghosting.
That’s No Moon (it’s a screw) — w/PN-11 Extension Tube
Operation
Exactly what you’d expect from this type of lens. A small, light lens, with smooth focusing. ½ turn gets you from the excellent close focus of 0.27m/.9ft to infinity at which there’s a hard stop (yay).
Spiderweb — Full Frame (D700) Reverse Mounted
The lens is also fairly useful reverse mounted. The working distance is too small to use with bugs, but it gets you 1.4x magnification with a miniscule depth of field.
Nikon FE, 35mm f/2, Fuji Velvia 50
Final Word
This is a great lens with great IQ. The only problem is the competition at this focal length is also great. If you’re okay with a Manual Focus lens, the 35mm f/1.4 gives you an extra stop (though for 3 times the price). The autofocus 35mm f/2 will cost you another $150. And for the same price, the 35mm f/1.8 gets you an extra ⅓ of a stop and AF-S, but will only work on a DX cropped camera. There’s a lot of choices to be had here, and if rumor pans out, we may even be getting a 35mm f/1.4 AF-S for full frame cameras.
More Photos with this Lens
All images with a DX Crop except those marked with a film type.
Full Frame (D700), @f/8
Nikon FE, 35mm f/2, Fuji Velvia 50
Magsafe Macbook Power — with Pn-11
You can use this lens with a PN-11 extension tube to bring the close focus to almost nothing. Image quality remains great, and it gives you a wider perspective than most macro, but it’s not that useful.
Full Frame (D700) Reverse Mounted
Full Frame (D700) Reverse Mounted
More Photos of this Lens
Thanks
Hi i have also this great lens with a D700. I whas thinking to give the samyang 35 1.4 also a try
Posted by Nic Vortec (anon) on 2011-01-22 16:09:02.