Since Nikon introduced the Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.4 lens final week, I’ve been asking myself — and Nikon — quite a lot of questions on it. What concerning the 35mm S-Line lens on the roadmap? Is that this new lens an indication of inexpensive f/1.4 lenses to come back? What’s Nikon’s general technique? What Concerning the Promised 35mm S-Line Lens? The one lens on Nikon’s most up-to-date and ultimate lens roadmap that has but to see the sunshine of day is a “35mm S-Line” lens. Apparently, the brand new Nikon Z 35mm f/1.4 shouldn’t be an S-Line lens and was by no means featured on a Nikon lens roadmap. As Nikon mentioned when it ditched roadmaps, it wished to shock folks. Properly, I’m shocked. As for whether or not the 35mm S-Line lens on that roadmap remains to be coming, PetaPixel requested Nikon. Nikon launched this Nikkor Z lens roadmap in September 2023, and it’s anticipated to be the ultimate roadmap the corporate ever shares with the general public. “Nikon doesn’t touch upon future product or hypothesis,” Nikon replied. Regardless of repeated makes an attempt to glean something extra, the place stays unchanged: Nikon gained’t say.
However I’ll. For quite a few causes, I’m assured that the Nikon Z 35mm S-Line lens remains to be in improvement and that the brand new Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.4 shouldn’t be a alternative for it. Nikon’s choices relating to the Z Mount supply some perception into its technique. Nikon initially prioritized Nikkor Z f/1.8 S-Line prime lenses, which give glorious efficiency and portability. The Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.8 S and 50mm f/1.8 S lenses had been two of the corporate’s first three native Nikkor Z lenses, alongside the Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S. Whereas f/1.8 is historically a “slower” aperture for pro-oriented prime lenses, the S-Line Sequence guarantees distinctive edge-to-edge efficiency when shot broad open and options Nikon’s most superior optical designs and applied sciences. The Nikon Z 35mm f/1.4 on the Z6 III | Nikon Nikon adopted up the 35mm and 50mm f/1.8 S primes with a Nikkor Z 20mm f/1.8 S, 24mm f/1.8 S, Nikkor Z 85mm f/1.8 S, and Nikkor Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena. Alongside these f/1.8 S-Line lenses, the corporate started its foray into f/1.2 S-Line territory, with the Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.2 S and 85mm f/1.2 S. When Nikon put a 35mm S-Line lens onto its roadmap, it was solely pure to count on a 35mm f/1.2 S lens to reach. And that’s exactly what I count on to reach sooner or later. It is smart to proceed this sample, and a 35mm f/1.2 lens is actually achievable, as Sigma has demonstrated with its 35mm f/1.2 DG DN Artwork lens.
Nikon’s Option to Go f/1.4 and Inexpensive When requested how the brand new Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.4 lens compares to the 35mm f/1.8 S when it comes to efficiency, Nikon replied, “The Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.4 is a lens that takes benefit of the quick most aperture of f/1.4 to supply giant, tender bokeh, while providing a wonderful stability of price, compactness, mild weight, and optical efficiency. “Then again, the Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.8 S maximizes lens efficiency even at most aperture, with superior rendering capabilities together with glorious resolving energy all the best way to the acute edges of the body,” Nikon continues. Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S It is a marked departure from how Nikon approached its quick prime lenses for F mount. First, Nikon didn’t launch any f/1.2 primes for DSLR cameras. Sure, the corporate has had f/1.2 lenses (and sooner) lenses, however they had been launched through the movie SLR period. Past that, Nikon’s f/1.4 lenses featured the corporate’s finest optical applied sciences. In lots of instances, the f/1.8 primes had been the extra inexpensive choices for photographers who didn’t demand the most effective efficiency or didn’t need to have giant, heavy glass. That could be a vital a part of what makes the Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.4 fascinating. It’s an outlier for Nikon as a result of it’s inexpensive than the 35mm f/1.8, weighs much less regardless of being sooner, and doesn’t promise the identical stage of optical efficiency. These are uncharted waters for Nikon. If I’ll placed on my hypothesis hat once more, the originality in all probability gained’t keep novel without end. I’m not speaking about rumors right here, however merely surveying the panorama and occupied with what I might do if I had been making choices at Nikon.
The Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.4 isn’t simply cheaper than the Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.8 S lens; it’s extra inexpensive than many 35mm prime lenses in the marketplace for any full-frame mirrorless digital camera. Yeah, Sigma’s 35mm f/1.4 DG DN Artwork is $899, which within reason inexpensive however nonetheless $300 costlier than Nikon’s new 35mm f/1.4. Sony and Canon have 35mm f/1.4 lenses that price $1,398 and $1,499, respectively. These are dear. Even Sony’s older Distagon T* FE 35mm f/1.4 ZA lens, left within the mud optically by the 35mm f/1.4 GM, is $998. Nikon isn’t simply doing one thing completely different from what it has achieved earlier than; it’s doing one thing not like everybody else available in the market, and it’s sensible. Nikon has high-quality f/1.8 S lenses at well-liked focal lengths like 20mm, 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, and 85mm. Then there’s the Nikon Z 135mm f/1.8 Plena, a distinct beast. These are all nice lenses which might be loads quick for most experts. The Nikkor Z 85mm f/1.2 S is an incredible lens for individuals who require the f/1.2 aperture. But it surely’s a reasonably large, heavy optic. | Nikon For many who demand extra, Nikon has additionally expanded its f/1.2 S-Line choices. Nevertheless, it’s unreasonable to count on full overlap between all f/1.2 and f/1.8 S lenses — a 20mm f/1.2 S lens can be fairly surprising, for instance. A typical theme is that Nikon is as much as uncommon issues with its prime lenses, whether or not making pro-level f/1.8 primes, inexpensive f/1.4 lenses, or getting again to creating f/1.2 (and sooner) primes. In almost each method, Nikon’s Z primes differ from what the corporate did with its F-mount. Nikon is placing that big diameter and brief flange distance to very thrilling use.
The superb f/1.8 S primes are constructed for demanding fans {and professional} photographers. If folks want extra pace, there are the f/1.2 choices, however they’re costly and huge. You pay a heavy premium for that pace and S-Line efficiency on the most aperture. However what if you need a quick lens however usually are not a professional? You don’t essentially want the S-Line options of the f/1.8 lenses, however like that, they’re not massive and heavy. As evidenced by the brand new Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.4 lens, Nikon appears in a position and prepared to offer a “center floor” that provides extra pace and many of the efficiency whereas not being greater or heavier. The “center floor” has by no means seemed fairly like this earlier than, however why ought to being completely different deter Nikon? Simply because no main producer has used f/1.4 prime lenses as their “inexpensive” possibility earlier than doesn’t imply it could possibly’t be achieved. It’s apparent now that it may be, and I’m right here for it. Picture credit: Header photograph licensed created utilizing an asset licensed by way of Depositphotos.
