35mm f2 - the poor mans 28 1.4?

[Glen]

This a lens which has taken my interest but with my collection of primes and zooms at that end really thought a bit of a luxury. As some may have noticed I was fortunate enough to win this lens in challenge 5 so thought I should write a review. After using it for a few days I love it. Very useful focal length and speed.


The lens is a 35mm f2 which on a Nikon DSLR provides 52.5mm FOV, roughly approximating the human eye. It is f2, averagely fast, especially compared to the kit lens which is f4.2 at 35mm. The quality is great, upon unpacking I realised it is roughly the size of a 50mm 1.4, with the same quality construction including broad focussing ring and metal barrel. Good news. Focussing is fast with the AF. First surprise is when you look through the tiny D70 viewfinder after scoping the scene with your eyes, it clearly looks like a 35mm lens (meaning things seem further away than they really are), but when viewed after on a screen or printed, have a standard or 50mm field of view.

Here are some sample shots:

A Kings Cross icon







Horizon apartments taken at the same time as the above 2 but matrix metering exposed it lighter and more visible




Another icon




An inside shot with the low light capabilities and matrix metering making it appear far, far lighter than it is. The limited DOF of f2 is noticeable in this shot.




an indoor shot of a 20 cent coin taken from 15cm, which is shorter than the min focussing distance (25cm) under std tungsten houselights. Could be sharper and wont replace a 60mm micro, but handy in a pinch if it is all you have with you.





some daylight shots, a missing railing opposite Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron




A park bench and Horizon apartments from the other side of the harbour





Ther are some jpg artifacts in a couple of the above, but the originals are good. I am happy with the lens which is quite sharp wide open, which combined with the relatively fast aperture and wide angle produce a good low light lens. Whilst I still covet a 28 1.4, I have this lens now and it is probably 20% of the price of that lens. There is no trace of the oil on blades problem which affected earlier models and was solved about a year or so ago. I would recommend it as a very useful, light, walkaround lens.


Edit. Just had a PM, all shots were handheld without a tripod or monopod.

[Sheetshooter]

Glen,

Congratulations on your prize and thanks a heap fpor the review. I am currently tossing up between the 35mm 1:2 and the 28mm 1:2.8 as an accompaniment to a 60mm Macro.

Not thjat images on the internet can define anything too strongly I get the feeling that these images are a lot more to my liking than what I see posted from users of zooms.

Have you had a crack at any large prints yet? I have a regular need to get to 450mm across. Chances are that will dictate either the D2x or the EOS 1Ds MkII. Either way, the focal lengths would be about the same.

[Glen]

Streetshooter, haven't really printed anything large yet as these were just snaps taken last night on the way to an auction and this morning for morning tea. I am very pleased with the sharpness of the 35/2 and would have no hesitation printing it at A3+ (the limit of my printer) and would imagine 450mm across would be no concern especially if tripod mounted. For your work I would agree either of those two cameras would be appropriate. Have you read Bjorn Rorslett's review? A good comparison. http://www.naturfotograf.com/index2.html


I would suggest that the 28 1.4 if you are getting it would supercede this lens as it seems to literally see in the dark. It really is incredible. The 35/2 has two advantages though, it is pocketmoney compared to the 28/1.4 and also the weight and size. The 35/2 is 205 grams, the 28/1.4 is a whopping 520 grams. The 35/2 truly is a walkaround lens by comparison.

Good luck

[Matt. K]

Thanks Glen!
That's one sharp little sucker on my monitor. I love the pic of Kings Cross and the Cola sign. An excellent image and that red looks so damned accurate.

[Glen]

Streetshooter, if you do choose the 28/1.4, you may consider the 45P 2.8 manual lens as your walkaround lens. Very, very small, only 17mm thin and 120g light and meters on your camera. I love it and you are welcome to try it as I think I am the only one with it. Makes the D70 almost P&S size!

Also use the above link to check what Bjorn Rorslett says about lenses also, really knows his stuff and has a great collection of lenses. I have left a few other lens review sites at the top of the Equipment Review section.

http://www.maxwell.com.au/products/niko ... _f28p.html

[Glen]

Matt, I love it, hasn't been of the camera since Saturday night. Great focal length, sharp, accurate, AF, reasonably priced, what more could one want?

[Onyx]

Good review Glen - nice cross section of images.

You haven't mentioned that the 35 f/2 is a favourite among macro photographers on a budget - it's prime candidate for reverse lens use. So much so that Nikon has even acknowledged this and provided guidelines for its use as such with the included documentation.

It is a superbly sharp prime, and I'm surprised more people don't have it considering it's 'normal' field of view on digitals.

How's the purple fringing on your sample? The one I had, I was basically after one for low light use - and found it didn't live up to my expectations. The kit lens did better at controlling chromatic abbertation around specular highlights... For daylight landscape & walkabout use, it is an excellent lens. Bokeh is great too - due to its close focusing ability as well as fast max aperture.

[Sheetshooter]

Glen,

Thank you for the links and the customary courtesy. I shall have a read.

My principal use for the gear will be studio set-ups shooting Harley Davidsons with strobe banks so there is no justification for the extra dough for the bigger aperture.

You guys probably think it a little strange but I do all my walking around personal work on a 4x5 field camera for which most of the lenses open up to only f4.5 or f5.6. In fact one of the most frequently used is an f9 - it's a Nikkor-M of 300mm and is tiny ..... 52mm filters and weighs only 290 gramms complete with a shutter. Standard aperture for shooting ius f22 so you can imagine how liberating even f2.8 is, let alone f2.

[Glen]

Streetshooter, maximum aperture for the 35/2 is f22, hope you wont feel uncomfortable I am sure the 35mm will be perfect for studio use. I am a little surprised by a 4X5 filed camera as your walk around camera. I imagine that sometimes you must draw quite a crowd?

Chi, have noticed purple fringing on 3 shots out of 69, this example being the absolute worst, the others wouldn't have been noticeable really unless I was looking for it or being critical. This shot also shows the DOF of f2 as the focal point was the top of the Elan, not the sign. Also proves I can't hold a camera at 1/5. Shot at f2 for 1/5sec. All the exif data should be in all the shots.

[cyanide]

I had almost talked myself into a 35mm lens, I think this has tipped the balance....

... now, to just work out exactly which one!! This version is certainly attractive....