Nikon NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.4 Review

Nikon's new Z 35mm f/1.4 is a fast, lightweight prime lens for full-frame mirrorless cameras. It's built to be a great walkaround lens for street and portrait work, with that classic 35mm field of view and a super bright f/1.4 aperture.

At just over 400 grams, it's easy to carry all day. The STM autofocus motor is designed to be quiet and smooth, which is nice for video. But it's missing some features you might expect at this price, like weather sealing or image stabilization.

The f/1.4 aperture is the star here. It lands in the 88th percentile for bokeh, so you get really nice, soft background blur for portraits. Optical quality is solid, sitting in the 68th percentile. But the autofocus is just average, ranking in the 48th percentile. It's not slow, but don't expect lightning-fast tracking for sports. The minimum focus distance of about 10.6 inches is okay, but it's not a macro lens by any stretch.

At around $577, this lens isn't cheap. You're paying a premium for the Nikon name and that f/1.4 aperture. For the price, the lack of weather sealing and stabilization is a real bummer. It's a good lens, but you need to really want that specific Nikon 35mm f/1.4 look to justify the cost over some third-party options.

Look at the Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 Z first. It's way cheaper, has similar optical performance, and actually has weather sealing. You lose a tiny bit of light with f/1.7, but you save a lot of cash. The Meike 55mm f/1.8 Pro is another option if you prefer a tighter portrait focal length, and it's also stabilized. This Nikon lens feels like it's competing on brand loyalty more than pure features for the price.

Buy this if you're a Nikon Z shooter who absolutely needs a native 35mm f/1.4 and doesn't care about weather sealing. It's a great portrait and street lens. But for most people, the value just isn't there. A third-party lens like the Viltrox will get you 95% of the way there for a lot less money, and with better sealing.