Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm F/1.8G

This Nikon DX prime fits F mount bodies and covers the APS-C format. On that sensor, 35mm gives a natural view for everyday shooting. It suits street photography, indoor gatherings and pictures of people.

At f/1.8, it suits handheld work in ordinary indoor light, and its low weight makes long days easy. The single focal length is the main trade-off for a lens of this kind.

Nikon launched this lens in 2009 and still lists it in production today. Buyers get an older design with a long production run behind it.

At 7.1 oz (200 g), the lens adds little to a camera's weight. It measures 2.76 in (70 mm) across and 2.07 in (52.5 mm) long, so it suits a small body. A screw-in filter must match the 52mm front thread to attach directly. Step-up rings can still adapt larger filters you may already own.

On an APS-C sensor, 35mm gives a useful standard view between wide and telephoto. It can include a person and some surroundings for markets, travel and relaxed portraits. Perspective depends on your position. Leave more space between camera and subject when you want to avoid the exaggeration of very close framing.

The f/1.8 maximum aperture is the key optical strength. It passes far more light than smaller apertures, so you can keep shutter speeds usable in dim rooms and hold ISO noise down.

In a dim restaurant, that light may let you shoot without flash while keeping the mood of the room. The result still depends on light levels and subject movement. The same wide setting can blur a cluttered background when it is far enough behind a portrait subject.

Focus continues down to 1 ft (30 cm), close enough to fill the frame with a plate of food or a row of books. There is no zoom range to fall back on, so you step closer or back away when the view needs to change. Our optics score for this lens is 81 out of 100.

This lens has no image stabilization. At a 35mm focal length, camera shake is less demanding than with a long telephoto. Even so, handheld shooting in poor light still needs a suitable shutter speed. Raising ISO lets you choose a faster exposure; bracing the camera or using firm support can also help.

A rubber gasket at the lens mount helps protect that joint. This does not establish sealing throughout the barrel. Keep the lens covered in rain and avoid water splashes during outdoor work.

There is no fluorine coating, so the front element lacks that specific water- and oil-repellent benefit. Use normal careful cleaning after fingerprints or dust. This does not mean the glass has no other optical coatings.

The optical formula uses eight elements in six groups, including one aspherical element. Its shaped surface helps correct distortion and spherical aberration. These faults can bend straight lines or soften detail, so correction matters for subjects such as doorframes and building edges.