Nikon Nikkor AF-S DX 35 mm f/1.8G review - Build quality

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Nikon Nikkor AF-S DX 35 mm f/1.8G

8 May 2009

Arkadiusz Olech

3. Build quality

A quick glance at our table showing the comparison of the new Nikkor to other lenses that may be its rivals shows that we have dealings with an instrument of interesting parameters. By virtue of better light gathering power, Nikkor 1.8/35 DX is a bit bigger that Canon’s and Nikon’s 35/2.0 lenses, being lighter at the same time. Sigma has the largest dimensions and weight but this is due to being the fastest of them.

The following picture shows Nikkor 1.8/35 mm standing between Nikon 50/1.8 and Sigma 1.4/30 mentioned above.

Nikon Nikkor AF-S DX 35 mm f/1.8G - Build quality

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The lens feels well in hands. It starts with a metal bayonet. Its body is upholstered with tough, black plastic that looks sturdy. At least when pressed it doesn’t bend, shift or creak. Moving further we find a small plate with the name and parameters of the lens, and on the left side of it an M/A-M switch for autofocus mode. Even further we find a focusing ring for manual focusing. Too bad the manufacturer didn’t decide to put any scale on the lens, unlike in the cheap 50/1.8. It’s worth to notice that during auto focusing the ring doesn’t rotate but allows us to correct the focus manually. The lens supports internal focusing and the front element doesn’t rotate allowing us to work comfortably with all sorts of filters which, in this case, have the diameter of 52 mm.

The manual focusing ring is not big, but taking into account the dimensions of the lens it has acceptable size and allows fairly convenient and precise work.

The inner construction of the lens comprises 8 elements in 6 groups, with one hybrid aspherical lens (marked in blue on the figure below). There are also 7 rounded diaphragm blades to form the minimal aperture of f/22, to complete the picture.