Nikon Nikkor Z 35 mm f/1.8 S review - Coma, astigmatism and bokeh

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Nikon Nikkor Z 35 mm f/1.8 S

4 February 2020

Maciej Latałło

7. Coma, astigmatism and bokeh

So far the Nikkor Z 35 mm f/1.8 S has only been praised by us but the time has come for its first serious slip-up, namely coma correction. The fact that the aberration is visible already on the smaller APS-C/DX sensor we find alarming. In the corners of full frame it becomes distinct and it doesn't disappear even on stopping down the aperture by 1 EV. Still, it should be remembered that the Nikkor AF-S 35 mm f/1.8G ED and the Canon EF 35 mm f/2 IS USM also didn't exactly distinguished themselves in this category – in their case images of a diode in corners of full frame looked even worse.

Center, f/1.8	Corner APS-C, f/1.8	Corner FF, f/1.8

Center, f/2.5	Corner APS-C, f/2.5	Corner FF, f/2.5

Astigmatism, understood as an average difference between horizontal and vertical MTF50 function values, amounted to 11.4% and can be described as medium. When you compare that result to the result of the reflex camera version there's a distinct improvement but it also remains weaker than astigmatism of the Canon 2/35 IS and the Tamron 1.8/35 VC.

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When it comes to the appearance of out-of-focus areas it would be difficult to complain. Defocused circles of light are very nice, with light spread very even inside. The only slight flaw is accented onion ring bokeh which, most likely, stem from the fact that there are aspherical elements in the system. You should also notice visible influence of mechanical vignetting – completely perceivable in the corner of full frame even by f/3.5.

Center, f/1.8	Corner APS-C, f/1.8	Corner FF, f/1.8

Center, f/2.5	Corner APS-C, f/2.5	Corner FF, f/2.5

Center, f/3.5	Corner APS-C, f/3.5	Corner FF, f/3.5