Nikon Nikkor Z 35 mm f/1.2 S review

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Nikon Nikkor Z 35 mm f/1.2 S

2 March 2026

Maciej Latałło

10. Autofocus and focus breathing

Autofocus

The automatic focusing mechanism is based on two stepping motors and it is supposed to ensure a quick and smooth performance. We tested it by joining the Nikkor 1.2/35Z to the Nikon Z8.

The autofocus mechanism buzzes slightly, so it cannot be called noiseless; its speed also doesn't bowl you over. Running through the whole distance range and confirming the focus takes about 0.6-0.7 of a second, not a weak result but also nothing special. From a journalistic lens, you should expect a mechanism even twice as fast.

Fortunately, when it comes to accuracy, the Nikkor performs as it should, in full accordance with standards of a lens from this price-quality class of equipment. During our test we didn't have any problems, and autofocus was practically perfect, always hitting the right point no matter whether we worked in our studio or outside.

We also didn't notice any issues with front or back focus tendency.

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Nikon Z8, 35 mm, f/1.2

Focus breathing

Focus breathing tests show reframing images as you oversharpen them. We conduct the test by manually passing from the minimum focusing distance to infinity with the aperture stopped down; then we check how the field of view of the lens changed as a result.

A frame change ranging from 0 to 5%, we consider to be low. Between 5 and 10%, you can speak about medium levels. Usually such values also constitute the maximum efficiency level of any breathing compensation algorithms, present in some bodies. Between 10 and 15% focus breathing is high; above 15%, its level can be called very high.

Below we present the test video of the Nikkor lens:

Based on the recording above, comparing freeze-frames before and after oversharpening, we can estimate that the breathing of the tested lens amounts to about 2%, a very low level, imperceptible in practical situations. The Nikon constructors should be praised for such a performance.