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The following chart presents a comparison between basic parameters of different 1.2/35 class lenses designed for full frame cameras without a mirror chamber.

It's clear that the tested Nikkor is here the biggest and second heaviest lens. In this area only the older Sigma manages to defeat it, and the newer Sigma is significantly lighter. The instruments produced by Leica and Voigtlander seem simply tiny, when compared to the rest.

In the photo below, the Nikkor Z 35 mm f/1.2 S is positioned between the Nikkor Z 24-70 mm f/4 and the reflex camera Sigma A 35 mm f/1.4 DG HSM. It's worth noticing that the Nikkor is significantly bigger than the Sigma, and you should remember that the same Sigma, when launched on the market, was considered to be quite big and heavy.

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The tested lens starts with a metal mount that surrounds contacts and a rear element with a diameter amounting to 36 mm. That element doesn't move, is quite flat and is positioned practically at the same level as the contacts. The surrounding area is quite well blackened and matted, without any electronic parts peeking at you. From this side the instrument is fully sealed and everything looks as it should.

The proper body of the lens starts with an immobile, black, metal ring that increases its diameter. On the ring you find a white dot, making an alignment with a camera easier, an inscription with the name and parameters of the lens, an AF/MF switch that allows you to choose a focusing mechanism mode, the serial number the focusing mechanism range (∞ - 0.3m/0.99ft) and information that the lens was produced in Thailand.

Further on you find a ribbed control ring as wide as 7 cm. It can be used to clickless setting of parameters, selected by the user, such as aperture, ISO, or exposure compensation. It turns smoothly and is properly damped.

Then you find a metal part of the barrel with an inscription 'Nikkor S' and the logo of the producer. Additionally, you get two L-Fn function buttons that can be allotted one of many functions available.

A manual focus ring, as wide as 57 mm, covered by rubber ribbing, is the biggest part of the lens. It is a focus-by-wire construction, it moves smoothly and is properly damped. You can't find any distance scale or DOF scale on it and its focus throw amounts to about 130 degrees when you move the ring fast and to about 180 degrees when you move it slowly. These are significant values, allowing you very precise settings.

Next is an immobile ring made of plastic also partially covered by rubber ribs. It turns into the next smooth ring, featuring the name and parameters of the lens. The instrument ends with a hood mount, and the hood you get in the accessory kit.

The front element doesn't move, is slightly convex, 62 mm in diameter. It is surrounded by a ribbed tube and a non-rotating filter thread, 82 mm in diameter.

The lens is weather--sealed and the fluorine lens coating enables easy removal of dirt and fingerprints from the front element and provides a protective layer against dust, dirt, and moisture.

It's worth mentioning the fact that we tested this lens during the biggest cold wave in Poland at the end of January and the beginning of February 2026, with temperatures outside dropping below -15 deg C and the apparent temperature being below -20 deg C. In such harsh conditions the lens performed admirably well – everything worked without a hitch.

When it comes to optical construction, you deal here with 17 elements positioned in 15 groups. Three elements are made of low dispersion ED glass, three others are aspherical in shape, and one element is both aspherical and made of ED glass. Inside you also find a round aperture with eleven blades that can be closed down to a value of f/16 at the maximum. The producers also boast of an efficient ARNEO and meso amorphous coat that is supposed to suppress ghosting and flare.

Buyers get in the box with the lens: both caps, a petal-type hood, and a soft pouch. The pouch is so flimsy that I doubt it can protect the lens in any way. I admit at this price-point and class of equipment, I would expect something definitely more solid and stylish.