Auto Universar PC HI-D 35mm f/1.8

Old school photography with superb quality New camera, old ideas, using a fixed focal length lens and your own two feet to take pictures, instead of a wide-medium telephoto. Certainly there are a few places this doesn't work, like in very close quarters where a wide angle would be better (the 35mm on a 24mm sensor is like a 50mm on a 35mm film camera). But then that zoom is always in the bag right? The quality is certainly better than with a [bundled] 28-55mm zoom, the autofocus is much faster and more accurate, and quieter. The macro capability vastly better. The aperature wider and brighter. The lens smaller and lighter (although not as small or light as you might expect). Switching from an economy 55-200mm to a full frame Nikon 70-300mm zoom it was hard to go back to the cheap bundled lenses that offered relatively poor performance. The 35mm offers the same high quality you would expect from Nikon. But if you are a sit back and zoom sort of person this lens won't work for you!Read full review

Doesn't live up to the hype This is a really well reviewed lens - but I wasn't impressed with it's performance. This lens is not as fast/ sharp as it's bigger brother the 50mm 1.8G. It has trouble focusing on the subject sometimes. When taking groups of people 4+, the outer people will get vignetted if you are at a low aperture. 50mm doesn't have this problem. I will get used to this lens. But not have thrilled as I was with the 50mm.

Must Have Basic Lens for any DX Camera Owner Great basic prime lens for Nikon DX cameras - it's pin sharp & fast. The 35 equates to about 52mm on a full frame camera. In other words it is the standard focal length. If all you have is the kit lens, then I suggest that you buy one of these for your kit. It is inexpensive, and although the body is mostly plastic, it does have a metal mount. It is the basic, sharp, fast lens every photographer should have at their disposal. All in one zooms are great, but there are plenty of times that this simple, great in low light situations lens is all you will need. You will just have to zoom with you feet.