Nikon AF Nikkor 35mm f/2 D

One of Nikon's best AF prime lenses I've owned Nikon's AIS 35/2 for years, and as I've acquired more AF and digital bodies, I've wanted the AF version. A little research shows that the optical formula was changed for the AF version of this lens, which worried me a bit. The AIS is sharp and very contrasty -- a sign that flare and CA are very well controlled. The AF has a smaller front element than the AIS, and there are other internal differences in the optical design as well. So far I'm very happy with the AF lens. Mechanically, the AF lenses don't have the solid feel of the AIS lenses. They have more plastic, and the focusing is necessarily looser to allow the AF mechanism to work easily. But the ones I have are holding up well, and the results speak for themselves. AF Nikkors, on the whole, are very good, especially primes like this one. Since I mentioned digital, this lens is a "normal" lens on a digital body with an APS size sensor. That means it works like a 50mm lens on most digital bodies. If you have a 35mm or full frame sensor digital camera like the D700, it's a moderate wide-angle lens. I find 35mm perfect for indoor candids and I often shoot with available light. With its moderately fast f2 aperture, this lens works well with the high ISO capabilities of the D700, or with 800 or 1600 ISO film for candids in available light. (By the way, current DX 35 f1.8 lenses are different from this lens in that they are designed to only cover the APS-sized sensor in non-full frame cameras. That means they will vignette with 355 film cameras or full-frame sensor cameras like the D700 or D3. If you're looking for a "normal" lens for your APS sensor camera, this one will work for you, but the DX lens won't work as a wide-angle lens on a film or full frame digital camera.) This lens also uses Nikon's "D" (distance) technology, which allows the camera's matrix metering to take focusing distance into account when metering the scene. Theoretically, this could mean that those items in the picture that are in the plane of focus are more likely to get exposed correctly. I honestly can't say that this works (or that it doesn't) because I usually take a more active role in choosing exposure when shooting (I don't entirely trust *any* in-camera metering system.) But it's there if it works for you, and it doesn't get in your way if you don't want it to.Read full review

Excellent performer on the DX, cant wait to snap on to an FX camera. I bought the 35mm f/2 lens to accomplish two things. Firstly I wanted to have a 50mm focal length (roughly) prime for my DX sensor (Nikon D90) but since I already owned the 50mm f/1.8D, I wanted to have the option of a 35mm prime when I eventually upgrade to the full frame FX sensor camera most likely a D700 or its replacement. The lense is beautifully clean all the way from f/2 to f/18 (as small an aperture as I have used so far, it actually closes down to f/22). Colour representation is excellent. I've used this lens for ALL my portraits and even some still life shots since I've purchased it. Its soft and shallow depth of field at f/2 was the biggest satisfier for me. The lense is light and compact and feels very solid. Construction is great and the added distance scale on the barrel, though used just ocassionally, is also great. This 35mm has the ability to focus very closely to your subject. Subject to correction I beieve it focuses as close as 0.75 ft which is an added plus for unique perspectives in your shooting. Overall its a great buy and an excelent adition to any DX or FX sized kit.Read full review

Outstanding Lens Formula, Tack Sharp and Light Weight Too The 35mm/2 AF-D Nikkor is one of the best lenses Nikkon ever produced yet at the low price it's confounding. I have the AIS version which I love. But to accommodate some of the more electronic Nikon bodies, (N90s, F100, and F5) I decided to buy this one to factor in the distance into the auto-exposure calculation. Still, for the past 60 years, I shoot only film for its outstanding color rendition and great detail which many times cannot be captured with a digital camera but can sometimes be fixed with Photoshop. I highly recommend this lens and if you buy one and use it you will not be disappointed. In fact, you may never sell it!