Today I am going to be giving you my two-cents on a sweet little lens: the Nikon Wide Angle Nikkor AF 35mm f/2 D.
This little lens is a gem! It’s a small, fast, sharp lens, at a very reasonable price (average price is about $364). It has a metal mount, so it’s nice and sturdy, but also very light, so it won’t weigh you down! One thing to note – on a full-frame sensor, this lens is exactly 35mm, whereas on a cropped sensor, this lens is more equivalent to a 52mm.
I purchased this lens because I wanted something wider than my 50mm f/1.4 so that I could get more shots in those harder-to-reach places. Like in my house. My house is not small, but it is not large either, and the 35 has really made a difference when I’m wanting to capture those everyday-life moments of my kids.
At f/2 it is fast (not the fastest, but still gets the job done), and it is nice and sharp! It allows me to be able to bump my ISO to the 3200 range in low-light situations, and still have a sharp image!
Auto-focus is fast, so there isn’t too much of a delay when you’re trying to capture those fun moments of your kids before you miss the action! Because this is an AF lens (not an AF-S) it will not auto-focus on Nikon’s entry-level camera bodies because they lack an internal auto-focus motor (ie: D40, D40x, D60, D3000, D3001, and D5000).
This lens is great for full-body shots. It is not necessarily meant for close-up portraits. Because it is a wide-angle lens, if you get too close too your subject, it can cause facial distortion (which is not very flattering). However, on a creative note, depending on what you are shooting, the distortion can add a very cool effect to your image!
A common complaint that I have read in regards to this lens is the light fall-off (vignetting) when shooting wide open. I do tend to shoot wide open, and have noticed some of this light fall-off, but it doesn’t bother me. Even at f/4 this lens is sharp, so if light fall-off is a problem, then stop it down to the f/4 range and you should be good-to-go!
Overall, I am very happy with this lens! It is definitely a great addition to my bag!
{All images taken with the D700 and 35mm f/2 lens, except for the image of the lens-captured with a D300s and 50mm f/1.4.}
About Beckie
Hi, I own a Nikon D5000 and was wondering what wide angle AFS lens you would recomend for my camera. I have a couple of weddings this summer and want to be able to get close to fit the whole group in. I would like a prime lens. Any suggestions. I would greatly appreciate it very much. Thanks. Also I am signed up for your Workshop this Sunday and very excited.
Tina
Hi, Tina! For the D5000, I would recommend the Nikon 35mm f/1.8G DX. It’s in the ballpark of $200. Because your camera is a cropped sensor, the 35 would be more like 50mm. If you are wanting wider, you could go with the 24mm f/1.4G, however its price tag is more like $2k.
I hope this information has been helpful to you!
This recap was very helpful thanks! I just upgraded from a d5000 to a d700!
Thank you, Mindy! Congrats on your new addition! 😉 The D700 is an amazing tool!
Can you explain “full frame sensor” and “cropped sensor”?
Becky, here is a great article explaining the difference between cropped and full-frame sensors… http://www.digital-photography-school.com/full-frame-sensor-vs-crop-sensor-which-is-right-for-you
Hello!
Thank you for this post. I am really interested in buying a wide angle lens for my camera. I’m having the same problem with taking pictures indoors. I’m still very new at this and was wondering if you could help me out.
I have the D5100, and don’t know how to tell if a lens will work with my camera. I’ve looked at this lens before and want to purchase it, but am so nervous.
Thank you so much!
Hi, Claire. I’m glad you enjoyed the post! If you are wanting a 35mm for your D5100, I would suggest the f/1.8 version over this f/2 version. The f/2 version is not an AF-S lens, which means that it will NOT auto-focus on your camera. The f/1.8 version is specifically a DX lens, and will work perfectly with your D5100.
I hope this helps you make your decision! 🙂
Thank you!!
Good news is: the lens you recommended is pretty affordable and is now on my wish list!
Thank you again!