The NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.2 S tried and tested

As a NIKKOR S lens, the optical design and engineering are of the highest possible quality, with 17 elements in 15 groups and extensive coatings to banish flare and ghosting. A customisable control ring and two L-fn buttons mean you can set it up in whatever way suits your work and the build quality and weather sealing make it feel like the sort of lens you could use every day for a lifetime without worry.

Rounding out the ‘prime trinity’ of f/1.2 NIKKOR Z S line lenses (along with the NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.2 S and the NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S) this is a pro lens for freezing action, low-light situations and razor-thin focal plane shooting, with that cinematic 35mm focal length and sharpness all across the frame.

In use

I used the lens on my Nikon Zf for a few different scenarios; pictures of my dogs, a trip out to a village churchyard and my musician daughter working at her desk for some environmental portraits.

The light gathering is extraordinary, with huge amounts of detail. The AF works fast and flawlessly (and at f/1.2 you’ll often need it, with the extremely narrow focal plane, although there is a switch on the side if you want to focus manually). I shot everything in natural light, although this is a lens that will love a full studio environment with controlled lighting, too.

Dogs

Dogs are terrible models. They don’t take direction well, move suddenly just as you’re about to take the image and show no interest in being helpful to a photographer.

But catch them having a lie down (which for mine is most of the day unless they smell food), and they are a great subject for a lens like this, which (especially when using dog subject detection on the Zf) can focus right on the eye and leave a soft, creamy fall-off. It’s not the extreme bokeh you would get from a longer focal length lens – it has an almost painterly feel about it, with no sudden jumps in focus strength, allowing you to create beautiful, natural-looking images.

Environmental portraits

This lens really excels at environmental portraits (especially in hands better than mine), with the combination of the 35mm focal length and f/1.2 aperture to place the subject in a recognisable setting without letting surrounding details and objects detract from the scene. Or you can close down the aperture and get some more background detail in focus if it helps to tell the story. For these, the light source is the window in front of the desk on a bright day, so there’s high contrast but the lens handles it brilliantly.

Out and about

This isn’t exactly a walkaround lens if you don’t know what you’re going to get (if you want that 35mm look and don’t mind a smaller aperture, both the NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.4 and NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.8 S are substantially lighter and smaller) but pro photographers with a plan for the images that will suit it will be greatly rewarded for carrying it in the bag. I took it to an overgrown churchyard with patches of long grasses and trees among the grounds.

Best use cases

This is a serious professional lens built to last a lifetime and give you incredible results time after time. It’s by no means an all-day carry lens but the precision and image quality it offers make it a ‘must-buy’ for those who demand the very best.

Documentaries

Whether you use stills or video to tell your story, the NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.2 S is a master at narrative imagery. Results feel personal and involving, while the incredible sharpness and smooth bokeh let you guide a viewer through every frame.

Weddings

From morning preparations right through to party time at night, the NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.2 S will capture the moments that matter, with superfast autofocus and its ability in changing light situations. Marry it with the NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S for portraits and you’re all set.

Fashion

When every detail matters, the rendering capabilities of the NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.2 S are what you need. Freeze movement of model and fabric whatever you’re lighting and bring out texture with superb sharpness.

Photojournalism

The 35mm focal length gives the viewer a realistic view of the story and puts them at the heart of the scene, as if they were standing there watching events unfold. The creative flexibility and overall capability of the NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.2 S, as well as its robust build, make it a perfect match for a Nikon Z8 or Z9 on assignment.

Conclusion

The NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.2 S is a precision tool for serious professionals. The image quality, sharpness and rendering are second to none while the f/1.2 aperture gives you a lot of creative scope using light, bokeh and that razor-thin focal plane. The 35mm has always been a classic lens for storytelling, both in stills and movies, for the simple reason that it reflects a realistic human’s-eye view of the world. But not all 35mm lenses are made equal and the NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.2 S is the very top of the tree for those who demand flexibility, image quality and optical brilliance, all housed in a body that is built to last a lifetime.