Nikon 35mm f/1.8G AF-S DX

Nikkor DX 35mm f/1.8G review

The Nikkor DX 35mm f/1.8G is a standard prime lens designed for use on Nikon's range of DX format DSLRs. Announced in February 2009, this low cost model is primarily aimed at owners of Nikon's budget and mid-range DSLRs, such as the D40(x), D60, D3000, D5000 and D90, but will equally work on any DX body including semi-pro models like the D300(s). Like other DX-format lenses, it's only corrected for use on the smaller sensors employed by DX-format bodies. So while you can mount it on a full-frame FX format body, it'll only be corrected up to the edges of the cropped DX area. Mounted on a DX format body, it delivers an equivalent focal length of 52.5mm, which is considered 'standard' coverage in photographic terms. This avoids the distortion of wide angle lenses and the flattened perspective of telephoto models to deliver a natural view which roughly matches the magnification (albeit not the coverage) of human vision. So this focal length may be fixed, but at arguably the most useful point for general-purpose photography. Lest we forget, not so long ago, the vast majority of 35mm film SLRs were equipped with 50mm lenses as standard, so by delivering essentially the same coverage, the Nikkor DX 35mm f/1.8G respectfully harks back to a time when many photographers needed nothing else.