If you go into lightroom you'll see that I have used the 35mm f/2 lens over 50,000 times in the last 5 years. I've rented the 35mm 1.4 for several weddings & now own the 28mm 1.8G. Here is why:
Nikon 28mm f/1.8G AF-S NIKKOR lens
Pros
*Less expensive than the 35mm 1.4
*Excellent clarity and resolving power made for a 36megapixel camera and higher (D800)
*High clarity in high contrast and backlit photos
*Slightly wider than the 35mm
*Distortion controlled enough so that you can use it for portraits if you are careful
*Quickest to focus and lock on out of all the lenses
*Most useable images out of all 3 lenses (due to focus speed)
Cons
*More expensive than the 35mm 2.0
*It's larger than the 35mm 2.0 but the build quality makes it weigh less for it's size. Cheap parts???? It feels cheap in your hand.
*It is 1/2 stop less light than the 1.4 lens (not a huge deal)
Nikon 35mm f/1.4G AF-S FX SWM Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
Pros
*This feels like a pro lenses.
*Feels balanced on a D3 or D700
*Great nano coatings that allow for sharp photos in high contrast
*Sharp when in focus
*Most Bokeh (blurry backgrounds, sharp foregrounds)
Cons
*At 1.4 I had a hard time getting this lens to focus perfectly on eyes of people. (yes I do use single focus points)
*Least usable images in a fast working environment. Not a problem in a studio but in the world of photojournalism it is.
*Expensive!
Nikon 35mm f/2D AF Wide-Angle Nikkor Lens for Nikon 35mm and Digital SLR Cameras
Pros
*Decent focus speed
*Least expensive
*Good value
Cons
*Weird contrast issues in high contrast back lit situations
*Sharp but not as sharp as the others when in focus
*Lots of flare (good or bad depending on what you like)
*Old style coatings that don't allow for the same "resolving" power and same clarity
My winner is the 28mm 1.8. That is what I ended up purchasing. I will be selling my 35mm 2 because this lens gets the most usable images from a wedding. As a pro I need the most reliable lens for my work and because this one focuses a bit faster and locks on a bit better it was the perfect choice. There is nothing wrong with the other two lenses, they are all amazing lenses. For a wedding photographer I feel that the 28mm 1.8 lens is the best choice. Lastly the difference between 1.8 and 2.0 is not noticeable.
DISAGREE? Write why in the comments below.
Nikon 28mm f/1.8G AF-S NIKKOR lensPros
*Less expensive than the 35mm 1.4
*Excellent clarity and resolving power made for a 36megapixel camera and higher (D800)
*High clarity in high contrast and backlit photos
*Slightly wider than the 35mm
*Distortion controlled enough so that you can use it for portraits if you are careful
*Quickest to focus and lock on out of all the lenses
*Most useable images out of all 3 lenses (due to focus speed)
Cons
*More expensive than the 35mm 2.0
*It's larger than the 35mm 2.0 but the build quality makes it weigh less for it's size. Cheap parts???? It feels cheap in your hand.
*It is 1/2 stop less light than the 1.4 lens (not a huge deal)
Nikon 35mm f/1.4G AF-S FX SWM Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR CamerasPros
*This feels like a pro lenses.
*Feels balanced on a D3 or D700
*Great nano coatings that allow for sharp photos in high contrast
*Sharp when in focus
*Most Bokeh (blurry backgrounds, sharp foregrounds)
Cons
*At 1.4 I had a hard time getting this lens to focus perfectly on eyes of people. (yes I do use single focus points)
*Least usable images in a fast working environment. Not a problem in a studio but in the world of photojournalism it is.
*Expensive!
Nikon 35mm f/2D AF Wide-Angle Nikkor Lens for Nikon 35mm and Digital SLR CamerasPros
*Decent focus speed
*Least expensive
*Good value
Cons
*Weird contrast issues in high contrast back lit situations
*Sharp but not as sharp as the others when in focus
*Lots of flare (good or bad depending on what you like)
*Old style coatings that don't allow for the same "resolving" power and same clarity
My winner is the 28mm 1.8. That is what I ended up purchasing. I will be selling my 35mm 2 because this lens gets the most usable images from a wedding. As a pro I need the most reliable lens for my work and because this one focuses a bit faster and locks on a bit better it was the perfect choice. There is nothing wrong with the other two lenses, they are all amazing lenses. For a wedding photographer I feel that the 28mm 1.8 lens is the best choice. Lastly the difference between 1.8 and 2.0 is not noticeable.
DISAGREE? Write why in the comments below.
Keep doing more reviews like this. Very informative. Would love some mini workshops from you guys too!
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