The Nikon AF-S DX 35mm f1.8G is a new lightweight f/1.8 prime DX-format NIKKOR lens. The Nikon 35mm f1.8G features an optical design of 8 elements in 6 groups, including an aspherical element for the correction of aberrations usually associated with large aperture prime lenses.

Unlike the typical 50mm standard prime for the full frame (FX) format, this Nikon 35mm f1.8G lens's focal length is rather shorter than the flange distance from the lens mount to the imager.

The fast F1.8 maximum aperture admits more than four times as much light as the AF-S 18-55mm F3.5-5.6G VR DX kit lens, which is useful for shooting in low light while keeping shutter speeds reasonably high. The 'Silent Wave Motor' allows autofocus on all of Nikon's DSLR bodies, with the added bonus of allowing the user to tweak focus manually in AF mode if desired.

The Nikon 35mm f1.8G lens provides a maximum aperture of f/1.8 for a nicely blurred background with a very small depth of field. Besides, the length of the lens does not change while focusing. When mounted on a DX format camera such as the Nikon D90, D60 or D40, the Nikon AF-S 35mm lens provides a focal length of 50mm (1.5x focal length multiplier). The focal length will remain the same in combination with a full-frame DSLR like the Nikon D3x, D3 and D700 cameras.

The Nikon 35mm f1.8G has a nice finishing, and thanks to a rubber seal it is even water resistant up to a certain extent. The risk of moisture (not running water) entering is kept to a minimum. The shortest focus range is 30 cm. All in all, it is a most interesting additional lens, and the focal length for both types of DSLR cameras, DX and FX, and in combination with the bright f1.8, offers the user all-round possibilities.

Nikon AF-S DX 35mm f1.8G features:
 
•    35mm focal length; fast F1.8 maximum aperture
•    Silent Wave Motor allows autofocusing on all Nikon DSLRs
•    Full-time manual focus override
•    For DX format cameras