The following chart presents a comparison between basic parameters of the tested Nikkor and its slower system brother, and other 1.4/35 class models designed for full frame mirrorless cameras.
It's clear that dimensions and the weight of the new Nikkor are similar to these of the f/1.8 version and, at the same time, the new model remains noticeably smaller and lighter than its direct rivals and it features the smallest diameter of the filter thread.
In the photo below the Nikkor Z 35 mm f/1.4 is positioned next to the Nikkor Z 50 mm f/1.4, launched a bit later, and the reflex camera Sigma A 35 mm f/1.4 DG HSM.
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Overall the barrel of the Nikkor Z 35 mm f/1.4 looks very ascetic, all black with few white inscriptions. You won't find here any distance or depth of field scale or aperture markings; there isn't even a switch controlling the focusing mechanism mode, not mentioning any focus lock buttons.
The tested lens starts with a metal mount that surrounds contacts and a rear element with a significant diameter, amounting to as much as 39 mm. That element doesn't move, is quite flat and is positioned practically at the same level as the contacts. The area around it is quite well blackened and matted. From this side the instrument is fully sealed and everything looks as it should.
The proper body of the lens starts with an immobile ring, covered by black plastics, on which you find a white dot, making an alignment with a camera easier, an inscription with the name and parameters of the lens, and the logo of the producer. On the lower part you find a series of darker, matte inscriptions. They state the serial number, information that the instrument was produced in China, and the range of distances it covers, ∞ - 0.27m/0.89ft.
A narrow, ribbed ring, just 9 mm wide, is the next part of the lens. It is devoid of any inscriptions or markings and used to clickless setting of parameters, chosen by the user, such as aperture, ISO, or exposure compensation.
Then you get one more part of the casing, also narrow but this time immoblie. Behind it you find a much bigger, ribbed manual focus ring, 36 mm wide. It is a focus-by-wire mechanism so here you also won't find any depth of field or distance scale - you have to rely on a simplified scale that appears on the display of the camera.
The ring moves smoothly but is properly damped. Its full range doesn't depend on the speed of your turning and amounts to about 180-190 deg. It's a lot and it allows you very precise settings.
The Nikkor Z 35 mm f/1.4 ends with a metal ring from which sticks out a mount used for fixing the hood, added in the accessory kit. The front element doesn't move, it's 35 mm in diameter, and is surrounded by a part of the barrel with parameters of the lens and a non-rotating filter thread, 62 mm in diameter.
The lens is equipped with special seals so it is more humidity- and dust-proof.
When it comes to optical construction you deal here with 11 elements positioned in 9 groups. Two elements are aspherical in shape. Inside you also find a round aperture with nine blades that can be closed down to a value of f/16 at the maximum.
It's interesting how the construction of the Nikon's 1.4/35 class evolved. On the left you see an optical diagram of the manual Nikon F version, launched in the 70s of 20th century. It underwent slight changes up to its final Al-s version, presented in 1981. Here we dealt with a quite serious modification of the double gauss construction with 9 elements positioned in 7 groups. The AF-S model, presented in 2010, where you had already 10 elements positioned in 7 groups, with one aspherical element among them, was one step further. Here the whole system looks as if the 7-element gaus was complimented by a huge 3-part front element system. In the Z 35 mm f/1.4 model from 2024 you won't find any traces of double gauss, quite the opposite. The front system is very original, with the first element that is practically concave. Additionally, the number of elements was increased to 11, the number of groups increased to 9, and the number of aspherical elements to 2. What's interesting, although the Nikkor Z 35 mm f/1.8 S features the same number of elements and groups, its construction is quite different - additionally, apart from three aspherical elements, it has also two elements made of low dispersion ED glass.
It is clear that the specialists tried to pump up the newest construction to make it surpass the performance of 1981 and 2010 models. On the other hand the company didn't want the new lens to compete with its more expensive f/1.8 brother with more expensive special elements inside.
Buyers get in the box with the lens a front cap (LC-62B), a rear cap (LF-N1) and a petal-type hood (HB-115).
