Nikon Nikkor Z 35 mm f/1.4 review - Coma, astigmatism and bokeh

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Nikon Nikkor Z 35 mm f/1.4

25 November 2024

Maciej Latałło

7. Coma, astigmatism and bokeh

The correction of coma and higher-order aberrations that create deformations of point-like images of light put in the frame corners is fatal. We don't hesitate to use such strong terms because the results of these deformations are not only visible very well in the corner of full frame but also in the corner of the APS-C/DX sensor. Such a performance explains very well weak resolution results on the edge of frame near the maximum relative aperture. To put it simply, a lens with such a coma level has no chances whatsoever of providing images of sensible resolution quality.

As if it wasn't enough, the results, presented here, are even weaker than the already poor results of the Nikkor Z 50 mm f/1.4, tested by us not so long ago.

Center, f/1.4	Corner APS-C, f/1.4	Corner FF, f/1.4

Center, f/2.0	Corner APS-C, f/2.0	Corner FF, f/2.0

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In order to explain the weak performance in this category thoroughly we decided to present crops taken from photos of the sky taken from the right-hand upper corner of full frame. This time, however, we show shots by f/1.4, f/2.0, and f/2.8. It is clear that even on stopping down the aperture by 2 EV coma is not reduced to zero and corrected in a perfect way – its effects still remain visible. It's difficult to find a good explanation for such abysmal performance.

Corner FF, f/1.4	Corner FF, f/2.0	Corner FF, f/2.8

Astigmatism, understood as an average difference between horizontal and vertical MTF50 function values amounted to 15.6%. It's a result on a borderline between medium and high level, so raising already some objections.

The appearance of out-of-focus images we got with the Nikkor Z 35 mm f/1.4 can be described as nice. Despite using two aspherical elements you won't see any traces of onion-ring bokeh. Some reservations can be raised when it comes to brighter edges of circles put in frame corners. Mechanical vignetting can make itself felt a bit but it disappears completely on stopping down the aperture by 2 EV.

Wygląd obrazów pozaogniskowych uzyskiwanych przez Nikkora Z 35 mm f/1.4 można określić mianem ładnego. Pomimo zastosowania dwóch elementów asferycznych, nie uświadczymy tutaj problemów z cebulowym bokeh. Pewne zastrzeżenia można zgłosić za to do jaśniejszych krawędzi krążków umieszczanych w rogach kadru. Trochę daje znać o sobie winietowanie mechaniczne, ale znika ono całkowicie po przymknięciu przysłony o 2 EV.

Center, f/1.4	Corner APS-C, f/1.4	Corner FF, f/1.4

Center, f/2.0	Corner APS-C, f/2.0	Corner FF, f/2.0

Center, f/2.8	Corner APS-C, f/2.8	Corner FF, f/2.8