Community Matters

I posted a while ago about Nikon’s lack of large aperture prime lenses. And apparently this problem hasn’t escaped Nikon’s attention. After releasing an updated AF-S 50mm f/1.4G a few weeks ago, Nikon has added yet another large aperture prime, this time it’s first large apperture lens that is designed for DX cameras, the AF-S DX 35mm f/1.8G (in case you wonder, their first DX prime lens was the AF DX 10.5mm f/2.8G fisheye).

This lens doesn’t replace the full frame AF 35mm f/2.0D but instead adds a cheaper, smaller, lighter and faster lens especially for DX cameras. Reactions online have been a bit mixed, some people lamenting that it’s “only” a 1.8 and “only” a DX lens, but I think these people are missing the boat. Most Nikon shooters these days have a DX camera. And unless they are seriously considering a switch to one of the FX bodies any time soon, for them an FX prime just adds unnecessary weight and size and cost. Yes, I’d rather have seen an f/1.4 lens and I’d have preferred a 30mm or 28mm lens as their first entry (I tend to find a “52mm-equivalent” lens a little too long for many typical low-light situations, e.g. shooting indoors), but I think this is a great step in the right direction and hopefully we’ll see several more lenses follow, maybe even the new 28mm f/1.4 lens that so many of us are waiting for.

I certainly am going to look at buying the lens once it comes out (so far no one appears to take pre-orders, yet).