Nikons new 35mm 1.8 DX lens

With a minimal focus distance of 1 foot it looks like it might be ideal behind an 8" dome port. Has anyone given this little (and cheap at $200) lens a try? Its apparently only a DX lens as full frame results will have dark corners.

Doesn't sound, to me, like a very useful focal length (even on a full frame camera, where it won't work).

Tim

Not really useful.

DX Only = 52mm

It's a 52mm not capable of doing macro.

I would still go for a 60mm.

Here is the thing- Im not looking for a macro lens or a wide angle lens (I have several of each). Im curious as to its use as a mid-range lens capable of taking say for example schooling fish where I have found my 60mm macro (90mm with d2x which is what I shoot) to be too narrow and my 20mm to be too wide. The price and size are certainly attractive and it does seem to sit and I am wondering if anyone has given it a try.

20mm on a DX is a 30mm. It is very hard to get something that will render this lens too wide. But if you find yourself often in this situation and if you need something between 20-60mm for UW work I think you will be better suited with the 18-55 VR that's cheaper, more versatile and has even less min. focus distance, or a 28mm prime that would fit in an FX body in the future... but I think the zoom's IQ is maybe even better than the 28mm today.

The 35mm/1.8 is a great lens for some kinds of portraits on the dry, if you know you will be stuck with DX for a good number of years. I would not recommend it to my students, but you can go with whatever floats your boat.

Good luck!

Minimum focus is 30cm/1 foot - which could be restrictive.

Alex

20mm on a DX is a 30mm. It is very hard to get something that will render this lens too wide. But if you find yourself often in this situation and if you need something between 20-60mm for UW work I think you will be better suited with the 18-55 VR that's cheaper, more versatile and has even less min. focus distance, or a 28mm prime that would fit in an FX body in the future... but I think the zoom's IQ is maybe even better than the 28mm today.

 

The 35mm/1.8 is a great lens for some kinds of portraits on the dry, if you know you will be stuck with DX for a good number of years. I would not recommend it to my students, but you can go with whatever floats your boat.

 

Good luck!

Thanks- I might look into the 28mm- Im more of a prime lens kind of guy (I dont think fast enough to accurately compose when I have to zoom on moving critters)