Review: Nikon Nikkor Z 35mm f1.2 S lens

By Anthony McKee | 17 June 2025
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One big promise made of mirrorless cameras was their potential for improved lens designs - broad lens mounts and shallow flange distances meant lenses could be made faster, sharper and more compact than SLR lens designs.

But a decade into the mirrorless revolution, lenses are not getting smaller, but bigger!

Case in point is the Nikon Nikkor Z 35mm f1.2 S wide-angle, a lens that recently joined Nikon’s Z 50mm f1.2 S lens (released in 2020) and Z 85mm f1.2 S lens (released in 2023).

Despite its size, the Nikon Z is still comfortable to shoot with, although it can make your subjects a little intimated. The lens measures 150mm in length and weighs 1060grams without the hood and caps.
Despite its size, the Nikon Z is still comfortable to shoot with, although it can make your subjects a little intimated. The lens measures 150mm in length and weighs 1060grams without the hood and caps.

With a physical length of 150mm, the 35mm f1.2 is exactly the same length as the 85mm f1.2 lens, and at 1060-grams, it is almost the same weight too.

This lens is not only larger than Nikon’s Z 24-70mm f2.8 lens, it is longer and heavier than Nikon’s 300mm f4 PF lens. Think about that for a moment!

Admittedly, this new lens is a full stop faster than Nikon’s classic Z 35mm f1.8 S lens, and a third of a stop faster than Nikon’s recently released Z 35mm f1.4 lens, both of which are relatively compact and affordable.

But is a third of a stop really worth the $4500 this lens costs?

From left to right, Nikon’s classic 35mm f1.8 lens (weighing 370 grams), the new Nikon Z 35mm f1.2 S lens (weighing 1060-grams), and the Nikon F-mount 300mm f4 PF lens which is not only shorter than the 35mm 1.2 (excluding caps) but a mere 755-grams.
From left to right, Nikon’s classic 35mm f1.8 lens (weighing 370 grams), the new Nikon Z 35mm f1.2 S lens (weighing 1060-grams), and the Nikon F-mount 300mm f4 PF lens which is not only shorter than the 35mm 1.2 (excluding caps) but a mere 755-grams.

I started testing the lens with some street photography, although the lens is anything but discreet; it is like playing snooker with a log. I wouldn’t want to carry this lens all day for doco or travel photography either, and besides, letting your background’s blur out at f1.2 is hardly story telling.

What this lens is perfect for though, is shooting stars - both human and heavenly. I asked a friend, actress Amelia Bishop, to join me beneath Melbourne’s Bolte Bridge for some available light portraiture.

Actress Amelia Bishop was the perfect subject for this lens and its cinematic mood making. This image was shot beneath the Melbourne’s Bolte Bridge. The exposure was 1/00th at f1.2, ISO 200. Note how a friend, standing just a couple of metres, appears reasonably soft in the background.
Actress Amelia Bishop was the perfect subject for this lens and its cinematic mood making. This image was shot beneath the Melbourne’s Bolte Bridge. The exposure was 1/00th at f1.2, ISO 200. Note how a friend, standing just a couple of metres, appears reasonably soft in the background.

I frequently shoot portraits with Nikon’s 105mm f1.4 lens (I prefer it to the 85mm focal length), and at f1.4 the background is a never much more than a gentle blur.

By comparison, the 35mm f1.2 lens wide open delivers a similar softness to the background, particularly when working within a metre or two of the subject, but the wider field-of-view does add more context to the photos. The results are cinematic, as if they were a still from a movie.

The wide f1.2 aperture is useful in softening a background, even when you subject is not filling the frame. This image of Amelia beneath a Melbourne on-ramp was shot at 1/60th of a second at f1.2, 6400 ISO using available street lighting.
The wide f1.2 aperture is useful in softening a background, even when you subject is not filling the frame. This image of Amelia beneath a Melbourne on-ramp was shot at 1/60th of a second at f1.2, 6400 ISO using available street lighting.

Worth noting too, is how quickly the depth of field shallows as you approach your subject. If you move in closer than a metre, the bokeh just keeps on increasing in size. This can be really useful for separating your subject from the background, and even from a crowd.

At f1.2 even people standing a few centimetres beyond your subject will appear soft. Portrait photographers will relish this lens, but most wedding photographers will also enjoy the romance this lens brings to someone’s big day, be it celebrating a bride look stunning in the middle of the crowd, or just making a bouquet look exquisite.

A friend photographed a night in downtown Coonamble. The festoon lighting provides a good test of the bokeh of this lens. Despite testing this lens in a variety of conditions it was difficult to fault the optics. Exposure was 1/100 at f1.2, ISO 3200.
A friend photographed a night in downtown Coonamble. The festoon lighting provides a good test of the bokeh of this lens. Despite testing this lens in a variety of conditions it was difficult to fault the optics. Exposure was 1/100 at f1.2, ISO 3200.
While not really a landscape lens, the Nikon Z f35mm 1.2 is still capable of making a scene look interesting. This shot was made at 1/250th at f1.2, ISO 1600.
While not really a landscape lens, the Nikon Z f35mm 1.2 is still capable of making a scene look interesting. This shot was made at 1/250th at f1.2, ISO 1600.
While many street photographers lust after fast glass, the Nikon Z 35mm 1.2 is anything but the discreet lens you are looking for. Measuring 150 millimetres in length and weighing just over a kilogram, it screams “photographer” even before you lift the camera to your subject. This image was made by quietly placing the camera on the rail of a pedestrian bridge and quietly waiting for subjects to walk into frame. Exposure was 1/640th at f1.2, ISO 100.
While many street photographers lust after fast glass, the Nikon Z 35mm 1.2 is anything but the discreet lens you are looking for. Measuring 150 millimetres in length and weighing just over a kilogram, it screams “photographer” even before you lift the camera to your subject. This image was made by quietly placing the camera on the rail of a pedestrian bridge and quietly waiting for subjects to walk into frame. Exposure was 1/640th at f1.2, ISO 100.
A quiet portrait of a young woman waiting for an Uber. Exposure was 1/200th at 1.2, ISO 800.
A quiet portrait of a young woman waiting for an Uber. Exposure was 1/200th at 1.2, ISO 800.
The Nikon Z 35mm f1.2 has a minimum focus distance of 30cm and a macro ratio of 1:5. While it never going one your first choice for macro work, it does give blooms and bouquets a gorgeous look. Exposure was 1/160th at f1.4 ISO 200.
The Nikon Z 35mm f1.2 has a minimum focus distance of 30cm and a macro ratio of 1:5. While it never going one your first choice for macro work, it does give blooms and bouquets a gorgeous look. Exposure was 1/160th at f1.4 ISO 200.



As for the difference between f1.4 and f1.2, the aperture is an exponential tool, and that third of a stop does actually create a subtle difference. Whether that justifies spending thousands more on the lens really depends on how much you love a good bokeh. 

But this lens is not all about soft backgrounds; it is about letting a little extra light into the camera when faster shutter speeds can make a dramatic difference to your photos. Sports photographers won’t need this lens, but for astrophotographers, that third of a stop can make all the difference between stars and star trails.

A drive into outback NSW was a great opportunity to shoot the heavens and while a full moon did hamper my efforts, I was still impressed by this lens’s performance.

This weigh station was an interesting nighttime subject, even though it was the other side of a wire fencing. Shooting at 1.2 with the lens just a few centimetres meant the fence was mostly lost to a blur. Exposure was one second at f1.2, ISO 800.
This weigh station was an interesting nighttime subject, even though it was the other side of a wire fencing. Shooting at 1.2 with the lens just a few centimetres meant the fence was mostly lost to a blur. Exposure was one second at f1.2, ISO 800.

Shooting wide open at f1.2, my exposure was 4-seconds at ISO 800, which was just quick enough to ensure that the stars in my photo were a defined point and not a trail.

A full moon thwarted my attempts to make serious astro photos in the NSW outback, but even with the moon it was possible to see just how amazing this lens was at capturing the night sky. This photo was made by making numerous photos of the sign while adjusting focusing from the bottom to the top of the sign, and then making a photo an exposure of the stars. The sign photos were combined using focus stacking and the sky image was then added in using a mask. The exposure for each image was 4 seconds at f1.2, ISO 800.
A full moon thwarted my attempts to make serious astro photos in the NSW outback, but even with the moon it was possible to see just how amazing this lens was at capturing the night sky. This photo was made by making numerous photos of the sign while adjusting focusing from the bottom to the top of the sign, and then making a photo an exposure of the stars. The sign photos were combined using focus stacking and the sky image was then added in using a mask. The exposure for each image was 4 seconds at f1.2, ISO 800.

What was even more impressive though, was the overall sharpness this lens delivers from corner to corner. Not only was the lens revealing stars that were not visible to the naked eye, but the stars were pinpoint sharp across the entire frame. Even more remarkable was that there were no distortion or aberrations to worry about either.

Ideally I would have loved to have found a decent landscape to have shot with the night sky against it, but I opted for photographing a stop sign near a rail crossing.

With my Z8 mounted on a tripod I created a series of exposures while adjusting the focus from near to far across the sign. I then made a capture of the sky at the same framing. Give this lens has negligible focus breathing it was easy to focus stack the sign into the one sharp image and then drop the starry sky into the background (although I would love to have seen the results without the moonlight!).

I also managed to get along to a rodeo with this lens and again, it was just wonderful to see how f1.2 could add a cinematic feel to an ordinary scene.

Another review, another rodeo. Our visit to Coonamble (NSW) coincided with the 70th anniversary of their annual rodeo. This image was shot on dusk. The exposure was 1/630 at 1.2, ISO 400.
Another review, another rodeo. Our visit to Coonamble (NSW) coincided with the 70th anniversary of their annual rodeo. This image was shot on dusk. The exposure was 1/630 at 1.2, ISO 400.
A stadium light adds a striking look to this cowboy as he waits to enter arena for the team roping event. Exposure was 1/400th at f1.2, ISO 1600.
A stadium light adds a striking look to this cowboy as he waits to enter arena for the team roping event. Exposure was 1/400th at f1.2, ISO 1600.
The Nikon 35mm 1.2 might be a lot bigger than most other 35mm lenses on the market, but it is still capable of good story telling. This photo of a cowboy’s hands and rope on a saddle was shot at 1/200th at f1,2, ISO 400.
The Nikon 35mm 1.2 might be a lot bigger than most other 35mm lenses on the market, but it is still capable of good storytelling. This photo of a cowboy’s hands and rope on a saddle was shot at 1/200th at f1.2, ISO 400.

The wrap-up

All up, the Nikon Z 35mm 1.2 S lens is a remarkable piece of glass. Yes it is big and heavy and it is never going to replace the convenience of a 24-120mm lens, but if you love adding softness to your images, or you just want one of the sharpest 35mm lens on the market, this could be the lens for you.

The Nikon Z 35mm f1.2 is one of those unique lenses that has been made specifically for artists - photographers who have spent enough time at their craft to know exactly the look they are after.

Results

Handling ★ ★ ★ ★

At 1120-grams (with the hood), the Nikon Nikkor Z 35mm f1.2 lens is one of the biggest 35mm lenses on the market, but it is still easy to use, and dual AF motors ensure the focusing is fast and responsive.  

Features ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

The Nikon Z 35mm f1.2 has a focusing ring and aperture ring that can both be assigned other tasks, including exposure compensation and ISO sensitivity. Two function buttons can also assign be assigned a range of tasks.

Image Quality ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

The image quality from this lens is almost worthy of six stars. Even at its widest aperture the lens delivers stunningly crisp images with minimal lens flare or image distortion. There is also negligible focus breathing with this lens either, making it perfect for focus stacking if you ever need to make an image sharp across the field.

Value for money ★ ★ ★ ★

With a street price of about $4,500, the Nikon Z 35mm f1.2 S is not cheap, but the image quality that it delivers is exceptional. If you are looking for a compact 35mm lens for travel or street photography, buy the Nikon 35mm 1.8 S or their new 35mm 1.4, but if you want a wide prime for shooting portraits, weddings or even astrophotography, this lens is perfect for you.

Final Word ★ ★ ★ ★

I was a little cynical of this lens when it first arrived for testing, but having spent time with it and enjoyed the results, I do love it. The image quality from this lens is stunning, and although I am not going to rush out and buy it tomorrow, I think quite a few photographers will get a lot of great results (and enjoyment) from this lens.

gold award

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