Not long after we 'complained' about how there are no F1.4 lenses for Canon RF and Nikon Z mounts, both companies released their first F1.4 lenses, both coincidentally 35mm focal lengths! Canon released the video-oriented Canon RF 35mm F1.4 L VCM beginning of this June and Nikon now released the Nikkor Z 35mm F1.4 which is at $599 the most budget-friendly lens of the group by far. The Nikon 35mm F1.4 is even cheaper than the Nikkor Z 35mm F1.8 S (MSRP $899, currently $696).
Below we have compared the Nikon, Canon, and Sony FE 35mm F1.4 GM in size, features, and price to find out how the new Nikkor holds up.
Size
Here is a size comparison of the new Nikon with its Canon and Sony counterparts. Nikon is clearly the most compact and lightweight lens in comparison which is a big win in my opinion.
Canon RF 35mm F1.4 vs Sony FE 35mm F1.4 GM vs Nikon Z 35mm F1.4
For further comparison, let's look at the Z 35mm F1.4 vs Z 35mm F1.8 S lens. They have almost the same size despite the F1.4 lens being 2/3-stops faster!
Nikon Nikkor Z 35mm F1.4 vs Nikon Nikkor Z 35mm F1.8 S Size Comparison
Features
This is where the new Nikon Z 35mm F1.4 lags behind the competition. It is a 'barebones' lens, featuring only a focus ring and a customizable control ring with no additional controls on the body, not even an AF/MF switch. In contrast, the other two lenses are among the most feature-rich 35mm lenses on the market.
Another factor to consider is that the Nikkor doesn't belong to Nikon's S line, which includes the company's lenses with the highest optical and build quality lenses. Meanwhile, the Canon is an L series lens and the Sony is a GM lens, their respective top-of-the-line series. We don't know yet how good the optical quality of the Nikkon Z 35mm F1.4 is, but it wouldn't be a surprise if it falls behind the other two.
| FEATURE and SPECS COMPARISON | |  |  |  |
| Model | Nikon Z 35mm F1.4 | Canon RF 35mm F1.4 | Sony FE 35mm F1.4 GM |
| Lens Type | Prime | Prime | Prime |
| Lens Mount | Nikon Z | Canon RF | Sony E |
| Focal Length | 35mm | 35mm | 35mm |
| Max Format | 35mm FF | 35mm FF | 35mm FF |
| Number of Diaphragm Blades | 9 | 11 | 11 |
| Optical Elements | 11 | 14 | 14 |
| Optical Groups | 9 | 11 | 10 |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 0.27m | 0.28m | 0.27m |
| Max Magnification | 0.18x | 0.18x | 0.23x |
| Weight | 415g | 555g | 524g |
| Length | 87mm | 99mm | 96mm |
| Diameter | 75mm | 77mm | 76mm |
| Filter Thread | 62mm | 67mm | 67mm |
| Weather Sealing | | | |
| Aperture Ring | | | |
| Price | Amazon, B&H Photo | Amazon, B&H Photo | Amazon, B&H Photo |
Another questionable area is the auto-focus performance. The Nikkor Z 35mm F1.4 employs a stepper motor for AF but the Canon and Sony both use more advanced linear motors for AF-drive.
Price
Kudos to Nikon for offering the most affordable 35mm F1.4 lens from major manufacturers in the mirrorless market by a significant margin. The Nikkor 35mm F1.4 has an MSRP of $599, a price point that hasn't been seen even in the DSLR era. In contrast, the Sony FE 35mm F1.4 GM is priced at $1,399, and the Canon RF 35mm F1.4 L VCM is priced at $1,499.
Conclusion
The Nikon Nikkor Z 35mm F1.4 will be released mid of July and that's when we will have a better idea about its optical quality, pros and cons, but even from today, I can claim that Nikon has a winner due to its extremely affordable (relatively) price point. Another big advantage is that it is smaller and lighter than both of its competitors that we have compared in this post.
