Nikon NIKKOR Z DX MC 35mm F 1 7 Review | 54 Data compared

The Nikon Z DX MC 35mm f/1.7 is a compact, lightweight (220g) standard prime lens designed for Nikon's APS-C mirrorless cameras, offering a natural 52.5mm equivalent field of view. While marketed as a macro lens, it provides a maximum magnification of 0.67x rather than a true 1:1 ratio, though this translates to a full 1.0x magnification when factoring in the 1.5x DX crop factor. Performance-wise, the lens delivers exceptional center-sharpness even wide-open at its bright f/1.7 aperture, with edges catching up by f/2.8. It features minimal distortion, negligible color fringing, and a high-speed linear stepping motor that ensures fast, silent autofocus transitions during both photography and video recording. The lens boasts several distinct pros, including a robust build featuring a proper metal mounting plate with a rubber weather-seal gasket—a major step up from previous plastic-mount DX lenses. Its relaxed 16cm minimum focus distance also grants a comfortable 6cm working distance, preventing the lens from blocking ambient light on close-up subjects. However, it has notable cons: it lacks optical image stabilization, which is problematic since no current Nikon DX bodies feature...

The Nikon Nikkor Z DX MC 35mm f/1.7 is a highly versatile, lightweight (220g) prime macro lens designed for Nikon’s APS-C mirrorless cameras, such as the Z50 II and Zfc. Providing a 52.5mm full-frame equivalent focal length, it excels as an everyday walkaround lens for street, portrait, and landscape photography, rather than just close-up work. Key specifications include a wide f/1.7 maximum aperture with 9 diaphragm blades for creamy background bokeh, a 0.16m close-focusing distance, and a 0.67x magnification ratio. Optically, the lens delivers impressive edge-to-edge sharpness with very low levels of distortion and chromatic aberration, and it features dust and drip resistance alongside a smooth, customisable control ring. The review highlights several clear pros and cons to help buyers weigh its value, which sits around $450/£399. On the positive side, its main advantages include a highly useful and adaptable focal length, an exceptionally small and light form factor, and a wide aperture that facilitates excellent low-light performance and beautiful bokeh. Furthermore, its autofocus system operates quickly and almost silently, making it ideal for quiet environments and video production. Conversely,...

The Nikon Z 35mm f/1.7 Macro DX, reviewed on KenRockwell.com, is an affordable, lightweight (220g) prime lens designed for APS-C mirrorless cameras, offering a fast f/1.7 aperture and high sharpness through Aspherical ED glass. A key strength is its 0.5-foot close-focusing distance, which delivers a 0.67× magnification ratio, complemented by an automatic, consistent exposure system. While optically excellent, the lens lacks built-in Image Stabilization (VR) and physical AF/MF switches, and the maximum aperture closes to f/3.2 at its closest focusing distance. Additionally, the lens features a subtle white mounting index dot that can make attachment less intuitive in low light.

The Nikon NIKKOR Z DX MC 35mm f/1.7 is a compact, 220-gram prime lens built for Nikon's APS-C (DX-format) mirrorless cameras, offering a 52.5mm full-frame equivalent focal length. While marketed as a macro lens, it provides a maximum magnification of 0.67x rather than a true 1:1 ratio. The lens delivers excellent center sharpness, impressive close-up texture detail rendering, and a bright f/1.7 aperture that allows for strong low-light performance and shallow depth of field. Its upgraded build quality includes a metal lens mount, and its quiet stepping motor makes it well-suited for both stills and autofocus video recording. However, the lens has notable drawbacks, most significantly the complete lack of optical image stabilization. Because Nikon’s DX camera bodies also lack in-body image stabilization (IBIS), handheld shooting—especially in macro work where camera shake is magnified—becomes a challenge when stopping down the aperture. Additionally, the effective aperture drops to f/3.2 at its minimum 6.3-inch focusing distance. Optically, users will experience noticeable corner vignetting when shooting wide open at f/1.7, along with corner softness and a susceptibility to lens flaring when pointed toward...