I had the 35/1.4 and 35/2 side by side and came to the same conclusion. The f/2 was generally cleaner, smaller and rendered the same at relevant apertures. Of course I ended up selling both and now have a 1.4, more because it was a good deal (doesn’t take filters.) I will save, I’ve gotten some shots in flatter light that showed great rendering from the 1.4 though. So might depend where/how you shoot, with high contrast light not the best environment.
How do you like the 35/1.4 Ai-S? I am thinking about getting one.
I'm not crazy about it... Mainly because it seems so big! Adding a lens hood turns that size up to 11. I also shoot Leica gear, and the equivalent 35 1.4 (CV 35 1.4 II) is literally haif the size. Mine is in like new condition....
At 1.4 is it all soft n dreamy - especially up close (all pics on film with an F3):
From f2.8-ish it snaps into sharpness with still having narrow DOF - of course as long as your subject is close!
And then when I think is it ok, I get back lit shots like this taken two days ago:
Another sunsetting pic, this time to my back:
I had this one pic which showed crazy amount of chroma. It only appeared on this one image on the entire roll, even though I had plenty of other shots against the light w high contrast. Not sure why it only happened on this one. Possibly because this was the only one taken in those conditions wide open:
Crop from above:
Build quality etc of course is when stuff was built to last forever!
Thank you so much for your comments and feedback on the lens and for your nice street images, as always! Much appreciated. The main reason I am looking into this is that I got an Ai-S version of 35/2 early this year and I quite like it. The 35/1.4 was one of the fast Nikkor lenses that I would like to get could never afford when I was a student in the early 80's. Recently, I notice a few that were below $300.
I agree with Huss, I never warmed to mine and ended up selling it. If I ever got another 35mm, it would be the f2. Just my 2¢.
