Nikkor AF 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5D ED (FX) - Review / Test Report - Sample Images & Verdict
Lens Reviews - Nikon / Nikkor (full format)

Sample Shots

The following sample shots were taken with a D3x and RAW-converted via Capture One.

Click on a thumbnail to view the original file (opens in a separate window).

Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 20.0mm
Aperture: f/3.5
Exposure 1/2500s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 21.0mm
Aperture: f/8.0
Exposure 1/500s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 200
Focal Length 23.0mm
Aperture: f/5.6
Exposure 1/800s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 18.0mm
Aperture: f/8.0
Exposure 1/320s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 18.0mm
Aperture: f/8.0
Exposure 1/500s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 26.0mm
Aperture: f/5.6
Exposure 1/800s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 160
Focal Length 18.0mm
Aperture: f/8.0
Exposure 1/50s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 160
Focal Length 18.0mm
Aperture: f/5.6
Exposure 1/400s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 160
Focal Length 32.0mm
Aperture: f/8.0
Exposure 1/125s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 160
Focal Length 35.0mm
Aperture: f/6.3
Exposure 1/320s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 125
Focal Length 35.0mm
Aperture: f/8.0
Exposure 1/250s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 125
Focal Length 24.0mm
Aperture: f/8.0
Exposure 1/250s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 125
Focal Length 26.0mm
Aperture: f/5.6
Exposure 1/1000s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 125
Focal Length 18.0mm
Aperture: f/8.0
Exposure 1/100s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 125
Focal Length 35.0mm
Aperture: f/8.0
Exposure 1/160s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 125
Focal Length 35.0mm
Aperture: f/4.5
Exposure 1/640s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 125
Focal Length 24.0mm
Aperture: f/8.0
Exposure 1/500s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 125
Focal Length 18.0mm
Aperture: f/3.5
Exposure 1/1600s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 125
Focal Length 32.0mm
Aperture: f/5.6
Exposure 1/200s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 125
Focal Length 35.0mm
Aperture: f/4.5
Exposure 1/320s

Verdict

The Nikkor AF 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5D ED was Nikon's first consumer grade wide angle zoom lens and the results achieved by this lens on the D3x clearly show how much this market segment has evolved over the recent years.

The lens delivers very good to excellent sharpness in the image center, but that's about all the good news we can report. The borders and corners are poor for most of the zoom range and the lens needs to be stopped down considerably to achieve acceptable sharpness down to the image corners. Distortion is very high and unfortunately not uniform at the widest setting, but smoothens and decreases when zooming in. Vignetting is quite high wide open, especially at short focal lengths, but can be reduced by stopping down. CAs are also significantly higher at the short end of the zoom range, but can easily be cured in post processing.

The build quality of the lens is ok and on the same level as other Nikon consumer lenses of that era. However, that can't balance out the optical flaws of the lens.

Optical Quality:    
★★★★★
Mechanical Quality:
★★★★★
Price/Performance:
discontinued

Click here for an explanation of our star ratings


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