The whole debate, and associated negativity, around Nikon 1 format/range is quite odd to me. It is what it is and does quite a few things very well. I find it better than anything else that I have tried with that type of footprint in terms of reactivity, speed and AF performance. It is really cool in terms of "capturing the moment", especially when things are moving around. The 1" sensor performs really well, and the increased DoF is a blessing in many cases. It is a great step up from "compact" sensors, not a replacement for FF, APS or even m4/3. The pictures below illustrate the focal length range from wide to telephoto. The 18-200mm appears to be just slightly wider at 18mm than the 18-55mm VR.

Everything works perfectly on every digital Nikon ever made, both FX and DX, from the best D4, D800, D800E and D600 to Nikon's cheapest digitals like the D40, D40x, D60, D3000, D3100, D3200, D5000, D5100 and D5200. While Nikon's DSLRs tend to get the most attention, its 1-series mirrorless cameras have become more and more capable since their introduction in 2011. Nikon has divided its 1-series models into three segments, covering entry level (S-series), midrange (J-series), and high-end (V-series).Thecompany's latest midrange offering is the Nikon 1 J5, which sports a more upscale, classic look than its predecessor (the J4). There are more exciting changes than just appearance, as you'll see in the following slides. In jpg files, chromatic aberration is corrected by the camera. On the right, you see a 100% partial enlargement of the worst case that we encountered in terms of chromatic aberration during the test. While it looks like this lens has a focus ring, it doesn’t. It has no user controls at all. About the only thing you can do externally is to add the optional HB-N104 lens hood, which bayonets on the front of the lens but is a bit different than the usual tunnel of plastic (or metal) you usually get with a hood. It’s more of a enclosure than a tunnel, with the whole thing slanting in slightly to reveal an even narrower opening in its “roof.” The net result of the lens hood is that it is small but effective. In some ways it is similar to hoods Voigtlander has done with some of their small prime lenses. The Nikon 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5G lens is equipped with the silent wave motor, which means that autofocus will work on any modern camera, even on entry-level cameras like Nikon D5200 without an autofocus motor. The AF-S motor is also very quiet, especially compared to its AF-D predecessor. Autofocus speed is pretty comparable to other modern AF-S lenses, but the AF-D version seemed to be a little faster. The nice thing about AF-S lenses, is the ability to override focus by simply rotating the focus ring. On old AF-D lenses, including the Nikon 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5D, one had to switch to manual focus before being able to rotate the focus ring. As I have already mentioned above, the front element of the lens does not rotate during AF operation, making it a good candidate for use of polarizing filters.In this review we will have a look at how the lens performs on our current CX test camera, the Nikon V1. Lenses are just lenses, and are as effective as they are intended to be, regarding frame format they are intended for.

What is it about this lens that makes it so special in the Nikon 1 realm? It is a relatively fast standard prime, which comes at a reasonable price point. At the time of writing the price in EU is around €180. I’ve paid €200 in February 2013 and found the price more than justified considering the very fast autofocus action, the very good optical performance at wide open apertures and some unique features of the N1 cameras which increase the usability of this lens greatly in comparison to any other standard prime. I will go into more detail on that later, the point that I’m trying to make is that people who compare the 18.5/1.8 to a much larger and material intensive 35/1.8, and whine about its price, are simply wrong. The 18.5/1.8 is one hell of a lens, which is worth every penny. The lens has a metal mount, since it’s so light, I’m guessing the lens barrel is made out of aluminium alloy and a paint-job extremely resistant to abuse. After 8 months of intensive use mine still looks like brand new. There are not many lenses out there, which are able to withstand the ravages of time this well. And mine even fell from the desk down to the floor a couple of times. No dent, no scratch, nada! This photo reminded me a lot of my old Fujifilm X20 in the sense that it looks rather “flat”, making it look a bit cheap. People who say that sensor-size doesn’t matter at all could make great salespeople. Getting this result isn’t the fault of this lens entirely, it’s just a mix of several factors all coming-together. Learning how a lens performs is key to maximizing it. You’ll learn how to utilize its strengths and avoid its weaknesses. This knowledge helps in determining which lens to bring on an assignment. I shot these from f/1.8, f/2.8 and f/4 since these are the most common apertures that people would want to use this and we’ll see the most changes happen with these values. These photos were shot with my Nikon 1 J4, some of the photos were cropped close to 1:1 magnification so we can see the details better.Exposure: Yep, I’m writing about exposure again, because it’s an important nuance on Nikon 1 bodies. From an exposure standpoint, f/1.8 is f/1.8. So, yes, this is a fast lens designed for low light.

For a long time I was considering to write a review of the Nikon 18.5mm f/1.8 lens, but wasn’t able to find the time. Busy work schedule and taking photos with the lens, instead of writing about it, kept me from doing it. But now, after more than 8 months of use, I’ve finally managed to sit down and put my thoughts on paper.

Nikon 1 18.5mm f/1.8 Nikkor User Reviews

Starting at full aperture, this standard lens delivers high sharpness, even in comparison with standard lenses on SLR cameras. The 1 NIKKOR 18.5mm f/1.8 prime lens features the popular yet versatile focal length of approximately 50mm (35mm equivalent) and a large f/1.8 aperture, making it ideal for portraiture and everyday shooting. With the large aperture, consumers can create a dramatic depth of field with beautiful image blur, or shoot with confidence in challenging lighting conditions. If you want a compact ultra-sharp ultrawide zoom for Nikon, this new 18-35 is unmatched. ( Canon's 17-40mm f/4 is also excellent, but only for Canon).