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Nikon NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.8 S — Bokeh & Optical Ray-Tracing Simulator
Interactive 3D portrait ray-traced through the published JP2019-090947A optical prescription (11 elements in 9 groups, 6 aspherical) with a 19.4 mm entrance pupil and 0.25 m minimum focus.
Optical & Portrait Specifications (Upper Body Framing)
| Optical & Portrait Metric | Measured / Patent Value | What It Means in Practice |
|---|---|---|
| Patent Prescription | JP2019-090947A · 11 elements in 9 groups (6 aspherical) | Traced surface by surface in WebGL2 |
| Entrance Pupil Diameter | 19.4 mm (at f/1.8) | Controls distant background blur disc size |
| Corner Bokeh Roundness (90% Field) | 60% at f/1.8 (≥86% from f/2.8) · -0.9 EV | Mechanical vignetting (cat’s-eye vs. round corner highlights) |
| Background Field of View (Compression) | 55° horizontal | Width of the background room visible behind the subject |
| Upper-Body Working Distance | 1.42 m | Camera-to-subject distance for head-to-waist framing |
| Effective Focal Length (Breathing) | 34.3 mm (-1.9%) | Actual framing focal length at portrait distance |
| Depth of Field (Sharp Zone) | 26 cm (1.30 m – 1.56 m) | Sharp zone at wide-open aperture |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 0.25 m | Closest focusing distance from the sensor |
Questions
How much background blur and corner cat's-eye does the Nikon NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.8 S produce?
Wide open at f/1.8, the Nikon NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.8 S has a 19.4 mm entrance pupil (35 mm ÷ 1.8) and 60% bokeh roundness in the 90% corner (-0.9 EV corner falloff, reaching ≥86% roundness from f/2.8). In an upper-body portrait at 1.42 m, the sharp depth-of-field zone spans 26 cm (1.30 m to 1.56 m) with a 55° horizontal background angle of view.
Does the Nikon NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.8 S show focus breathing at portrait distance?
Based on patent JP2019-090947A, tracing the focusing group at 1.42 m gives an effective framing focal length of 34.3 mm (-1.9% vs. the nominal 35 mm). You can toggle "Match subject size" in the simulator to see the framing shift live.
What optical design is inside the Nikon NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.8 S?
The patent prescription (JP2019-090947A) specifies 11 lens elements in 9 groups with 6 aspherical surfaces. The interactive Optical X-Ray above traces rays through every surface in real time.
Related comparisons
- Nikon NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.8 S vs. Nikon NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.2 S
- Nikon NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.8 S vs. Nikon NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.4
- Nikon NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.8 S vs. Nikon NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S
- Nikon NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.8 S vs. Nikon NIKKOR Z 24mm f/1.8 S
Compare with similar portrait lenses
- Sony FE 35mm F1.8
- Nikon 35mm f/2 AF-D FX
- Nikon 35mm f/2 AI-s
- Canon RF 35mm F1.8 MACRO IS STM
- Sony AF 35mm F2
- Nikon 28mm f/1.4E FX
Also see: depth of field, bokeh, crop factor, lens compression.