The Nikon AF-S Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G ($599.95) is a fairly inexpensive, lightweight 35mm f/1.8 lens for Nikon cameras. It works with both full-frame and APS-C bodies, boasts an internal focus motor, and captures images with excellent sharpness. There's no optical image stabilization, but the same can be said for most 35mm prime lenses, and there's just enough barrel distortion to talk about, but that's easily removed using software tools. It's not quite good enough to better our Editors' Choice Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM ($642.78 at Amazon) , but if you don't want a lens that's quite as pricey or as heavy as the Sigma, and can live without an f/1.4 aperture, this 35mm won't let you down.

The lens measures 2.8 by 2.8 inches (HD), weighs 10.8 ounces, and supports 58mm front filters. It's a featherweight when you compare it with the Sigma, which weighs 1.5 pounds and is bigger at 3.7 by 3 inches. The Nikkor includes a reversible, petal-style lens hood and a carrying pouch. It focuses as close as 9.8 inches, which results in a meager 1:6 magnification ratio on a full-frame camera, but isn't likely to make you feel limited when shooting with non-macro subjects in mind. The f/1.8 aperture makes it possible to capture images with a shallow depth of field, even if you aren't that close to your subject. There's no image stabilization, but that's not a common feature on a wide-angle prime. The Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM ($599.99) has it, but that's an exception to the rule.

I used Imatest to check the sharpness and distortion characteristics of the 35mm when paired with the full-frame Nikon D800 . At f1/8 it scores 2,729 lines per picture height on a center-weighted sharpness test, with very even performance from edge to edge. Stopping down to f/2 offers nominal improvement, but at f/2.8 the resolution score jumps to 3,573 lines. At f/4 it hits 3,701 lines, and it peaks at 3,755 lines at f/5.6. Diffraction sets in at f/8 (3,683 lines) and there's another dip at f/11 (3,435 lines). There's about 1.8 percent barrel distortion, which is just barely noticeable when you're shooting in the field. The lens definitely keeps pace with the D800's 36-megapixel image sensor. We tested the Sigma lens on 20-megapixel Canon EOS 6D ($1,999.99 at Amazon) , so its resolution numbers don't climb as high when stopped down, but at f/1.4 it puts up a very respectable 2,438 lines, also with even performance from edge to edge, and shows no barrel distortion.

The Nikon AF-S Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G is an excellent choice if you're a fan of the 35mm focal length, and its small size will help save some weight if you're carrying a huge full-frame D-SLR. It will pair well with a smaller body like the D610 ($731.99 at Walmart) or D7100 ($329.99 at Amazon) . It captures a lot of detail wide open, and its resolution makes a huge leap when stopped down to f/2.8. The Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM is still our favorite wide-angle prime, but if you don't want as heavy a lens, and you are happy losing half a stop of light gathering and depth of field control (and saving around $300), this Nikkor is a solid alternative.

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