I am honestly so fed up with my 24-70 f4 kit lens like its fine for daytime but as soon as the sun goes down it just falls apart and the noise is driving me crazy even on a Z6 which is supposed to be good at low light. I am just done with variable or slow apertures for my main walkaround setup. Anyway I am super excited because I am finally doing my dream trip to Tokyo in three weeks and I really want to just buy one single prime lens and leave the zoom at home entirely.
My logic was that a 35mm f1.8 S would be perfect for street photography and the narrow alleys but then I keep thinking about the 50mm f1.8 because I want to get some nice shots of my partner and the bokeh on that lens is supposed to be incredible for the price. I have about $750 saved up for this and I am stuck in this loop of checking reviews and then getting more frustrated because I cant decide. Like maybe the 40mm f2 is the answer because its so tiny and cheap? But is the quality actually there compared to the S line glass? I just want something that stays on the camera 90% of the time and doesnt make me want to cry when the lighting gets moody. What are you guys actually using as a daily driver for travel and general life on the Z6?
Ive spent years shooting with various Nikon bodies, and honestly, the jump from that f/4 zoom to a fast prime on your Z6 is gonna feel like a massive upgrade for those Tokyo night vibes. In my experience, if youre stuck between the 35 and 50, you have to look at the environment youre visiting. Tokyo is dense and often very cramped.
- For those narrow Shinjuku alleys, the Nikon Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.8 S is the clear winner because that extra field of view is critical when you cant exactly step back.
- The Nikon Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.8 S is objectively one of the sharpest lenses Ive ever used, but it often feels a bit tight for general street work.
- I would skip the Nikon Nikkor Z 40mm f/2 for this specific dream trip... the S-line glass deals with flare and contrast way better, which you really need with all those neon signs. Over the years, Ive tried many all-around setups, and the 35mm f/1.8 S is basically glued to my camera now. It handles the low light perfectly, and while the 50mm has slightly better bokeh for portraits of your partner, the 35mm is versatile enough to get environmental shots that tell a better story of the trip. The build quality on the S-line is also worth the extra cash over the 40mm pancake lens if youre worried about image quality. Go with the 35, it fits your budget and its basically the gold standard for travel photography.
