Rollei’s New 35mm f/1.8 Prime Lens

credits: Rollei

Rollei has announced a new autofocus 35mm f/1.8 prime for full-frame mirrorless cameras, available for Nikon Z and Sony E mounts. The lens is based on the existing 7Artisans 35mm f/1.8 optical platform, but with Rollei’s own feature set and firmware.

From a technical perspective, the lens uses an 11-element, 8-group optical construction that includes ED, HR, and aspherical elements to control chromatic aberration and maintain edge-to-edge sharpness. The maximum aperture is f/1.8, with close focusing down to 0.4 meters. There is a 62mm filter thread up front and the lens measures roughly 9.3 × 8cm with an all metal construction.

Autofocus is driven by an STM stepping motor, which should make for smooth and quiet operation, particularly for video and continuous AF.

Rollei also includes a USB-C port on the lens barrel for firmware updates, something that is becoming increasingly common with third-party lenses. Physical controls include an AF/MF switch, a customisable function button, and (depending on mount) an aperture ring. Pricing is at $350/€299.