The prologue
Yongnuo has been traditionally known for its decent value third party flash units for Canon and Nikon systems. In the last few years,they have started branching out into lenses,firstly with a set of nifty fifties for the aforementioned systems. Last year they introduced their first 35MM/F2.0 lens for the EOS mount and just last month they introduced the equivalent for the Nikon F mount. Having been semi-following this for a while,when I was recently browsing for lenses on Ebay I noticed a seller had started to stock the Nikon mount YN 35MM/F2.0 in the UK so weighing up the options I made an impulse buy within minutes!!
The competitors
Well interestingly,Nikon do a cheaper 35MM lens in the case of the 35MMF/1.8 AFS. Sadly this is a APS-C lens and even though it has a good reputation for sharpness vignettes quite a bit on a full frame body like my D600! Currently around £130 to £140 brand new!
The other competitor is the venerable Nikon 35MM/F2.0 AF-D which in its current form has existed since 1995 and even earlier in its non-D form but is a full frame lens. It is an old-skool screw type lens made for film SLRs.
Can be had for around £140 to £150 in decent condition or a bit less well used but has a hit and miss reputation.
Nikon does do one other full frame 35MM lens,a full frame 35MM/F1.8 which is over £400!!
However,the little Yongnuo,not only is full frame but also as an in-built lens motor for the princely sum of £76. Might explain my impulse purchase - that is not much money for a new lens!!
The unboxing
Luckily the seller was actually located in the UK it appears so I got the lens in a few days in a non-descript package.
Its quite a small sturdy box - you don't get much apart from the caps,and some bumpf written in Chinese. There is also a warning to take off the plastic covering the elements - it seems something Yongnuo do and I am yet to hear of any other company shipping lenses with plastic stuck on lenses.