Brightin Star 35mm f1.4 Review: The Lens of Your Dreams

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Tiny but effective, the all-new 35mm f1.4 lens from Brightin Star doesn’t just look good, it performs like a keeper too. If you’re a manual focus photography enthusiast, you’ll enjoy using this lens once you get used to its size.

The Big Picture: Brightin Star 35mm f1.4 Review Conclusions

A close-up of a black camera with a lens and strap, placed on a dark green cushioned surface. — The Brightin Star 35mm f1.4 Z mount lens on my Nikon Zf

The Brightin Star 35mm f1.4 is a lens that doesn’t try to be perfect, and this is probably why some photographers will love it. Wide open, you can expect dreamy, soft images with noticeable halation and creamy bokeh. Stop it down past f5.6, and it cleans up into a reasonably sharp walkabout lens. Build quality is rather neat when you consider how relatively inexpensive it is. Furnished with an all-metal body, it feels far more premium than the $189.99 price tag suggests. Incredibly compact and lightweight, it’s a genuine everyday carry option for Nikon Z users who want to immerse themselves in manual photography.

Small and lightweight (218g, 55×42mm)
Excellent metal build quality
Creamy, pleasing bokeh at f1.4
Clicked / smooth aperture ring setting
Heavy vignetting at wider apertures
Almost a bit too small
Noticeable halation and softness from f1.4 to f2.8
Great walkabout lens for manual focus enthusiasts

The Brightin Star 35mm f1.4 Z-mount lens won’t replace your 35mm f1.4 Z. Both these lenses have character, but appeal in very different ways. If you’re looking for a nostalgically styled, character-filled manual lens that slips into any bag which makes you slow down and connect more with your shots, this is a solid option. Especially for street photographers and anyone shooting with Nikon’s retro-styled Zf and Zfc cameras.

Experience

A person holding a Nikon Z camera with both hands, wearing a green shirt. — My fingers look huge next to the Brightin Star 35mm f1.4 Z mount lens

Let me start with something unusual: this lens is almost too small. I have small hands. Not tiny, but smaller than average. And even I found the Brightin Star 35mm f1.4 to be a tad undersized. When I first picked it up, I actually wished it was a bit bigger, not because it’s hard to use, but because the build quality is so good that I wanted more of it in my hands. I did think it would be at least 25 to 30% bigger, and I based that assumption on the press release images we were sent for our news article about this lens.

The metal body feels fantastic – cold, dense, premium. The focusing ring has better resistance and throw to it for a lens this size. The aperture ring clicks solidly but there’s also a switch for stepless adjustments if you’re into videography – a thoughtful addition at this price point. The lens markings are crisp and easy to read, with distance scales and depth-of-field indicators. It’s a lens that can live in any camera bag (or jacket pocket) without much hassle.

A camera lens resting on a wooden surface near a keyboard and a detached lens cap. — The Brightin Star 35mm f1.4 Z mount lens

But again, the size does create some handling quirks. On my Nikon Zf, the lens felt balanced and natural. The retro design pairs well with this kind of small manual glass, even if I personally feel it should be bigger. On the Z8, though, the lens looked almost comical. The Z8’s large hand grip completely dwarfed the lens. It looked like mounting a homeopathic medicine bottle on a professional body. Functionally though it worked fine. Visually and ergonomically, some might say it’s a bit of a mismatch.

The lens doesn’t feel hollow or cheap. The mount is solid with no wobble when attached to either my Zf or Z8. There’s no weather sealing advertised, and I certainly wouldn’t expect any at this price. But there also aren’t obvious gaps where dust could easily enter. I used this lens outdoors in Dubai – which means dust, sand, and heat – and my sensor stayed clean.

Brightin Star doesn’t include electronic contacts, so your camera won’t record EXIF data like aperture or focal length. You can still do this in the Non-CPU lens settings and the Zf has a feature that can virtually write the aperture value to your image files. You set the aperture via the aperture ring on the Brightin Star 35mm f1.4 then dial the aperture ring on your Nikon Zf to set the same aperture value on your LCD. Each time you shoot, this aperture value gets written to the image file. Just remember to change the same via the aperture dial on the camera, when you adjust the lens’s aperture ring too.

A camera lens rests on a table surrounded by several scattered photographs. — It’s small. Those are 4×4 inch prints behind it

Focusing is straightforward thanks to focus peaking. On both the Zf and Z8 peaking indicators were reasonably accurate. Of course, at f1.4, the depth of field is extremely shallow, and you’ll need to be rather precise with the focus ring. Shooting on the streets, I found myself stopping down to f5.6 at least, setting a zone focus distance and using Auto ISO. That’s where this lens shines as a walkabout option. And if you enjoy doing closeups, this lens can focus as close as 1ft away.

Image Quality

A single young plant stem with green leaves stands out among blurred green foliage. — Shot at f1.4 on the Brightin Star 35mm

Here is where the Brightin Star 35mm f1.4 reveals its personality, but also a lot of its limitations. Between f1.4 and f2.8, you can’t deny that the lens is noticeably soft. There’s also a dreamy halation effect, especially around highlights which some photographers will call character, but others will easily label as a flaw. It really depends on what you’re shooting. Wide open at this aperture, portraits can take on a ethereal, romantic quality. Softness isn’t harsh and bokeh lovers will lap up the genuinely creamy results. Smooth, pleasant, and not distracting. I guess this is where the double-Gaussian design does its job. This is one of the lens’s strong suits for those who enjoy these kinds of images.

A traditional wooden boat with a canopy floats on calm water, city buildings and a mosque in the background. — Shot at f11 or f16

But if you’re looking for edge-to-edge sharpness, it’s time to stop down. From f5.6 onward the halation clears up considerably, and the center is nicely sharp, becoming the sweet starting point for street and landscape work. f8 onwards even the corners are much sharper.

Colors are fairly accurate, but something will almost certainly jump out at you. In high-contrast scenes, the shadows can feel quite contrasty. You may want to lift shadows slightly in post. Vignetting in some images is what really surprised me. Again, it all dials into the character of this lens, and you know us – we hate modern mirrorless lenses that are clinically sharp.

All the images below have not been edited and were shot using in-camera picture control profiles.

Close-up of a Mercedes-Benz emblem on a shiny teal car hood.

Close-up of a metal bar labeled N631-3.5 with a blurred background.

Clothes hanging to dry on a line above a washing machine outdoors, against a beige wall and metal fence.

Stacks of used car tires and radiators are piled beside a beige wall in an outdoor storage area.

A red metal shelf holding paint cans stands against a stained, beige wall in an outdoor setting.

A blurry barbed wire in focus, with a fence and outdoor storage area in the background under a clear sky.

Corrugated metal fence with orange supports, photographed from below against a clear blue sky.

A yellow metal gate blocks parked cars in a sunlit outdoor parking area.

Three stained plastic containers sit on a paint-splattered, cluttered workbench.

Messy shelves with various tools, boxes, and bags in a workshop or storage area with scattered items.

Three large off-road tires stacked in an alleyway with more tires and laundry hanging in the background.

A red metal box and a white washer near a tan wall with clothes hanging on a line in the background.

Close-up of a car tire near a platform with yellow and black hazard stripes on a worn concrete floor.

A close-up of a car tire and rim on a lift in an auto repair shop.

Close-up of a blue car’s front wheel on a parking ramp with yellow and black stripes.

A red fire hose reel mounted on a gray wall, with the hose loosely coiled below.

A dusty red Honda motorcycle parked indoors near a wall, with mirrors and handlebars visible.

A person carrying a garment bag walks through a sunlit garage near a black car.

Green leafy plant in focus with blurred parked cars and buildings in the background on a sunny day.

A small tiled kitchen with a sink, microwave, water coolers, and various containers on the counter.

A person stands near an open door beside a red fire alarm switch on a green wall.

A faded green sign on a yellow door reads Push bar to open above a horizontal metal push bar.

Trucks and cars parked outside an industrial building on a sunny day.

Close-up of green leaves on a branch with a blurred background.

A car key hangs on a metal hook attached to a perforated black tool wall in a workshop.

A blurry workshop is seen through a metal grid fence, with soft lighting in the background.

Close-up of a silver car’s rear left taillight, with a blurred street and buildings in the background.

A floral 2023 diary placed on top of automotive catalogs on a blue surface.

Close-up of a fuel pump nozzle; a black car is parked in the blurred background inside a garage.

Sunlight illuminates a beige stone wall with ornate carvings; shadowed stairs and greenery in the foreground.

Three traditional drums stacked against a textured wall in a narrow, sunlit alleyway.

Beige traditional building with carved details, tree at right, wires along the wall, and clear sky above.

Black and white photo of an old buildings archway with tree shadows on the ground and wall.

Outdoor seating area of a Tim Hortons cafe and bakeshop with closed shutters and empty tables in sunlight.

Sunlit courtyard with wooden doors, shadows, and a tree partially visible through an arched entrance.

Waterfront walkway with nets and string lights, buildings and water visible in the background under clear sky.

Dimly lit corridor with wooden doors, leading to a bright outdoor area where a person is walking in the distance.

Brown shade sails and stone walls against a clear blue sky, viewed from below, with a hanging light fixture.

A sunlit alley with old beige buildings, a tree, and a distant view of modern glass skyscrapers.

A tree seen through an opening in sun shade sails, with string lights against a clear blue sky.

A vintage lantern is mounted on a wooden post with a rustic building blurred in the background.

A rustic wooden bench sits in front of a weathered wooden door set in a textured, sandy-colored wall.

A large white and blue ferry docked beside a waterfront promenade under a clear blue sky.

A black bird perches on a riverside post with modern buildings in the background.

Thick ropes coiled around yellow bollards on a ship’s green deck with blurred water in the background.

A boat on a calm river with buildings and a mosque in the background under a clear blue sky.

A traditional market building with red coverings and wind towers under a clear blue sky.

A man in blue sits by a waterfront, with buildings and a boat on the river under a clear sky.

A traditional wind tower seen from below, framed by wooden beams against a clear blue sky.

A person walks through a narrow alleyway draped with red fabric, towards a bright, sunlit street.

Wooden docks and black mooring posts by calm water with city buildings in the background under a clear sky.

Bright yellow pedestrian sign with an arrow, next to a construction barrier on a city street.

Wooden dock and support pillar with barnacles, casting shadows over dark, rippled water.

Two buildings stand by a waterfront under a clear sky, with shops and cars visible at street level.

A close-up of a boat deck with life rings, a fire extinguisher, and patterned carpet by water.

Two small boats with red covers docked by a waterfront, with tall buildings in the background.

Wooden boat with tiled seating area floating on dark water, sunlight casting shadows on the deck.

Colorful boats with UAE flags docked by a river, city skyline and clear blue sky in the background.

Construction workers in safety gear operate a crane truck on a city street near traffic signs and barriers.

Traditional wooden boats with UAE flags docked on a calm waterfront with city buildings in the background.

A quiet, sunlit street in a city with closed shops, parked cars, and tall buildings on both sides.

A small grocery store with a round green G Grocery sign and snack packets hanging outside.

A mosque minaret is reflected in a puddle on a wet stone pavement.

A beige mosque minaret with a crescent finial against a clear blue sky, framed by dark rooftops.

A person walks through a dim, narrow alleyway toward a brighter, busier street in the distance.

A narrow, dimly lit alley opens to a brighter street where a person is walking near shop entrances.

Shirts hanging behind clear plastic with a NOW OP sign and a note with a phone number on the window.

A person in a blue shirt works inside a brightly lit room with buckets and construction materials.

UAE flag hangs above a shaded alley where three cats sit near a tree and a closed shop.

Water pipes with green and blue shirts hanging, next to a wooden door and a wall with a small electrical box.

Street scene with grocery store, road construction barriers, debris, and trees under bright sunlight.

A dimly lit market corridor with shops, goods on display, and UAE flags hanging above doorways.

A blurred person on a scooter passes a city street with a bus, buildings, and a map sign in the background.

A close-up of a mound of tandoori spice powder with a sign labeled “Tandoori” in the background.

A traditional wooden boat sails on calm water with city buildings and a minaret in the background.

A traditional wooden boat with a UAE flag sails on a calm creek, city buildings in the background.

Close-up of a wooden boats stern on calm green water, with ropes and reflections visible.

People sit on a wooden boat crossing a river, with city buildings and clear blue sky in the background.

A man in uniform stands behind a wooden counter on a boat, with a city skyline and water in the background.

A person leans over a waterfront with city buildings and a mosque in the background under a clear sky.

Colorful scarves and fabrics neatly displayed in a dimly lit market or shop.

A person holds a Nikon Z camera outdoors, wearing a green shirt and a watch.

Tech Specs

Taken from the Brightin Star 35mm f1.4 product page:

Parameter	Specification
Format	Full Frame
Focal Length	35mm
Lens Structure	7 elements in 6 groups
Aperture Range	F1.4 – F16
Aperture Blades	10
Angle of View	63.2°
Filter Size	49mm
Focus Range	0.3m – ∞
Focus Type	MF
Mounts	E / RF / Z / L / X

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