Lens review: Thypoch Simera 35mm f/1.4 (Z-mount)

To be completely honest when I was offered the Thypoch Simera 35mm f/1.4 to review (as well as the 28mm for Sony E-mount), I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect. I knew it was a completely manual lens and we were fine with that. Both my hubby and I have been using Lensbaby lenses for years now. I didn’t think of the Simera as a “creative” lens as such, but after using them, we believe it really is a creative lens. Being 35mm, it’s not exactly a wide-angle either. My husband actually owns the Nikon Z6 and mostly took this lens through its paces. We discussed the pros and cons of these lenses in great detail.

Note: While we received this lens for review and return from Thypoch, it is a completely independent review, all thoughts are our own.

Pros

• Super shallow depth of field at f/1.4 – f/1.8 (will go to f/16)
• 0.4m minimum focal distance
• The linear response in Manual Focus mode feels smooth and responsive
• The focus ring has a little stub on it, making it smooth and easy to use, as well as the grip
• Bright highlights and deep shadows
• Vintage feel

Cons

• Soft focus, even when the image is in focus, it is still a little soft
• It has a slight vignette on the edges, quite pronounced at f/11 – f/16
• The lens cap is held on with foam and could wear over time, making possibly it easy to fall off?
• Quite expensive for a 3rd part, non-AF prime lens
• Rear lens cap would not fit other Nikon Z lenses

Thypoch Simera 35mm f/1.4 – Technical specifications

All technical specifications have been taken from Thypoch’s website. Please see the website for full details.

• Mount: Nikon Z-mount (also comes in other mounts such as Sony E- mount, M, RF and X)
• Format: 35mm full-frame
• Focal Length: 35mm
• Image Circle: 43.2mm (FF)
• Angle of View : 64⁰ / 55⁰ / 38⁰ (Z-mount)
• Maximum Aperture: f/1.4
• Minimum Aperture: f/16
• Construction of Optics: 9 Elements in 5 Groups
• Iris blades: 14
• Minimum Focus Distance: 0.45m
• Filter Diameter: 49mm
• Dimensions (L): 66.4mm (2.61″) without lens hood / 80mm (3015″) with lens hood
• Weight: 330 grams
• Colour: Black or Silver (Z, M, RF and X), E mount in Black only

Thypoch Simera 35mm f/1.4 – Ergonomics and build quality

• High grade of build, classic and elegant design, made from anodized aluminium alloy
• Good features and general handling, compatible with Nikon Z-mount without the need for adaptors
• Manual aperture and manual focus
• Very soft bokeh with a gentle focus fall-off, isolating subjects from their surrounding
• Low chromatic aberrations
• It’s compact and lightweight design would make for the ideal street photography lens
• Automatic depth of field indicator, supposedly enables photographers to visualise the range of focus within their composition, but I never actually used it at all. Possibly just a gimmick? Perhaps helpful to some photographers?

Thypoch Simera 35mm f/1.4 – In the field

Despite the small size of the lens, when used with the Nikon Z6, it actually feels very comfortable in my hands and well-balanced on the camera. I enjoyed the high contrast and the images looked great in black and white. The focus ring is smooth and well-positioned, and felt comfortable. I used it mostly for landscapes and gardens. Not exactly a landscape lens, but was suitable for more creative shots. The minimum focal distance makes this lens unsuitable for true macro, but it was great at f/1.4 for some garden shots.

Thypoch Simera 35mm f/1.4 – Performance

It is a true manual lens, so it takes a little longer to set up focus. Could perhaps take a while to compose and focus for people/portraits on the move. Even at f/1.4 there is a creamy bokeh. I did find the sweet spot at f/1.8. I used the magnification feature and focus indicator to maintain focus.

Thypoch Simera 35mm f/1.4 – Image quality and characteristics

Distortion control and vignetting

I found there was a slight vignetting on the edge of images, especially at f/11 – f/16. Not that it was overly distracting. But definitely noticeable at f/16 in the right conditions. Even with low light at f/1.8 I was easily able to set my focus with peak metering. I adore the soft velvety, almost vintage feel of the images.

Chromatic aberrations, flares and ghosting

When shooting high-contrast areas (ie bright skies and shady trees), I found minimal magenta chromatic aberration on the fringes. Easy fix in most cases. No real ghosting, but there was some lens flare. This lens was not tried with studio lights.

Sharpness and bokeh

I found the focus a little soft, I certainly wouldn’t call it tack sharp. You do get lovely bokeh when shooting into the light, although a little on the small and soft side. It gave a lovely velvety vintage feel to many of the images.

Color rendition

I found everything I captured was mostly true to color, but I found a slight degradation in color saturation where there was focus fall-off, much like the Simera 28mm. I found I like the black and white high contrast images with this lens, with the aperture at f/1.8, although it did take some nice landscapes as well.

Thypoch Simera 35mm f/1.4 – Best for artistic photographers

This lens was used for gardens and some landscapes. Neither of us are street photographers, but I honestly think this lens would be ideally suited for just this genre, or an artistic photographer, perhaps even architecture, even though it takes a little while to get your focus. However, I felt the price is a little on the expensive side for a prime lens.

You can check out the unboxing video over on Youtube (I also mentioned the Thypoch Simera 28mm f/1.4 in the unboxing video).