| NOTE: In an attempt to revamp & rearrange content in this website, there is now a newly developed section featuring various MF Nikkor lenses, please bookmark the new site for future updates. As for SLR bodies, please refer to: - Nikkormat, Nikon EM/FG/FG20, FM series, FE Series, Nikon FA, Nikon F, Nikon F2, Nikon F3 & Nikon F4 |

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The trio - Best of Nikon' Wideangles

These are the three manual wide-aperture wideangles from Nikon.
Before the emergence of the wideangle zoom lenses of late, these lenses represent the best of what Nikon can offer users, regardless in the professional or serious amateur field. Wideangles lenses emcompass three of the most popular focal length in 35mm photography, namely: 24mm, 28mm & 35mm. While at these focal lengths, most accompanied with a few smaller aperture and more economical counterparts. At 24mm, there has a 24mm F2.8, the 28mm has twin offerings, 28mm F2.8 & 28mm 3.5; while the 35mm has a double as well, that is 35mm f2 and 35mm f2.8. All are high performance lenses as well (I knew it, because I have used all of them before).

The 24mm F2 offers a 84° picture angle and remains as one of the most popular lens in photojournalism. Though all these wideangles are suitable for a great many photographic situations, like sports, candids, portraits, interior, architectural and night photography. They all incorporate Nikon's CRC (Close Range Correction System), lightweight - around 300g and take the popular 52mm filters. Close focus down to 0.3 meter (1 foot) and optical construction are based on 11 elements in 10 groups. Many photojournalists prefer this lens over the 28mm, because of its extra depth of field and slightly broader angle of view. When compare with the 20mm, without distorting too much, further, the relatively larger aperture permits shooting in lower or unfavourable lighting condition. But most of all, of the superior optical performance it yields.(compared with older version of the 35mm F1.4 here).

Seriously, the 28mm f2 position as a prime lens at its focal length of 28mm could be subsituted by its AF counterpart, the 28mm F1.4, since if you can afford the f2, price may not be the prime factor. With its angle of view of 74°, most photographers, especially those who shoot more candid and general pictures involving the human figure prefer this lens rather than the 24mm F2. This lens is very well constructed, both internal and optically. CRC is employed to ensure high performance is retained even when close focus downed to 0.25m (0.9 ft). weighing slightly more than the 24mm F2, at 360g. Despite its larger size, dimension and relative big aperture of F2, it still takes the 52mm filters.

The 35mm F1.4 has long been hailed as one of the classic lenses within the Nikkor line-up. And before the 28mm F1.4 AF version came out to the market, it was the fastest of all Nikkor wideangles. Generally, its 62° picture angle coverage matches closest to the normal lens and matches the safe coverage of most flashes. It is solidly built, like any other Nikkor (I am quite against the AF Nikkor lenses on its cosmetics; they somehow feel very "plastic" and doubtful about its build quality, especially the first generation, and its rubber grip.. Huhh!).

(Old & current version of the Nikkor 35mm F1.4 compared)

 

AF-Nikkor 28mm f/1.4D

This mighty lens employs some of the best currently from Nikon.
With an Aspherical lens element employed, comatic flare is well corrected.
It is "D" designated, meaning distance info can be remitted for exposure evaluation as well.
CRC system retains its superior optical performance is retained even at close range. It's a huge lens (520g), and expensive. Minimum aperture is f16 instead of the traditional f22 of most Nikkor wideangles, well, may be in the opinion of the optical engineers that, people buy this lens for its speed and the focal length of 28mm's depth of field is sufficient for general applications, well, what do you think ? I don't think so...

Anyway, after spending few months with this lens, gradually growing to love it more and more. It is lazor sharp at f5.6 up. At the widest opening (f1.4 & f2), images still tend to behave like any other wide apertures lenses of any makes (even the Canon f1.0). Justify the price tag ? Yes & no - depends on your specific kind of personal photography.

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