A short time ago we checked how the classic 20 mm lens, designed by Canon for analogue devices, fares in the era of digital reflex cameras. The result was not very impressive because the image quality of that expensive prime 2.8/20 lens practically didn’t exceed the results you can get using 17/18-50 f/2.8 Sigma and Tamron zooms. Show A similar situation can be observed for Nikon. This company has also such a lens, namely the Nikkor AF 20 mm f/2.8D, in its line-up; it was designed at the beginning of the 90s of the 20th century and launched on the market in 1994. From the very beginning it enjoyed an excellent opinion among the photographers working with analogue cameras. Does it fare equally well on digital devices? Find out the answer reading next chapters. Please Support UsIf you enjoy our reviews and articles, and you want us to continue our work please, support our website by donating through PayPal. The funds are going to be used for paying our editorial team, renting servers, and equipping our testing studio; only that way we will be able to continue providing you interesting content for free. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - advertisement - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The lens was lent for testing purposes by the Cyfrowe.pl shop. You are also invited to get acquainted with our test procedure, described in the article "How do we test lenses?" If you feel it’s still not enough, please go to our FAQ section where you can find some further explanation. With a dynamic wide-angle perspective and great depth of field, the AF NIKKOR 20mm f/2.8D gives you edge-to-edge sharpness with minimal distortion. Its superb optics and compact, lightweight design make it a versatile travel lens, well suited for shooting interiors, landscapes, events and more. Plus, Nikon’s Close Range Correction system (CRC) provides high performance at both near and far focusing distances. Specifications NIKKOR F Lens Specs Display SKUJAA127DA Rotationn/a De-Focus Control- Rear Focusing- Focus ModeAuto Close Range CorrectionYes Minimum Focus Distance0.25 m (0.85 ft.) Internal Focusing- Mount TypeNikon F Mount Arneo Coatn/a Nano Crystal Coatn/a G-typen/a E-typen/a Focal Length20mm Maximum Aperturef/2.8 Minimum Aperturef/22 Perspective Controln/a Lens TypePrime VR (Vibration Reduction) Image Stabilization- Micron/a Filter Size62mm AF-P (Pulse Motor)n/a Accepts Filter TypeScrew-on Dimensions (D x L) (mm)Approx. 69 x 42.5 mm (2.7 x 1.7 in.) Weight (g) (body only)*1Approx. 270 g (9.5 oz.) Optical Conversion Factor- Built-in Teleconverter Lens Groupsn/a Built-in Teleconverter Lens Elementsn/a Minimum Angle of View (Full-frame/FX-format) with built-in Teleconvertern/a Maximum Angle of View (Full-frame/FX-format) with built-in Teleconvertern/a Minimum Angle of View (APS-C size/DX-format) with built-in Teleconvertern/a Maximum Angle of View (APS-C size/DX-format) with built-in Teleconvertern/a Lens Category- Lens Groups9 Lens Elements12 Maximum Reproduction Ratio0.12x Minimum Angle of View (Full-frame/FX-format)- Maximum Angle of View (Full-frame/FX-format)94° Minimum Angle of View (APS-C size/DX-format)- Maximum Angle of View (APS-C size/DX-format)70° Zoom Ratio- High Refractive Index Elements- Image Sensor FormatFull-frame/FX-format Compatible Format(s)Full-frame/FX-format SR (Short-Wavelength Refractive) Elementsn/a Fluorine Coatn/a Aspherical Elements- Phase Fresneln/a Super ED Glass Elements- Fluorite Elementsn/a ED Glass Elements- Diaphragm Blades7 Autofocus NIKKOR FYes FeaturesAutofocus Keep the inspiration goingEnjoy a two year warranty period* when purchasing directly from Nikon or one of our Authorised Resellers and registering your products with My Nikon Life. Today, I will introduce a Nikon lens I initially acquired many years ago for hiking: Nikkor 20mm f/2.8 AF-D. I wanted a small-sized, reasonably-priced wide-angle lens, and I found this lens perfect out of all the choices for Nikon F mount. Handling and BuildTechnical specifications:
Right from the start, the lens’s small size was the main reason behind my acquisition. It’s lightweight and ideal for hikes where weight limit is a constant factor. And though nowadays I hardly have time to hike, until this day, this lens remains one of my prudent purchases. Unfortunately, because it’s an AF-D lens, it’s quite unpleasant to operate the focus manually. The focus ring is short and not so good for precise focusing. It also feels flimsy and plasticky, especially when you hit on infinity or minimum focus edge. And if you’re using the new Nikon Z mount, the autofocus will be useless. The good news is that focusing is not a genuine concern even without autofocus since it’s considered an ultra wide-angle lens due to its 20mm focal length. Everything will mostly be in focus if you just set it to infinity. Image Quality and UsageI have to be honest with you: this 20mm lens does not have exceptional image quality. It produces acceptable photos, and that’s about it. Do not expect super sharp photos. And since it’s an old lens with no modern coating, expect strong chromatic aberrations when shot against bright lights. It also produces busy, bubbly bokeh, which may not be your preference. Due to its rather fast aperture of 2.8, this lens is pretty usable during low light situations, although with a film camera, you would have to use faster film rolls like ISO 800 and above. It’s a fitting lens for landscape, architecture, or even street photography. As you can see in the two photos below, it gives a vast sense of space. The distance is emphasized more than it actually is. It goes without saying that with an ultra-wide angle lens, you need to consider distortion in each shot. Changing the angle, even a bit, could make or break the image. That being said, if you can master this lens, it can elevate your wide-angle photos. The VerdictOver the years, this lens has been a favorite of mine. I captured numerous keepers with sentimental values, so it’s a no-brainer that I value it highly. Score: 7/10 As I mentioned before, the size and weight are its best features. However, they will be negated if you’re considering using the lens in Nikon Z mount or other cameras because, more often than not, you will have a large adapter as big as the lens itself. It’s a fun lens to use, nonetheless. It is handy when weight is a concern during your travels. I’m partial to AF-D lenses, though they are often considered somewhat inferior to the manual-era AI lenses and their successor, AF-S. I think their portability is the most substantial reason to own them. This lens and its two relatives, the 50mm and the 28-105mm, are my favorite lenses from AF-D line. Is the Nikon 20mm f1 8D any good?Summary. Good points: Good to very good performance at closer distances even wide open; quiet and reliable AF operation; weather sealing at the lens-mount. Bad points: Green outlining/haloing in the background when shooting wide open; needs stopping down to f5. 6 to achieve critical sharpness across the full frame. What is a Nikon 20mm lens good for?With the ultra-wide view of a 20mm lens, you're free to capture expansive landscapes and architecture, wedding parties, an entire band on stage, crowd shots and much more. Is the Nikon 20mm f1 8 good for astrophotography?Space Verdict. For astro and landscape photographers, this is probably the best Nikon mirrorless lens you can get thanks to that wide angle and superior f/1.8 max aperture. How much does a Nikon 20mm f2 8D weight?Nikon 20mm f2. 8D weighs 270g, 23% (85g) lighter than the Nikon 20mm f1. 8G ED's weight of 355g. |
