Lens nikon ai af nikkor 20mm f2.8 d đánh giá năm 2024

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Nikkor AF 20mm f/2.8 D - Review / Test Report

Lens Reviews - Nikon / Nikkor (APS-C)

Article Index Introduction Analysis

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Review by Klaus Schroiff, published May 2006

Lens kindly provided for testing purposes by Dirk von der Ehe!

Introduction

The Nikkor AF 20mm f/2.8 D is a full frame ultra wide-angle lens released back in 1994. We have seen several design updates of most ultra-wide zooms during the last years but for whatever reason most manufacturers didn't really care for their wide-angle fix-focals recently. On the D200 (used for testing) the field-of-view of the lens is equivalent to 32mm so it's more a moderate wide-angle within the APS-C DSLR scope.

Lens nikon ai af nikkor 20mm f2.8 d đánh giá năm 2024

The build quality of the lens is very good and in line with most moderately priced Nikkors. The outer barrel is made of good quality polycarbonate combined with a metal mount. The small rubberized focus ring operates very smooth. Compared to other lenses in this league the Nikkor is surprisingly small - the corresponding Canon lens is 2.8cm or 65% longer for instance. The lens has no internal AF motor and relies on a slotted drive screw operated by the camera. Due to the very low weight of the optical system the AF speed is very fast on the D200. The generated noise level is quite moderate. The front element does not rotate so using a polarizer is no problem.

Specifications Equiv. focal length30 mm (full format equivalent) Equiv. aperturef/4.2 (full format equivalent, in terms of depth-of-field) Optical construction12 elements in 9 groups Number of aperture blades7 min. focus distance0.25 m (max. magnification ratio 1:8.3) Dimensions69 x 43 mm Weight270 g Filter size62 mm (non-rotating) HoodNikon HB-4 (optional), barrel shaped Other featuresLens provides distance (D) information to the camera. Close-Range Correction (CRC) system (floating elements).

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 Build

Technical specifications:

  • Diameter & length: 69 x 54 mm
  • Weight: 260 grams (such a light lens!)
  • Filter size: 62 mm
  • Minimum focus distance: 0.25 m
  • Aperture: 7 blades, f2.8 max

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 Usage

I 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 Verdict

Over 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.