Description:

28mm f/2 AI Nikkor


Suitable For:

Moderately wide angle photography.


Camera Formats:

FX and DX


Specs:

Focal length: 28mm
Maximum aperture: 2
Minimum aperture: 22
Angle of View: 74°
Focus Throw: 120°
Maximum reproduction ratio: 1:7.1
Lens Elements: 9
Lens Groups: 8
Diaphragm Blades: 7
ED Glass Elements: 0
Autofocus: n/a
Minimum Focus Distance: 0.3m
Filter Size: 52mm
Filter Type: front screw in
Dimensions: 64.5mmØ by 58.5mm
Weight: 355g
Accessories: HN-1 hood


Bjørn's Rørslett's Overview:

The high-speed 28 Nikkor is unusual in having its close-range correction (CRC) executed with the front elements, not with the rear as the case is with other wide-angles. It offers outstandingly sharp images and these are produced at all aperture settings from f/2 to f/8 with just a trace of corner softness at the wider settings. Field curvature is modest in terms of wide-angle lenses. Peak performance occurs between f/4 and f/5.6. When stopped down beyond f/11, sharpness suffers however. This lens is unusually resistant to flare and ghosting and eminently suitable for shooting directly into the sun. Never catching the buyers' fancy, this is an uncommon lens which is indicative of the perils of free enterprise.

On the FX (D3, D3X), quality is excellent. However, the very extreme corners are not well defined and appear darker unless the lens is stopped a fair number of stops down. For many uses of the lens this poses no practical problem, but you are herewith warned. No CA was present on the D3.

IR performance: With the D70, a quite strong hot-spot is observed, but on the S3Pro UVIR, this issue evidently disappears since I haven't been able to trigger any such spot even at f/22.

I recently managed to get my 28/2 outfitted with a matrix CPU chip, which made it compatible to all my newer Nikons and the Fuji S3 Pro UVIR as well. Note that converting the Mk.II (0.25m near focus) is very difficult, whilst the Mk. I (0.3 m near limit) is easy. Recommend as a small and inexpensive alternative to the 28/1.4.

On a digital camera, some colour fringing occasionally can be observed. D2X shows this quite clearly. Hence I rated the 28/2 a little lower for this camera, but of course if you are not bothered with CA, don't listen to me here. If troublesome, the CA issue can be mitigated by digital post-processing.



Bjørn's Rating:

5 (F2, F4, F5)
5 (D1)
4.5 (D1X)
4.5 (D2X, D200)
4.5 (FX: D3, D3X)
IR:
3 (DX: D70, hotspot)
5 (S3Pro UVIR)


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