Review 4 of 52
Price Paid:
$250.00
from B&H Summary:
If you have never shot with a wide-angle lens before, you may want to start with something a little less wide. True, this lens is very sharp, but composing with it can be quite challenging if you are accustomed to 28mm and longer. I mention this because many photographers on websites like photo.net and nikonians.com RAVE about this lens, often noting the questionable build quality of the affordable prime lenses that flank it (the AF-D 20/2.8 and the AF-D 28/2.8). But its champions often overlook two crucial details:
1) Becuase this lens creates so much space, you MUST have a VERY STRONG foreground element to anchor the composition--everything else recedes, but still remains as parts of the composition; and
2) This lens flares like nobody's business! The lens hood is good for only about and additional 2 degrees of protection. Bring something along to shield the lens if you're shooting outdoors in bright sunlight (I often used my 18% gray card as an impromptu shade).
After shooting with this lens, along with my trusty AF-D 50/1.8, for a year I gathered up all my favorite images and noticed that all but two of them were taken with the 50mm. So I traded it in towards an old AF 70-210/4 and a new AF-D 35/2.
To make a long story short, it's a fine (if flare-prone) lens, but I couldn't take a picture worth a nickel with it. Others have taken stunning pics with this lens, but if it doesn't suit your shooting style (or you live someplace excessively flat!), you may want to start with a longer focal length and put off the 24mm until you've got the skills. After 3 years of shooting, I still don't have the skills for this lens. I'm not ashamed to admit it! Strengths:
Solid Build
Sharp Weaknesses:
Maybe too challenging for beginners Similar Products Used:
Nikkor AF-D 28-105/3.5-4.5
Nikkor AF-D 50/1.8
Nikkor AF 70-210/4 Customer Service:
n/a
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