1. Compact;
2. Lightweight;
3. Solid build quality;
4. Smooth focusing ring;
5. Sharp centre to edge from f/4.0 to f/16.0;
6. Compact lens hood.

1. Some softness at f/2.8;
2. Slight softness at f/22.0;
3. Lacks Silent Wave technology (inevitable comparison to Canon's USM technology);
4. Slight flaring;
5. Slight ghosting with the Nikon L37C filter (best to remove filter if ghosting is to be substantially eliminated); and
6. Some barrel distortion (take care during composition of linear subjects and people near the corners in group photos).

A fast, sharp, compact, light-weight and convenient accessory lens to accomodate my Nikkor AF-S 28-35 mm f/2.8 D IF-ED standard workhorse lens. This lens should be the third lens after a standard 28-70mm and 80-200 mm. Mated to the Nikon F5 and SB-28 Speedlight, the entire assembly is light and comfortable to carry (with a wide camera strap) while travelling. This lens is roughly $1,000.00 cheaper than the ridiculously overpriced Nikkor AF 18 mm f/2.8 D but still a couple of hundred dollars more expensive than the excellent Nikkor AF 24 mm f/2.8 D lens...a lens which was my standard workhorse lens for several years. If you are able to find this lens used with the usual accessories from a private sale (meaning without taxes) for $600.00 Canadian - buy this lens. Nikon recommends using a drop of inexpensive methyl hydrate (which is available at any hardware/paint store) on a soft lint-free tissue or cloth to safely clean the glass elements. Use an old tooth brush to clean the electrical contacts and metal lens base with this cleaning agent.

Customer Service

I purchased this lens, lens hood, L37C filter and Nikon hard case lens case used for $600.00 Canadian on April 14, 2000 and may be the third owner. I noticed a tiny dot near the edge of the front element. I brought the lens into Nikon Canada in Mississauga, Ontario for a visual inspection and they told me that the dot is an air bubble and it will not affect my photographs in any way. They also said the lens was in "excellent shape". I have not experienced any problems with Nikon Service in Mississauga. Nor have I experienced any problems with their technicians when Nikon holds their clinics at greater Toronto area retail camera stores. Nikon's staff have always been friendly, helpful and efficient.

Similar Products Used:

Nikkors AF-S 17-35 mm f/2.8 D IF-ED; AF 20-35 mm f/2.8 D; and Sigma 17-35 f/2.8-4.0 EX (almost as sharp as the AF-S equi

Fabulous sharpness, dramatic effect, good value.

Flare can, at times, pose a TINY problem.

Excellent for high-impact wide-angel effect. Great value and killer optical quality.

Customer Service

none needed

Similar Products Used:

none

Sharp, very fast, light, good solid construction.

none

Can't go wrong with this lense. Good price for the quality and dependibility.

Customer Service

great, no problems

Similar Products Used:

none similar

Small, light, fast and sharp.

No problems.

Probably the best 20mm on the market. Provides a nice bright image with little distortion or light fall-off. Close Range Correction (CRC) makes the near-far effect really stand out with this lens. IMO, a must have lens for landscape, travel and photojournalism....either this lens or the 20-35/2.8. Reasonably priced, too.

Customer Service

Have not needed any for this lens.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 24/2.8, Nikon 20-35/2.8.

Sharp and clear.

Some flare, though not much... Also, manual focus feel is kind of poor (but that's apparently normal for AF lenses).

Great lens for producing dramatic photos. Actually may be too wide for most situations, so I'm considering selling it to buy a 24mm...

Customer Service

n/a

Similar Products Used:

None

Sharp, clear, in the entire field covere, with excellent crisp and sharpness, still at full aperture, a very small vignetting for a superwide, godd finish and mechanics, small and compact, short focousig distance.
Superior in the contrast and definition to the 19 mm 2.8 elmarit R from LEICA, absolutely superior to a previous 20mm NON AF

distortion, but at axceptable level for a superwide

Exceptional lens, very fast and small, a vey light vignetting, with superb contrast an sharpness reached still at full aperture, the best performances reached at f 4 or f 5.6.
The distortion is worse in rapport to the elmarit LEICA, but that's not so serious fault for a superwide.
Price very cheap for the performances.

Customer Service

Never need

Similar Products Used:

Elmarit 2.8 19mm for leica, the previous 20mm 2.8 Nikkor

Tack sharp rectilinear that's super compact.

None

Found this lens used with a B+W UV and Nikon lens caps in a tourist trap cmera shop in Orlando, FL during May of 1999.The owner also had a 105/2.8 AF Micor Nikkor. Wanted the 20 to replace my original that went MIA in 1992, Bought both lens for $500.00 cash. Thats $250.00 each.

Customer Service

Never needed.

Similar Products Used:

21/4.0 Nikkor
20/3.5 Nikkor

Super Sharp
Strong Build

None!

The bottom line? This is an excellent lens and is well worth the half a grand I spent! Up until last July I had been shooting landscapes with my 35-80 and having no complaints. After buying this lens, I wanted to kick myself because of all the shots I've missed over the last 17 years. The only complaint I have is that there is some linear distortion at the edges, but that goes with the territory and I've learned to work around it.

The lens produces extremely sharp images, it's compact and is built like a rock. Just holding it gives you a sense of quality. This lens has a spot in my gear bag as long as I shoot a Nikon.

If you'd like to see the quality and sharpness of this lens, go to http://community.webshots.com/user/shutterbugbri. Click on the Mojave 2000 album and jump past the cavern shots to the ones of the sand dunes.. Many of those were shot with this lens. While you are there, feel free to check out my other albums.

If you shoot landscapes, buy this lens!!!

Customer Service

Never Used (Thank Goodness)

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First Prime Lens

Incredibly sharp, gorgeous color, light weight, close focus, hand-holdability at low shutter speeds

None

This is the closest thing to a Leica lens that isn't a Summicron (or whatever) that I've ever used. I have the MF version and I can count on it to produce incredibly sharp images with beautifully saturated color. I've hand-held it as low as 1/15th second and gotten good shots. A great lens that's reasonably priced, though not cheap. I may get the new 18-35 (variable aperture), but I'll never sell this lens.

Similar Products Used:

None

Clean sharp pictures. Mechanicaly sound construction. easy to change and operate. Minimal destortion for wide angle lens at this magnitude.

Taking group portraits, People on edges express concern about being in picture.

Lens has eyes on side of it's head. Incredable field of view.Works perfectly with Nikon systems, excellent pictures everytime.
Digital cameras with 1.5x multiplying factor to lenses, it'll be 30mm lens. Still a nice wide angle. With a Nikon D1 all the lens features work as they do with SLR35mm.
One of those lens that goes beyond exspectations. For picture clearity and useability. Landscapes are clean throughout entire frame. No action is lost for those city scenes. Can include an entire Baseball field from the stands in one shot. When quarters are cramp camera distance from subject is minimal. There is a danger of using this lens for everything all the time. I know I have :-)
Excellent choice for a Nikon camera, wide angle lens to add to collection. The price is reasonable for a lens of this quality.

Customer Service

Camera Shop authorized Nikon repair varies. Its good when price of service is reasonable. Service people do expert job. Not good when bills become paded and camera looks worse for wear after repair.

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Nikon 28-80 zoom