Nikon AF 20-35mm f/2.8D Zoom-Nikkor 35mm Zoom

Nikon AF 20-35mm f/2.8D Zoom-Nikkor 35mm Zoom 

DESCRIPTION

An incredibly sharp and fast wideangle zoom that incorporates three popular focal lengths - 20mm, 24mm and 35mm. Holds its f/2.8 speed over the entire range of focal lengths.

USER REVIEWS

Showing 11-20 of 34  
[Oct 14, 2002]
Jason Villafranca
Professional

Strength:

SHARP!!!!!.... sharper than any of my other lenses...

Weakness:

limited range... 20mm sometimes isn't wide enough on my D1... and 35mm is too short... Shade feel really cheap!...

WOW... What a lens!!!... I was originally planning on getting a 18-35mm Nikkor but figured for a little bit more I could get one of the best lenses out there... Man am I glad i did... This thing is GREAT!... Nice and sharp at all stops and ranges... I use it for wedding photography and it works wonders...

Similar Products Used:

Nikkor 180mm f2.8 Nikkor 70-210mm f4 Nikkor 50mm 1.8 Nikkor 135mm DC Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 EX Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 EX HSM Sigma 150-500mm

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Sep 17, 2002]
Chas0000
Expert

Strength:

Contrast, sharpness and straight line representation

Weakness:

Weight

This lens performs extremely well. It has good contrast, corner to corner and very good straight line representation, even at 20mm. Dont leave home with out this lens! It is a little on the heavy side, but the performance sure makes up for it.

Customer Service

Not needed

Similar Products Used:

21mm Rokkor-X (Minolta)

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Aug 17, 2002]
NikonF4sUser
Intermediate

Strength:

Build-quality Super, silky smooth operation. Sharp, sharp, sharp- Nikon did not take any short-cuts with this lens Distoration, at least in my example, is extraordinary for a zoom.

Weakness:

Weight is a handicap for anyone not wanting too heavy a lens- BUY THIS LENS ANYWAY.

This is one brute of a lens! I use this with my F4e and in tandem with an 80-200/2.8 Nikkor. That two lens outfit is superb. This lens is sharp corner to corner and at every aperture and focal length. Distortion is extremely well controlled at 20mm. Compared at the 24mm mark with my 24mm f2.8 AF Nikkor I see no difference in the viewfinder between the two. The difference is in the WEIGHT. If you are concerned with extra heavy lenses, this may not be for you. On the positive side, it is very slick in use with silky smooth movement in both zoon and manual focus action. This would be a great lens to use with a manual Nikon as the focus action reminds me very much of all my favorite Nikkors of the past. Although very sharp, it is not any sharper than my 24/2.8 AF Nikkor, but superior sharpness not why I picked this up. I like using a 35mm lens as my normal lens. Being able to start there and zoom out to 20mm without changes lenses and keeping a constant f2.8 aperture is a godsend. If I were using single focal length lenses I would be using a 24, 25 and 85, so this two zoom setup, skipping all focal lengths between 35 and 85mm is perfectly fine with me. If you need a filler, get the 50/1.8.

Customer Service

Never used

Similar Products Used:

Never had a lens like this- I never could have afforded this lens when it was available new. It pays in this case to pick one up now.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Aug 12, 2002]
Graham
Expert

Strength:

Contrast, resolution, saturation of colors are superb. Very little fall off noticeable, with only a hint of barrel distortion at 20mm and what distortion there is, is gone by 24mm. Better corrected than the 17-35 AF-S with its 'double-moustache' distortion wide open at 17 mm.

Weakness:

Not a flyweight when put on an F5! A good, broad strap is mandatory if you are going to carry this beauty for any distance. It projects from the face of the body more than I thought it would and, with the Nikon lens hood on, I find myself taking care when working in close spaces. I have to constantly remember to be conscious about the 20mm focal length when using my SB-28 for fill flash. The SB-28 only focuses automatically with the F5 to 24 mm and you have to manually open a secondary lens / grill in front of the flash tube to get full coverage on anything wider than 24 mm.B

This lens is a dream come true for me. For years I had resisted buying any zoom lenses due to prejudices about prime vs. zoom quality. I don't know about other zooms, even by Nikon, but this surely has to be one of the very best available. It is easily the equal of the 24mm prime I replaced and I would even say better than the 17-35 AF-S I have rented on occasion. Colors, even on consumer grade film [NOT Velvia], are eye-popping. Contrast and resolution are superb, right out to the edges. Beautifully corrected piece of real glass! Great for indoor shots, people photography and landscapes. Fast 2.8 aperture allows use in most situations. Conveniently short focus and zoom throws. This will be my first lens of choice when heading out the door./

Customer Service

None required or expected!

Similar Products Used:

Nikon F2 Photomic, 50mm, 85mm Nikon F5, 20-35 AF-D, 60mm f2.8 AF-D, 85mm f1.4 AF-D, 180mm f2.8 AF-D, 300mm f4.0 IF-ED AF-D

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Jul 24, 2002]
a440hertz
Intermediate

Strength:

Nice balance and length w/ F100 Quick AF SHARP optics-- great resolution throughout the frame No barrel/pincushion distortion

Weakness:

Need thin filters

When I stow my camera in my photo backpack, this is the lens that is on my F100 body. This is because for most shots, whether indoors or out, I find this focal length range to be what my eye sees. Indoors, it's great for capturing group shots in close quarters (just don't put people's faces near the corners, as with all wide angle lenses). Outdoors, it has the capability of getting great landscapes. It's also great for architecture and for any shot where you want intentionally distorted perspective (mind you, I'm not referring to barrel/pincushion distortion here-- this lens has NONE of that). In short, it's worth the relatively high $$, even on the used market. Plus, you can feel pretty safe that this high-quality Nikkor will always fetch a decent price on the used market via eBay or KEH or whatever. My guess is that if even if you have to mortgage the house to get it, you won't want to sell it once you shoot a few rolls with it. After all, you're getting a 20, a 24, a 28, and a 35. With the trend towards more wide shots in PJ, weddings, and art photos, this is a great piece.

Similar Products Used:

Nikkor MF 24mm f/2.8

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Aug 30, 2001]
gemaroup
Intermediate

Strength:

Fast, silent, versatile, indicated for creative photography. Used on an F100, what a delight...

Weakness:

None so far. May be the uncommon filter diameter which is different from the 24-120, 80-200, etc... but stregnths outweighs by far weaknesses.

Impressive lens. I have read so much about this lens before buying it. When I asked for one (new) I was told that it has been discontinued. I put myself on a waiting list and finally got one second hand. Honestly, I wasn''t disappointed by the results. On the contrary, it surpassed my wildest dreams. It is so flexible that it opens new creative doors. I was able to photograph my son flying a sport kite. I shot just behind his back and was able to capture him and the kite altogether. Also amazing for architecture.

Customer Service

Not needed so far.

Similar Products Used:

50 f1.4, 24-120 f3.5-5.6, 80-200 f2.8

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Aug 15, 2000]
Miller Mark
Expert

Strength:

Unbelievable sharpness and ultra-high contrast. You cannot beat this lens.

Weakness:

Used to be expensive. But, it is a real deal now, if you can find one.

The photographs speak for themselves -- tack sharp and ultra high contrast. Put this lens on your camera and some Velvia in your camera. Your shots will jump off of the light table and grab your heart and soul. The lens is that good. I find myself looking at pictures shot with this lens over and over again. Several words of advice, spend the extra $40 and buy a Nikon filter. Otherwise, you may find yourself thinking that this lens has problems when it has none. Most everyone knows that inexpensive thick filters will vignette at 20mm. I have also used B&W filters with great success (though these were the ones especially made for wide angle lenses).

Customer Service

While photographing on the beach, I got some sand in the lens. I immediately sent the lens to Nikon for service. The first time it came back from Nikon, the lens still had some grit in it. The second time I sent it to Nikon, the lens was returned as good as new. Nikon did not charge me for cleaning the lens, and turnarround was almost immediate.

Similar Products Used:

Various fixed focal length wide angle lenses.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Jul 20, 2000]
Brian W
Intermediate

Strength:

Absolutley incredible lens, one of Nikon's best zooms ever. It's become the standard lens on my camera. Sharp at 2.8 at all focal lengths. About six ounces lighter than new 17-35. Flare well controlled.

Weakness:

None

Even though the new 17-35 zoom with the Silent Wave motor has replaced this lens the 20-35 is still a hot item if you can find one. I just purchased one at Samy's Camera for $999 (used the $200 credit for Nikon accessories towards the price of the lens). The lens focuses quickly with the N90s. Compared to the 17-35 it's much cheaper now, even though you don't get the extra coverage at the wide end and it doesn't have the silent wave motor (which for me I don't need). One aspect of the 20-35 that doesn't get mentioned when comparing it to the 17-35 is that the 20-35 has a gound glass ashperic element (the 17-35 has Nikon's new glass molded aspheric lenses). Ground glass is only found in Nikon's 58mm NOCT and 28 f1.4 lenses (extremely time-consuming and expensive but superior quality). My guess is that if Nikon put a gound glass aspheric element(s) in the 17-35 the street price would have pushed it beyond $2000. Anyway, the 20-35 is marvelous. Nice wide manual focus ring and crinkle finish like the 80-200 2.8 D. If you like wide angle shots you'll love this lens. I highly recommend it.

Customer Service

Not needed

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 20mm AF, 24-50mm, 28 f2 (manual focus), 24-120mm AF, plus tele zooms.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[May 31, 2000]
Beans
Expert
Model Reviewed: AF20-35mm f/2.8D Zoom-Nikkor

Strength:

- SHARP SHARP SHARP
- Contrasty
- Low distortion
- Very solid and smooth.
- Quiet autofocusing

Weakness:

- Ain't cheap.
- Very high demand.

An optical masterpiece - one of Nikon's best. Buy it...sell your children if you have to. You get what you pay for.

Similar Products Used:

- Tons of Nikon, Canon, Mamiya 645, and Leica M-Series lenses.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[May 10, 2000]
James Tehubijuluw
Expert
Model Reviewed: AF20-35mm f/2.8D Zoom-Nikkor

Strength:

Excellent wide angle zoom lens. Sharp, good contrast and very well built.

Weakness:

None so far, except for the high price.

This is a very good zoom wide angle lens. Deliver sharp and very good contrast. I was tempted to upgrade to 17-35/2.8 but don't think that I need the 17mm that much. With the lower price, go get this lens.

Customer Service

None needed so far.

Similar Products Used:

35-70/2.8, 24/2.0, 28/2.8

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
Showing 11-20 of 34  

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