Any Decent Nikon Wide Angles??

[Pioneer]

Normally I wouldn't ask this type of question on a rangefinder forum but there are so many Nikon fans here I think it is worthwhile trying.

I am looking for a Nikon wide angle from the early days that has a decent reputation to use with my Nikon F. Inexpensive is best but will consider all options. Would prefer to stay with something that is from the general time period that the F was still in production.

I am considering something in the 28 to 35mm range and smaller is better than larger (although when using a Nikon F I guess that is a bit relative.) As an example, when using my Contarex the Biogon 35 is about the perfect size. Fast apertures are not critical either. My experience has been that f2.8 or f3.5 produce very nice photographs and I have no problem using flash to lighten up the dark. 🙂

If there is another thread on this same topic feel free to point me in the right direction. My search skills are not the greatest.

 

[Emile de Leon]

28mm f2.8 AIS manual focus is a killer..either up close or far..legendary..

 

[Mark C]

24 2.8 is the absolute classic I think. That was an exceptionally good lens for the time, and still seems great to me.

I actually like quite a few of the F era wides depending on what you intend to do use them for. I dismissed it back then, but have really come to like the 28 f2. The other 28's are okay too, but that is my favorite. I nice all around choice if you only want one wide.

The 35 f2 has a nice looks and is useful for available light, and pretty sharp for general use when stopped down. I had a 35 2.8 that was really nice as long as you didn't need speed. There are two versions and I can't recall the details.

 

[peterm1]

If you want an earlier lens I would go with the Nikkor 28mm f2. It has a well deserved reputation for good quality. From f2.8 onwards its image quality in the centre is excellent. I have one and while I do not use it a lot (I tend to use longer lenses) I would not contemplate selling it as its great when I need it. Mine is an earlier Ai converted one rather than the one depicted below.

http://www.photozone.de/nikon--nikk...1-nikkor-ai-s-28mm-f2-review--lab-test-report

If you go with a Nikkor 28mm f2.8 it seems to be that the preferred one is the AIS version which has different optics from both those which preceded it and those which followed and is widely regarded as very good. I also have both an early AI converted) and Af version of the Nikkor 35mm f2. I like this lens quite a lot. The AF version is sharper in the centre but I prefer the rendering of the early one.

http://photo.net/nikon-camera-forum/00bbGV

If you are inclined to go a tad wider the 24mm f2.8 is also quite good but like all of these lenses suffers a bit in the corners.

https://joserochaphoto.wordpress.com/2012/08/20/nikkor-24mm-f2-8-ai-s-review/

BTW some interesting reviews here of Nikkor MF lenses

http://www.momentcorp.com/review/index.html

 

[35photo]

28mm f2.8 AIS manual focus is a killer..either up close or far..legendary..

Yep! I have it really nice lens... One of the best Nikon lenses I've used..

 

[BillBingham2]

+1 for the 28/2.8AIs, best wide Nikon has made. Not quite the right era for a F, but it's manual focus, but rubber focusing ring.

24/2.8 is an early Nikon this I found sharp and fast to focus. It had more distortion than I've come to prefer, but I still have it. The 35/2 is an early lens that was a standard for news paper folk, mine was ok. If speed is not a requirement 35/2.8 would look good on an F. Never used/had one so no first hand experience.

The 28/2 and 35/1.4 are newer, both pretty large and newer than the 24/2.8 or 35/2 but not as new as the wonderful 28/2.8 AIs. I loved the 35/1.4 my father used, can't speak to the 28/2.

The older 28/2.8 and 28/3.5 that I tried where under whelming.

I LOVE my 28/2.8 AIs, favorite SLR wide ever. I think it holds its own for a reasonable price.

B2 (;->

 

[Pioneer]

Great ideas.

I use a wide angle primarily for landscape so center performance is important but decent performance from corner to corner is also important, though not wide open of course.

I am not against a 24mm, though I don't seem to do as well with a 24, but the 24/2 lens does not seem to have a good reputation. Of course most of the reviews I looked at seem to be done with digital and I have no intention of using it on anything but film in the Nikon F.

This tendency to test old MF lenses with digital cameras seems particularly prevalent with Nikon lenses. For example, everything I have looked at on MomentCorp is done with digital. I have nothing against digital but I know from my experience with certain Pentax and Takumar lenses that good film performance does not necessarily result in good digital performance, and vice versa.

Since I will be using film I want something that works well in that arena. From a lot of what I have read, Nikon's wide angle lenses were not really considered the best out there in their day, but I figured I would query the learned.

I should note that although I did specify Nikon in the title, I am not against using 3rd party lenses if they worked well. So far everything I have is Nikon but this isn't intended to be a collector set, I am mostly concerned with usefulness in the field. As mentioned before though, I am interested more in the lenses that would have been produced and available during the F's production cycle so some of the lenses already suggested may not fit well. I also have no need for AI or AI-S so this is not a criteria.

Again, great ideas and thank you for your responses.

 

[gustavoAvila]

The 24mm F2.8 is a real crackerjack of a lens, so much so, it has cured my lust for a ZM 25mm! (At least temporarily.)

However, the trick is to get a good copy, my current 24mm is the forth Nikkor 24mm I have owned, and the only one that is exceptional.

In addition to the 24mm, I own (or have owned) the 20mm F3.5 AIS, 28mm F2.8 AIS, and four 35mm Nikkors.

The 20mm was good close up but not great overall.

My 28 was very good to excellent.

With regard to the 35's, this focal length has always been my biggest disappointment with Nikon (and Olympus). The Nikkor 35mm F2 is extremely prone to flaring, including my current late model SIC coated lens. (Which I purchased in the misplaced hope that it would be better in this regard.) My 35mm F1.4 AI was better with regard to flaring, but didn't "smarten up" until well stopped down. (Which kind of defeats the point of paying a huge premium for this lens.)

So, in conclusion, I can recommend the 24 and 28mm F2.8 AIS lenses, but not the 35 F2 or F1.4.

 

[x-ray]

+1 for the 28 f2.8 AIS. Every version of the 28 had different optics with the AIS being the best. I also like the 24 f2.8 but there have been 3 versions too with the AF being the best. I have a first version non AI and it's good on film but stinks on digital. I have a 35 f1.4 also and like it very much, better than the f2 I had. Also have a non AI 35 f2.8 and it's the best of the 35's.

A 35 f2.8, 50 f2 and 105 f2.5 sonnar version would be excellent. I carry my F with the 24, 35 and 105 and it covers about everything I need.

 

[madNbad]

How about a cheap 28 3.5 non AI? When I picked up a Nikkormat FT2 a couple of months ago, I wanted a wide angle but didn't want to spend much. Found a HC (coated) from 1973 for about forty dollars and it's a fair performer for the price. Here's an example where the distortion realy stands out but it was also taken at a down angle.

[/url]85240018 by Michael DeLuca, on Flickr[/IMG]

 

[nikon_sam]

24mm 2.8 Non-Ai converted to Ai (Ai Kit 22) S.#483882 circa1976
I was looking up information on my lens and was reminded that I converted it years ago...never put the rabbit ears on it...

 

[Shac]

Another vote for the 24/2.8 - can't go wrong unless focal length doesn't suite your shooting style

 

[mynikonf2]

Another vote for the 24/2.8, I particularly like the results from the early production lens (within the first 1000 produced - 1967) & the K series (1976). The K series is rather late production if you're trying to maintain the F with a lens of the same time period. If that is not an issue I can also recommend the 25x50/4 AI or AIS (1979-1985) which is on par with primes.

 

[bayernfan]

28mm f/2 ais. one of the 'special' nikkors.

i really wish nikon had made a 35mm lens that matched the performance and look of the 28/2.

the nikkor 24 f/2.8 ai/s is also an excellent lens.

 

[kipkeston]

The 28/2.8 AI-S is one of the best nikkor wides I've had the pleasure of using. Still made today. Watch out for the field curvature at wide apertures.

I've had two 24/2.8 AFs in my time. They get great reviews online, but they don't send me.

Personally, I would look at non-multicoated lenses. I think the color is better. I have a 28/3.5 H coming that I just can't wait to use.

My dream manual focus kit might be: 28/3.5H or 28/2.8 AIS, 50/2H or 50/1.8 long nose or 55/1.2S or SC, 105/2.5P or PC and the 16mm fish AF-D.

PS: If you're not familiar with this site, I use it all the time to make sure I'm looking at the right copy of a nikkor: http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/lenses.html

 

[Santtu Määttänen]

If you want something compact, relatively close to the right era and of good quality, may I suggest the slower Nikkor 28mm f3.5 UD lens. It's very compact, light and the quality is at least close to the f2.8 version if not about the same. What you lose in speed, you gain in weight advantage.

Then again something bit different to consider, if you ever come by the 20mm f4 lens, it might be worth it 🙂 It's of excellent quality considering it's age. Not super corrected and there's light fall-off. But still even by todays standards it's nothing to worry about. Also very light weight. They are bit scarce compared to other versions of 20mm Nikkor, but not a rarity piece (and thus not very expensive either).

Of course those recommended by others, specially the 28mm f2.8, are most likely right choices 🙂 Besides that 28mm f2 is quite legendary in it's own right.

 

[shimokita]

I have an AI'ed version of the Nikkor-H 2.8 cm f/3.5 which I had serviced by Nikon Japan. They outsourced the actual work to a third party - which I have used directly since - were most of the staff are retired Nikon techs.

You can read the history of the lens as follows: NIKKOR - The Thousand and One Nights - Story No.12: http://www.nikkor.com/story/0012/

Actually one of the reasons I like this lens is it's history, as well as being a decent performer ... maybe not the ultimate best, but I enjoy the lens.

 

[x-ray]

Another vote for the 24/2.8, I particularly like the results from the early production lens (within the first 1000 produced - 1967) & the K series (1976). The K series is rather late production if you're trying to maintain the F with a lens of the same time period. If that is not an issue I can also recommend the 25x50/4 AI or AIS (1979-1985) which is on par with primes.

The 25-50 f4 is excellent. I had one several years ago and foolishly sold it then found another locally that was in very nice shape for $100 and bought it. I don't think I'll ever sell this one.

The pros of this lens, it's remarkably sharp even wide open on both film and digital. It easily outperforms my 24 f2.8 non AI at wider apertures especially on digital. Stopped down they are about equal. Also it's a constant f4.

The con, it a big and heavy lens. I don't use a filter but think it's a 72mm thread.

I carry it my F2 often and sometimes add my 70-200 f4.5 AI. Both are a tad big but both perform quite well even wide open. A more compact kit is my FE with the 25-50 and my E series 75-150 f3.5.

 

[maitani]

Many great options that most have been mentionned in Nikon mount. from my experience

nikon

28 2.8 ai/s (sharpness)
25-50 f4 (distortion control is amazing)

zeiss
28/2 (nice pop and rendering)
25/2 zf.2 (the ultimate)

alternatively
R 28 2.8 elmarit hacked to nikon mount.

if you consider size the 28 2.8 ai/s might be your best option.

 

[presspass]

The 24 2.8 has another advantage if you're going to match it with an F. The pre-Ai lenses can be had in excellent condition for under $150, the price I paid for a near-mint copy last month. It performs well, the hood is still available new if you want one, and it shares the 52mm filter size with many Nikors of the era. For later, and more expensive, lenses, the 20 2.8 Ais and the 35 1.4 Ais are both good to great, depending more on your use than the copy - I used mine for newspaper and documentary work for years and never had a problem. But then again, I never tried shooting a brick wall just so I could look for distortion.