How's Arsat 20mm f2.8 Ai mt. for $...

[Taipei-metro]

$110?
While shopping for Nikkor 20mm/3.5 on the Bay, I come accross this Ukraine lens for 1/2 the Nikkor price. Any one has experience?
With this lens and D40, I may have the smallest combo DSLR!?
Thanks!

 

[VictorM.]

There's a 20/3.5 Nikkor in the classifieds: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/pho...duct/12837/cat/2/limit/recent/date/1213524379 RFF classifieds are safer than ebay.

 

[wotalegend]

I have an Arsat 20/2.8 Ai-s which I bought recently for US$89.99 brand-new from hartbleioptic, who are in the US. Luckily I bought it before the AUD dropped through the floor, and I am currently holding off on any USD purchases for that reason. It is too early to comment on its optical performance. With regard to its mechanical construction it is not quite up to Nikkor standards but it's not bad either. It feels solid and metallic, and the focus and aperture rings operate smoothly.

I don't have a D40 so the following is based on what I have read. Although any Ai-s lens will mount on the D40 and is capable of making images as good as it would on any other Nikon body, the D40 exposure meter will not operate. You will need to use an external meter or old-fashioned guesstimation.