Nikon 28mm f/1.4

[yefimovich_ilia]

Is it really worth $1600 as it cost on B&H or $2000 as it cost hear in

Israel???? Can any one send me simples made with this lens?!

[vivek iyer]

<i>Is it really worth..</i>

<p>

Only you can decide! If I have spare cash, I will buy it.

[bernard_frank]

"Only you can decide" doesn't help. He doesn't have it, how can he decide? He's asking for

advice and samples from people who do have it. I know that $2,000 is small change for Bill

Gates and Warren Buffet, and a little fortune for the majority of us, but I belive Ilia is

asking for an objective point of view.

 

Now, Ilia, Web samples viewed on a monitor won't tell you much. I suggest you "Google"

reviews and articles on the lens. Also, I just checked B&H and the price is $1,490, not

$1,600.

[eric friedemann]

The 28mm f/1.4 is an excellent lens and is certainly the best fast wide angle lens Nikon has ever made (the few contenders being the 28mm f/2.0 AIS lens and the 35mm f/1.4 AIS lens). As has been noted, whether your pocketbook can withstand the price is a decision you'll have to make.

 

 

As threshold issues:

 

 

1. Do you need to shoot at or near f/1.4 with a 28mm lens? If you mainly shoot at f/5.6-8.0, you might as well buy the 28mm f/2.8 AFD lens, as you aren't going to see much, if any, difference in image quality at or above f/4.0.

 

 

2. Are you going to shoot the lens exclusively on a Nikon DSLR? If so, you'll have a pricey 42mm equivalent lens on your hands. While I enjoy using the 28mm f/1.4 on my D100s, if I were going to buy fast 50mmish equivalent lens now, it would be the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DX lens for its lower price and ultrasonic focus motor:

 

 

http://www.ephotozine.com/news/fullnews.cfm?NewsID=2724<div></div>

[eric friedemann]

Both dog images with D100s.<div></div>

[frank_skomial]

I just tried the Signa lens 30/1.4 with my D200, and unfortunately the lens was an older issue and had problem with D200. If you get Simga and have D200, then make sure the lens was corrected by Simga, or you get the new supply. Otherwise may have to send it back for adjustment.

 

Alternatively, I would suggest the Nikkor 35/2, or wider 20/2.8 if your camera is a DSLR with a crop factor of 1.5, for much less money, though you will not get that professional quality lens like the 28/1.4 is. Both lenses are fine.

 

I read somewhere that Nikkor 28/1.4 was discontinued ? - if that is true ? then you may have to hurry up. Lats time I looked at B&H the lens was not available.

[vivek iyer]

The 30/1.4 Sigma (reset for D200, etc) should be a good choice. I use the 28/1.9 Vivitar AI lens for low light. It flares easily but is great, with little distortion.<div></div>

[ky2]

It's only worth it if you will shoot it at f/2 or f/1.4. The venerable 28/2.8 AIS beats it in size and performance at f/4 and beyond.

[conrad_hoffman]

I shoot with a Nikkor 28mm f/3.5 lens that I doubt I paid more than 50 bucks for. Rarely have I needed more speed with a wide angle- remember you can hand hold it at slower speeds than a normal.

[hotduckz]

Shooting at 1/8 and 90% sharp, I think other lens can't do this.

 

I loving it, night street with ISO100 and no tripod.

[vanstar]

Got mine in Tokyo last Nov/Dec for about 1000USD.

Noct Nikkor was twice the price so opted for the 28mm f.14D.

Here's a sample pic at f1.4 400iso D100.

Rudi

[vanstar]

Oops here again:<div></div>

[scott_mcloughlin]

A Leica 28/2, another fantastic 28mm lens, will set you back about the same price - USED!

 

So, I guess the Nikkor is a bargain :-)

 

Scott

[yefimovich_ilia]

Thank you all very much:):):)

i have another question: today i shoot with Nikon 35 f/1.4 MF what can you say about her!?how is she conpering to 28mm f/1.4 AF???

[eric friedemann]

I've owned three 35mm f/1.4 AIS lenses over the years. The 35mm f/1.4 is a very good lens for its age and design. However, the ASPH design of the 28mm f/1.4 AFD lens produces better results (less light falloff and better edge sharpness) at and around maximum aperture. I basically agree with Ken Rockwell's reviews of the two lenses, though I think he's a little hard on the 35mm f/1.4:

 

 

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/2814af.htm

 

 

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/35f14ais.htm

[eugenio.demmenie]

An other link...

 

<a href="http://www.naturfotograf.com/lens_wide.html">Bjorn Rorslett review</a>

[david_h._hartman]

<em>I read somewhere that Nikkor 28/1.4 was discontinued

? - if that is true ? then you may have to hurry up. Lats time I

looked at B&H the lens was not available. --Frank

Skomial<br>

</em><br>

The 28/1.4D AF and 28/2.0 AIS, AI & IC were never volume

sellers. The stiff price kept people away. I find 28mm to be a

little boring. Its too wide to be normal and too normal to

be wide. If the content is not interesting it wont trick

you into thinking a nothing shot is a good one. By this I mean it

doesnt of itself seem to create dynamic perspective. Years

before zooms, especially wide angle zooms were worth owning it

was the standard wide angle lens that hobbyist would buy.<br>

<br>

Primarily three things changed my mind about 28mm in general and

the 28/2.0 AIS in particular. First I noticed that I shot candids

with a 24/2.8, backing up from the subject some to avoid the

fiddler crab look, then cropped the frame back a bit, not the

best techniqe on Tri-X. The second was Bjorn Rorsletts

praise for this lens, It offers outstandingly sharp images

and these are produced at all aperture settings from f/2 to f/8

with just a trace of corner softness at the wider settings.

and This lens is unusually resistant to flare and ghosting

and eminently suitable for shooting directly into the sun.

Third is the lens is a full stop faster than the well regarded 28/2.8

AIS so its better suited to low ambient light shooting.

Bjorn rates the 28/2.0 AI at 5 on the F2, F4 & F5 and 4.5 on

the D2X and D200.<br>

<br>

Bjorn Rorslett rates the 28/1.4D AF at 4 on the F5 and D2X. A

rating of 4 indicates a professional quality image on his scale.

The primary use for this lens would be photojournalism on film.

Since photojournalist dont use much film these days sales

must be very slow. This is why Nikon would discontinue it.<br>

<br>

Here are a couple of links to Bjorns Website...<br>

<br>

<a href="http://www.naturfotograf.com/lens_wide.html"

target="_new"><u>http://www.naturfotograf.com/lens_wide.html</u></a>

<br>

<br>

<a href="http://www.naturfotograf.com/" target="_new"><u>http://www.naturfotograf.com/</u></a>

<br>

<br>

I own two 28/2.0 AIS Nikkor and really like them now that Ive

lost my prejudice against the focal length. The 28/2.0 AIS is as

mentioned only a wide normal on the DX formats. My primary use is

with Tri-X. I do use it as a normal lens on my D2H. CA can appear

from time to time with a DSLR but is correctable with Panorama

Tools. Bjorn Rorslett has added a CPU to his 28/2.0 AI. I dont

own a 28/1.4D AF or 28/2.8 AIS.<br>

<br>

Regards,<br>

<br>

Dave Hartman.