Nikon 20mm f4 thoughts

[Ian Rance]

Well, following on from my last post about this lens, I have now used it and will share my thoughts with you.

 

Firstly, it is wonderfully built - NO slop or play. The focus helicoid is fine pitched, and whilst this allows for accurate

focussing, it does mean some twiddling, so is not very fast in use. I soon realised that the hyperfocal marks were

going to be my friend with this lens - as it should be with wide angles of this type.

 

http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/8239193-md.jpg is the front view, http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/8239172-lg.jpg is side

on, http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/8239195-md.jpg is the rear view showing the tiny back element,

http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/8239192-md.jpg is the scales. Here http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/8239196-lg.jpg is the

lens on my F3, loaded and ready to go :-)

 

Upon looking through the viewfinder I got a rush of excitement - everything sweeping away and the foreground being

larger than life. Even a tiny shift in position made the scene drastically change. In fact, just looking through the

viewfinder was fun - my cat looked like one of those calender cats. I need more time with this lens, but I will share

my first roll with you.

 

http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/8234643-lg.jpg is the interior of my favourite camera store. A Nikon lens hood and F3

strap for a fiver!

 

http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/8234640-lg.jpg is a beech tree in St Albans park.

 

http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/8234641-lg.jpg is fun on St Albans lake.

 

http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/8234639-lg.jpg is the Roman hypocaust. The lens is sharp indeed.

 

http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/8234638-lg.jpg another view.

 

http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/8234642-lg.jpg St Albans cathederal, interior.

 

http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/8234644-lg.jpg St Albans cathederal, exterior.

 

The lens is sharp, contrasty and full of 'life' and colour. I need more time with it to learn its operation and where it is

to be used, but all in all I am VERY pleased with it. If you are wanting one and you see one, I think you will be

pleased.

 

Thank you for reading,

 

Ian

[joe_a2]

I'll second Ian's happiness with "the f/4". And thanks, Ian, for pointing out it is the FOREGROUND that pops with these super wide lenses.

 

I lucked into one a few years ago and I enjoy it quite a bit. On film (or FX sensor) it is dramatic, but I also enjoy it as a "regular wide angle" on the D40 as the definition of compact. I find it very rangefinder-ish on the D40. Set the aperture to f/11 or f/16, set it hyperfocally, and shoot away! One of my favorite compact kits is the 20mm f/4, a 50mm, and a 135mm.

 

Ian.... Are you shooting it through an F3 (which you hinted at with the strap comment)?

[Ian Rance]

Joe, glad you are enjoying yours too. Yes, I used the F3 (with the special grid/split screen for slower lenses) and you can see it fitted here: http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/8239196-lg.jpg

 

Ian

[harvey_edelstein1]

Ian you don't need a lens hood on it?

[borgis_karl_johan]

A wonderful DX combo is the 20mm f4 wideangle with a 45mm pancake and (yes, this is when I abandon

compactness) the 85mm f1,4 AF lens. All great lenses.

 

A walk about town with this combo is pure happiness... :-).

 

Karl

[hugh_davis]

Hi Ian,

Your photo of the great beech tree reminded me of something I like to do with 20's (I've the slightly later 20/3.5 AI-s) and such, especially on film. Walk up to the tree and look upward through the viewfinder from next to the trunk. Enjoy, HWD

[ian_rose]

Ian loved the photos of Verulamium brings back some memories from when we used to live in that aera of England before we moved to Canada.

 

Ian R

[Ian Rance]

"Ian you don't need a lens hood on it?"

 

I do, but they are not available sadly. My hand is serving until I find one ;-)

 

Using this lens tells me why the Nikon sysem became as well regarded as it is. Such precision and fine craftmanship is a joy, both to the hand and the eye.

 

Ian

[User_276104]

There have been times that I've been tempted to buy the 20mm f/4, based on Galen Rowell's comments on it - but I've had my AF 20mm f/2.8D for 10 years and there's no good reason to buy another. Other than to acquire another lens!

[Dieter Schaefer]

The lens takes two different lens hoods - metal screw-on HN-14 and the slip-on HK-3. I have the latter and like

it a lot, the screw that tenses the compression serves as a nice little helper when focusing. <br>

See thread here: http://www.photo.net/nikon-camera-forum/00Hd4z

[bradfarlow]

This is my favorite lens to use with an infrared filter on my D70s (it is tack sharp with infrared). It's also great on my D200 and of course on film cameras too.<div></div>

[christiaan_phleger___honol]

Yeah, still looking for the proper hood for mine, which was a Non-Ai until I converted it with a factory AI ring, which I

amazingly actually found. Great little lens, I also have the AiS 3.5 and the AiS 2.8 so figuring out which 20mm goes into

the bag is very very challenging, all are good, the 3.5 handles flare well straight into the lens, the 2.8 has the speed and

better closer, the 4 is just a gem. Here's a shot at F22.<div></div>

[alan_wilder1]

The f/4 version while better if one prefers scale focusing due to longer focus throw and expanded dof marks tends to

give a less evenly illuminated image in the F3 finder where the center is a bit brighter than the rest of the image,

almost like a hotspot. Fortunately, this is not what happens on film and is limited to just finder optics. I also found

this occured to a greater extent with early retofocus designs like the first 28/3.5 Nikkor version. The compact 20/3.5

AIS that followed did not display this curious hotspot phenomenon and it's shorter focus throw made viewfinder focus

a relative breeze.

[waldemar_giers___kitchener]

I use mine 20mm f4.0 almost exclusively with k1 ring for close ups. It also is not afraid to be pointed directly in the sun with no or good looking flair.<div></div>

[waldemar_giers___kitchener]

Straight in the sun.<div></div>