Used Nikon 28mm f/1.8G AF-S Nikkor Lens

2022-03-31T07:06:10

I purchased this lens when it was first introduced back in 2012. In combination with D8__ cameras, it was my favorite of more than 11 Nikkor lenses that I owned, with highest resolution when viewed at 200% on the screen. Due to a tripod mishap, this first lens was lost to water damage. I repurchased the same model 6 months ago from my local Nikon dealer, and Nikon has taken an already very good lens and improved it significantly, with better lens coatings, a major reduction in aberations such as field curvature, less lateral CA and internal flare, with even better color output (I thought this was not possible) and the ability to manage very high contrast light with an exquisitely refined image. Fine detail and point source light management is now extraordinary; in fact, I have to turn down contrast and sharpening settings with this lens in NXD; it is that good. Having used Nikons for almost 40 years and 3 versions of this lens, it is clear that Nikon listens to its customers, but more importantly, takes steps to make something that is already exemplary better. It is light enough to work beautifully with Z series cameras. Well worth the investment still if you are using the Z7ii or Z9 and prefer a prime 28mm focal length.

Mr F.

Originally posted at

2020-12-28T18:15:29

This lens on my D850 is a wonderful combination. I love the 28mm focal length and was a bit unsure about this lens because a lot of reviews state that it isn't up to the same standard as some of the other f/1.8s, but I can say that I have had absolutely no regrets. My lens is sharp wide open and I often shoot it that way when I am documenting a bride or groom getting ready. I almost never use flash in that situation, bride or groom getting ready, and the lens is never stopped down further than f/2.8. Sharp, fast and light. I love this lens.

Robert K.

Originally posted at

2019-10-11T12:26:31

This lens takes gorgeous images. For me, quick focus, tack sharp, easy to use. Very happy with it. Thank you.

SPENCER R.

2018-12-28T08:16:45

Love the wide angle this provides.

Harry W.

2018-11-09T19:00:00

I'm seriously happy with this lens. It's a bit expensive but 100% worth it imo. The only negative thing I can say is that it's a bit slow to focus in low light, but I guess that's expected. But for sure it's a great lens and if I had to buy it again, I would. For sure the 1.4 would be great to have, but that one costs more than double the price and I simply cannot find a single reason to go for it when this 1.8 is just fantastic already

DiegoV

Originally posted at

2017-12-13T07:53:19

Great lens, beautiful bokeh.

Jeremy D.

2016-12-21T10:52:00

This is a great lesson! With great depth of field and amazing clarity

Mary L.

2016-12-13T10:07:04

I used to own the far more expensive 24mm 1.4G. I found 28mm to be a much more appropriate focal length for environmental portraits throughout the day. 24 just seemed a little to wide for my taste. Not only that, but I found this lens focused faster and more accurately than the 24mm 1.4G. I can't recommend this lens more highly if you know you need a fast/ moderately wide spot filled. Some fault this lens for build quality, but when I'm shooting a 10+ hour day, the weight of this lens is a welcome change opposed to a 1.4 series prime or a 24-70 sized zoom. Optically this lens preforms on par with lenses that cost twice as much. Nano-coating is fantastic it preforms as well as any other nano coated lens your familiar with in terms of controlling flare.

NICHOLAS H.

2016-03-25T20:00:00

I love the feel, look and how quiet this lens is. Superb on the D800. Fast, accurate and images are sharp and beautiful in tone and contrast. I'm not a zoom lens type gal so this lens fits so many needs from landscape, to portraits...its just wonderful!

AniT

Originally posted at

2016-01-07T18:14:06

Recommend this lens. Clear and great quality.

WILLIAM T.

2015-12-21T09:36:57

Great lens, clear and bright, but unfortunately experienced front focusing issue, waiting for replacement. But overall if you got a good copy of this lens you won't be disappointed. I highly recommend this product.

IVAN B.

2015-01-05T19:00:00

I needed a wide-angle lens that was fast and sharp. The 28mm focal length works perfectly for most of my wide-angle applications. The lens is well-built, fast auto-focus, smooth focus pull and the nano-crystal coat works great! I just used this lens for some landscape work in Tennessee and the results were gorgeous. I have posted a photo of its use on the street using my Nikon D610. I highly recommend this lens for someone that demands the highest quality 28mm f/1.8 prime.

D610Photog

Originally posted at

2014-12-06T19:00:00

The Nikon 28mm f/1.8 wide angle lens is compact, optically superb, and great for nighttime hand held photography. Below are two photos taken at night, hand held, at a shutter speed of 1/125 of a second, an aperture of f/1.8, ISOs of 450 and 3200, Auto White Balance, and Matrix Metering.

Scripps23

Originally posted at

2014-06-23T21:00:00

I bought this lens for street photography and some landscape work. It is a lot lighter to carry about than the Nikon professional zoom. Very crisp image at 2.8 and above. Bokeh is good at F1.8-2.8 but not quite as pretty as lenses with 9 leaflets. Unlike the 35mm f1.8 lens, Nikon put its nanocoating on this one--not sure why they left it off the 35 mm.Crisper image than the 35 mm. Still, for street photography, I prefer the 35 mm space to 28. Focus adequate, not superfast.

Rogar

2014-05-22T21:00:00

I have read much about the soft focus on this lens. This lens is not soft! its fast! Wide aperture lenses need the use of the center focal point to achieve the sharpness most of us desire. At least on a lens in this price category. It's not fun to recompose but this lens has impressive performance if you do. I love this glass for having the ability to shoot semi-wide at f1.8. Great for landscape as well as indoors. Build quality is weak and for that alone I negate one star.

17Millimeters

2014-03-17T21:00:00

soft at all fstops even after in camera focus adjustments. Buy the D series lenses that say made in Japan on them. my Nikon 16-30 f4 and 24-120 f4 are sharper then this lens at 28mm at all fstops. returned it for a nikon 35d 2.0

B&H f.

2014-02-24T19:00:00

Very nice lens. Good angle for landscapes. Nice and bright when light is dim. Good pairing with my 85mm 1.8 lens.

Sonita

2014-01-01T19:00:00

This lens is very sharp. The size is nice for holding. The weight is light. The price is reasonable. If that were not enough, the DXO on this lens is up there with the 24mm 1.4 which costs about $1500.00 more.

Hindsight2011

Originally posted at

2013-12-31T19:00:00

I wanted something wider than my existing 50mm f/1.8G. After so much research, I was wary to purchase the 28mm f/1.8G as there are so many reviews that claim that this lens suffers of focus shift. However, my practical tests, which means using the lens in real situations, have not shown any issues with my lens. Or maybe they are unnoticeable, but again, this is actual usage in most common situations such as landscapes, travel, and street photography. This lens is tack sharp even wide open, which combined with its wide angle, makes it a perfect lens for indoor photography where flash photography is not allowed, especially in museums.

CARLOS R.

2013-12-30T19:00:00

I just purchased this lens, ran a bunch of tests at high ISO at f1.8, 2.8 and 4, all available light at several distances - everything sharp as a razor. Used it on an assignment and very pleased with the images, clear, crisp and good color. When I opened the box, I was concerned because this lens is so light - the results are there, that is what counts. My work is primarily for publications, available light photography is the norm.

Anonymous

Originally posted at

2013-12-30T19:00:00

I just purchased this lens, ran a bunch of tests at high ISO at f1.8, 2.8 and 4, all available light at several distances - everything sharp as a razor. Used it on an assignment and very pleased with the images, clear, crisp and good color. When I opened the box, I was concerned because this lens is so light - the results are there, that is what counts. My work is primarily for publications, available light photography is the norm.

JRDPHOTOG

Originally posted at

2013-11-23T19:00:00

I compared this with the Nikon 35mm 1.8G AF-S DX, and the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC HSM. In relation to those, this is noticeably "brighter", my sample had possibly a 1/2 stop more light in every image. The focus ring on the Sigma is smoother and better quality, but overall I preferred everything about this lens to the other two. The Sigma is a little heavier feeling, which some may like but this balances better on the D7000. Also the Sigma finish shows fingerprints. The Bokeh on the 35 is the least desirable; this and the Sigma look identical; neither comes near premium lenses like the Nikon 85 1.4. Overall I would rate them in terms of their price, with this one being the best - but the actual difference in IQ and sharpness is very very slight between all three (at least the samples I tried). Those on a budget (with DX cameras) may prefer one of the others, and those wanting the best should consider the Nikon 35 1.4 or a Zeiss. I did not try the popular Sigma 35 1.4 that also works on full frame, as does this.

DAVID D.

2013-10-15T20:00:00

My favorite focal length for 35mm/Full frame has long been 28mm, and I have owned several 28mm lenses from Nikon and other manufacturers. The Nikkor 28mm/2.8 AFS-G lens is one of the best I have used, and once I got the best AF fine tune value set for my lens on my D800E (-15 for my equip, yours may vary), the lens has met most of my expectations. It is well suited to my landscape photography style. I tend to shoot vertical frames most of the time, and the slight field curvature of the Nikkor toward the camera in the corners helps keep the bottom foreground corners sharp. In this respect it’s superior to the Zeiss 28mm/2, which has the opposite pattern of field curvature, with corner focus shifting toward infinity. This makes the ZF2 28mm render landscape foreground corners out of focus, even at f/11, and is worse in many vertical orientation shots where the foreground is usually closer to the camera than in horizontal shots. The Zeiss does seem to suffer less flare in backlit situations than the Nikkor, despite the fancy Nano Crystal Coating. Coatings can’t solve all flare problems and the 28mm/1.8 shows slight textbook flare. The lens hood for the Nikkor is a nice bayonet mounting tulip design made of plastic. On my lens it does not stay super tightly locked, and if bumped in the right way, can rotate and fall off, or if partly rotated can vignette two corners of an image. I plan to keep a better eye on the hood now that I know. AFS works well on the Nikkor 28mm/1.8, focusing rapidly. Manual focusing is good, but has too short a focus throw despite the geared focusing mechanism, so it’s not as nice to manually focus as a real MF lens like the venerable 28mm/2.8 AIS Nikkor or the Zeiss 28mm. Another disadvantage of the 28mm/1.8 is that it’s a G lens, so it has limited back compatibility with Nikon film cameras. I could use it in P or S mode on my old F4, but not M or A, and lack of an aperture ring means it could only be used wide open on my F3. Too bad, but honestly I would just use my Zeiss 28mm on those bodies. So in short, this is a very good lens, but you need to know how to work within its limitations to get the most out of it.

SotatsuK

Originally posted at

2013-04-26T20:00:00

Distortion is well controlled and sharpness is maintained from f/1.8 wide open. I have tested many lens's and they all are pretty soft at wide open aperture. Not this lens. I also dont see any focus issues at f/1.8 as well. Color and contrast is superb and images are sharp from edge to edge.

RPM777

Originally posted at

2013-04-19T20:00:00

Returned four new samples because they had two or more of these defects: - Gritty or crunchy manual focus - Extreme amount of lateral chromatic aberration (alignment problem?) - Auto focus sticks or stops working - Excessive focus shift when stopping down - Scratches or poor condition The fifth sample is OK and I'm keeping it, but the focus shift is still pretty serious. I can't recommend this lens due to the evident quality problems.

STL S.

Originally posted at

2013-04-15T21:00:00

This is exactly what I wanted in a wide fast prime. Just be aware there is some focus shift at large apertures but is mostly gone by F 5.6. There is also some field curvature but for my use it does not present a problem.

ARTHUR U.

2013-03-18T21:00:00

I use it for scenery photography and landscapes. Nice for large objects needed to be partially blurred.

ANDREI A.

2013-03-18T21:00:00

I needed something wide enough for group photos but pleasant for portraits, I'm happy with my purchase.

mbgiggles

2013-03-11T21:00:00

A great lens for most anything--low light, landscapes, sports (I use it for snowboarding/mountain biking). So far, very pleased with the results. I wish they made a 24 1.8 because the 24 1.4 at 3 times the price wasnt worth it, but overall i am very happy with this lens. highly recommended.

COLIN W.

2013-03-06T19:00:00

This is a very light weight, well constructed lens. Build quility is on par with the 85mm 1.8G and 50mm 1.8G lenses. The field of view is moderate, not too wide and not too close to the 50mm "normal" range. The AFS motor focuses quickly and accurately. I have not noticed the field curvature focusing issues that some users are reporting on the internet. The lens does have a Nano coated element which helps provide excellent contrast. Overall the lens is a nice compromise - you get most of the optics from the exotic 24mm and 35mm 1.4's, but with a lighter, more econimical build at a fraction of the cost.

MATTHEW H.