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Phast1
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p.1 #1 · Nikon wide fast primes?

So, being a longtime canon user, I've very rarely read anything on Nikon lenses... until now that is and I am wondering - What are the Nikon fast primes (2.8 and bigger) options in 35mm and wider?

Say the equivalents or close to canon's 35L, 24L kinda deal.

PS: AF is wanted too.

Can someone enlighten me please?

Sep 04, 2008 at 03:31 AM

dj dunzie
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p.1 #2 · Nikon wide fast primes?

Here's five that might fit your bill:

http://imaging.nikon.com/products/imaging/lineup/lens/af/wideangle/index.htm

Sep 04, 2008 at 03:37 AM

Phast1
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p.1 #3 · Nikon wide fast primes?

Thanks dj! The 20 2.8 looks tempting. I'll read some reviews.

Sep 04, 2008 at 03:50 AM

revoke99
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p.1 #4 · Nikon wide fast primes?

I am too a long time canon user who just switched and I don't think there is anything that equals the 35L or 24L maybe the 28 f/1.4..If 2.8 fits the bill then the 14-24 would beat both of those just no filter.

Sep 04, 2008 at 06:22 AM

phillip ino
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p.1 #5 · Nikon wide fast primes?

Does it have to be Nikon brand? If not, both the Sigma 24/1.8 and 20/1.8 are pretty nice.

Sep 04, 2008 at 06:34 AM

panos.v
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p.1 #6 · Nikon wide fast primes?

Phast1 wrote:
So, being a longtime canon user, I've very rarely read anything on Nikon lenses... until now that is and I am wondering - What are the Nikon fast primes (2.8 and bigger) options in 35mm and wider?

Say the equivalents or close to canon's 35L, 24L kinda deal.

PS: AF is wanted too.

Can someone enlighten me please?

Well, there aren't any. There's a 28/1.4 AF which is out of production, very rare and costs thousands to find in the 2nd hand market. There's a 35/1.4 which is manual focus and very good. There's a 28/2 which is manual focus too and excellent. And there's a 24/2 which is manual focus but apparently crap. There's also a Zeiss 28/2, obviously manual focus.

So, basically, there aren't any. On the other hand, you can get a 17-35 or 14-24 which are better than any of the f/2.8 primes in that range and use some silly high ISO to compensate for the lack of shutter speeds. But you obviously won't have the same look as shooting wide open on a wide lens.

Sep 04, 2008 at 10:26 AM

Mark Kenfield
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p.1 #7 · Nikon wide fast primes?

I think it's one of the single biggest issues with Nikon's current lens lineup (that and the lack of quality f/4 zooms). As Panos explained, there just aren't any equivalents.

Would a new 18-***mm f/3.5-5.6 zoom do? We've got lots of those!

Sep 04, 2008 at 01:27 PM

Flappie
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p.1 #8 · Nikon wide fast primes?

While I would be first in line for a nice 35mm/1.4 lens with performance equal to the 35L, I honestly don't see the appeal of the 24L . The lens really isn't that good at all , even on bodies with an APS-sensor, the lens is a dog.

Let's hope Nikon decides to put that 28/1.4 back into production, with some nano-crystal technology to make it even better

Sep 05, 2008 at 11:44 AM

Phast1
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p.1 #9 · Nikon wide fast primes?

Flappie wrote:
... I honestly don't see the appeal of the 24L . The lens really isn't that good at all , even on bodies with an APS-sensor, the lens is a dog.

I used to think that also. Had 2 copies and was far from excited about either. Since that time I have owned 2 others that were incredible. I believe this lens, more than others, suffers from copy variation but when you get a good one it is so nice to have 'near' 35L quality in a wider fov.

Sep 05, 2008 at 12:26 PM

Anthony8858
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p.1 #10 · Nikon wide fast primes?

I have the Nikon 20 f/2.8, and 35 f/2.0, that I use on my D700. I can honestly say that I love these two lenses. They're light, compact and give me excellent image quality for the money.

I give them both a thumbs up.

Sep 05, 2008 at 12:29 PM

HerbChong
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p.1 #11 · Nikon wide fast primes?

i had the 35/2 and 20/2.8 AF-D lenses. i sold them as soon as possible when i got my 17-35/2.8. neither are as good as the zoom. lightweight and poor performance are not good tradeoffs.

Herb...

Sep 06, 2008 at 01:37 AM

ulrikft
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p.1 #12 · Nikon wide fast primes?

Flappie wrote:
While I would be first in line for a nice 35mm/1.4 lens with performance equal to the 35L, I honestly don't see the appeal of the 24L . The lens really isn't that good at all , even on bodies with an APS-sensor, the lens is a dog.

Let's hope Nikon decides to put that 28/1.4 back into production, with some nano-crystal technology to make it even better

a dog?

The 24 1.4 L is a great lens! just as the canon 35 1.4 L

Sep 06, 2008 at 07:53 PM

panos.v
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p.1 #13 · Nikon wide fast primes?

HerbChong wrote:
i had the 35/2 and 20/2.8 AF-D lenses. i sold them as soon as possible when i got my 17-35/2.8. neither are as good as the zoom. lightweight and poor performance are not good tradeoffs.

Herb...

I had the 20, got the 17-35 and then sold the 20 as the 17-35 is better in many ways. But I will be buying a 20 again as the performance is really not that poor. CA was not that bad and can be fixed with a move of the mouse in Lightroom and sharpness is pretty good. The 20 makes a great PJ & travel style lens and it is one of my favourite focal lengths on DX. But I probably wouldn't want one for landscapes, which is what you do most, if I am correct.

Sep 06, 2008 at 07:56 PM

Pavel
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p.1 #14 · Nikon wide fast primes?

Zeiss 28 f 2.0!

Sep 06, 2008 at 11:38 PM

molson
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p.1 #15 · Nikon wide fast primes?

ulrikft wrote:

a dog?

The 24 1.4 L is a great lens! just as the canon 35 1.4 L

The 24 f1.4L makes an attractive paperweight, but it certainly isn't very sharp - especially considering its price tag.

Sep 07, 2008 at 03:48 PM

ulrikft
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p.1 #16 · Nikon wide fast primes?

molson wrote:
ulrikft wrote:

a dog?

The 24 1.4 L is a great lens! just as the canon 35 1.4 L

The 24 f1.4L makes an attractive paperweight, but it certainly isn't very sharp - especially considering its price tag.

I beg to differ. For a wide, very fast prime, it IS sharp. The nikon 28 1.4 got nothing on it when it comes to sharpness.

Sep 07, 2008 at 04:39 PM

Flappie
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p.1 #17 · Nikon wide fast primes?

ulrikft wrote:
Flappie wrote:
While I would be first in line for a nice 35mm/1.4 lens with performance equal to the 35L, I honestly don't see the appeal of the 24L . The lens really isn't that good at all , even on bodies with an APS-sensor, the lens is a dog.

Let's hope Nikon decides to put that 28/1.4 back into production, with some nano-crystal technology to make it even better

a dog?

The 24 1.4 L is a great lens! just as the canon 35 1.4 L

Yes a dog. Too much sample variation probably. The 35L is a superb lens, the 24L not imho

Sep 07, 2008 at 08:35 PM

zoetmb
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p.1 #18 · Nikon wide fast primes?

To be clear, Nikon's got:

AF Line (no motor in the lens):
16 Fisheye 2.8 D
14 2.8 D ED
20 2.8D
24 2.8D
28 2.8D
35 2.0D

DX Line (not for "full" frame)
10.5 Fisheye 2.8 G ED

Tilt-Shift
24mm TS PC-E 3.5 D ED n

Now it's been rumored for a long time that Nikon is going to start replacing those old primes with AF-S models. The rumors for Photokina are a 50 and 85 1.4 G ED n. But after that, you might see a new 35mm and 28mm.

D=records distance information for Flash, has aperture ring unless it's also a G.
G=no aperture ring, records distance info.
ED=extra dispersion glass
AF=Auto Focus (no motor)
AF-S=Auto Focus w/"silent waveform" motor
n=Nano Coat

Sep 07, 2008 at 09:34 PM

RyanFlynn
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p.1 #19 · Nikon wide fast primes?

molson wrote:
The 24 f1.4L makes an attractive paperweight, but it certainly isn't very sharp - especially considering its price tag.

I'm definitely calling bull on that. Care to share some of your sample images from it? So we can see where you garnered this wisdom?

I hope Nikon intro's a 24-28/1.4 and a 35/1.4 so I can go ahead and switch systems, as long as they're as good or better than Canon's lenses.

Sep 08, 2008 at 03:33 AM

DavidWEGS
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p.1 #20 · Nikon wide fast primes?

I have had two copies of the 24L. Both were sharp enough to compare to the 35L's. However, the corner sharpness is so-so considering the price.

I would pit my copies against the 35L without hesitation, especially on a crop body.

I am one of those who wish and wish for Nikon to bring fast wides to market. I want both a 24 and a 35 with SWM. While we are at it, replace my 85's with some SWM versions too.

Sep 08, 2008 at 03:51 AM

JKhoo
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p.1 #21 · Nikon wide fast primes?

I too am waiting for fast primes from Nikon, like the 35L etc. I love the ergonomics and controls of Nikons, but not entirely ready to give up fast primes.

Sep 08, 2008 at 04:17 AM

molson
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p.1 #22 · Nikon wide fast primes?

RyanFlynn wrote:
molson wrote:
The 24 f1.4L makes an attractive paperweight, but it certainly isn't very sharp - especially considering its price tag.

I'm definitely calling bull on that. Care to share some of your sample images from it? So we can see where you garnered this wisdom?

I had two different copies, and returned both of them because they were utter crap. The only sample photos I still have were the ones I sent to B&H to prove the second lens was totally unsharp at any aperture, and I can post some of them when I get home next week...

I think it's quite funny how the Canon users faithfully troll the Nikon forum, so they can spring to the defense when anyone criticizes their beloved brand's second-rate gear...

Edited by molson on Sep 08, 2008 at 07:40 AM GMT

Edited on Sep 08, 2008 at 02:40 PM

Sep 08, 2008 at 02:34 PM

ulrikft
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p.1 #23 · Nikon wide fast primes?

molson wrote:
RyanFlynn wrote:
molson wrote:
The 24 f1.4L makes an attractive paperweight, but it certainly isn't very sharp - especially considering its price tag.

I'm definitely calling bull on that. Care to share some of your sample images from it? So we can see where you garnered this wisdom?

I had two different copies, and returned both of them because they were utter crap. The only sample photos I still have were the ones I sent to B&H to prove the second lens was totally unsharp at any aperture, and I can post some of them when I get home next week...

I have had one, and one copy alone

It is good wide open and superb when stopped down! I don't see how anyone can _not_ like the quality this lens offers at 1.4 and 24mm. It is not 200 1.8 IS L USM sharp (at 1.8) at 1.4, but you can't expect this from a 24mm?

Sep 08, 2008 at 02:39 PM

molson
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p.1 #24 · Nikon wide fast primes?

ulrikft wrote:

I have had one, and one copy alone

It is good wide open and superb when stopped down! I don't see how anyone can _not_ like the quality this lens offers at 1.4 and 24mm.

Like the saying goes, if you don't expect much, you'll never be disappointed... I guess that's how Canon manages to keep so many happy, devoted followers.

Edited on Sep 08, 2008 at 02:44 PM

Sep 08, 2008 at 02:44 PM

ulrikft
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p.1 #25 · Nikon wide fast primes?

molson wrote:
ulrikft wrote:

I have had one, and one copy alone

It is good wide open and superb when stopped down! I don't see how anyone can _not_ like the quality this lens offers at 1.4 and 24mm.

Like the saying goes, if you don't expect much, you'll never be disappointed... I guess that's how Canon manages to keep so many happy, devoted followers.

Thanks... :P

Sep 08, 2008 at 02:47 PM


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