Best 28mm Nikkor

George Mann · Aug 16, 2020

I have a Nikkor 28mm F3.5 Ai that performs as well as most of the primes that I have used.

The problem is, my Nikkor 50mm F2 (HC and Ai) performs noticeably better, and I would like a 28mm that performs similarly.

I use to have the 28mm F2.8 AI-S (stolen). I didn't find it to be noticeably better than my current one.

I am only aware of one more, the F2. How well does it perform?

narsuitus · Aug 16, 2020

I use the Nikkor 28mm f/2.8 AIS (lens on left in front) primarily for landscapes, street shooting, and theatre. I compared its performance to a Zeiss 28mm f/2 and was surprised that at the same f/stops, my Nikkor was optically equal to the Zeiss.

Since I have never used a 50mm f/2 Nikkor, I cannot compare.

Nikon Wide-Angle Lenses by Narsuitus, on Flickr

mshchem · Aug 16, 2020

28 1.4 AF D. Prepare for a shock. These gems routinely sell for over $1500. It will work with every film camera and DSLR. Really amazing lens. The 28 2.8 is a very nice affordable lens.

George Mann · Aug 16, 2020

Note that my query concerns only manual focus lenses. My research online, and my own experience so far indicates that I am spinning my wheels here.

My F3.5 performs better wide open (but never use it there), and the other 2 may be slightly sharper stopped down, with the F2.8 having less barrel distortion.

Still, my F3.5 renders in a more realistic fashion that I prefer.

So short of switching to Leica, I'm not likely to do any better.

Christiaan Phleger · Aug 16, 2020

Well I have a lot of 28mm manual lenses and its a favorite focal length for me so I will offer my opinion.

Depending on which version of the 3.5 you have yes for some types of images you are correct there would be a somewhat incremental improvement by using another 28mm MF Nikkor.

The Ai-S 2.8 version close focus front CRC is a fine lens, in my experience some individual lenses seem to be sharper than others, the worst looking copy I got from a retired NY news photographer was the sharpest so perhaps you maybe want to try that one again.

The older Nikkor 28mm N or N.C is my personal favorite; even though the later versions are supposed to be the same exact optics I find the older type to be more 'fuller' in rendering rather than 'thin and sharp' look that the Ai-s or early AF lenses have. Purely personal and with no evidence other than owning and shooting and cleaning and repairing many 28's mind you, you might want to look at that one for the backlight rendering (discussed as part of the better qualities of the 28/2 in general) and a good sharpness at 5.6-11. I like it wide or 2.8 and close in for me it has a natural look to environmental portraits

One interesting 28mm Nikkor that generally most have a lower opinion on is the Ai version of the 2.8, the one without the front CRC. This I've found is an interesting lens; yes in most straight comparisons it will fall below all the others (including the 3.5 in some instances) but there is a certain zone where the Ai 2.8 just looks good. Not too open and not too far away in not too dark of conditions it has a color richness that is compelling. At landscape distances and f/11 it makes a delightfully sharp images but just dont think that quality will hold when you shoot closer in, in this case the Ai-S 2.8 or the f/2 model will be technically better. However, moving in closer with a wider stop and maybe force a bit of flare from a backlit source and it can make a compelling image. As I have many of each of my favorite 28's sometimes I'm baffled as to why the 'lowly' Ai 2.8 gets a ride in my bag but some days the "sharp at f/11 for landscapes and/or closer and moody" duality is just what I want for a 28.

Nitroplait · Aug 17, 2020

"Better" is quite subjective, but I personally would rather take my 28/2.8AIS to a deserted island than my 50/2.0HC. Sample variation may account for differences either way, but the 28/2.8AIS is probably as good as it gets among Nikons MF 28mm lenses.

George Mann · Aug 17, 2020

Nitroplait said:
"Better" is quite subjective, but I personally would rather take my 28/2.8AIS to a deserted island than my 50/2.0HC. Sample variation may account for differences either way, but the 28/2.8AIS is probably as good as it gets among Nikons MF 28mm lenses.

What do you like about your 28mm that would make you choose it over the 50mm F2?

blockend · Aug 17, 2020

The Nikkor 28mm 3.5 AIS is one of my favourite rendering lenses. Used as a hyperfocal distance lens owing to the dark screen, it performs very well.

ic-racer · Aug 17, 2020

Nikkor 28/1.8 autofocus is one of my favorite lenses. It nearly replaced my two Zeiss 28/2 lenses.

narsuitus · Aug 17, 2020

George Mann said:
What do you like about your 28mm that would make you choose it over the 50mm F2?

I cannot speak for Nitroplait; but in my case, when I need a wider angle-of-view than the 50mm provides, I prefer to use the 28mm.

foveon_m · Aug 17, 2020

flavio81 · Aug 17, 2020

George Mann said:
I have a Nikkor 28mm F3.5 Ai that performs as well as most of the primes that I have used.

The problem is, my Nikkor 50mm F2 (HC and Ai) performs noticeably better, and I would like a 28mm that performs similarly.

I use to have the 28mm F2.8 AI-S (stolen). I didn't find it to be noticeably better than my current one.

I am only aware of one more, the F2. How well does it perform?

From what i've seen elswehere, it seems that many Nikon 28mm lenses weren't reallya as good as offerings from other manufacturers.

I own the exact same lens, the 28mm f3.5 AI, and considering its modest f/stop and the fact that ti's like the 3rd or 4th improvement on a 1960 design which was groundbreaking at the time, i wouldn't be surprised it's one of the best 28mm and better than even the famed 2.8 AI. There are "poor" 28mm lenses on the Nikkor range as well, for example the 28/2.8 AF isn't really liked on the webs. The 28/3.5 in its pre-AI single-coated form has shockingly good contrast, very good center performance wide open, very good flare resistance. It only had strong vignetting and weak corner performance until about f11. These defects seem to have been fixed in the AI version.

I also own the pre-AI 28/2.0 and PC-nikkor 28/3.5 but haven't had the time to test them.
Marco Cavina, who has excellent technical articles in italian, compares some of these Nikkors, specifically the 28/2.8, 28/2.0, PC-nikkor, and some ugly plastic stuff of f1.4 speed, see here (!!!)

http://www.marcocavina.com/articoli_fotografici/TEST_28mm_Nikkor/00_pag.htm

Most liked 28mm I have is the S-M-C Takumar 28/3.5 which is fantastic and I wouldn't be surprised it bests some Nikkors. Another 28mm I like very much is the Pentax-A 28/2.8 (see a pattern here?)

flavio81 · Aug 17, 2020

narsuitus said:
I use the Nikkor 28mm f/2.8 AIS (lens on left in front) primarily for landscapes, street shooting, and theatre. I compared its performance to a Zeiss 28mm f/2 and was surprised that at the same f/stops, my Nikkor was optically equal to the Zeiss.

Since I have never used a 50mm f/2 Nikkor, I cannot compare.

Nikon Wide-Angle Lenses by Narsuitus, on Flickr

You use the 28/3.5 reversed?! Is it useful that way?

Christiaan Phleger · Aug 17, 2020

Very useful

tomkatf · Aug 17, 2020

foveon_m said:
28/2

The 28/2 Nikkor N.C is my all time favorite lens and has been a "normal" lens for me for years.

flavio81 · Aug 17, 2020

tomkatf said:
The 28/2 Nikkor N.C is my all time favorite lens and has been a "normal" lens for me for years.

Wow! I own exactly this lens and didn't use it a lot. Perhaps i need to use it! What other wideangles are you comparing it against? Which qualiies do you think the Nikkor-N-C 28/2.0 displays that make it your favorite?

Last month i was about to sell it, only because I didn't use it too much!

tomkatf · Aug 17, 2020

flavio81 said:
Wow! I own exactly this lens and didn't use it a lot. Perhaps i need to use it! What other wideangles are you comparing it against? Which qualiies do you think the Nikkor-N-C 28/2.0 displays that make it your favorite?

Last month i was about to sell it, only because I didn't use it too much!

I think it just depends on how you see things. The angle of view and depth of field suited my shooting style. It was the first wide angle lens I owned and I either comfortably adapted to the way it presented things or realized how well it matched up with my vision of how I wanted to see... I was doing a lot of street/found object shooting with Tri-X. I didn't really feel the need to compare it to any other 28's but the basic lens set I settled on was: 20-28-50-105: then probably an 80-200 zoom or equivalent. If I was shooting stage or sports I'd add a 180/2.8 and a 300mm. Never got on with the 24 and 35mm focal lengths, probably due to the fact that the 28 was giving me what I wanted to see.

Nitroplait · Aug 18, 2020

George Mann said:
What do you like about your 28mm that would make you choose it over the 50mm F2?

I like the slightly more modern look that stems from the 1981 design of the 28mm (versus the 50mm that dates back to 1964). Also, in later years I tend to gravitate towards bringing context into my pictures and the 28mm excels at that.

narsuitus · Aug 18, 2020

flavio81 said:
You use the 28/3.5 reversed?! Is it useful that way?

Yes, very useful.

Since I only use my 28/3.5 mounted on bellows to obtain extreme macro shots, I did not even bother to have Nikon AI the lens for me. I only use the lens mounted in reverse position on bellows and/or extension tubes, to obtain images with a reproduction ratio of 1:1 up to 2:1. That would be filling the frame of a 35mm camera with a 36mm subject up to a filling the frame with a 16mm subject. I use it primarily for shooting jewelry, precious stones, and small coins.

The image below is my macro setup using a 55mm macro lens in reverse position on bellows plus extension tubes. I use my 28mm when I need more magnification than the 55 provides.

Nikon Macro Set Up by Narsuitus, on Flickr

dynachrome · Aug 18, 2020

This subject has come up many times here and elsewhere. I still don't have a 28/2.8 AIS but I have plenty of other good 28s. My consideration of 28s concerns manual focus lenses and use with film. The 28/3.5 AI is very sharp and no apology needs to be made for it. If you can't make high quality images with it, it's not the lens. It doesn't have very close focusing and it does not have CRC. If I need to get close I will use a 55/3.5 or 55/2.8 Micro Nikkor. That will work much better than any 28 mounted front forward. My 28/2 Nikkor is the 'K' model. It does have CRC but in a different arrangement than the 282.8 AIS. It's sharp and gives me a brighter finder than any 28/2.8 or 3.5. What about an f/1.4 model? It's obviously better for low light. I would rarely have the need to use it wide open. Just for reference, these are some or my favorite non-Nikkor 28s: 28/1.8 Konica UC Hexanon, 28/2.8 Canon FD SC, 28/2 Canon FD SSC, Vivitar 28/2.5 Fixed Mount (62 and 67 filter size), 28/1.9 Vivitar Series 1, 28/2 Kiron, 28/2 Vivitar (22), Vivitar 28/2 (28), 28/2.5 Minolta MC Rokkor-X, 28/3.5 SMC Takumar/28/3.5 SMC Pentax.

narsuitus · Aug 18, 2020

dynachrome said:
... these are some or my favorite non-Nikkor 28s: 28/1.8 Konica UC Hexanon, 28/2.8 Canon FD SC, 28/2 Canon FD SSC, Vivitar 28/2.5 Fixed Mount (62 and 67 filter size), 28/1.9 Vivitar Series 1, 28/2 Kiron, 28/2 Vivitar (22), Vivitar 28/2 (28), 28/2.5 Minolta MC Rokkor-X, 28/3.5 SMC Takumar/28/3.5 SMC Pentax.

Nice collection of 28mm lenses.

Even though 28mm has never been one of my favorite focal lengths for 35mm cameras, I also have a few of them.

A. Nikkor 28mm f/3.5 pre-AI (use in reverse position on bellows for close-ups and macros)

B. Zeiss 28mm f/2 Distagon T* ZF 2 (replaced slower 28mm f/2.8 AIS Nikkor)

C. Vivitar 28mm f/2.5 screw mount lens (replaced broken 28mm f/3.5 Fujinon)

D. Nikkor 28mm f/4 perspective control (use for panoramic and architectural photos)

E. Asahi 28mm f/3.5 Super-Multi-Coated Takumar screw mount

F. Nikkor 28mm f/2.8 AIS (not shown)

G. Zeiss 28mm f/2.8 Biogon for Contax rangefinder (not shown)

28mm Lenses by Narsuitus, on Flickr

John Bragg · Aug 18, 2020

I only have the 28mm f2.8 Ais but it is the sharpest Nikkor I own.

Signpost in Port Isaac, Cornwall. by E.J. Bragg, on Flickr

George Mann · Aug 18, 2020

dynachrome said:
The 28/3.5 AI is very sharp and no apology needs to be made for it. If you can't make high quality images with it, it's not the lens.

I have no trouble making high quality photo's with it, especially since I shoot everything at it's optimal f-stops.

The thing is, the 50mm F2 has a special rendering quality that I have only seen from Leitz lenses, which is no mystery since the F2 and the F2 Summicron are virtually identical optically, save for the coatings.

George Mann · Aug 18, 2020

John Bragg said:
I only have the 28mm f2.8 Ais but it is the sharpest Nikkor I own.

My F3.5 is a bit sharper wide open (edge to edge), slightly less sharp stopped down, but smoother and creamier just the way I like.

George Mann · Aug 18, 2020

Nitroplait said:
I like the slightly more modern look that stems from the 1981 design of the 28mm (versus the 50mm that dates back to 1964).

Yes, a bit too modern for my taste.

Best 28mm Nikkor

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