Customer Reviews

Nikon 28mm f/1.4D AF Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

People are taken aback at the price of this lens (I got a 99% new one used for about 60% of list) but it's performance is utterly amazing. Usually "fast" lenses are touted as F2.8, but this is two whole stops faster. You can't beat a wider angle lens that lets you shoot in low light conditions or when a flash is inappropriate or doesn't allow you to achieve the effects you want. Indoor photos in a house, under daylight diffused through windows, are very possible. Four stars out of five (it IS expensive!).

The 28mm f1.4D AF Nikkor lens has become a favorite lens of many photojournalists. It's not difficult to see why. Judging from the reports of and images taken with this lens, it may be the best fast wide angle 35mm lens available now in the market. True, it may be Nikon's most expensive autofocus wide angle lens, but you get what you pay for with regards to lens construction and performance. Its performance is truly stellar, with excellent contrast and resolution from f1.4 onwards. It would be difficult for me to say that the 28mm f2 ASPH Summicron lens made by Leica for its Leica M series rangefinder cameras is as fine a performer as the 28mm f1.4D Nikkor. Would the average amateur user of a Nikon autofocus 35mm SLR system need this lens? Probably not. But without a doubt, it is quite handy in low light situations. If I owned a Nikon autofocus 35mm SLR, I wouldn't hesitate adding the 28mm f1.4D AF Nikkor to my kit.

I've owned and sold three 28 f/1.4's before Nikon finally offered a full frame body. It's a beautifully made lens especially when paired with the metal hk-7 hood. All three copies produced great images. All three also had a crack forming on the auto-focus clutch, a common design flaw. How did I end up buying this lens three times? The first time, I got one because it was the widest and fastest auto-focus prime Nikon had available which I found for about $1300. Than Nikon decided to discontinue it without offering a replacement right at the same time I found another one on ebay for $1200. A few months later, this lens was selling for over $2000. With no Nikon full frame body on the horizon and the lovely Canon 5D with the 24L, 35L, and 85L there for the taking, I sold my two Nikon 28 f/1.4's for $4000+ and got the 24L, 35L, and 85L along with the 5D. The Nikon 28 f/1.4 is a fine lens, but for me, there are simply too many other great alternatives for what the money you can get at the current market rate of this lens. The design is also aging. Canon's newer 24 f/1.4 already has an updated model to better match today's sensors. What happened to the third 28 f/1.4 copy? KEH listed one for for $1400 which I sold for $2100 (this was two years ago remember so going price is even higher). Last time they they listed that lens so low : ) I got a used 135L with that flip! So if you can find one at a bargain price, go for it. Otherwise, know that you're really buying it as a collector's item.

This lens is constantly talked about online as being the best wide-angle lens, etc. etc. The only reason is due to it's rarity by Nikon standards and the fact they haven't bothered to release a decent moderately wide prime in years, nor do I believe they will. The days of primes are over for Nikon, it's fairly obvious (with the exception of some telephotos). If you don't believe me, try using your 20mm f2.8d or 24mm f2.8d on your digital Nikon and see how crappy they perform....very high CAs and massive light falloff on the 20mm. This is not the sharpest lens nor the cheapest, by a long shot, and while being able to shoot at f1.4 is kind of attractive for people who are bokeh fetishists (read: photography noobs fascinated by the idea they can make those little round circles of light so easily). In fact, if you attempt to buy it you will be lucky to find a price of less than $3500. It IS NOT worth that price. Especially with the Nikon D3's low light ability, where seemingly "slow" lenses become night shot masterpieces. You would be better off using a D3 and a slightly slower (possibly sharper in the corners) lens. I hate to say it, but a quick look through Canon's lenses and they offer both a 24mm F1.4 and 35mm f1.4 for quite a bit less money, and brand new, not a used lens.