Nikon AF NIKKOR 20-35mm 1: 2.8D review

According provided by lens Nikon AF NIKKOR 20-35mm 1: 2.8D huge thanks to Nikolay Bezumny.

Nikon AF NIKKOR 20-35mm 1: 2.8D

Nikon AF NIKKOR 20-35mm 1: 2.8D

The Nikon AF NIKKOR 20-35mm 1: 2.8D is Nikon's first wide-angle autofocus zoom lens to be able to 'expand' to a 20mm focal length. This focal length allows you to get a really wide angle of view, which is 94°. Nikon 20-35 / 2.8D, among other things, belongs to the professional line of Nikon Nikkor lenses with excellent build quality. But, unfortunately, NIKKOR 20-35 / 2.8D is not included in the list Nikon NPS.

Prior to the release of the NIKKOR 20-35 / 2.8D, Nikon did not have such lenses, and the Nikon Zoom-Nikkor 25 ~ 50 1: 4 AI versions (1979) and AI-S (1981) and Nikon AF NIKKOR 24-50mm 1: 3.3-4.5 (1987). The legendary Nikon AF NIKKOR 20-35mm 1: 2.8D was introduced in September 1993. By the way, his colleague - Canon Zoom Lens EF 20-35 1: 2.8 L was released exactly 4 years earlier than NIKKOR.

Review Instance Name NIKON AF NIKKOR 20-35mm 1: 2.8D 214935
A type FX, AF, D,IF, ASPHERICALSIC
Front Filter Diameter 77 mm
Focal length 20-35 mm EGF for cameras Nikon DX 30-52.5 mm
Zoom ratio 1.75 x
Designed by for film cameras
Number of aperture blades 9 pieces
Tags aperture, focusing distance in meters and feet, IR marks for 20 mm and 35 mm. The depth of field scale can be further cut out from the instructions and mounted on top of the focus distance scale (Nikon, are you kidding?)
Diaphragm F / 2.8-F / 22 over the entire range of focal lengths
MDF 0.5 m, maximal magnification factor 1: 8.8
The weight 640 / 585 g
Optical design 14 elements in 11 groups, 1 aspherical element (in the optical diagram, the aspherical element is shown in blue)nikon-28-35-2-8-d-af-nikkor-optical-scheme
Lens hood Nikon HB-8
Manufacturer country MADE IN JAPAN
Period September 1993 - April 2001
Price A catalog of modern wide-angle lenses is available see here.

Nikon AF NIKKOR 20-35mm 1: 2.8D has always been produced without any modifications, but, nevertheless, there are two versions of this lens that differ in their weight. The first versions of the lens weighed 640 grams, but subsequently the lens was lightened to 585 grams; there are no other differences that are visible to the eye between the versions. Nikon 20-35 / 2.8D has always been produced only in Japan.

Nikon AF NIKKOR 20-35mm 1: 2.8D

Nikon AF NIKKOR 20-35mm 1: 2.8D

Nikon 20-35 / 2.8D is assembled very high quality, to the touch it is a lens of old Nikon's hardening. All professional AF and AF-D lenses have this robust design. The focus and zoom ring are rubberized. The thread for the light filter is metal, as is the lens mount. For quick attachment to the camera, you can use the black screw, which serves as a kind of bayonet mount mark.

Nikon 20-35 / 2.8D uses the original Nikon HB-8 plastic lens hood, for installation which has a white mark on the frame of the case. If you set the hood in transport mode, then access to the focus ring will be very limited.

Nikon AF NIKKOR 20-35mm 1: 2.8D

Nikon AF NIKKOR 20-35mm 1: 2.8D, a black screw is visible from the bayonet side

The focus ring rotates only 90 degrees. During auto focus, the ring remains stationary, it cannot be rotated and you can hold the lens by it.

Auto focus very fast, internal type. The lens has a window with a focus distance scale in meters and feet, as well as two tags for working in the infrared spectrum for 20 and 35 mm. The depth of field lens of the lens is missing, but the instructions have its paper counterpart, which can either be cut out and combined with the focus distance scale, or visually remember :). The minimum focusing distance is 50 cm, and for 20-35 mm focal length, as for me, this is very, very much.

The focus mode switch is designed as a ring and uses a metal release button to switch between 'M' and 'A' modes. This switch makes it easy to distinguish Nikon professional from non-professional lenses in the old 'Nikon AF' range. Actually, such a focus mode switch is inconvenient, but still better with it than without it.

Nikon AF NIKKOR 20-35mm 1: 2.8D

Nikon AF NIKKOR 20-35mm 1: 2.8D

When changing the focal length, the front lens of the lens moves and rotates inside the frame of the housing, but due to the successful design, it can be considered that the zoom lens is internal. So, if you install a filter on the lens, then visually the lens will not change its size either during focusing or during a change in focal length.

During a change in focal length, the rear lens also moves.

Tamron SP AF 20-40 1: 2.7-3.5 Aspherical 266D and Nikon AF NIKKOR 20-35mm 1: 2.8D

Tamron SP AF 20-40 1: 2.7-3.5 Aspherical 266D and Nikon AF NIKKOR 20-35mm 1: 2.8D

As befits a professional lens, the Nikon 20-35 / 2.8D uses a nine-blade aperture. The petals are not rounded, and therefore you can easily get star ray effect (it turns out an 18-ray star).

The lens uses large filters with a standard diameter of 77 mm. Typically, this diameter is common to many Nikon professional lenses.

Nikon AF NIKKOR 20-35mm 1: 2.8D

Nikon AF NIKKOR 20-35mm 1: 2.8D

Nikon AF NIKKOR 20-35mm 1: 2.8D features to work with various Nikon cameras

It's important: auto focus with this lens is available only when using him on cameras with built-in motor focusing.

Exact list Nikon DSLR cameras with a built-in focus motor, on which this lens will focus automatically:

Exact list Nikon DSLR cameras without a built-in focus motor, on which this lens will not focus automatically:

Only auto focus and sound confirmation of focus will not work with these cameras, all other important functions, such as automatic exposure metering and automatic iris control, will work well.

You will find a lot of useful information on the types of cameras and lenses Nikon here.

Of these lenses, only Nikon AF NIKKOR 20-35mm 1: 2.8D and Nikon ED AF Nikkor 18-35mm 1: 3.5-4.5 D IF Aspherical do not have a built-in focusing motor. All subsequent models of these lenses are available in 'AF-S SWM' versions.

The lens has a manual aperture ring. To be able to control the value aperture from camera or for automatic installation aperture on modern central control valves, you need to turn the control ring to F / 22 and fix it with a special lever, which is located to the right of the marks aperture. If this is not done, then on a number of cameras, the display will display an error - 'fEE' (ring is not installed aperture) Some cameras having diaphragm rheostatallow you to control the aperture using the ring aperturebut only in metering modes exposure 'M' and 'A'. You can read more about this issue in the section on Non-G Lenses. Ring aperture rotates with clicks, the values ​​F / 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 22 are plotted on it. It is impossible to establish an intermediate value between pairs of numbers using the aperture ring. Intermediate values ​​can only be set using the camera menu.

EGF lens for Nikon DX cameras is 30-52.5mm. I don’t see much point in using Nikon AF NIKKOR 20-35mm 1: 2.8D on cropped Nikon cameras. Who is looking for a fast wide-angle zoom for Nikon cameras, I advise you to look away Tokina AT-X 116 PRO SD 11-16mm F2.8 (IF) DX II (second version) or Tokina AT-X 116 PRO SD 11-16mm F2.8 (IF) DX (first version) or Tokina AT-X PRO SD 11-20mm F2.8 (IF) DX.

Nikon AF NIKKOR 20-35mm 1: 2.8D with original Nikon HB-8 blend

Nikon AF NIKKOR 20-35mm 1: 2.8D with original Nikon HB-8 blend

There are not so many Nikon Nikkor FX lenses that allow you to shoot at 20 millimeters or less focal length.

Nikkor F for SLR cameras:

  1. Nikon 14 mm 1: 2.8D AF
  2. Nikon 16 mm 1: 2.8D Fisheye AF
  3. Nikon 18 mm 1: 2.8D AF
  4. Nikon 20 mm 1:2.8 AF
  5. Nikon 20 mm 1: 2.8D AF
  6. Nikon 20 mm 1: 1.8G N AF S
  7. Nikon 8-15 mm 1: 3.5-4.5E Fisheye AF S
  8. Nikon 14-24 mm 1: 2.8G N AF S
  9. Nikon 16-35 mm 1: 4G VR N AF S
  10. Nikon 17-35 mm 1: 2.8D AF S
  11. Nikon 18-35 mm 1: 3.5-4.5D AF
  12. Nikon 18-35 mm 1: 3.5-4.5G AF S
  13. Nikon 20-35 mm 1: 2.8D AF

Nikkor Z for mirrorless cameras:

  1. Nikon 20 mm 1:1.8 S
  2. Nikon 14-24 1:2.8 S
  3. Nikon 14-30 mm 1:4 S
  4. Nikon 17-28 mm 1:2.8

In fact, Nikon AF NIKKOR 20-35mm 1: 2.8D also deserves the honorable inscriptions 'IF' and 'Aspherical', but at the time of the lens release, marketers had not yet thought of decorating the lens barrel with various mysterious abbreviations :).

Nikon AF NIKKOR 20-35mm 1: 2.8D with original Nikon HB-8 blend

Nikon AF NIKKOR 20-35mm 1: 2.8D with original Nikon HB-8 blend

Nikon does not have a direct analogue of such a lens for Nikon DX cropped cameras, there is only a faintly similar Nikon DX AF-S Nikkor 12-24mm 1: 4G ED SWM IF Aspherical. Crop again puts an ultimatum :).

Nikon AF NIKKOR 20-35mm 1: 2.8D

Front lens movement of the Nikon AF NIKKOR 20-35mm 1: 2.8D lens during focal length changes. Left - 20 mm, right - 35 mm.

The lens does not have additional vignetting due to the use of light filters. I used the CITIWIDE ND8 filter 77mm polarization filter and CITIWIDE CPL 77mm.

Despite the fact that the lens has only 1.75 X zoom, theoretically it can be a replacement for four fixed lenses at once: 20 / 2.8, 24 / 2.8, 28 / 2.8 and 35 / 2.8 :)

Nikon AF NIKKOR 20-35mm 1: 2.8D

Nikon AF NIKKOR 20-35mm 1: 2.8D on camera Nikon AF N8008s

The picture with Nikon AF NIKKOR 20-35mm 1: 2.8D is nice. First of all, it is noticeable that the lens has a slight distortion. To be completely honest, as for a zoom lens, this NIKKOR very well conveys straight lines at any focal length. Also, the lens has good contrast, it's a pity, but in the backlight you can’t do without glare, sometimes they occupy a huge part of the shot. With sharpness in the center of the frame, everything is fine on any aperture. At F / 2.8, the angles are very weak, with the cover of the diaphragm sharpness in the corners and along the edge improves.

Sample photo on Nikon AF NIKKOR 20-35mm 1: 2.8D

Sample photo on Nikon AF NIKKOR 20-35mm 1: 2.8D

Source files can download from this link (61 photos in the '.RAW' format, 646 MB). I don’t think the lens will show good pixel-by-pixel sharpness on small pixel cameras such as Nikon D7100, D7200, D810, D800, D800E, D810a, etc.

Nikon AF NIKKOR 20-35mm 1: 2.8D

Nikon AF NIKKOR 20-35mm 1: 2.8D on camera Nikon D90

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At one time, the old Nikon AF NIKKOR 20-35mm 1: 2.8D was the dream of a large circle of photographers. But his time slowly passes, giving place to new models with modern technology. Anyway, professional NIKKOR boasts excellent build, fast focusing and good image quality.

Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram

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Comments: 96, on the topic: Review of Nikon AF NIKKOR 20-35mm 1: 2.8D

  • Soot

    I have and use the Tamron SP 20-40, that is included in one of your pictures, and the Nikon 20/f/2.8 AF-D prime, plus the Tokina 20-35 f/2.8 AT-X Pro lens. At the 20mm focal length, the Tamron SP is by far, the sharper lens. wide Especially open at f/2.8

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