Virtuoso Lens - 28mm/2 Nikkor AIS
Pros:
Flexibility, Creative Freedom, Quality
Cons:
None
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
The most practical lens for people who want high quality land-, sea- or cityscapes is the 28mm. Long considered a must have for the serious photographer, it is the most popular wide-angle lens in use for several different kinds of photography. Many photojournalists consider a 28mm to be indispensable when covering news stories and most experienced snap shooters also find that it becomes their lens of choice for travel and family activity photography.
The 28mm/2 Nikkor AIS is certainly not an inexpensive choice. However, the extra speed provided by the maximum aperture, combined with superior Nikon optics makes this a powerful tool. After the 50mm or normal lens, many folks look for a wider-angle lens that will allow them to incorporate more scenery into the shots they take. In the point and shoot world, it is this idea that has made panoramic modes so popular. In a SLR system, it is easiest to go wider within the frame provided.
Giving a view of 74degrees +/-, this Nikon lens provides razor sharp images across the entire negative. The distortion at the edges or in the corners sometimes seen in images made with cheaper lenses is not a problem, thanks to the Nikon Close-Range Correction System. Super fast, for a lens of this length, available light shooting is an option even in low light situations.
I use this lens as a default carry lens. The wider angle gives me the most available coverage without sacrificing the edge of the frame to distortion, while the quality of the optics will allow for a greater degree of enlargement if I decide to crop the printed image. These two factors alone make the investment worthwhile. The lens' construction is of the same high quality made legendary by Nikon over half a century.
I encourage any new photographer to spend a fair amount of time working with the Normal lens first. After learning the basics of framing and composition, though, the freedom of working with the wide-angle view provided by the 28mm will bring a whole new level of creativity to your photography.
