Help with AIS lens

[abcd-1234]

Hi, nikon users, I would like To ask your opinion about 20,24,28 f2.8 AIS. Plz help make make a short comparison in term of sharpness at different apertures, constrast, value for money, etc... I'm looking for a lens to make landscape photography. Thanks for viewing.

[marios_pittas]

Originally Posted by abcd-1234 Hi, nikon users, I would like To ask your opinion about 20,24,28 f2.8 AIS. Plz help make make a short comparison in term of sharpness at different apertures, constrast, value for money, etc... I'm looking for a lens to make landscape photography. Thanks for viewing.

You will find a lot of the information you are looking for here:

http://www.naturfotograf.com/index2.html
I have tested a number of lenses at different times (comparison of various focal lengths in terms of sharpness, bokeh, contrast, the way it lets the light come in, side by side e.g. f/1.4 lenses vs f/2 lenses) and I have to admit, I found his evaluations very very accurate.

You can also read some here too: http://www.kenrockwell.com/ but do realise that this one is a bit on the lighter sight.

-- Marios

[bigpond]

Yes, Bjorn Roslett is a good and solid guide for Nikon lenses. Stick with his recommendations and you won't go too far wrong.

I can only comment on the 20/2.8 and 28/2.8 AIS. I like both. Both have CRC and are very sharp in the centre right from f2.8. Contrast is also excellent, so is the colour. Both have low distortion and CA. Optically the 28 AIS is superior, and its reputation is well-deserved. (Of course, 28mm is also a lot easier to make than 20mm.) The 28 is usable right from f2.8. For the 20mm, you will need to stop down to about f5.6 to f8 in order to get corner to corner sharpness for landscapes.

[abcd-1234]

Thanks a lot for your opinions. I think I will choose between 28 or 20 f2.8 ais

[Ian]

Originally Posted by marios_pittas You can also read some here too: http://www.kenrockwell.com/ but do realise that this one is a bit on the lighter sight. -- Marios

My views on KR are unprintable due to legal reasons. Self censorship mode enacted.

Bjorn Rorslett however gives solid reviews of lenses (and such equipment as he writes about), something that can't be said for KR.

[abcd-1234]

Hi, I finally got a 28 f2 AI version. Any comment on this lens? Is there much difference from the AIS version except the CRC? Thanks.

[Ian]

Originally Posted by abcd-1234 Hi, I finally got a 28 f2 AI version. Any comment on this lens? Is there much difference from the AIS version except the CRC? Thanks.

You'll find that many non professional Nikon bodies made since 1996 will not accept AI lenses.

[abcd-1234]

Originally Posted by Ian You'll find that many non professional Nikon bodies made since 1996 will not accept AI lenses.

Thanks but i'm using the lens on 5D body . How is the sharpness and contrast, etc.. compared to the AIS version?

[Ian]

Originally Posted by abcd-1234 Thanks but i'm using the lens on 5D body . How is the sharpness and contrast, etc.. compared to the AIS version?

The 28/2 AI was a legendary lens, but how it stacks up on a 5D I can't say for sure as I've not used the combination. Try it and see though. Stop the 28 down to f.5.6~8 for best results.

[abcd-1234]

Originally Posted by Ian The 28/2 AI was a legendary lens, but how it stacks up on a 5D I can't say for sure as I've not used the combination. Try it and see though. Stop the 28 down to f.5.6~8 for best results.

So far i have taken some photos and the sharpness is great and good contrast. thanks for the suggestion. Just that i don't have the AIS version to compare with so i'm not sure whether it has any advantage over this older version.

[bigpond]

It seems the 28mm Ai is different from the AiS version. Ai has 7 elements whereas AiS has 8 elements in 8 groups (with CRC). Slightly different.

The one that is not so good is the Series E version, which has only 5 elements. I've had that lens and it is evident that its optical qualities are nowhere near the 28mm AiS.

[abcd-1234]

Originally Posted by bigpond It seems the 28mm Ai is different from the AiS version. Ai has 7 elements whereas AiS has 8 elements in 8 groups (with CRC). Slightly different. The one that is not so good is the Series E version, which has only 5 elements. I've had that lens and it is evident that its optical qualities are nowhere near the 28mm AiS.

Hi, so in conclusion, the difference is only in CRC right? how about performance, is there any difference in sharpness n contrast? I have read some reView and some said that the AI even performs better than AIS version. Is this true? Thanks.

[gooseberry]

Originally Posted by bigpond It seems the 28mm Ai is different from the AiS version. Ai has 7 elements whereas AiS has 8 elements in 8 groups (with CRC). Slightly different. The one that is not so good is the Series E version, which has only 5 elements. I've had that lens and it is evident that its optical qualities are nowhere near the 28mm AiS.

bigpond, I think you're referring to the 28mm f/2.8 lenses. Threadstarter says he just bought a 28mm f/2 Ai lens apparently in post #6 - different lens altogether.

abcd-1234,
all the 28 f/2 lenses by Nikon (pre-Ai, Ai and Ai-S) are 9 elements in 8 groups, all have CRC - even the pre-AI version has it. The difference between the Ai and Ai-S is that the Ai-S focuses closer (0.25m vs 0.3m), has macro reporduction of 1:5.4 vs 1:7.1 and weights 10g less.

[abcd-1234]

Originally Posted by gooseberry bigpond, I think you're referring to the 28mm f/2.8 lenses. Threadstarter says he just bought a 28mm f/2 Ai lens apparently in post #6 - different lens altogether. abcd-1234, all the 28 f/2 lenses by Nikon (pre-Ai, Ai and Ai-S) are 9 elements in 8 groups, all have CRC - even the pre-AI version has it. The difference between the Ai and Ai-S is that the Ai-S focuses closer (0.25m vs 0.3m), has macro reporduction of 1:5.4 vs 1:7.1 and weights 10g less.

Oh, thank u so much, gooseberry. I'm clear now about the differences between this 2 lens. Thanks for your information.