Nikon AIS 20mm F2.8

Posted by http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/nikkoresources/ultrawides/20mm.htm on 3rd Aug 2010

With the exception of high speed Olympus Zuiko 21mm f/2.0 - the lens speed of f/2.8 of the Nikkor 20mm f/2.8 is ranked among the fastest lens in this class. Other than a good lens speed it offers, the superior optical design of this Nikkor lens is also very well corrected for common aberrations such as spherical, curvature of field and also astigmatism. The lens has incorporated a floating lens elements system so as to maintain its exceptional optical performance to its closest focusing range which starts at 0.25 meter to infinity (OO). This Nikkor ultra-wideangle lens has always been famed for its stable, natural colour fidelity and high image contrast across all aperture settings, possibly very much attributes to use of Nikon's NIC lens coating to all its 12 elements within its optical construction. Flares is extremely well control in this lens even for backlit situations to enable photographer be able to explore many other photographic possibilities. The lens has first rated built quality and it has a very well illustrated depth of field scales engraved on the chrome aperture ring for easy reference. Combining with its good features and other unique optical characteristic such as the extensive depth of field it provides and its exceptional performance at its entire focusing range and aperture settings, making this lens an perfect ultrawides to start off for general photographic applications which includes journalism, news and events, commercial/industrial and even for creative works photography.

20mm lens is perhaps the right focal length to start off for experiencing the exciting world of ultra-wideangle photography. The angle of view of 94° is almost double to a comparing standard lens at 46°. What is most important is that the 20mm takes in about four times the picture area. For example, if you stood about four meters (about 13.1 ft.) from a subject using a 50mm lens (with the camera held vertically), you would record the same size image as at 1.5 meters (4.9 ft.) with a 20mm lens.

Combining its unique optical behavior and a moderately fast maximum aperture, this lens is very useful for shooting in tight quarters for available light photography. Weighing merely at 260 grams, it is highly portable. The immense depth of field generates with applicable aperture frequently allows you to shoot without even looking through the viewfinder should such responsive need arises. Actually, the trick of getting into successful ultrawide photography is how to manage perspective and careful picture composition. Sometimes, as oppose to general beliefs, it is not always true to stay far to shoot with ultrawide lenses but rather, I would advise you try working in closer as you can so as to retain a closer relationship with the subject and usually that works better with this kind of lenses. Besides, as ultrawide lenses often takes in unrelated elements in a photograph (such as sky or intruding human figures behind etc...) which might dilute the visual impact of the main subject element in your image, by working in close minimizes such potentials to make your photographs less appealing.