Nikon 24mm 2.8 vs 28mm 2.8 vs others

karmagarda

karmagarda

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Ok, not sure how many of you spotted my post in an insurance related thread recently, but I had a shed load of equipment nicked which included my trusty D300... thieving beggars :annoyed:

Long story short, and a somewhat silver lining to this cloud, I replaced a shed load of equipment with an insurance funded Nikon D700 and 85mm lens :banana:

Now, here's the question. I have another 300ish quid burning a hole in my pocket and I want something wide for walkabout general type shots. I am prepared to put a little extra along with this, but I've read good reports about both Nikon 24mm 2.8 and 28mm 2.8. So I'm thinking one of those. But, I'm also open to suggestions.

In regards to the 2 Nikon varieties the 24mm is slightly wider, not sure if I need this width though. The 28mm is slightly cheaper, over 100 quid cheaper in the places I've looked at so far. Both I can get without really throwing any extra cash at them. But... what do you guys think?

God, I love buying equipment! :bonk:
 
Hairyduck said:
I ended up buying both second hand on here for less than your £300 ;)
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Yeah, I'll be keeping an eye on here as well, don't worry!

Which do you prefer and why? I know there's not much focal difference between them, but would be interested in hearing your thoughts!
 
I personally prefer the extra width of a 24mm, I'm happy to wander round with nothing but that lens. (Not Nikon though but still 24mm f2.8)
 
the 24mm has a better reputation which i own, but i prefer the 28mm focal length

i would buy what you find at a good price
 
The 24mm is a much better lens, sharper and it has a floating element for better close range focusing.

Having pondered this same quesion myself I know the one to get is the 24mm, but I then got an 18-35 instead of either :D
 
Sounds like a 24mm then out of those 2. I never thought of a 18-35, but I wonder would I miss 2.8. Chances are I will use this in low light conditions, and I'm a bit of a DOF animal so would probably push it quite regularly!
 
Have you considered the 20-35 2.8 zoom? I had one and it was superbly sharp at 2.8 throughout the range and incredibly well built, sold it on here for around £400 (I think). Top lens, already regret selling it but had too much overlap at the wide end (Tamron 28-75 & Sigma 12-24) so the one in the middle had to go, nice as it was. I also had the Nikon 24mm 2.8 and 20mm 2.8, the 20-35 was as good as if not better than both.
 
35mm f2 is nice but of course not so wide

24mm is probaly the best bet.
 
jpw said:
Have you considered the 20-35 2.8 zoom? I had one and it was superbly sharp at 2.8 throughout the range and incredibly well built, sold it on here for around £400 (I think). Top lens, already regret selling it but had too much overlap at the wide end (Tamron 28-75 & Sigma 12-24) so the one in the middle had to go, nice as it was. I also had the Nikon 24mm 2.8 and 20mm 2.8, the 20-35 was as good as if not better than both.
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Never even heard of it! Let me go look that up. The bit of reach is attractive.

viewfromthenorth said:
i had a sigma 24mm f1.8 which wasn't bad, but i found it an awkward focal length and rarely used it. I find the 28mm focal length ideal for my own photography.
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Yeah, I'm still unsure. I'd probably use it for street as well so that's why I'm tempted to not go so wide. I would like something quirky though.

straycat said:
35mm f2 is nice but of course not so wide

24mm is probaly the best bet.
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Yeah, 35mm isn't quite wide enough. I'd like this lens to be a cross over between architecture and quirky street kind of stuff.
 
[QUOTE I would like something quirky though. [/QUOTE]

something quirky !!,howabout trying a 28mm third party manually focussing prime,prices as low as £25 if you look around and results are at least quite acceptable,you certainlly wouldnt lose any money one one if you needed to sell on


peter
 
pmiddleditch said:
I would like something quirky though.
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something quirky !!,howabout trying a 28mm third party manually focussing prime,prices as low as £25 if you look around and results are at least quite acceptable,you certainlly wouldnt lose any money one one if you needed to sell on


peter
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That would be quirky alright! Although, if I want to do something that quirky I'd probably take the Fed-2 out, stick a B&W roll in and go crazy.
 
I think the 28th is preferable if I've only space for one lens, the 24mm is a bit too wide sometimes
 
The 28mm 2.8 is my favourite nikon prime. I was using the 35mm 2.0 nikon before but wanted to get more in the frame, but without the distortion that a wider lens can give. The 24mm 2.8 would also be a nice lens - might get it sometime so I have a nice 24/28/35 set of primes.
 
ive been researching the 20, 24 and 28 f/2.8's and all of them get very average reviews, i cant find a good review of them anywhere.

unfortunately i cant get hold of any to try out myself though
 
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thorton said:
ive been researching the 20, 24 and 28 f/2.8's and all of them get very average reviews, i cant find a good review of them anywhere.

unfortunately i cant get hold of any to try out myself though
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These lenses are all quite old designs dating from the mid 90's and I expect they are being compared with much newer lenses with fancy lens coatings and suchlike.

As well as the 28/2.8 & 35/2 I also have a 50/1.4g which is a much more modern design and probably sharper optically. The design however I do not like so much, it's kind of plasticy, has a "made in china" stamp on it (not japan), has a nasty plastic lens hood (rather than metal), does not a have a proper infinity stop (it focusses beyond infinity!), does not have an aperture ring (I hate having to set aperture with the fiddly command dial), has a lousy distance and dof scale.
 
Would you believe, I'm somewhat leaning towards a 20-35mm 2.8 at this stage. Have read really good reports about it. Probably get a 28-70 to somewhat fill the gap in the middle and I'll have my preferred range all filled in then!
 
Around a year ago, I bought the Nikon 35mm f2, and the 24mm f2.8 thinking IQ would be better than primes. I was wrong. Neither lens is excellent, just good. Rarely use them now, my Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 better.

Have a look at the test results on SLR Gear, the 24mm is good in the middle, not so good elsewhere.

Just my perception.
 
Samyang are putting out a 24mm f/1.4 at the end of this year, if you're up for manual focus?
 
Not really up for manual focus. Unless someone can talk me out of it I'm getting me a 20 - 35mm!

Thanks for the recommendation by the way jpw! :thumbs:
 
karmagarda said:
Not really up for manual focus. Unless someone can talk me out of it I'm getting me a 20 - 35mm!

Thanks for the recommendation by the way jpw! :thumbs:
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You're welcome! One just went for 360 on eBay which isn't a bad price, there's another ending tomorrow with hood and original hard case that looks nice. That's where I got mine from, they do crop up on there now and then.
 
It's on my watch list! The one that went today didn't have the case so wouldn't have gone above 350 to be honest. Will keep an eye on that other one though...
 
Have the 20, 24, 28 f2.8's and the 35/f2... plus i bought the 20-35mm f2.8 from JPW here... I love them all. Primes are great, but in reality I do find them a bit inconvenient over a zoom as the composition of whatever i am looking at never seems to be just right for any given focal length that I have fitted! ... yes, I know you have to go to the inconvenience of moving your feet! :)

Optically I think they are all very good when stopped down a little... however equally you can utilise the lovely effects of the lenses wide open. I certainly have no complaints about any of them. The lenses are all well built and feel very good. I too feel the newer G lenses are not quite so well built, but maybe have the edge optically. I would have no qualms at all if I was told I only have the primes to use and it's a good experience anyway just having one lens for a day out...
 
BlackCloud said:
Have the 20, 24, 28 f2.8's and the 35/f2... plus i bought the 20-35mm f2.8 from JPW here... I love them all. Primes are great, but in reality I do find them a bit inconvenient over a zoom as the composition of whatever i am looking at never seems to be just right for any given focal length that I have fitted! ... yes, I know you have to go to the inconvenience of moving your feet! :)

Optically I think they are all very good when stopped down a little... however equally you can utilise the lovely effects of the lenses wide open. I certainly have no complaints about any of them. The lenses are all well built and feel very good. I too feel the newer G lenses are not quite so well built, but maybe have the edge optically. I would have no qualms at all if I was told I only have the primes to use and it's a good experience anyway just having one lens for a day out...
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the main thing is which would you recommend!
 
Well they are all different and obviously serve different purposes. I love the 20mm, and the 35mm, the 24mm is marginally better than the 28mm optically and of course on my full frame D700, 24mm is like a proper wide angle. Also the 24mm becomes something like a 35mm on a crop sensor... The 28mm is a fine lens though...I have read the critical test reports and I think sometimes they are academic and in practice it looks just fine. The 28mm should also be considerably cheaper than a 24mm. Although the 20-35mm is a lovely lens, it is of course a zoom and considerably larger and heavier.
 
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