A morning with the Nikon 20mm f/4 Ai

[chambeshi]

Sound lessons in Galen Rowell's strategy. There is his legendary photograph of the rainbow "emanating" from the roof of the sunlit Dai Lama's Palace set among storm clouds.  Rowell used a 5-150mm f/3.5 Series E AI-S Nikkor light and compact when to the key location at high altitude. [many looked askance at these E lenses as cheap amateur models but some of us know better....] Although Rowell had a quite big Nikon system, he claimed most of this photos were taken with a 24 f2.8 and a zoom in the 80-200 guild.

Everyone should track down a copy of Galen Rowell's anthology. 

Rowell's untimely death was a tragic blow to conservation and ladscape photography alike.

Rowell's lens and equipment choices were interesting.  Since he had to either run large distances into photographic hot spots spots or personally back pack it in, his choices often favoured lighter weight amateur lenses and camera bodies that he determined could still do the job and at what apertures that their IQ was still "up there".

His family still run a site that sells reprints of his work.


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I have an even older 20mm lens, the 20mm UD that is still a very good performer - albeit fairly heavy.

[Frank Fremerey]

I love the interiour shots. Super colors and use of angle.

[richardHaw]

i just got one of these. it was terribly butchered. hope i can fix it.

[Peter]

One of my favored lenses on my D700 also on my D2x as a 30mm equivalent.
Photo of Mesa Arch, had to open in HDR as it was dark on the original RAW so it gave off some anomalies.
Never the less this lens has fantastic IQ.

[Maggiee]

One of my favored lenses on my D700 also on my D2x as a 30mm equivalent.
Photo of Mesa Arch, had to open in HDR as it was dark on the original RAW so it gave off some anomalies.
Never the less this lens has fantastic IQ.

your picture is so atmospheric, you are a real pro!