The classic Nikkors: 28 mm f/2

[Lowell]

Lowell: a qualified repair shop probably can have a go at it, provided they get hold of the repair manual. Any Nikon repair facility should have these manuals.

However, with such volume sellers it might be cheaper to locate another copy. Repairs can rapidly become too expensive for items of modest inherent cost.

Thanks Bjorn - Good suggestion.  I want the close focusing distance of the f/2 lens, hence the Gerbera Daises.  Being better educated, I will know what to test for.

Lowell

[Bjørn Rørslett]

Perhaps you ought to look into the 28/2.8 AIS - it does focus noticeably closer and is better optimised for the near range.

[Øivind Tøien]

Like the slower 28/2.8 AIS, the 28/2 has its CRC done by the front group of the optics. This makes it susceptible to bumps and knocks I guess and might explain the sometimes conflicting statements about the optical performance in particular at the widest apertures...

My 28mm f/2.8 AIS has suffered rolling down a 4m dropoff hitting one rocky outcrop after another, finally digging deep into the sand on a beach, and being dropped on concrete floor from 1.5 m. It still does not show signs of decentering. I think in both cases it took the impact from the side while rotating, and the front is "protected" by a 52mm to 62mm step-up ring in front of an NC filter (which did not break on any of the occasions, but had to be replaced after the "sand blasting"). It does have a deep mark of honor in the chrome ring though.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

OK, so you have been lucky. Evidence from poorly centered copies indicate not everyone share this experience.

[Airy]

The 28/2 wide open. Better not corner your subject. Otherwise an interesting rendering, with sufficient sharpness not too far from the center.
The present shot is a bit pushing the lens into the extreme. Df, 28/2 AI.

BTW I am fond of that lens, the rendering of which is very different from the 28/1.8 G. The latter is no doubt sharper wide open ; stopped down I prefer the oldie.

[Airy]

Coma : bad (pls view large)

[Airy]

Still wide open. When sharpness is secondary, the lens gets more interesting.

[Øivind Tøien]

OK, so you have been lucky. Evidence from poorly centered copies indicate not everyone share this experience.

Yes, I felt very lucky after my 28mm f/2.8 AIS  took the flight, but not so much when I watched it roll over the edge of the dropoff in "slow motion". Although admittedly my next thought was "that is it"; it could not have survived, so now I had an excuse to try out the 28mm f/2 version of the lens.    Perhaps what saved it was the final landing place in the sand, and that it apparently did not hit in the front part very hard as the step-up ring did not have any deep marks or dings to it.

[David Paterson]

I love this little lens, and my copy is superb example of this true Nikon classic. Sharp in the centre from f2, it is extremely sharp all over by f4 and this is maintained until about f9 or f10 where slight diffraction effects creep in. (A little careful extra sharpening deals with that.) Vignetting is apparent at the wider apertures but is minimal at f4 and gone at f5.6.

The comma mentioned by Airy is certainly present but of course is only a problem for night shots, and again is gone by f4.

In spite of that last point, what I mostly use the 28/2 for is photography of the night sky, and it will be no surprise to learn that I generally shoot at f4 - sharp all over, vignetting and comma gone, and usefully, a hard infinity stop (unlike modern lenses) so you always know you are correctly focussed.

The attachment shows the effects of light pollution but in this case I don't think it matters.

[Fons Baerken]

with a bit of processing

Zandvoort

[Bjørn Rørslett]

"with a bit of processing" - I'd say, more like a lot

The banding in the sky is annoying and should be taken care of. Otherwise the effect is OK.

[Fons Baerken]

"with a bit of processing" - I'd say, more like a lot

The banding in the sky is annoying and should be taken care of. Otherwise the effect is OK.

Thanks, indeed correction needed

[Mikes]

Azalea time last April, Nezu Shrine, Tokyo.

[John Geerts]

Indeed coma is completely gone at F/4

[Fons Baerken]

flare is evident shooting into the sun, sideways anyhow