The classic Nikkors: 28 mm f/2

[David H. Hartman]

Maybe I'm lucky with my copy, but I don't see much flare with it. Sure, right into the sun gives a little, but certainly manageable.

Which Model?

I see a sun star but precious little to call flare.

Dave Hartman

[Jack Dahlgren]

AI. Yes, relatively free of flare.

[mysh]

Stream Near Ouray Colorado

[Mongo]

owned a mint copy (AI) for years. Beautifully built and performed fabulously. Did not use it much due to weight and bulk so ultimately sold it. However, that is not to take away from its inherently excellent qualities. Cannot post samples as they were lost in a hard drive crash some years ago but still remember them very distinctly.

[John Geerts]

owned a mint copy (AI) for years. Beautifully built and performed fabulously. Did not use it much due to weight and bulk so ultimately sold it.

Are you sure you about this? The 28/2 is smaller and lighter than the 35/1.4 or the 85/1.8   for instance. Just 345 grams and 58cm according to Roland's site.

I take it a lot with me because of it's small size (compared to the 1.8G), and you don't need a hood as the lens loves the sun.

Posted earlier in April 2017 topic

[Mongo]

Are you sure you about this? The 28/2 is smaller and lighter than the 35/1.4 or the 85/1.8   for instance. Just 345 grams and 58cm according to Roland's site.

Yes, John, very very sure. To Mongo 350gms is still quite weighty for a 28mm compared to other smaller aperture 28mm of its time. It felt like a small brick in your hand by comparison but a lovely lens to use if you were prepared to carry it around with all the other gear.

[Arninetyes]

I have an Ai version, and it is my most used lens. It is compact, easy to use, and does a great job. I take it with me to document jobs and job sites, and I also use it when just playing with my camera. It works as well on my D700 as it does on my FE2.

These aren't artistic photos, but you can see what the little 28mm f/2.0 can do.

The first picture is an example of documenting a job site.

The second is a picture of a metal sculpture from a local artist, which was out in a field near his shop. The 28/2 allowed me to get a nice perspective on a life-sized sculpture. The third is a sculpture from the same artist, but this time, the photo is focused in closely on its snout and teeth.

If I was stuck with only two prime lenses, I'd keep this one and a 100mm macro. In fact, most of the time, that's exactly what I carry.

[Arninetyes]

Mysh, I love the waterfall, especially since I live at the edge of the southwestern desert in the US. Waterfalls here are rare and usually seasonal.

[Airy]

From today's crop. Df, f/8.0

[michel]

Nice B&W Airy

[John Geerts]

Yes. Nice overview.

Interview by broadcastcompany Omroep Tilburg at the opening of 'Ontdekstation'.
At f/4

[Per Inge Oestmoen]

With the Nikkor 28mm 2.0 AIS at 5.6



Also with the Nikkor 28mm 2.0 AIS at 5.6

[golunvolo]

From the same standing point, front and back. Love both renditions. This a sunset in Conil, Spain.

  Later on, after dinner and walking through town, there was a blackout. Full of turist, people dining and shopping, families, etc walking around and making do with their phones and the occasional car lights. Will share those later


  note: nikon d700 with k3 focusing screen, first shot around f8 and second one fully open.

[Arninetyes]

Well, bad news. On the way back from a job site, someone stole my pickup truck, which also had my camera bag including D700, 28/2 Ai, 50/1.4G, and 180/2.8 Ais ED. The truck was recovered after a week but all my tools, equipment and camera were gone.

I've since replaced the D700 and the 180/2.8. I replaced the 50/1.4G with a 35/2D. While the first lens I bought was a replacement 28/2 Ai, the replacement isn't a good copy. Gorgeous on the outside, it has unreported haze on the inside. I took it to a local lens repair, and he didn't fix it. Oh, sure. He lubed the helicoid, but the interior lens surfaces are still hazy, the the pictorial results with this copy are disappointing, to say the least.

So now I'm stuck with a crappy copy of what should be a wonderful lens.

[pluton]

Bad news and bad luck.  And then there is the dealing with the repair places.  I've lived in the L.A. area for decades, and cannot unreservedly recommend any independent camera/lens repair that I've dealt with.  Some do a good job several times, then blow it bad---calling into question whether or not I'll ever use their services again.
Bets of luck sorting out what to do with the undesired 28mm.