cream bokeh Nikon 20mm 1.8 vs 24mm 1.8 or 28mm 1.8?

[pluton]

From the examples posted here and elsewhere, it seems that all the newer (last 7 years or so) Nikon wide primes have designed with special attention to producing smooth out of focus images.  First importance is to decide what focal length you want.

[Andy]

May I also loop in the AFS 24mm/1.4G ?

I love the way it renders, which for me goes beyond bokeh only.
If lucky, you might find such a lens used for the price range you indicated, or close to it.

A few eamples, all images unprocessed. Just resized











D800E Full resolution






rgds, Andy

[John Koerner]

Hey,
im looking to get a wide-ish lens for my d7100. I usually use 50mm or more so even there is a big difference between 20mm and 28mm for me its not so mutch.
What is important for me is creamy bokeh like the 58mm 1.4, tamron 60mm or sony SFT 135mm
what lens in the range 20-35 would give me the creamiest bokeh below $1000?

Creamiest bokeh?

Bokeh and wide-angles are kind of mutually-exclusive, typically.

I have both the Nikon 20mm f/2.8 Ai-S and the 28mm f/2.8 Ai-S, and use them for reverse-imaging.

Both have Close-Range Correction, both produce pleasing bokeh when reversed:


28mm f/2.8 Ai-S (@ 2.1x)



20mm f/2.8 Ai-S (@ 3.4x)

[turnschuh]

I did a lot of tests using the 18-105 and with the different focal lenghs, 20, 24 and 28mm. I liked 28mm the best so I got the 28mm 1.8g and Im very happy so far!

thanks for the advice everyone.

[turnschuh]

oh man, this lens has a lot of problems with LoCA. I probably will give it back, witch is a shame because otherwise it would be perfect!
Before this lens I didnt even know about this effect but man this purple and cyan realy stands out.

What a waste to such a great lens!

I will try the 24mm next

[ArendV]

I just got the Nikkor 20/1.8G to replace my Sigma 18-35/1.8 on a DX camera - sure there is CA wide open but it is easily fixable in post en I am happy with its "bokeh"


Successor Sigma 18-35 by Arend, on Flickr

[John Geerts]

Nice Arend. I think every fast lens has CA.

[ArendV]

3 more from today with the 20/1.8G on a D500, first one @ f/1.8, the other two @ f/2.2

1

_AWV1458 by Arend, on Flickr

2

_AWV1478 by Arend, on Flickr

3

_AWV1470 by Arend, on Flickr

[turnschuh]

As mutch I hate the 24mm focal length I love the performance of the lens, im very happy.

As for now I plan to use the 1.3 mode to simulate 30ish mm. I realy wanted the 28mm but the 24mm will offer some other interessting opportunitys.
I will probably keep it for now.

I plan to add the 58mm 1.4 in the future to build a lightweight travel kit. Im actually more of a 50ish mm lover so 24mm is very challenging for me.

[Danulon]

As mutch I hate the 24mm focal length I love the performance of the lens, im very happy.

As for now I plan to use the 1.3 mode to simulate 30ish mm. I realy wanted the 28mm but the 24mm will offer some other interessting opportunitys.
I will probably keep it for now.

I plan to add the 58mm 1.4 in the future to build a lightweight travel kit. Im actually more of a 50ish mm lover so 24mm is very challenging for me.

Similar for me. I like combinations like 25mm/ 50mm, 35mm/ 85mm, or 40mm/ 90mm.


After purchasing the 58 mm 1.4 my existing 35 mm focal length feels "too close". The 28 mm 1.8 would be perfect. But sadly the 28 mm 1.8 seems to be the weakest offering of the three above mentioned lenses... So I am wondering, too: Is the 24 mm preferable...?

[Airy]

Relatively weak and good enough are not mutually exclusive. Try it.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

I have always been partial to the 24 mm focal length and have used plenty of such lenses throughout my formative years in photography.

Just acquired the 24 mm f/1.8 and trying to accommodate it. These newfangled optics have their own idiosyncrasies compared to their manual predecessors.

With the caveat that 'bokeh' and 'wide angle' are like going in opposite directions, the 24/1.8 is actually quite good if used up close. Here is an example of an Iris pseudacorus Yellow Flag on the banks of a nearby river. Shot at f/11 with the D500.