preferences of the 1.8 AFS-Nikkors

[DanAa]

What’s your current choices/preferences of the 1.8 AFS-Nikkors (20-24-28-35-50) for nature/landscape photography compared to other Nikkors, MF Nikkors as well, for FX-Nikons.

[the solitaire]

My current preferences, after trying the 35mm f1,8 (FX), 50mm f1,8 and 85mm f1,8 AF-s lenses is to take the 50mm and leave the rest at home. I just don't like the purple/green fringing a lot, and that's near impossible to correct without destroying other parts of my images.

Instead I take
16mm f3,5
20mm f3,5 Nikkor-UD
24mm f2,8 Nikkor-N.C
5cm f2 Nikkor-S/50mm f1,4 Nikkor-S, 50mm f1,8 AF-S/55mm f1,2 Nikkor-S.C or 55mm f3,5 micro Nikkor depending on my mood that day
85mm f1,4 AF-D

I have not yet found a 35mm I liked, but the 35mm f2,8 PC Nikkor might fit that bill.
I just don't like the 28mm focal length, so to me, that doesn't exist

[Jakov Minić]

I am using the 20/1.8 extensively. For someone who is a fish-eye addict I have to admit that I pick up the 20mm more often than not, even more than the 24/1.4, go figure

[Anirban Halder]

I am using the 20/1.8 extensively. For someone who is a fish-eye addict I have to admit that I pick up the 20mm more often than not, even more than the 24/1.4, go figure

Ditto! 20/1.8..

[Bjørn Rørslett]

The 24/1.8 AFS is actually pretty good.

[Akira]

Rcently I started to use 20/1.8.  I briefly used 24/1.8.  Both are superb lenses.  The only reason for my replacement is that I wanted to go wider and closer.  The largest magnification factor of 20/1.8 is 15% larger than that of 24/1.8.  The optical quality of both lenses are well comparable.

50/1.8G is my all-time favorite.  So far as the optical quality is concerned, it is the best 50/1.8 ever made.  It is impressively resistant to flare and ghost.  I found it superior to 45/2.8P in this regard.

[aerobat]

I use the 20mm f/1.8 and 24mm f/1.8 for landscape and other uses. Both produce stunning starbursts.
The 24mm is slightly better IQ than the 20mm. Still I like the 20mm FOV.
For reportages I use the 35mm f/1.8 a lot which is good but has a bit nervous bokeh at times.
I also used equivalent Fuji XF 14mm and 16mm which both don't produce such clear starbursts. I sold all Fuji stuff...

@Akira, thanks for the hint - I'll try the 50mm f/1.8

[armando_m]

I own the 85, 50 and 20

my fav and most used given my kind of photos is the 85

then 20

least used being the 50

[Frank Fremerey]

I am using the 20/1.8 extensively. For someone who is a fish-eye addict I have to admit that I pick up the 20mm more often than not, even more than the 24/1.4, go figure

The 1.8/20 is outstanding. My 1.4/24 does not see much use since I got it

[David H. Hartman]

My weakest manual focus wide Nikkor is my 24/2.8 AI with terrible flare and ghost in unfavorable light. Vignette is also a problem with the 24/2.8 AI.

I was considering the AF-S 24mm f/1.8G ED but I really like the 20mm angle of view and there was a $100.00 instant rebate on the AF-S 20mm f/1.8G ED so I went with it. I can always crop back to the 24mm FOV on a D800 so it was a good choice.

The AF-S 20/1.8G ED is pretty good concerning flare but not as good as the 20/3.5 AI. I was worried about vignette with 20/1.8G but I haven't noticed problems. I also own a 20/2.8 AIS and it can be troublesome to focus on the D800.

I can easily recommend the AF-S 20/1.8G ED.

Dave Hartman

[Akira]

@Akira, thanks for the hint - I'll try the 50mm f/1.8

Daniel, you are welcome.

Like all the other AF-S lenses, 1.8G lenses are not free from potential focus error.  You would need to calibrate them at Nikon service.  All of my 1.8G suffered the problem.  After the calibration, all worked superbly without any need of AF fine tuning in the camera.

[Frank Fremerey]

PS: the 1.8/50 is a good lens, esp when used wide open at the near limit it adds some magic. I compare it to the 2.0/50 in character. Since I managed to buy a 1.4/58 shortly the 50 is only used for very low profile jobs. My new 1.8/50G went straight to the service. Badly decentred as factory setting...

[Airy]

I avoid all these 1.8 G for one bad reason triplet : the plasticky feel, the absence of aperture ring, and the subpar MF handling. I got the 50/1.8G together with the Df and, admittedly, it is a very good lens. The 28/1.8 G is the other one I have (bought 2nd hand). Nice, but somehow I prefer the old and inferior 28/2.0 AI (wide open, the new G is the clear winner). Other ones untested, since I'm well covered (Sigma 24/1.4 A; excellent; 20/3.5 UD, Zeiss 35/2...)

Anyway, my favourite FLs are not available from the 1.8G family. I like 50mm above all, but in fact, I tend to use 40 and 58; 50 feels "in between". 40 (not: 35) is better suited to my general photography, while 58 is most adequate for casual portraits (while still +/- usable for general photography). So: Voigt 40/2, and the false twins make me happy (Noct and Nokton; the latter is a near-perfect lens in terms of crafting and ergonomics, while the former has indeed a unique rendering).

[OCD]

My personal estimation is all the 1.8G's are solid performers.  I have the 24/35/85.  But choice of focal length is a personal and subjective decision, otherwise you really can't go wrong with any of them.  (The idea already shared regarding the 20mm 1.8G and the ability to crop it to 24mm seems very solid to me - unless of course you are fond of the 24mm FOV).  I end up using the 24/85 for landscape, such as it is...I'm not much of a landscape guy.

[Akira]

I used 35/1.8G and 28/1.8G also, but only on D7000.  I didn't calibrated them at the Nikon service, but I was not very impressed.

A 28mm on DX was my ideal "standard" lens in terms of the angle of view.  But for some reason, I didn't like the lens.  35mm was also nice as "standard" lens on DX, but, when combined with D7000, the combo was heavier than the combo of D750 and 50/1.8G.  Now I'm happy with the latter combo.