Nikon 10-20mm DX VR

AF-P f/4.5-5.6 G

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Nikon 10-20mm

Nikon AF-P 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G D VR (72mm filters, 8.0 oz./227g, 0.7'/0.22m close focus, about $307) bigger. I got mine at B&H. I'd also get it at at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield.

This all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to my personally-approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Nikon does not seal its boxes in any way, so never buy at retail or any other source not on my personally approved list since you'll have no way of knowing if you're missing accessories, getting a defective, damaged, returned, store demo or used lens. Buy only from the approved sources I use myself for the best prices, service, return policies and selection. Thanks for helping me help you! Ken.

 

March 2018   Nikon Reviews   Nikon Lenses   Nikon Flash   All Reviews

How to Use Ultra wide Lenses

 

Sample Images

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My Thai, La Quinta

Orange and Bars, 11:46 AM, 23 February 2018. Nikon D7500, Nikon 10-20mm at 20mm at f/8 at 1/250 Auto ISO 100, as shot. bigger or camera-original ©  file.

 

P51 Mustang Red Prop Spinner

Red Prop Spinner, P51 Mustang, 1:18 PM, 23 February 2018. Nikon D7500, Nikon 10-20mm at 20mm at f/9 at 1/250 Auto ISO 100, as shot. bigger or camera-original ©  file.

 

La Quinta Arts Festival

La Quinta Arts Festival, 11:28 AM, 21 February 2018. Nikon D7500, built-in flash ON, Nikon 10-20mm at 16mm at f/13 at 1/250 at Auto ISO 100, Perfectly Clear. bigger or camera-original ©  file.

 

Introduction

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New   Good   Bad   Missing

Adorama Pays Top Dollar for Used Gear

Amazon

B&H Photo - Video - Pro Audio

Crutchfield

I buy only from these approved sources. I can't vouch for ads below.

This Nikon 10-20mm is a breakthrough in being the world's first inexpensive ultra wide lens for Nikon DX cameras (only $307 at introduction), and is also Nikon's first DX ultra wide with Vibration Reduction!

Add its low price to super-close focusing and tiny size and vanishing weight and this just became the best DX ultrawide ever. Its optical performance is superb.

Here's a secret: while this isn't intended for use on full-frame; it works as wide as 13mm on full-frame for ultra-ultrawide shots! Just be prepared for a lot of easy-to-correct distortion.

 

New

Vibration Reduction (VR).

Ultra-low price: $307.

Plastic lens mount.

 

Good

Superb super-sharp optics

Vibration Reduction (VR).

Instant manual-focus override.

Quiet AF-P auto and manual focus.

Ultra light weight.

 

Bad

Plastic lens mount.

 

Missing

No AF/MF switch (use the switch on your camera).

No VR on/off switch (use the menus if you need to).

 

Format

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Compared   Recommendations

This is a DX lens intended for use on Nikon DX cameras.

It mounts to full-frame FX cameras, however you'll get black corners when set wider than 13mm and you'll get a lot of distortion.

 

Compatibility

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It has a traditional mechanical diaphragm actuator, not an "E" electronic diaphragm, so its diaphragm works on all Nikons ever made since 1959.

The problem is that the new AF-P electronic focus-by-wire system only works on camera models originally introduced since about 2013. If your camera is too old, the focus system, even in manual mode, won't work at all, making the lens completely useless with no workaround.

These lenses focus with an electronic stepper motor in the lens which moves the focus back and forth. Even though these lenses have manual-focus rings, all the rings do is talk to the camera's computer which in turn drives the motor in the lens. This system only works when the camera is awake; when the camera falls asleep after about a minute of inactivity the lens won't focus again until you wake the camera by taping the shutter button.

YES: This works on the D5, Df, D850, D810, D750, D610, D600, D500, D7500, D7200, D7100, D5600, D5500, D5300, D3400 and D3300. Be sure you have the latest firmware on the D610, D600, D5500, D5300 or D3300; older firmware versions won't work with AF-P lenses.

NO: This lens is useless because it can't focus in any way on any of the D1, D2, D3 or D4 series, the D800 & D800E, D700, D300 series, D200, D100, D90, D80, D70 series, D60, D50, D40 series, D7000, D5100, D5000, D3200, D3100 or D3000. It won't work on any 35mm camera either.

You can focus the lens while mounted on a compatible camera and then transfer the lens to an incompatible camera to shoot at that fixed focus distance, but that doesn't count — but is how I shot this lens on my old Nikon D3 at Use on Full Frame.

See the full list at Nikon AF-P Compatibility.

 

Nikon 10-20mm

Nikon 10-20mm. bigger.

 

Specifications

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Name

Nikon calls this the Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G VR.

    AF-P: Stepper (Pulse) autofocus motor: silent and ultra fast.

    DX: Won't work well on film or FX cameras.

    NIKKOR: Nikon's brand name for all their lenses.

    G: Gelded; no aperture ring.

    VR: Vibration Reduction.

 

Optics

Nikon 10-20mm construction

Nikon 10-20mm internal construction. Aspherical elements.

14 elements in 11 groups.

3 aspherical elements.

"Pumper" zoom; the front section of the lens moves in and out as zoomed.

 

Diaphragm

Nikon 10-20mm

Nikon 10-20mm. bigger.

7 rounded blades.

Stops down to f/22-29.

 

Focal Length

10-20mm.

When used on DX cameras, it sees the same angle of view as a 15-30mm lens sees when used on an FX or 35mm camera.

 

Angle of View

109º ~ 70º diagonal, on DX.

 

Autofocus

Internal focus: no external movement as focused, so no air or dust is sucked in.

 

Focus Scale

No.

 

Infinity Focus Stop

No.

 

Depth of Field Scale

No.

 

Infrared Focus Index

No.

 

Close Focus

0.72 feet (0.22 meters).

 

Maximum Reproduction Ratio

1:5.9 (0.17 ×).

 

Image Stabilizer (VR)

Rated 3.5 stops improvement.

 

Filters

72mm plastic thread.

 

Hood

Nikon 10-20mm

Included Nikon HB-81 Hood. bigger.

HB-81 plastic bayonet hood included.

 

Case

CL-1015.

 

Size

3.03" maximum diameter × 2.87" extension from flange.

77.0 mm maximum diameter × 73.0 mm extension from flange.

 

Weight

8.015 oz. (227.2g) actual measured weight.

Nikon specifies 8.2 oz. (230g).

 

Announced

12:01 AM, 31 May 2017, NYC time.

 

Promised for

Late June 2017.

 

Included

Lens.

Standard LC-72 72mm front cap.

Standard LF-4 rear cap.

HB-80 bayonet hood.

CL-1218 case.

 

Nikon's Model Number

20067.

 

Quality

Made in Thailand.

 

Price, USA

$307, May 2017 ~ March 2018.

Nikon 10-20mm

Nikon 10-20mm. bigger.

 

Getting a Legal USA Version

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USA Version   Unboxing   Performance

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This section applies in USA only.

In the USA, be sure your box has a "5 Year Warranty" sticker on it:

Nikon 10-20mm

Nikon USA box with 5 Year Warranty Sticker. bigger.

Be sure you have a Nikon USA printed warranty card in the box:

Nikon 10-20mm

Nikon 10-20mm. bigger.

The serial number on the card must match the serial number on the bottom of the lens barrel, and the serial number on the box should match, too.

If not, you got ripped off with a gray market version from another country. This is why I never buy anyplace other than from my personally approved sources. You just can't take the chance of buying elsewhere, especially at any retail store, because non-USA versions have no warranty in the USA, and you won't even be able to get firmware or service for it — even if you're willing to pay out-of-pocket for it when you need it!

Nikon USA enforces its trademarks strictly. It's unlikely, but possible that US customs won't let your lens back in the country if you bought a gray-market version in the USA, carried it overseas, and try to bring it back in. (If you take the chance of buying one overseas, be sure you have a receipt to prove you bought it overseas and be prepared to pay duty on it.)

If a gray market version saves you $100 it may be worth it, but for $50 or less I wouldn't risk having no warranty or support.

Always be sure to check your box while you can still return it, or just don't buy from unapproved sources or at retail so you'll be able to have your camera serviced and get free updated firmware as needed.

Get yours from the same places I do and you won't have a problem, but if you take the risk of getting yours elsewhere, be sure to check everything while you still can return it.

 

Unboxing

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USA Version   Unboxing   Performance

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The box and lens are completely unsealed. There is no way to know if anyone else has been fiddling with your lens, swapping parts and accessories, or even if it's a used lens. See photos above at USA Version.

That's why it's critical only to buy from an approved online source, since they ship from automated warehouses where no shifty salesmen or customers ever get to touch your new camera before it ships. While new $10 CDs, DVDs, Blu-Rays and bottles of milk and drinking water are sealed and quite obvious if anyone's opened them, paradoxically Nikon doesn't bother sealing anything, so your only insurance is to buy only from a trusted online dealer.

Open the unsealed microcorrugated cardboard box, and you'll see a clear plastic bag with the black sack covering the USA warranty card and big folded sheet of instructions in a zillion languages.

Lift up the inner cardboard flap and you'll see the capped lens in bubble wrap on the left, and the hood in a clear plastic bag on the right side of folded cardboard dividers.

 

Performance

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Compatibility   Specifications

USA Version   Unboxing   Performance

Compared   Recommendations

Overall   Autofocus   Manual Focus   Breathing

Bokeh   Distortion   Ergonomics   Falloff

Filters   Flare & Ghosts    Full Frame, use on

Lateral Color Fringes   Macro   Mechanics

Sharpness   Spherochromatism

Stabilization   Sunstars

 

Overall

Performance          top

This 10-20mm lens is awesome. It's tiny, inexpensive and at least as sharp as any ultrawide ever made. Bravo, Nikon!

 

Autofocus

Performance          top

WARNING: Only autofocuses with camera models introduced since about 2013. See Compatibility.

Autofocus is fast and quiet.

No news here; ultrawide lenses usually focus very quickly.

The AF-P stepper motor makes a very slight hum as it works.

 

Manual Focus

performance          top

WARNING: Only manual focuses on camera models introduced since about 2013. See Compatibility.

Manual focus is by-wire, meaning that the manual focus ring is simply a digital encoder that talks to the camera's computer which in turn drives the stepper motor inside this lens. If you have an older model camera or haven't updated your camera's firmware, you might not be able to focus this lens even manually.

Presuming you have a modern camera, just grab the focus ring at any time for instant manual-focus override. It works very well.

 

Focus Breathing

Performance          top

Focus breathing is the image changing size as focused in and out. It's important to cinematographers because it looks funny if the image changes size as focus gets pulled back and forth between actors. If the lens does this, the image "breathes" by growing and contracting slightly as the dialog goes back and forth.

This lens' image grows only slightly as focused more closely.

 

Bokeh

Performance          top

Bokeh, the feel or quality of out-of-focus areas as opposed to how far out of focus they are, is reasonably good, but let's be serious: this is a slow ultrawide lens, and almost nothing is ever out of focus.

Here are shots wide-open from about headshot distance:

Davis 6250 weather station, 19 February 2018. bigger or camera-original © file to explore on your computer (mobile devices rarely display full resolution images properly).

 

Davis 6250 weather station, 19 February 2018. bigger or camera-original © file to explore on your computer (mobile devices rarely display full resolution images properly).

As always, if you want to throw the background as far out of focus as possible, shoot at 20mm at f/5.6 (the largest aperture) and get as close as possible. Good luck.

 

Distortion

Performance          top

The Nikon 10-20mm has strong barrel distortion at 10mm, and no distortion at 20mm.

Set Distortion Correction ON in most cameras and it all goes away.

If you don't use in-camera correction, it's easy to correct fully with Photoshop's lens correction filter.

These aren't facts or specifications, they are the results of my research that requires hours of photography and calculations on the resulting data.

On DX at 10' (3m)

Correction factor to use with images made with correction ON in D7500

Correction factor with uncorrected images

10mm
±0.00
+6.00*
12mm
±0.00
+4.00*
14mm
±0.00
+2.00
16mm
±0.00
+0.90
20mm
±0.00
±0.00

© 2018 KenRockwell.com. All rights reserved.

* Negligible waviness remains after this correction (no waviness if you let the camera correct it as shot).

 

Ergonomics

Performance          top

Nikon 10-20mm

Nikon 10-20mm. bigger.

Ergonomics are great. Most of this lens is the zoom ring. Zooming is well damped so it won't drift.

Focus is the tiny hard plastic ring at the front, just behind the fatter front lens section. While this small ring might seem like it's difficult to use, actually we want it small so we don't hit it by accident. This is all perfect design.

The only bad thing is that Nikon took away the AF/MF and VR switches; there are no switches on this inexpensive lens. To change focus modes, use the switch on your camera, and to turn off VR (you never need to), do that in your camera's menus.

 

Falloff

Performance          top

Falloff on DX is negligible. It's barely visible uncorrected wide-open at 10mm, and goes away as stopped down, or as zoomed longer, or just turn on Vignette Control in your camera to correct it.

This is superb performance.

 

Filters, use with

performance          top

There's no need for thin filters; there is no vignetting with one 72mm filter.

Go ahead and use your standard rotating polarizer and grad filters.

I can use two stacked standard 72mm filters as wide as 11mm with no vignetting.

I can use three stacked standard 72mm filters as wide as 12mm with no vignetting, which is really good!

Don't use polarizers on ultrawide lenses; the sky's natural polarization will appear as a dark band in the sky.

 

Flare & Ghosts

Performance          top

Flare and ghosts are minimal, even with a filter. This is excellent performance, and many people might wish for more, since you'll never see any even when you might want some.

Nikon 10-20mm ghosts and flare

Ghosts, no filter. bigger.

 

Nikon 10-20mm ghosts and flare

Ghosts, multicoated filter. bigger.

 

Full Frame, use on

Performance          top

Miraculously it works as wide as 13mm without vignetting on full frame:

Nikon 10-20mm shot on full frame

Palm tree, 18 February 2018. Shot on a full-frame Nikon D3 at 13mm at f/5.6 at 1/125 at Auto ISO 200. bigger or full-resolution.

I shot these samples on my original 2007 Nikon D3, which is completely incompatible with this lens because it can't focus on the D3. In this case I cheated by focusing it while mounted on a D7500 and then mounting the lens on the D3, on which it stays focused at whatever distance the D7500 had it. Don't do this if you're sane; use a modern FX DSLR and it focuses just fine.

It has strong barrel distortion on FX which you won't see in many shots like the above.

If you do see distortion, it's easy to correct with Photoshop's lens correction filter. Since correcting barrel distortion pulls-out the corners, you can shoot as wide as 12mm and get this undistorted result after correction:

Nikon 10-20mm on FX

Shot on full-frame at 12mm and corrected with a value of +15 in Photoshop's lens correction filter. Shot on Nikon D3 at f/8 at 1/250 at ISO 200. bigger or full resolution or camera-original file.

Here's the uncorrected image:

Nikon 10-20mm on FX

Uncorrected image. bigger or camera-original file.

On FX at 10' (3m)

Correction factor with uncorrected images

10mm
+24.00**
12mm
+14.50**
13mm
+14.00*
14mm
+12.00*
15mm
+9.00**
16mm
+7.00**
18mm
+5.00**
20mm
+3.00*

© 2018 KenRockwell.com. All rights reserved.

* Negligible waviness remains after this correction.

** Very minor waviness remains after this correction.

 

Nikon 10-20mm on FX

Uncorrected image. bigger or camera-original file.

 

Nikon 10-20mm on FX

Corrected image. bigger or camera-original file.

 

Nikon 10-20mm on FX

Square crop from corrected image on FX. bigger or camera-original file.

Cropping this square out of the image on FX gives the same angle of view as a 23mm lens on a 6x6cm Hasselblad, far wider than the 38mm BIOGON of the Hasselblad SWC.

 

Lateral Color Fringes

Performance          top

There are no color fringes as shot on Nikon cameras, which by default correct for any that may be there.

 

Macro

Performance          top

This lens gets very close, especially for an ultrawide, and it's super sharp:

Kienzle Flieger Automat 800/2843, 19 February 2018. Nikon D7500, 10-20mm at 20mm at f/9 at 1/320 at Auto ISO 100. bigger or camera-original © file to explore on your computer (mobile devices rarely display full resolution images properly).

 

1,200 × 900 pixel crop from above. bigger or camera-original © file to explore on your computer (mobile devices rarely display full resolution images properly).

The texture you're seeing is on the watch itself.

If this crop is about 12" (30cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at 37 × 56" (1 × 1.5 meters) at this same huge magnification.

 

The only thing the 10-20mm doesn't do well for macro is shot wide open, where it's softer:

Kienzle Flieger Automat 800/2843, 19 February 2018. Nikon D7500, 10-20mm at 20mm wide open at f/5.6 at 1/640 at Auto ISO 100. bigger or camera-original © file to explore on your computer (mobile devices rarely display full resolution images properly).

 

1,200 × 900 pixel crop from above. bigger or camera-original © file to explore on your computer (mobile devices rarely display full resolution images properly).

The color fringes on out-of-focus areas (blue on the hands too close and orange on the watch case behind) are from spherochromatism. There are no color fringes where you're in perfect focus.

If this crop is about 12" (30cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at 37 × 56" (1 × 1.5 meters) at this same huge magnification.

 

Mechanical Quality

Performance          top

Nikon 10-20mm

Nikon 10-20mm. bigger.

This is an all-plastic lens, except for glass optics, metal screws, a metal aperture actuator pin and metal electrical contacts.

 

Hood

Plastic bayonet.

Included.

Front Bumper

None.

 

Filter Threads

Plastic.

 

Hood Bayonet Mount

Plastic.

 

Front Barrel

Plastic.

 

Focus Ring

Plastic.

 

Zoom Ring

Rubber-covered plastic.

 

Rear Barrel

Plastic.

 

Identity

Printed on a metallic plastic sticker on the top of the barrel.

 

Internals

Plastic.

 

Dust Seal at Mount

No.

 

Mount

Plastic.

 

Markings

Paint.

 

Serial Number

Sticker glued into recess in the bottom of the lens barrel.

 

Date Code

None found.

 

Noises When Shaken

None; this is a very solid lens.

 

Made in

Thailand (molded on the bottom of the barrel near the serial number sticker).

 

Sharpness

Performance          top

This is an extraordinarily sharp lens edge-to-edge at every setting.

The only limitation to picture sharpness will be your skill as a photographer. For instance, like all lenses, it gets softer due to diffraction if stopped down to more than f/8.

Nikon 10-20mm MTF

Nikon's MTF chart at 10mm at f/4.5 at 10 cyc/mm and 30 cyc/mm.

 

Nikon 10-20mm MTF

Nikon's MTF chart at 20mm at f/5.6 at 10 cyc/mm and 30 cyc/mm.

 

Spherochromatism

Performance          top

Spherochromatism, also called "color bokeh" by laymen, can cause colored fringes on out-of-focus highlights, usually seen as green fringes on backgrounds and magenta fringes on foregrounds with fast, long lenses shot wide open.

It is an advanced form of chromatic aberration in a different dimension than lateral color. Spherochromatism is most commonly seen in fast lenses of moderate focal length when shooting contrasty items at full aperture. It goes away as stopped down.

You'll see a little at the close-focus distant wide-open at 20mm (see Macro), but that's about it.

 

Image Stabilization

Performance          top

VR works great. I have no problem getting tripod-equivalent perfect sharpness hand-held at 1/6 of a second.

For subjects that don't move, I set Auto ISO Minimum Shutter Speed to Auto Slowest, which is two stops slower than 1/focal length.

 

Sunstars

Performance          top

With a rounded diaphragm, the 10-20mm doesn't make much in the way of Sunstars except at the very smallest apertures.

 

Compared

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Compatibility   Specifications

USA Version   Unboxing   Performance

Compared   Recommendations

 

Versus the Nikon 10-24mm

The 10-24mm is older, bigger, heavier, tougher, much more expensive, made in China, and lacks VR.

I'd pass on it. It's twice as heavy, costs three times as much and this little 10-20mm is at least as sharp — however if you have an older camera, the 10-24mm will work on it while this new one might not. I'd put the money into a newer camera and get this inexpensive new lens rather than put more money into the old model 10-24mm just to work on an older camera.

I own the 10-24mm, and prefer this new lens for its better optics, VR and smaller size and weight.

 

Versus the Nikon 12-24mm

The 12-24mm is from 2003. It's even more expensive than the 10-24mm and also lacks VR. It costs four times what this 10-20mm costs and isn't as sharp — but the 12-24mm is the toughest Nikon DX ultrawide made back when DX was all there was in professional digital.

I also own the 12-24mm, and prefer this new lens for it's better optics, VR and smaller size and weight. I keep my 12-24mm for nostalgia; I can't believe they still sell it new.

 

Versus Canon

The Canon 10-18mm is also optically superb, has stabilization and in even less expensive. These are very similar lenses.

 

Versus Tokina

The Tokina 11-20mm f/2.8 used to be my top pick for Nikon DX because it cost less and was better built than Nikon's 10-24mm.

Today the Tokina costs twice as much as this 10-20mm. The Tokina is faster and tougher, while this new lens is much lighter and adds VR.

Unless you need f/2.8 for action or need the physical toughness, I'd save my money and go with this faster-focusing and sharper 10-20mm instead.

 

Recommendations

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Compatibility   Specifications

USA Version   Unboxing   Performance

Compared   Recommendations

Finally Nikon has an inexpensive, ultra-high performance ultrawide.

This little gem is a no-brainer. Forget the older 12-24mm and 10-24mm and get with the program. Just try not to break-off the plastic lens mount, and if you do and Nikon won't replace it under warranty, so what: buying three or four of these superior new lenses still costs less than one of the older lenses.

It's small, light, sharp and a fraction of the price of earlier lenses. I'd get one if you shoot DX and would no longer consider any of the others. Heck, if you're silly it might just be the widest lens Nikon makes for full-frame, too!

I got mine at B&H. I'd also get it at at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield.

This all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Nikon does not seal its boxes in any way, so never buy at retail or any other source not on my personally approved list since you'll have no way of knowing if you're missing accessories, getting a defective, damaged, returned, store demo or used lens. I use the stores I do because they ship from secure remote warehouses where no one gets to touch your new camera before you do. Buy only from the approved sources I use myself for the best prices, service, return policies and selection.

Thanks for helping me help you!

Ken, Mrs. Rockwell, Ryan and Katie.

 

© Ken Rockwell. All rights reserved. Tous droits réservés. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.

 

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15 March 2018, 18-19 February 2018, 31 May 2017