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Nikon 24mm f/2.8 AI-s
(1977-today)

Intro   Specs   Performance   Recommendations

Nikon 24mm f/2.8 AI-s

Nikon 24mm f/2.8 AI-s (FX, DX and 35mm coverage, metal 52mm filter threads, 9 oz./250g, 1'/0.3m close focus, about $540 new or about $125 used if you know How to Win at eBay). enlarge. You can still buy these brand-new at B&H Photo-Video and at Adorama, which is where I bought mine back in 1984 (I've forgotten which of the two I used back then), as well as new at Amazon and used at Amazon.

 

March 2022   Nikon Reviews   Nikon Lenses    All Reviews

Sharpness Comparison to all other 24mm lenses August 2010

Nikon 24mm f/2.8 AF-D (same optics in a plastic package.)

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Introduction         top

Intro   Specs   Performance   Recommendations

Adorama pays top dollar for your used gear.

B&H Photo - Video - Pro Audio
I use these stores. I can't vouch for ads below.

This used to be a very popular lens for decades. It's sharp, compact and very well made. As most Nikon AI-s lenses of its era it is a masterpiece of mechanical construction.

How good is it? Today in 2022, Nikon still makes it. Back in the 1980s, it was the lens with which Galen Rowell made many of his most iconic images. Why? Because it's small and sharp. Galen preferred this to the faster 24mm f/2 because Galen felt that the f/2 version had more flare.

Today, Nikon also makes these same great optics in a cheaper plastic mount as the Nikon 24mm f/2.8 AF-D.

 

Compatibility       intro     top

This manual-focus Nikon 24mm f/2.8 AI-s works great with most Nikon cameras, 35mm and digital.

It works flawlessly with every manual focus Nikon ever made, from the original Nikon F of 1959 through the FM3a and today's FM-10.

On the D4, D800, D800E, D600, D3X, D3s, D3, D7100, D7000, D700, D300, D200, D2 and F6, use the "Non-CPU Lens Data" menu option to set 24mm and f/2.8 to get full color matrix metering, EXIF data and finder read-out of set aperture. It works great in aperture-preferred as well as manual modes on these cameras.

It works perfectly on every professional 35mm camera (F, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6), and adds Matrix metering on the FA, F4 and F6.

The meters of cheaper digital (D90, D5100 and below) and cheaper film cameras (N80 and below) will not couple (or work at all) with this lens, so you'll be on your own guessing exposure using the rear LCD or an external meter, or get a tiny Gossen Digisix meter and hotshoe adapter, or the free Pocket Light Meter app to meter manually.

See Nikon Lens Compatibility for details on your camera. Read down the "AI, AI-s" column for this lens.

 

Specifications         top

Intro   Specs   Performance   Recommendations

It has close-range correction (CRC) and has the usual Nikon barrel distortion.

It focuses to one foot or 0.3m.

It has a seven-bladed diaphragm stopping down to f/22.

It has nine elements in nine groups.

Filter thread is 52mm.

It is 2.2" (57mm) long by 2.5" (63mm) around and weighs 9 oz. (250g).

March 2022: $537 new or about $125 used.

August 2017: $540 new or about $150 used.

 

Performance         top

Intro   Specs   Performance   Recommendations

It has the usual Nikon wide-angle performance: great performance all over when stopped down and great in the center at all apertures.

It has the usual light falloff and fuzziness due to coma in the corners at full aperture that improves a stop or two down.

Once stopped down a couple of stops it's great.

I find the Minolta MD Rokkor-X 24mm f/2.8 (55mm filter thread) is superior due to lower distortion and less coma wide open. The Minolta lens also has CRC.

 

Recommendations         top

Intro   Specs   Performance   Recommendations

If you want an inexpensive high-performance manual-focus 24mm lens, go for it!

This lens is best on a manual-focus 35mm camera or a full-frame DSLR. On DX, use a DX lens, and on mirrorless, use a dedicated Z lens the the most convenient operation

Nikon still sells them brand-new in 2022.

 

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Mar 2022, August 2017, June 2014, July 2008