Nikon (Nikkor) 20mm f/3.5 AIS Ultrawide Super sharp MF FX Lens. Exc++++. Tested. See Test Images.

Key Features

• Full frame (FX) Ultra-Wide lens
• Very low levels of distortion
• Can be used on Nikon DX cameras. see below
• Extremely lightweight and compact Ultra-wide lens. Ideal for travel. 232g
• Close focus to 1ft
• Dead sharp from f/3.5 onwards

See Hi-res images taken with this lens on Youtube

https://youtu.be/O4AgT7T08x0

This is a superb example of one of Nikon's high quality AI lenses from the 1970's and 1980's: when Nikon didn't make anything except high quality pro lenses.

This one: lens number 215313, was number 5,232 of a total run of just 28,648 of the last and best AIS variant of the 20mm f/3.5 lens manufactured by Nikon Japan between October 1981 and September 1984. This one was made towards the end of the production run, so we can therefore, be fairly certain that this lens was made just under a fifth of the way through the production run at some point around May 1982.

This lens is super sharp, and has much lower levels of distortion than most of Nikon's later, and much more expensive, zoom lenses. See review of this lens on camera reviewer and photographer Ken Rockwell's site.

As ken Rockwell observes, this Nikon 20mm f/3.5 is a great unknown lens made only for a few years, and in small numbers. Besides being super small and taking standard small 52mm filters, it has excellent optics and superb mechanics. Only the 20mm f/4 is smaller. This one is about the same size as a 50mm standard lens. The only Nikon lenses which can outdo it optically are the 16-35mm VR and the 14-24mm, but they are too big to use in the field.

Lens compatibility

Use on Digital Cameras

It works on all digital cameras with varying ease.

On the D810, D800, D800E, D750, D700, D610, D600, D500, D300s, D300, D200, D7200, D7100, D7000 series cameras, it can give full matrix metering and aperture-preferred auto (A) and manual (M) modes, and encodes the shooting aperture and focal length in the EXIF.

This lens works on the lesser cameras like the D80, D70 and D40, but without any metering - you'll have to use an external meter or guess

 using the LCD.

Use on Film Cameras

This lens is ideal for manual focus cameras like the FA, FE, FM andF2AS.

The F100 and most film cameras offer centre-weighted metering with this lens, while the F4, F6 and FA are unique among film cameras in offering matrix metering with it.

For further reading on the subject, please visit Ken Rockwell's most instructive website on the subject

Overall Lens Condition: Exc++++

Mechanical / Cosmetic: Exc++++

The lens is in superb mechanical and cosmetic condition, although there are many tiny scratches and rubs on the exterior of the filter ring (the thread is perfect) and the focus ring scale. There is some tiny paint loss from the raised parts of some of the knurling on the aperture ring. The aperture ring action is smooth and 'clicky'. The focus ring action is premium Nikon; buttery smooth with no play at all in the action; perfect. The iris blades move freely and are oil free. The bayonet mount is in perfect condition.

Optical: Mint-

Not a lot to say. There is just a tiny amount of dust in the lens. The optics are otherwise flawless. This lens produces punchy, contrasty and dead sharp images straight from the camera. The front and rear elements are pristine.

Image quality

Image quality is stunning. The Ken Rockwell review explains the characteristics of this lens in some detail. The attached images I have taken with this lens attest to the quality he sees.

The lens tests were shot on a 42.4 MP Sony A7R II . It also works perfectly with my Nikon D7200, but I wanted to show the lens off this full-frame lens to its best.

The Ebay Upload Images

The test images were taken in Birmingham, UK. The first image is of the southbound entrance tunnel of the Queensway Underpass. It was shot wide open at f/3.5. The next two images are 100% centre and edge crops of the first image. It is pretty much as sharp as any other 100% crop in the centre wide open, and it's excellent at the edges. A 100% crop is equivalent to a full-size image of about 8 X 5 feet. The next two images are of the same scene, but this time they are 100% centre and edge crops at f/8. They are just about perfect. The next two images were shot in a road tunnel at f/3.5 and f/11 respectively. Again, they have been cropped at 100%. In the f/11 image, one can see the 14 point Sunstars this lens generates when shooting point light sources stopped down. The final two images were shot at f/11 and show the superb perspective that this lens delivers.

The Youtube Images

https://youtu.be/O4AgT7T08x0

I've published a sequence of shots of the tunnel entrance of the Queensway Underpass in Birmingham from f/3.5 to f/22. As you can see, it's dead sharp wide open. It's also very good at the edges wide open. I've also taken centre and edge crops at various other apertures including f/22. They are all excellent. I've also included an f/3.5 collection with some 100% crops. This lens is absolutely superb for creating 14 point Sunstars. You can see them in the tunnel shot.

Summary

A great addition to a full-frame kitbag as an Ultrawide, or a super 30mm equivalent wide lens for a DX camera.

Overall, I would rate image quality as outstanding.

What's in the box?

Lens, front and rear Nikon lens caps.