Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 28mm f/1.8G - Lens review and specs

Facebook LinkedIn X WhatsApp

Nikon F Wide Angle Prime full-frame 2012

Useful links

Official Website

Some links may be affiliate links (sponsored).

Compare with

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 28mm f/1.8G vs Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm F3.5-6.3G ED VR f/6.3 · 18-300mm
→
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 28mm f/1.8G vs Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f1.8G f/1.8 · 35mm
→
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 28mm f/1.8G vs Nikon AF-S Nikkor 14-24mm f2.8G ED f/22 · 14-24mm
→
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 28mm f/1.8G vs Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 105mm f/1.4E ED f/1.4 · 105mm
→

28mm

Focal length

f/1.8

Max aperture

330 g

Weight

14mm35mm85mm200mm600mm

▲ 28mm

Max aperture

f/1.4

f/1.8

f/2.8

Aperturef/1.8

f/1.8f/16

Near focus4' 6"

Far focus5' 6"

Total DOF1' 0"

Hyperfocal49' 8"

Subject distance5' 0"

Focal length28 mm

Aperturef/1.8

SensorFull Frame

Illustrative scene preview based on this lens's focal length, aperture, and sensor coverage.

This preview uses 28mm, f/1.8, and Full Frame. Subject distance is estimated to keep lens previews comparable.

Min aperture: f/16
Diaphragm blades: 7

Optics

Optical construction: 11 elements in 9 groups
Special elements: 2 aspherical
Coatings: Nano Crystal Coat, Super Integrated Coating

Focusing

Minimum focus: 25 cm
Max magnification: 0.22×
AF motor: SWM (Silent Wave Motor)

Physical

Weight: 330 g
Dimensions: ⌀73mm × 81mm
Filter thread: 67 mm
Hood included: HB-64
Color: Black

Handling & Controls

Distance Scale: Yes

Recommended Use

Ideal for: Architecture, Landscapes, Street, Travel, Walkaround / Daily

Release year: 2012
Announced: Apr 19, 2012
Approx price: $700 USD
Optical correction & RAW development: NDPix Photo Editor

The best

Fast f/1.8 full-frame wide prime featuring Nikon Nano Crystal Coat.

Also

Silent SWM autofocus, lightweight 330g build, and close 0.25m minimum focus.

Summary

The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 28mm f/1.8G is a high-performance wide-angle prime lens engineered for full-frame (FX) digital SLR cameras featuring the Nikon F mount, while maintaining complete operational compatibility with DX-format sensor bodies where it yields a versatile 42mm equivalent perspective. Formally introduced to enhance Nikon acclaimed line of lightweight and fast f/1.8 prime optics, this lens established itself over more than a decade as an indispensable tool for photojournalists, travel photographers, street shooters, and documentary creators seeking a dynamic perspective paired with the creative subject-isolation capabilities of a bright f/1.8 maximum aperture.

Optically and mechanically, the lens incorporates a sophisticated optical formula of 11 elements in 9 groups, featuring 2 aspherical lens elements that effectively correct spherical aberrations and coma, alongside proprietary Nano Crystal Coat and Super Integrated Coating technologies that drastically reduce ghosting and flare in high-contrast or backlit environments. Autofocus operation is driven by Nikon Silent Wave Motor (SWM) coupled with a Rear Focusing (RF) design, delivering rapid, highly accurate, and nearly silent autofocusing performance that remains fluid for both still photography and video, complemented by full-time manual focus override via the dedicated M/A mode.

Engineered for agile handheld shooting across diverse lighting conditions, the lens excels with an impressively close minimum focusing distance of 0.25 meters (250mm) and a maximum reproduction ratio of 0.22x, enabling dramatic wide-angle close-ups framed against a smooth background blur rendered by a rounded 7-blade diaphragm. Measuring a compact 73 × 80.5mm with an overall weight of just 330 grams, a standard 67mm front filter thread, supplied HB-64 bayonet hood, and a protective rubber weather-sealing gasket around the metal mount, the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 28mm f/1.8G stands as a landmark F-mount wide prime for environmental portraiture, street, architecture, and landscape work.