Nikon 28mm 1.8 G: I have a Nikon D300. I thought of buying a Nikon 28mm 1.8 G for indoor photography. Please let me know your opinions on this.

Michael Christy

I have a Nikon D300. I thought of buying a Nikon 28mm 1.8 G for indoor photography.
Please let me know your opinions on this.

moonhawk Loc: Land of Enchantment

Great lens, but you may want to consider the 20...

Michael Christy

I was wondering if 20mm is too wide even for a cropped sensor?

wilsondl2 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

Try this - Set your "kit lens" at 28 mm and see if it will work for what you want to do. You may have to boast your ISO up as far as it will go or use a flash but you will then know if the 28 mm will work for what you want. No one can tell you this. Lots of bucks if it is not what you need. You may want to go to a newer camera that can shoot higher ISO without a lot of noise and use the lenses you have. - Dave

Michael Christy

I often do not go beyond 400 on my ISO. I do not have a kit lens; I have a 35mm DX and a 12-24mm DX (tokina.
35 mm is too long in some spaces.

craggycrossers Loc: Robin Hood Country, UK

Michael Christy wrote:

I have a Nikon D300. I thought of buying a Nikon 28mm 1.8 G for indoor photography.
Please let me know your opinions on this.

Michael - I have the 28mm f1.8G and use it with my full frame D700. Works great (see photo). However, on your D300 the 28 is going to act like a 42mm lens. It's an FX lens. That what you want? You already have a DX 35mm lens which gives you a wider angle of view than would the 28 and you have your Tokina.

Nikkor 28mm on a full frame camera

(Download)

Michael Christy

Thanks; appreciate your input.

amehta Loc: Boston

craggycrossers wrote:

Michael - I have the 28mm f1.8G and use it with my full frame D700. Works great (see photo). However, on your D300 the 28 is going to act like a 42mm lens. It's an FX lens. That what you want? You already have a DX 35mm lens which gives you a wider angle of view than would the 28 and you have your Tokina.

The 28mm FX lens is wider than the 35mm DX. The crop factor has to be applied to both lenses, or neither, to compare them.

The "DX" designation on the lens has nothing to do with focal lengths, only with the image circle it will produce on the sensor.

amehta Loc: Boston

Michael Christy wrote:

I often do not go beyond 400 on my ISO. I do not have a kit lens; I have a 35mm DX and a 12-24mm DX (tokina.
35 mm is too long in some spaces.

With a 35mm lens, the 28mm might not provide a huge improvement. A better choice might be the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC for only $100 more.

craggycrossers Loc: Robin Hood Country, UK

amehta wrote:

The 28mm FX lens is wider than the 35mm DX. The crop factor has to be applied to both lenses, or neither, to compare them.

The "DX" designation on the lens has nothing to do with focal lengths, only with the image circle it will produce on the sensor.

You're right Anand and thanks for clarification - and I made an error by not applying the crop factor of the camera to the 35mm DX lens as well. Sorry Michael. There's not much difference in angle of view between 52mm (the DX lens) and 42mm (the FX lens) Michael - not many steps forwards/backwards, since we're talking prime lenses here. And the 28 and 35 are both f1.8 lenses. Anand's suggestion would certainly give you greater versatility at f1.8.

Michael Christy

I want to move up to FX later. Thanks

amehta Loc: Boston

Michael Christy wrote:

I want to move up to FX later. Thanks

Yes, that does affect things.

With a telephoto, a lens can serve the same basic function for FX and DX. With wide angle, that is simply not possible. Even the excellent FX 14-24mm f/2.8 is only slightly special as a DX lens.

The 20mm f/1.8 might be a better choice for you, since you already have a 35mm. Or maybe get a 24-70mm f/2.8 (Nikon or third-party).

Michael Christy

Thanks; now I have to save for Nikon 24-70.

DubyaVeeU Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

I liked it just ok on my D600. I did a compare to the kit lens (24-85) and I saw no difference, even in lower (not low) light. Perhaps my expectations were too high having just bought the excellent 85 1.8g around the same time.

amehta Loc: Boston

DubyaVeeU wrote:

I liked it just ok on my D600. I did a compare to the kit lens (24-85) and I saw no difference, even in lower (not low) light. Perhaps my expectations were too high having just bought the excellent 85 1.8g around the same time.

Yes, the 85mm f/1.8G does set the bar very high.