Nikon AF-S 20mm f/1.8G ED review

The Nikon AF-S 20mm f/1.8G ED is fast and wide yet compact and lightweight

Nikon AF-S 20mm f/1.8G ED
(Image: © Nikon)

Digital Camera World Verdict

This Nikkor offers a wider viewing angle than a standard zoom lens, along with a faster f/1.8 aperture. It’s great for shooting everything from architectural interiors to expansive landscapes and cityscapes, and the night sky. Sharpness is mostly excellent, apart from at the edges of the frame when using very wide apertures and build quality is very good even though the lens is refreshingly compact and lightweight. It’s quite pricey to buy but good value nonetheless.

Pros

  • +

    Ultra-wide viewing angle

  • +

    Fast f/1.8 aperture

  • +

    Strong optical performance

Cons

  • -

    Heavy vignetting at f/1.8

  • -

    Lackluster corner-sharpness wide-open

  • -

    Pretty pricey

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As an ultra-wide-angle fast prime, the Nikon AF-S 20mm f/1.8G ED is pretty compact and lightweight by current standards. Measuring 83x81mm and weighing 335g, it works well as a walkabout lens on FX (full-frame) cameras and is also worth considering as an ‘effective’ 30mm wide-angle prime on DX (APS-C) format bodies.

Specifications

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Matthew Richards

Matthew Richards is a photographer and journalist who has spent years using and reviewing all manner of photo gear. He is Digital Camera World's principal lens reviewer – and has tested more primes and zooms than most people have had hot dinners! 

His expertise with equipment doesn’t end there, though. He is also an encyclopedia  when it comes to all manner of cameras, camera holsters and bags, flashguns, tripods and heads, printers, papers and inks, and just about anything imaging-related. 

In an earlier life he was a broadcast engineer at the BBC, as well as a former editor of PC Guide.