Nikon AF-S 28mm f/1.8G review

The Nikon AF-S 28mm f/1.8G gives a wide field of view but keeps the weight off

Nikon AF-S 28mm f/1.8G
(Image: © Nikon)

Digital Camera World Verdict

Only about half the weight and little more than a third of the price Nikon’s faster AF-S 28mm f/1.4E ED, the f/1.8G is a much better buy for most photographers. The generous but not overly extreme wide-angle field of view makes it very versatile for street photography and general walkabout shooting, while the fast aperture rating enables handheld shooting even under low lighting conditions, both indoors and out. Image quality and all-round performance make it a very attractive prime proposition.

Pros

  • +

    Compact and lightweight

  • +

    Fast f/1.8 aperture

  • +

    Solid construction

Cons

  • -

    Pricey for an f/1.8 prime

  • -

    Not fully weather-sealed

  • -

    Poor autofocus for movie capture

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The Nikon AF-S 28mm f/1.8G is a handy little lens. There’s no denying the zooming versatility of the Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR but it’s a big, hefty lens at over a kilogram. Surely, the greatest thing about any interchangeable-lens camera is that you can mount the right tool for the job. This 28mm prime is much more compact, less than a third of the weight, and gives you much more manageable shooting package, as well as being more than an f/stop faster. And naturally, you can swap to a similarly convenient 24mm, 50mm or 85mm f/1.8 prime when you need to and reap the same rewards.

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.