Description & Specifications

Depth of Field Guide

	f/3·5		f/4		f/5·6		f/8		f/11		f/16		f/22
0·30	0·29	0·31	0·29	0·31	0·28	0·32	0·28	0·33	0·27	0·34	0·25	0·36	0·24	0·40
0·35	0·33	0·37	0·33	0·37	0·33	0·38	0·32	0·39	0·31	0·41	0·29	0·44	0·27	0·49
0·40	0·38	0·42	0·38	0·43	0·37	0·44	0·36	0·46	0·34	0·48	0·32	0·53	0·30	0·60
0·50	0·47	0·54	0·46	0·54	0·45	0·56	0·43	0·59	0·41	0·63	0·38	0·72	0·35	0·87
0·60	0·55	0·65	0·55	0·66	0·53	0·69	0·51	0·74	0·48	0·81	0·44	0·96	0·40	1·23
0·80	0·72	0·90	0·71	0·92	0·68	0·97	0·64	1·07	0·59	1·22	0·53	1·61	0·47	2·61
1·00	0·88	1·16	0·86	1·19	0·82	1·29	0·76	1·46	0·70	1·77	0·61	2·74	0·53	7·86
2·00	1·56	2·78	1·51	2·95	1·38	3·64	1·22	5·62	1·06	17·45	0·87	∞	0·72	∞
5·00	2·92	17·26	2·76	26·56	2·34	∞	1·91	∞	1·55	∞	1·18	∞	0·91	∞
∞	6·22	∞	5·52	∞	4·06	∞	2·91	∞	2·14	∞	1·49	∞	1·09	∞

(Distances in metres; Circle of Confusion is taken at 0·032 millimetres.)

Review

I’ll be honest, this is a boring lens... the maximum aperture of f/3·5 is pretty much the standard for a twenty-eight. And by this time every lens maker had perfected the focal length. Optical quality is superb — even better than the Takumars. Construction is solid, made to the high standard expected from Nikon. It is very easy to see why professionals of that era chose this brand.

The lens works very nice, with the throw well worked out for group photos. The colourful depth of field markings actually do make a difference, as soon as one gets used to the values of the colours. The f-stops are the standard range and clicks at one apart, which is sufficient.

As said, the optical quality is magnificent. No distortion, discolouration or aberrations could be seen by me — although I’m pretty sure pixel-peepers will see something, even if it isn’t there. This is a lens that just works.

Whether or not you’re a Nikonian, if you like manual lenses, this twenty-eight deserves closer inspection. If you see one, grab it with both hands — it’s the best I’ve ever seen.

Nikon NIKKOR 28mm 1:3.5

Description and Review

Description & Specifications

Depth of Field Guide

Review

Sample Photographs