Bower 14mm f/2.8 Ultra-wide-Angle Lens

In the right set of hands, an ultra-wide 14mm lens has the ability to create incredibly dramatic photographs, particularly travel landscapes plus every tight spot you've never been quite able to cram into the scene using the zoom kit lens that came as a part of your DSLR camera. However an ultra wide lens, especially a fast f/2.8 edition is often out in the left field price range for many photography enthusiasts. You can thank Bower for cracking the 14mm wide-angle lens price barrier for being significantly less than $500. How "significantly" less than $500? How'z about $389? Grab your attention now?

The ultra wide angle Bower 14mm /f2.8 can be mounted on both APS-C plus full-frame* DSLRs manufactured by Canon, Nikon and Minolta - Sony AF, along with APS-C sensor format only DSLRs made by Pentax and Samsung. In addition to it's fast for the focal length and big f2.8 aperture, the 14mm Bower sports an enormous 114-degree angle of view when mounted on a full-frame DSLR, plus a not-too-disrespectful 92.5 angle of view when mounted on an APS-C DSLR made by Nikon and Minolta - Sony AF DSLRs and (89-degree angle of view mounted on a Canon APS-C DSLR).

This Bower 14mm/f2.8 is intended to capture spectacular landscapes, architectural and interior scenes. It encompasses 14 elements within 12 groups, which includes two aspherical and plus a pair of ED elements engineered to further ensure the highest levels of optical operation with minimum lens flare or chromatic aberrations. supplementing the broad angle of view, the 14mm lens also includes a minimum close-focus space of 11 inches (0.28 m), that permits dramatic close-ups.

Take a look at the Samyang 14mm f/2.8 IF ED MC Ultra Wide Angle Lens

Apr 30, 2011

Two high-precision aspherical elements

Two ED-glass elements.

Ultra wide 92.5° angle view in digital SLR cameras with APS-C size sensors and a 114° angle of view when used with full frame DSLRs

* Note: Though this lens will cover the imaging sensor of a full-frame DSLR, it is better optimized for use with DSLRs containing smaller APS-C format sensors.

• Bower 14mm f/2.8 Ultra Wide Angle Lens
• Front & Rear Lens Caps
• Lens Hood
• Lens Pouch
• 1-Year Limited Warranty

Very nice little lens

By DeeLee from San Francisco on 8/14/2010

Pros:Consistent Output, Lightweight

Best Uses:Landscape/Scenery

Comments about Bower 14mm MT f/2.8 W/A LENS f/NIKON:

Sharp, sharp sharp.

This is not particular a 14-24G killer, but at 1/4 of the price, you still get F2.8 and 14mm, and most importantly, a sharp corner to corner image.

However, you have to watch out for the distortion though, also, fully manual focus only, but I didn't find any difficulties in getting in-focus picture at all, at 14mm, you really shouldn't have to worry about focusing at all especially when you use it for stop down landscape pictures, also all modern camera are equipped with Live-View, so makes it even easier to manual focus. another thing to watch out for is you can't use any filter on this lens, just like the Nikon 14-24 and any other lens this wide, so if you need to use filter for special effects, you are out of luck here. that is the only reason I rated it 4 start instead of 5.