Nikon 14mm f/2.8D

AF NIKKOR 14mm f/2.8D ED I'd get it here: With its 114 degree picture angle and f/2.8 fast aperture, this lens offers a dramatic angle of view in demanding situations. This high-performance Nikon AF-S Prime Nikkor 14mm f/2.8 ED AF ultra-wide-angle lens is ideal for interiors, dramatic cityscapes or compelling photojournalistic images even in low light.

This is an absolutely fantastic lens - light for its size, and fast focusing too (not that you often need fast focus for wide-angle shots). And once you get used to Nikon speed of focusing, even very marginally lower speeds of Canon feel like an eternity.

The mount is metal, the AF is the "screw type" and the lens has an aperture ring so it is compatible with all past Nikon cameras, only no AF on Nikon D40, D60, D300 or S5000.

Construction: Extra-low dispersion glass and two aspheric lens elements ensure superior image quality and compact design.

Filters: The built-in rear filter holder accepts gelatin filters. The Nikon AF-S Zoom Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8G ED AF Lens is an extreme ultra-wide zoom, wide-aperture lens that delivers edge-to-corner sharpness that can surpass that of equivalent fixed focal-length lenses. It features a Nano Crystal coating to reduce the effects of ghost and flare, combined with 2 ED (Extra-low Dispersion) elements and PGM aspherical lenses that help control chromatic aberrations. These all combine to enhance sharpness and contrast.

The Silent Wave Motor (SWM) feature provides swift autofocus with superior accuracy and ultra-quiet operation. This G-type lens does not feature an aperture ring on the lens body, resulting in a lighter and more compact lens. Aperture changes are designed to be done via the camera's command dial.

Note: AF-S feature is not supported by certain older camera models. Please click here for a list of compatible models. "G" type lenses are not fully compatible with the F4, N90-series, N70, N8008-series and N6006 (or older model) cameras, only programmed auto or shutter-priority auto exposure mode can be used.

Key Features

• AF-S — Autofocus lens with a Silent wave, integrated, coreless focus motor (1996). Basically an update to AF-I.Autofocus-Silent. Uses a "Silent Wave Motor" (ultrasonic motor) to focus quietly and quickly.  Some older bodies can't autofocus with them (N60, N8008). Some newer bodies (D40, , D40x, D60, D3000 and D5000) can only autofocus with them.
• ED - (Extra-low Dispersion) — an essential element of NIKKOR telephoto lenses
  Nikon developed ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass to enable the production of lenses that offer superior sharpness and color correction by minimizing chromatic aberration. Put simply, chromatic aberration is a type of image and color dispersion that occurs when light rays of varying wavelengths pass through optical glass. In the past, correcting this problem for telephoto lenses required special optical elements that offer anomalous dispersion characteristics — specifically calcium fluoride crystals. However, fluorite easily cracks and is sensitive to temperature changes that can adversely affect focusing by altering the lens’ refractive index. So Nikon designers and engineers put their heads together and came up with ED glass, which offers all the benefits, yet none of the drawbacks of calcium fluorite-based glass. With this innovation, Nikon developed several types of ED glass suitable for various lenses. They deliver stunning sharpness and contrast even at their largest apertures. In this way, NIKKOR’s ED-series lenses exemplify Nikon’s preeminence in lens innovation and performance. ED -  Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass element minimizes chromatic aberration. Two ED (Extra-low Dispersion) elements and PGM aspherical lenses control chromatic aberrations while enhancing sharpness and contrast.
• Nano Crystal Coat
  Nano Crystal Coat is an antireflective coating that originated in the development of NSR-series (Nikon Step and Repeat) semiconductor manufacturing devices. It virtually eliminates internal lens element reflections across a wide range of wavelengths, and is particularly effective in reducing ghost and flare peculiar to ultra-wideangle lenses. Nano Crystal Coat employs multiple layers of Nikon’s outstanding extra-low refractive index coating, which features ultra-fine crystallized particles of nano size (one nanometer equals one millionth of a mm). Nikon now proudly marks a world first by applying this coating technology to a wide range of lenses for use in consumer optical products.
• IF — Internal Focusing
  Imagine being able to focus a lens without it changing in size. Nikon’s IF technology enables just that. All internal optical movement is limited to the interior of the non-extending lens barrel. Internal focusing allows for a more compact, lightweight construction as well as a closer focusing distance. In addition, a smaller and lighter focusing lens group is employed to ensure faster focusing. The IF system is featured in most NIKKOR telephoto and selected NIKKOR zoom lenses. The lens focuses with only the slight motion of a few internal elements instead of having to crank the entire lens in and out. This means the front no longer rotates as you focus, making polarizing and graduated filter use easy..
• Rugged construction and professional-grade dust and moisture resistance.
• M/A mode
  AF-S NIKKOR lenses feature Nikon’s exclusive M/A mode, that allows switching from autofocus to manual operation with virtually no time lag — even during AF servo operation and regardless of AF mode in use. M/A (Manual/Automatic) mode - Even while in autofocus you may simply grab the focus ring to make manual focus adjustments. Next time you tap the shutter it returns to AF mode, and next time you grab the ring you're instantly in manual mode. I wish everything on earth worked this well
• SWM - Silent Wave Motor
  Nikon’s AF-S technology is yet another reason professional photographers like NIKKOR telephoto lenses. AF-S NIKKOR lenses feature Nikon’s SWM which converts “traveling waves” into rotational energy to focus the optics. This enables high-speed autofocusing that’s extremely accurate and super quiet. SWM - Silent Wave Motor, which is an ultrasonic piezo device similar to Canon's USM. It moves things without making noise. The lens focuses silently, handy for snoop photography and for sensitive pets and wildlife photography.

CLS2 soft case, lens cover, rear cap

Stunning lens, April 30, 2009

By David A. Young

This is an amazing lens. I was initially concerned about distortion that bulged from the center out to the edges but the lens does a fantastic job of dealing with it. This lens is one of the best additions to my glass collection.

By sketchalot "lainey39" (CT United States)

I wish they had a way to protect this lens, but then it wouldn't be this wide, would it? A wonderful lens. I'm quite happy with it.