Nikon produces some of the worlds best photographic lenses and Nikon is renowned for the highest quality of manufacturing.
This review is based on actual use of both the 24mm and 28mm lenses - and after using both I did in fact purchase the Nikon 28mm f/1.4 due to the overall performance, sharpness and I already have a 24mm f/2.8. I found the 28mm f/1.4 lens to be a very worthy lens to own and like a 35mm a 28mm can be used for street shooting and opens up more of the environment. Some say you can squeeze a few portraiture of of this focal length - I don't like working that close to people, so I use my 28mm for general photography - landscapes, and streets mostly.
Why choose a 28mm lens over a wider 24mm? for me, the choice was quite easy, as I already have 14-24mm f/2.8, and a prime 24mm f/2.8 - although not exactly a contender against a fast f/1.4 aperture - the 14-24mm serves my needs when I require a wide landscape lens, and that is what I normally use a 24 for. I choose the Nikon 28mm f/1.4 because it is wide enough to do excellent landscapes with its 75-degree field of view, and is a fantastic close in people lens for street photography - brings enough of the "environment" without it being too wide.
This is Nikon's newer lens that is designed for greater durability, weather sealing, a highly corrected lens using 3 Aspherical lens elements and is made in Japan. Speaking on weather resistance, rear gasket, fluorine coatings, seals at lens focus ring, and additional internal seals to nearly eliminate internal dust or moister.
Electromagnetic Diaphragm - This feature eliminates mechanical aperture blade control why do you care? One day in the future cameras will be able to shoot very high FPS and at some point, mechanical connections simply will not be able to keep the pace.
Sharpness, Color Contrast, Details - The Nikon 28mm f/1.4 excels in all three areas providing extreme detail when used with a high-resolution FX camera such as a D850, and the sharpness is absolutely astounding. The Nikon 28mm f/1.4 rivals any lens I own in its ability to deliver excellent images.
Illustrates the difference between the 28mm and 24mm f/1.4 lens
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| Nikon 28mm VS Nikon 24mm Feature Comparision |
| Common Features |
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(AS) Aspherical Lens
A lens with a curved, non-spherical surface. Used to reduce aberrations and enable a more compact lens size. Aspherical lenses minimize coma and other types of lens aberrations, even when used at the widest aperture. They are particularly useful in correcting distortion in wide-angle lenses and help contribute to a lighter, more compact design by reducing the number of standard (spherical) elements necessary. Aspherical lens elements correct these distortions by continuously changing the refractive index from the center of the lens.
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ED (Extra-Low Dispersion) Glass
An optical glass developed by Nikon that is used with normal optical glass in telephoto lenses to obtain optimum correction of chromatic aberrations. |
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(N) Nano Crystal Coat
An anti-reflective coating developed by Nikon that virtually eliminates internal lens element reflections across a wide range of wavelengths. Nano Crystal Coat uses ultrafine, nano-sized* crystal particles to eliminate reflections inside the lens throughout the spectrum of visible light waves (380 to 780 nm) in ways that far exceed the limits of conventional antireflection coating systems. Nano Crystal Coat not only solves ghost effects caused by red light, which was incredibly difficult for previous systems. It also effectively reduces ghost and flare effects caused by light entering the lens diagonally. The result: clearer images.
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(RF) Rear Focusing System
A system in which only the rear lens group moves during focusing, thus eliminating changes in the physical length of the lens during focusing and enabling faster focusing. Such lenses are designated with RF on the lens barrel.
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M/A
Select NIKKOR lenses have a focusing mode that allows switching from automatic to manual focusing with virtually no lag time by simply turning the focusing ring on the lens.
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(SWM) Silent Wave Motor
AF-S NIKKOR lenses feature Nikon’s Silent Wave Motor (SWM). This technology converts “traveling waves” into rotational energy to focus the optics. This enables high-speed autofocusing that's extremely accurate and super quiet.
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| Nikon 28mm f/1.4 Additional Specifications |
Nikon 24mm f/1.4 Does Not Have These Specifications |
| (E) Electromagnetic Diaphragm Mechanism
An electromagnetic diaphragm mechanism in the lens barrel provides highly accurate electronic diaphragm or aperture blade control when using auto exposure during continuous shooting. With conventional D/G type lenses, the diaphragm blades are operated by mechanical linkage levers.
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Illustrates the difference between the 28mm and 24mm f/1.4 lens
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| (SIC) Super Integrated Coating
Nikon Super Integrated Coating is Nikon's term for its multilayer coating of the optical elements in NIKKOR lenses.
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Illustrates the difference between the 28mm and 24mm f/1.4 lens
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(FL) Fluorine Coatings
Endures a higher frequency of lens surface wiping and provides longer-duration staying power. Its anti-reflective effect also contributes to the capture of clear images. |
Illustrates the difference between the 28mm and 24mm f/1.4 lens
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Shot at full open with one 60w florusent light - Adjusted in Lightroom for color and added exposure, a bit mutch but the dynamic range holds up with my D850.