The New Useful Wideangle.

Ask photographers who used the 35mm SLR and rangefinder cameras...as long ago as last week, in some cases...what the most frequently used wide angle lens is. The answer is likely to be the 28mm lens.

28mm is a useful broadening of the view for landscapes, groups. and interiors without entering the realms of photographic distortion. And by this we mean perspective distortion as well as lens aberrations - we've all seen the automotive or architectural shot taken with a 24mm or 21mm lens with the subject that looms out towards the viewer. Sometimes it is a valid artistic statement and sometimes it is just plain wrong. Well the 28mm doesn't do that.  The scene looks natural, albeit wide.

The new 28mm AF-S G lens from Nikon is a bright one - f:1.8. It has eleven elements - two of them aspherical - and improved coating to pass even more of the light that it receives. Combined with the increasing ISO capability of Nikon FX cameras, this lens looks as though it will open up wedding groups and large interiors to perfection. No more dark corners or need to boost with flash.

It's just been announced, and we hope to see an example soon. When we do, we'll mention it.