20mm f/1.8G

HSway · Sep 4, 2014

That would be a versatile lens interesting to a wider range of buyers. At the large aperture an alternative to 15 and 21 Distagons (they have no rivals there). And a timely release in respect to Sigma 24/1.4 Art reminding the user that he/she might consider a wider lens which I think, given the choice, some (many) would definitely do. Which would leave the Nikon’s space for the 24 Art a bit more squeezed between this and the 24/1.4G. And then a 20mm land/etc/scape duty lens. In order to be versatile it needs to be very good of course, more than a one-strength lens. that's what I expect it to be.

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Stacey_K · Sep 4, 2014

MoreorLess said:
There is the possibility though that this lens will be a pro release like the 24, 35 and 85 F/1.4 primes,

The problem with this idea is marketing. All the other "pro" primes are f1.4. Not saying this isn't possible but it would break with their tradition so far that the "pro" optics so far have all been f1.4.

But then again, I do understand as you move away from the middle range of focal lengths, they could get away with this, like a 135mm f1.8 would surely be sold as a "pro" lens as well. I just hope this isn't a $2000 lens, but it very well might be. I also hoped the 58 f1.4 wasn't going to be $1700

Reilly Diefenbach · Sep 4, 2014

I predict $899...

Robert A F · Sep 4, 2014

paulski66 said:
paulski66 said:

Click to expand...

Look at the price on the recent 35mm f/1.8g FX. A 20mm lens is significantly more expensive to design and manufacture than a 20mm lens..and the 35mm didn't even have Nano coatings, if I'm not mistaken.

I'm excited by this announcement, but I still wish Nikon would modernize a smaller set of wide-angle primes. I would almost rather have an excellent but affordable 20mm f/2.8g than an expensive 20mm f/1.8g.

You hit all the points I was thinking! Also I wish they would improve the manual focus precision/feel on these new (G) AF lenses.

Robert A F · Sep 4, 2014

Reilly Diefenbach said:
I predict $899...

And a 82mm filter thread to make the maximum aperture vignetting acceptable!?

clarnibass · Sep 4, 2014

You're right, but OTOH they also have the almost $2,000 14mm f/2.8, so I think they could "get away" with a 20mm f/1.8 if it's also similar to the f/1.4 lenses in other ways.

I'm interested in a 20mm f/1.8 and personally I hope it will be similar to the cheaper 1.8G lenses to reduce price significantly... no one knows for sure yet... but I bet it won't be...

anotherMike · Sep 4, 2014

Keep dreaming. The other 1.8's so far have been somewhat prosumer budget constrained lenses that happen to perform nicely. A 20mm F/1.8, given that aperture vs focal length combination, will very much be a pro lens, with a price tag to match - it wouldn't surprise me if it were more than the 58... It's a harder design and looking at the full patent doc, it's packed with fancy glass.

Something else I noticed on the patent: the designer. None other than one of the two guys who worked on the 14-24 (Yoko Kimura) and we all know how good that lens turned out

Hoping this one is real.....

-m

Hrvoje Crvelin · Sep 4, 2014

anotherMike said:
Something else I noticed on the patent: the designer. None other than one of the two guys who worked on the 14-24 (Yoko Kimura) and we all know how good that lens turned out

Do you have link? I suspect this is patent 2012-27450, but I could not find link to document itself (rather quotes by others without designer).

Reilly Diefenbach · Sep 4, 2014

anotherMike said:
Keep dreaming. The other 1.8's so far have been somewhat prosumer budget constrained lenses that happen to perform nicely. A 20mm F/1.8, given that aperture vs focal length combination, will very much be a pro lens, with a price tag to match - it wouldn't surprise me if it were more than the 58... It's a harder design and looking at the full patent doc, it's packed with fancy glass.

Something else I noticed on the patent: the designer. None other than one of the two guys who worked on the 14-24 (Yoko Kimura) and we all know how good that lens turned out

Hoping this one is real.....

-m

I'm a little surprised you would be so all over this lens, given your oft professed admiration for the Zeiss 21 :^) I have little doubt the Nikon 20 will be a much easier lens to focus.

I'm sticking with $899, adding $300 to the 28G. Don't encourage them!

In the meantime, I'll keep poking along with the 14-24 @ 20mm...

paulski66 · Sep 4, 2014

Reilly Diefenbach said:
anotherMike said:

Keep dreaming. The other 1.8's so far have been somewhat prosumer budget constrained lenses that happen to perform nicely. A 20mm F/1.8, given that aperture vs focal length combination, will very much be a pro lens, with a price tag to match - it wouldn't surprise me if it were more than the 58... It's a harder design and looking at the full patent doc, it's packed with fancy glass.

Something else I noticed on the patent: the designer. None other than one of the two guys who worked on the 14-24 (Yoko Kimura) and we all know how good that lens turned out

Hoping this one is real.....

-m

Click to expand...

I'm a little surprised you would be so all over this lens, given your oft professed admiration for the Zeiss 21 :^) I have little doubt the Nikon 20 will be a much easier lens to focus.

I'm sticking with $899, adding $300 to the 28G. Don't encourage them!

In the meantime, I'll keep poking along with the 14-24 @ 20mm...

The 28g is $700.

Reilly Diefenbach · Sep 4, 2014

paulski66 said:
Reilly Diefenbach said:

anotherMike said:

Keep dreaming. The other 1.8's so far have been somewhat prosumer budget constrained lenses that happen to perform nicely. A 20mm F/1.8, given that aperture vs focal length combination, will very much be a pro lens, with a price tag to match - it wouldn't surprise me if it were more than the 58... It's a harder design and looking at the full patent doc, it's packed with fancy glass.

Something else I noticed on the patent: the designer. None other than one of the two guys who worked on the 14-24 (Yoko Kimura) and we all know how good that lens turned out

Hoping this one is real.....

-m

Click to expand...

I'm a little surprised you would be so all over this lens, given your oft professed admiration for the Zeiss 21 :^) I have little doubt the Nikon 20 will be a much easier lens to focus.

I'm sticking with $899, adding $300 to the 28G. Don't encourage them!

In the meantime, I'll keep poking along with the 14-24 @ 20mm...

Click to expand...

The 28g is $700.

Mine was $599 new.

paulski66 · Sep 4, 2014

Reilly Diefenbach said:
paulski66 said:

Reilly Diefenbach said:

anotherMike said:

Keep dreaming. The other 1.8's so far have been somewhat prosumer budget constrained lenses that happen to perform nicely. A 20mm F/1.8, given that aperture vs focal length combination, will very much be a pro lens, with a price tag to match - it wouldn't surprise me if it were more than the 58... It's a harder design and looking at the full patent doc, it's packed with fancy glass.

Something else I noticed on the patent: the designer. None other than one of the two guys who worked on the 14-24 (Yoko Kimura) and we all know how good that lens turned out

Hoping this one is real.....

-m

Click to expand...

I'm a little surprised you would be so all over this lens, given your oft professed admiration for the Zeiss 21 :^) I have little doubt the Nikon 20 will be a much easier lens to focus.

I'm sticking with $899, adding $300 to the 28G. Don't encourage them!

In the meantime, I'll keep poking along with the 14-24 @ 20mm...

Click to expand...

The 28g is $700.

Click to expand...

Mine was $599 new.

No doubt...you were smart and bought while the rebates were in effect.

But it was introduced at $699, and its current MSRP is $699.

jhinkey · Sep 4, 2014

Well, based on the Nikon patent images:

20/1.8G Lens From Nikon Patent

it will be a long lens - like the Zeiss 21/2.8. It will have 12 elements in 9 groups with aspherica and ED elements.

It will be a very different design than the Zeiss:

--

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Rick_Hunter · Sep 4, 2014

Still I'm willing to bet two things:

- it will be very expensive (ultra wide, very fast for its FL, nano coating, lots of elements, asperical and ED elements) - I said before over a thousand... but now that I've seen the optical formula... I'd say two thousand or even more

- it sure could be sharp as hell but it probably won't have the same micro contrast or colour reproduction of the Zeiss 21 - and that's because Zeiss T* coatings are what makes the difference. Remember that Zeiss applies the T* coating to all air-to-glass surfaces inside the lens... while Nikon applies its Nano coating only to the first element.

In any case I won't be anxious about this lens... I use 21mm for landscapes... I don't need autofocus and I don't need F/1.8 and the Zeiss currently satisfies me completely. Other users will instead surely appreciate the Nikon being AF and very fast.

jhinkey · Sep 4, 2014

Rick_Hunter said:
Still I'm willing to bet two things:

- it will be very expensive (ultra wide, very fast for its FL, nano coating, lots of elements, asperical and ED elements) - I said before over a thousand... but now that I've seen the optical formula... I'd say two thousand or even more

- it sure could be sharp as hell but it probably won't have the same micro contrast or colour reproduction of the Zeiss 21 - and that's because Zeiss T* coatings are what makes the difference. Remember that Zeiss applies the T* coating to all air-to-glass surfaces inside the lens... while Nikon applies its Nano coating only to the first element.

In any case I won't be anxious about this lens... I use 21mm for landscapes... I don't need autofocus and I don't need F/1.8 and the Zeiss currently satisfies me completely. Other users will instead surely appreciate the Nikon being AF and very fast.

Well, the Zeiss T* coating is just a traditional mult-layer coating similar to Nikons SIC coatings - it's likely better (and more expensive) than Nikon's SIC. Nikon's Nano coating is a totally different technology.

Nikon, like Zeiss applies it's multi-layer coatings to all glass surfaces.

Zeiss' "pop", if attributable to its coatings are likely due to the number and specifics of the coatings. Nikon uses its Nano coating on specific elements that are prone to produce flare along with SIC coatings.

Gareth Bourne · Sep 4, 2014

Hrvoje Crvelin said:
While I never own it, I heard from one of my ex co-workers that 20mm f2.8 he had was very nice lens (and quite cheap too).

Apparently, according to latest NR rumor, 20mm f/1.8 G version might appear now too. That might be interesting lens if price attractive (eg. I might not consider 18-35, but rather this prime instead). What price would you expect on such lens?

I'd love an upgrade to this lens as I am looking for something wider than the 28mm f1.8G. I have considered the 18–35mm, and almost bought one in Tokyo a few months ago. I'm not bothered about having f1.8, though. 2.8 would be perfectly fine. Hopefully it would be in the same price range as the current f1.8 primes, and don't really see why it wouldn't be.

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Vera Cognome · Sep 4, 2014

Hrvoje Crvelin said:
What price would you expect on such lens?

Speculation the easy way. Find the street price of an equivalent lens from another manufacturer.

If it's a Zeiss, cut the price by a third.
If it's a Canon, add 25% to the price.
If it's a Sigma, Tamron, or Tokina, double the price.

So by that formula, I'll predict $1100.

jhinkey · Sep 4, 2014

Vera Cognome said:
Hrvoje Crvelin said:

What price would you expect on such lens?

Click to expand...

Speculation the easy way. Find the street price of an equivalent lens from another manufacturer.

If it's a Zeiss, cut the price by a third.

If it's a Canon, add 25% to the price.

If it's a Sigma, Tamron, or Tokina, double the price.

So by that formula, I'll predict $1100.

Not bad for a guestimate. I suspect you are on the low side though . . . especially if it's an excellent performer.

Rexgig0 · Sep 4, 2014

With its quite fast aperture for its focal length, and Nikon asking as much as it does for the relatvely recent 58/1.4G, I reckon this one will probably be no less expensive than the 24/1.4G, if built to a similar pro lens standard.

anotherMike · Sep 4, 2014

I like the Zeiss a lot, but if I could get something quite near that quality (and perhaps even better), with AF, yea, I'm all over it. As good as the Zeiss is, it's a pain to dial in the focus. My thought is if the 14-24, a zoom, can get IMO much closer to the Zeiss than it has any right to for being a zoom, then what could they (Nikon) do if they just had to make a prime and not worry about the zoom? Nikon (in the old days) knew how to make stellar wide angles. This one could reaffirm that and I'm bigtime excited.

-m

20mm f/1.8G

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