Nikon NIKKOR 24mm 1:2.8 Ai Lens (f/2.8)

Overall Rating:

In 1967, Nikon introduced the NIKKOR-N Auto 24mm 1:2.8 lens which is their first lens to feature close-range-correction (CRC). It has 9 elements in 7 groups. It was a popular lens with about 90,000 being produced. Nikon then added multi-coating to it making it a NIKKOR-N•C and they produced about 65,000 of these.

Ten years later in 1977, Nikon replaced the NIKKOR-N Auto 24mm 1:2.8 pre-Ai lens with the lens in this review, the NIKKOR 24mm 1:2.8 Ai. It features an updated design to 9 elements in 9 groups and still features CRC. About 160,000 of these were produced. This same optical design has endured with it being used in the AF Nikkor 24mm f/2.8D.

Lens is very sharp in the center and sharpens up the full-frame corners by f/8. There is some slight color fringing only really visible when pixel peeping at beyond 1:1.

Bokeh is a little distracting but fair and vignetting is not a problem even at f/2.8.

This lens does not exhibit much distortion at all making it a great choice for architecture.

Flaring is not a big problem. Ghosting does not occur greatly.

Infrared performance is just OKAY as it has a very faint hot spot at f/22.

This little 24mm's front element does not turn as it is focused with a focus-throw of 160°. It has all-metal construction with excellent focus action having no play in the focusing collar. It is an Ai lens making for easier mounting and indexing with the camera's light meter than pre-Ai. It has a focus and depth of field scale as well as an infrared focus index.

Diffraction has set in by f/8.

• Focal length: 24mm
• Maximum aperture: f/2.8
• Minimum aperture: f/22
• ø52mm filter ring
• Lens construction: 9 lens elements in 9 groups
• Picture angle: 84°
• Distance scale: 0.3m/1.0ft. to infinity (∞) with infrared focus index
• 1:8.8 (0.11×) reproduction ratio

Related links:

• Nikon Nikkor Lens Reviews
• All Lens Reviews