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Abbreviations

Model history (5)

Specification

Sources of data

• Manufacturer's technical data.
• Nikon/Nikkormat Sales Manual (March 1972).
• Nikon F2 Photography Guide.
• Nikkor lenses for Nikon and Nikkormat cameras.

Manufacturer description #1

The tremendous speed of this lens marks one of numerous optical breakthroughs for Nikon. Its value for available-light photography is self-evident. Equally important, the shallow depth-of-field at f2 means easier and more positive focusing under all light conditions.

All glass-air surfaces of the 28mm f2 are multi-layer-coated, a special process whose superior effectiveness in improving light transmission and contrast and reducing flare is considered a milestone in development of high-speed quality optics. Another special feature is the independent rear lens group movement which produces markedly improved image quality at close distances.

Manufacturer description #2

The fastest of wideangle lenses with an angle of view wider than 74°, it assures very high resolution and contrast even at full aperture. The rear group of lens elements shifts its relative position to other elements according to focused distance. This system, called "floating elements" correction, is required of large aperture wideangle lenses to maintain image quality at close focusing distance.

A multi-layer coating is applied on each glass-to-air surface of the optical elements of the lens to give optimum photographic results.

The new 28mm f/2 lens is especially adaptable to adverse lighting situations and is highly recommended for the news or magazine photographer as well as the industrial, architectural or commercial photographer.

From the Popular Photography magazine (January 1971)

Photokina '70

The 28-mm Auto Nikkor f/2 would be the world's fastest 74-degree wide-angle, except that it has to share this honor with Topcon's simultaneously introduced 28-mm RE Auto Topcor f/2. Like the very successful 24-mm Auto Nikkor f/2.8 introduced here in 1968, this new design employs a so-called "floating element" in its rear section to equalize the correction over its full infinity-to-12-in. focusing range. As the lens is focused, the position of this "floating element" is precisely altered. Other floating designs were also introduced here by Canon and Minolta.

From the editor

Unlike the slower twenty-eights the Nikkor 28mm f2 is an outstanding lens, which due to its relatively higher price and moderate angle of view has never enjoyed the status achieved by other Nikkor lenses. First introduced in 1970 its 9-element design remained unchanged up to and including the AI version from 1977. Its optical quality is apparent even at full aperture and the CRC system, which unusually operates on the front group of elements, ensures this performance it maintained at close range.

·C (multi-coated) version of this lens was introduced in 1973. The specification is exactly the same as for the single-coated version.

Notes

• This non-AI lens was designed for Nikon F, F2, Nikkormat FS, FT, FT2, FTN, EL, ELW 35mm film SLR cameras.
• Non-AI lenses cannot be used on Nikon digital SLR cameras (except for the Df) or late (AI) film SLR cameras. However, non-AI lenses can be fitted to Nikon FM, FE, EL2, F3, F4 and Nikkormat FT3 cameras which used the AI metering system but allowed the metering coupling lever to be disengaged. The F5 could have this mechanism fitted as an optional extra. Non-AI lenses can be also fitted to the Nikon F2A and F2AS cameras because the AI mechanism was fitted to the removable metering prism.

Other wide-angle prime lenses in the Nikon F system

Lenses with similar focal length