Best Wide Angle Lenses for Nikon

Review & Comparison, Last Update August 31, 2024
In this review, you will find the best wide angle lenses for Nikon DSLR cameras that will help explore the new depth and width of your imagination and express it with the excitingly stunning photos. ...Read more ...Read less
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BEST 2024
PROS
CONS
OUR VERDICT
Focal Length
F-Number
Diagonal Angle Of View
Full-Frame Support
Image Stabilization
Warranty
 
PROS
The perfect range of focal lengths offers a diversity of wide angles to emphasize your subject.
CONS
The lens is not too small for its class.
OUR VERDICT
Nikkor 16-35mm f/4G ED VR is a top grade lens for professionals that will help you excel in taking excellent wide angle photos under different conditions. VR image stabilization is also helpful for handheld photography.
detailed parameters
Focal Length
16-35 mm
F-Number
Max: f/4 Min: f/22
Diagonal Angle Of View
Max: 107° Min: 63°
Full-Frame Support
Yes
Image Stabilization
Yes
Warranty
1 year
PROS
0.66 ft. focusing distance allows you to get really close to your subject.
CONS
Noticeable vignetting when focus is set to infinity.
OUR VERDICT
Thanks to the very wide viewing angle and great light transmittance, this lens can be readily recommended for traveling photographers or those living close to a lot of scenic places.
detailed parameters
Focal Length
20 mm
F-Number
Max: f/1.8 Min: f/16
Diagonal Angle Of View
94°
Full-Frame Support
Yes
Image Stabilization
No
Warranty
1 year
PROS
With ultra-wide angle, you can generate some interesting compositions by capturing more objects in the frame.
CONS
Has no built-in focusing motor.
OUR VERDICT
With this Rokinon 14mm f/2.8, you can capture a bigger part of the scene in one photo thanks to the ultra-wide angle of view. The old-schoolers will also love a separate ring for the diaphragm on the lens body.
detailed parameters
Focal Length
14 mm
F-Number
Max: f/2.8 Min: f/22
Diagonal Angle Of View
115.7°
Full-Frame Support
Yes
Image Stabilization
No
Warranty
1 year
PROS
A large number of elements to reduce the aberrations and flares to the minimum.
CONS
It's easy to miss the zoom ring as the other ring, closer to the base, has similar rigged patches.
OUR VERDICT
A solid wide angle lens for Nikon DX-sensor bodies, where it performs miraculously and surprisingly well for its price by covering fairly large scenes in its view.
detailed parameters
Focal Length
10-20 mm
F-Number
Max: f/3.5 Min: f/22
Diagonal Angle Of View
Max: 102.4° Min: 63.8°
Full-Frame Support
No
Image Stabilization
No
Warranty
1 year + 3 (USA only)
PROS
With APS-C cameras, the lens has more common 53° viewing angle and shows no vignetting.
CONS
Not the most popular viewing angle in wide angle lenses.
OUR VERDICT
AF-S FX NIKKOR 28mm f/1.8G is a compact and lightweight lens that comes in handy in different situations where you have no space to get away from your subject to show it all in one frame.
detailed parameters
Focal Length
28 mm
F-Number
Max: f/1.8 Min: f/16
Diagonal Angle Of View
75°
Full-Frame Support
Yes
Image Stabilization
No
Warranty
1 year
X

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Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 16-35mm f/4G ED VR

Ready for Handheld Shots

Similarly to the red rings on Canon professional photographers, the Nikon encrusts its premium-class lenses with the golden strip near the top part of the barrel. What makes it so special? For starters, the lens boasts the VR unit that reduces the impact from the vibration in handheld shootings. This is also a part of the reason why this lens is so big (almost 5" long). Moreover, there are 17 optic elements, including aspheric, extra-low dispersion and the Nano Crystal coated elements for minimizing aberrations and improving image quality. The extra-wide 16mm focal length shows 107° angle of view on Full-Frame cameras and 83° on cropped APS-C sensors. One of the key features here is the constant f/4 aperture along all of the focal length range for delivering bright and sharp pictures with a nice rounded blur in the background. By switching from the manual to M/A mode, you can also turn the autofocus that you can still override at any given moment by turning the focusing ring with your fingers in order to tune the focus as you see it fit. This becomes especially useful in dull lighting, as the AF hunts noticeably longer in the dark conditions on any lens.

Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 16-35mm f/4G weighs about 1.5 lbs. - not the number to take lightly. However, the quality of the barrel and the photos is almost impeccable. Therefore, it's totally justified, although you might need to buy a new camera bag.

All in all, this is a superb Nikon wide angle lens that will suit photographers with any levels of skills to take photos in different genres.

Review of Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 16-35mm f/4G ED VR Wide Angle Zoom Lens

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price $1,329.95
Stock In stock
ASIN B0037KM0XA

VIDEO
Nikon AFS 16-35mm f/4 G ED VR Lens Review and Hands-on | Simplyelectronics.net

What customers say about this product

Key Specs

I use this lens on a crop sensor and am quite satisfied with the focal range! 16mm is decently wide and 35mm is the perfect focal length to mimic what your eye sees.

Size & Weight

The lens is surprisingly large for a wide angle lens but it also weighs a lot less than you would think from it's size.

Imaging

It produces the most sharpest images I've ever seen. Hands down one of the greatest lens i've ever used.

Features

My images came out sharp, and the AF worked flawlessly for me. The color rendition was great!
 

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 20mm f/1.8G ED

One Step Closer

Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 20mm f/1.8G ED designed for Full-Frame cameras, but of course, it works on APS-C sensors as well. Although the lens is fast, the slightly noticeable decline in sharpness can be seen at the corners when the diaphragm is wide open. However, in the illuminated city in the evening, the lens can boast a bright and sharp picture without much noise even at comparatively low 1600 ISO settings.

As we were favorably impressed with the high-contrast and color-rich photos that it takes, we've decided to check the insides of the lens. Among the total 13 elements, there are 2 extra-low dispersion (hence the "ED" mark) and 2 aspheric elements to decrease chromatic aberrations and light flares. The special nano crystal coat drastically reduces the ghosting that is so typical for lenses with a wide angle.

The lens has a 77mm filter thread, standard M/A-A switch for the autofocus and the medium 90° angle of view on a Full-Frame camera. Combined with the 0.66 ft. minimum focusing distance, it allows you to get closer to your model and shoot waist-ups or full-length portraits with the softly blurred background at wide apertures. The lens performs well on other subjects like architecture, nature and group portraits, too.

As a side note, you can also shoot nice Time-Lapse videos with this lens if you mount the camera on a tripod and set the long exposure and use the shutter timer or a remote control to keep your camera steady and get crisp photos.

Review of Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 20mm f/1.8G ED Fixed Lens

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price $796.95
Stock In stock
ASIN B00NI6WH1S

What customers say about this product

Key Specs

Very nice bokeh for lens of this angle - due to 1.8 maximum aperture and ability to focus very closely.

Size & Weight

Excellent weight / sharpness ratio.

Features

Ghosting and flare are very well controlled.

Imaging

Focus is blazing fast and it's the sharpest wide I have.
 

Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 IF ED UMC Ultra Wide Angle

The Eye of the Beholder

In our review of the fisheye lenses for Canon, we've mentioned that you can often find the Rokinon lenses under other brands like Samyang, Pro-Optic or Bower because they all belong to the one and only Samyang Optics company that specializes in the manufacturing of the equipment for digital cameras and camcorders.

This Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 IF ED UMC Ultra-Wide angle lens for Nikon has exceptionally good assembly and also features the diaphragm ring near the camera mount that allows you to quickly adjust it to surrounding conditions and achieve the best results in less time.

As for the optics, the lens has some polarized issues. For instance, very short 14mm focal length delivers small fisheye curvature, bending the straight lines closer to the edges and bulging the subject in the center of the frame towards the viewer. However, this distortion can be quickly fixed with a photo editor or leave it as it is for artistic reasons. What's more, you can't attach the filters to it, due to the convex front glass. The lens doesn't have an image stabilization, so you might require to mount it on a tripod to get steady shots, for example, of the night city.

On the other hand, the lens delivers beautiful and crisp picture along all of the 115.7° diagonal view on the Full-Frame cameras so you could capture as many objects in one shot as possible. But the best part is that it shows no fringes at all under any lighting. Therefore, in our opinion, you can readily buy this ultra-wide angle lens if you want to shoot at weddings or take interesting portraits and architecture masterpieces with your Nikon camera.

Review of Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 IF ED UMC Ultra Wide Angle Fixed Lens

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price $349.00
Stock In stock
ASIN B004NNUN02

VIDEO
Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 Lens - Review (Photo/Video Test)
 

Sigma 10-20mm F3.5 EX DC HSM

Cover the Landscape

Sigma is another optic equipment company that has a small number of cameras but a wide range of lenses for different brands, including Nikon, Canon, Sony, and others. Right from the start we want to point out that this lens is designed to work with APS-C format sensors only. In other respects, the lens is extremely well-done. The varying focal length brings ultra-wide 102.4° diagonal view at 10mm and 63.8° view at 20mm. The f/3.5 aperture is constant along full length too, permitting more light on the sensor for brighter shots. Or you can set it up to f/22 for shooting wonderful sunsets at long exposures or on a very bright day as well.

Anyway, Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 EX DC HSM is an outstanding zoom wide angle lens for Nikon D3300, D5500, and similar bodies that have no integrated focusing motor because this lens actually has it. Moreover, as the focusing is fully internal, you can tune the focus manually even when the AF-mode is switched on. The 10 optical groups are designed to reduce the aberrations and light glares. However, we recommend using the included flower hood to protect the glass from the side sun rays. The lens also has 82mm filter thread, and we recommend using only a UV filter without a polarizer, because it may produce some nasty vignetting by blocking part of the incoming light.

For the record, any dust particles or spots on the wide-angle lens can be clearly visible in the photo. No matter how you try, they are inevitable. Therefore, don't forget to buy some cleaning tools for your camera kit as well.

As a result, Sigma wide angle lens for Nikon will be most suitable for beginners and advanced photographers who are looking for more ways to express their vision and experiment with different forms and perspectives by using a varying focal length.

Review of Sigma 10-20mm F3.5 EX DC HSM Camera Lens

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $309.98
Stock In stock
ASIN B002D2VSD6

VIDEO
Review: Sigma 10-20mm f3.5 EX DC HSM Lens - Nikon Fit

What customers say about this product

Features

Very impressed with the quality of this lens.

Key Specs

Good maximum aperture, silent and fast focus.

Size & Weight

It has a good weight, and I love having the fixed aperture.

Imaging

Zoom is easy. Autofocus is rapid.
 

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 28mm f/1.8G

On the Edge

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28mm f/1.8G is the first 28mm prime lens with the built-in focusing motor from the company. The 75° viewing angle is enough to spotlight your subject and capture some background to give the photo more context with the surrounding scenery. If you want to highlight only your subject, you can simply set the aperture to f/1.8, tightening up the in-focus range and smoothly blurring everything that appears out of it. Conversely, when you close the diaphragm, the 7 blades can produce the spine-tingling 14-pointed stars with the bright light sources like the sun or street lights.

Anyway, the lens has the high-quality plastic body with the metal mount. The N-mark indicates that one of the glasses has the special Nano Crystal Coat that reduces the backlight ghosting and flares. Like many other barrels from the professional series, Nikkor 28mm f/1.8G has the M/A-mode switch that allows you to tune the focus manually even when the AF is on. Finally, the plastic body has had a huge impact on the overall weight. At 0.72 lbs., this is one of the lightest lenses in its category.

Concluding, this bright Nikon wide angle lens is an awesome choice for urban photography, waist-ups, and even headshots, due to the medium angle of view and very sharp focus. Just don't forget to grab a spare memory card in case you stumble upon some very scenic places while walking with your camera and making breathtaking shots with it.

Review of Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 28mm f/1.8G Fixed Lens

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price $696.95
Stock In stock
ASIN B007VGGIRK

VIDEO
Nikon 28mm f/1.8G AFS Review

What customers say about this product

Key Specs

Sharp, lightweight, very usable focal length, and acceptable AF speed.

Size & Weight

Perfect size for wedding receptions, high school reunions.

Features

The AF-S is a very nice feature.

Imaging

Focus is very fast and it is very sharp.
 

What is a Wide Angle Lens For Nikon

In order to capture a big chunk of the scenery in one frame of the photo, let's say with the common 50mm lens, you have to get further away from your subject, which is not always possible for different reasons. In such situations, the wide angle lens comes to the rescue. As it derives from the name, they have a bigger angle of view due to the short focal length between the lens and the camera sensor. The lenses with the focal length below 35mm are called Wide Angle and named Ultra-Wide Angle if they have less than 15mm.

Along with the landscape, you can employ these lenses for taking photos in tight places like house rooms or narrow streets to show as much of it as possible. Another good example of its use can be found in a lot of Wes Anderson's movies, where he squeezes the most out of the wide angle to create beautiful and entertaining cinematography. This is also a great choice for taking full-body portraits but even better - for the group photos.

As for the headshot portraiture, check out the review of the best portrait lenses for different cameras. By the way, we also have an article about the macro lenses for Nikon as well.

Best Wide Angle Lenses for Nikon

Sources:

1. Josh Johnson A Beginner's Introduction to Wide Angle Photography, Evanto. March 22, 2012.

2. Andrew S. Gibson Wide-angle Lenses and the Landscape, Digital Photography School.

3. Bjorn Petersen Essential Wide-Angle Lenses for the Wedding Photographer, B&H.

4. Jeff Sinon Beyond the Wide Angle: Choosing a Landscape Photography Lens, Craftsy. September 5, 2014.

5. Joshua Dunlop The Ultimate Lens Buying Guide, Expert Photography.

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