The Nikon 24mm F/2.8 AI-S was first introduced back in the 1980s, and is still produced today. There's a reason this lens is still sold today, it's really a remarkable piece of glass, and it's frequently found a place in my camera bag over the past few years.
Build Quality
The construction of this lens is absolutely excellent, with the lens being mostly made of metal. The aperture dial and focus ring are great, and overall the lens feels solid and durable. It is also quite compact, so it takes up very little space in my bag and is great to use with modern mirrorless cameras such as my Nikon Z6.
Image quality
I am continually impressed by the image quality of the 24mm F/2.8 AI-S. This lens is super sharp and free of major image quality issues, which is remarkable given its age. There does seem to be some vignetting and color fringing present in a few of the images, but only when I shoot into a bright light source. It should also be noted that there is also significant flaring when shooting towards bright light, as demonstrated in the video above. However, this lens has practically no distortion that I've noticed, and it's bright aperture and reasonable close focus make it extremely versatile. There is something about the images it produces that is really special, though I can't quite put my finger on what it is.
Sample photos
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| Puget Sound |
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| Dogwood Blossoms |
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| Ocean Spray Flowers |
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| Scatter Creek Wildlife Area |
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| Scatter Creek Wildlife Area |
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| Mt. St. Helens - Canon 80D (crop sensor) |
Value
In terms of cost, the Nikon 24mm F/2.8 AI-S goes for around $500 new, but can be found for as low as about $150 on the used market. These prices may seem high given its age, but this lens offers such great image quality that I would say it offers reasonably good value for money.
Final Verdict
The Nikon 24mm F/2.8 AI-S is what can certainly be described as a classic lens, and its quality is made evident by the fact that it is still produced today. Though it's a little on the steep side, this lens makes for an awesome walkaround wide angle kit when paired with a compact mirrorless camera. It's certainly one of my favorite lenses, and I would certainly recommend it.
