Nikon Af-p Dx Nikkor 10-20mm F/45-56g Vr Lens Review
Nikon 10-20mm f/4.five-five.6G VR AF-P DX Review -- Now Shooting!
Updates
07/18/2017: Field Test & Gallery Images added
Nikon 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G VR AF-P Field Exam
Nikon's new $300 ultra-wide zoom impresses for the price
by Jeremy Gray | Posted 07/18/2017
Introduction
The new Nikon x-20mm f/iv.v-5.6G VR AF-P DX lens joins the Nikon 10-24mm f/iii.5-4.5G ED DX AF-S lens in the visitor's ultra-wide bending zoom lineup for DX (APS-C) DSLRs. While the new 10-20mm zoom doesn't have as bright an aperture range, nor does information technology offer the aforementioned zoom versatility, it also costs nearly $600 less and includes Nikon'due south new AF-P autofocus applied science, which promises quick and repose AF performance. For just over $300, you may not expect much by style of optical operation, but don't let its toll fool you, the Nikon ten-20mm VR lens proved to be impressive in the real world. Let's take a closer look...
Key Features and Specs
- Ultra-wide-bending DX (APS-C) zoom lens
- fifteen-30mm equivalent focal length range
- 3.v stops of Vibration Reduction (VR) performance
- Uses Pulse Motor technology for quick, quiet autofocus functioning
- 14 elements in 11 groups, including 3 aspherical elements
- 0.8 feet (0.22 meters) close focus altitude
- 8.2 ounces (230 grams)
- 72mm filter thread
- Costs just under The states$310
Build Quality and Handling
Construction and Experience
Weighing in at 8.two ounces (230 grams), the new Nikon x-20mm AF-P lens is quite lightweight. It is 2.8 inches (73 millimeters) long with a maximum diameter of 3 inches (77 millimeters) with a 72mm filter thread. The lens does change its length slightly equally you lot work through the zoom range, but the difference between its shortest and longest length is small, near half an inch (10 millimeters). In example you're wondering how the 10-20mm lens compares in weight to its faster, more versatile sibling the 10-24mm f/three.5-four.5, the new 10-20mm lens weighs exactly half that of the ii.4x zoom.
The x-20mm lens is well-counterbalanced and feels well-constructed given its cost point. It is non a weather-sealed lens nor is in that location a rubber gasket around the lens mount, but it however feels solid and should stand up up well to well-nigh typical shooting conditions. It is synthetic using plastic, which helps keep the weight down, but that does hateful information technology'southward not as robust every bit more expensive, heavier-duty Nikon lenses.
At the end of the day, many shooters would opt for a lighter, less costly lens than one with weather-sealing and a heavier, more rugged structure, and so I think that Nikon made some skilful decisions with the blueprint of the new 10-20mm lens.
Rings and Switches
The Nikon ten-20mm VR AF-P lens has no switches on the barrel itself, which affects compatibility with some Nikon cameras. More on that later on. The zoom ring is a little over an inch broad (about xxx millimeters) with much of it being covered with a textured rubber grip.
The zoom band rotates nicely and has painted on markings at 10, 12, 14, 16 and 20 millimeters. Information technology takes minimal rotation to go from x to 20mm, which I similar, as information technology ways it's easy to go from the widest to the longest focal length quickly and without repositioning my fingers on the lens. I don't like the focus band equally much as it is very narrow, less than a quarter of an inch (nigh 6 millimeters), and doesn't have a lot to grip bated from ridges on the plastic. In that location also isn't whatever focus scale, which while disappointing, is pretty standard for a lens at this price point.
Overall
Overall, the build quality of the Nikon 10-20mm f/4.v-5.6G VR AF-P DX lens is good for the money. The focus ring is an area of weakness and for $310, information technology'due south unreasonable to look rugged, weather-sealed structure. The Thailand-made lens is lightweight, and the zoom ring feels overnice, so those two important boxes are checked.
Optical Quality
Optical Construction
The Nikon 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G lens has xiv elements in 11 groups, including 3 aspherical elements. This is the same number of aspherical and total elements every bit the 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G lens, but the more expensive optic includes a pair of ED elements. With that said, the ten-20mm does include Super Integrated Coating, to help reduce interior reflections and meliorate color reproduction.
Sharpness: Nikon 10-20mm AF-P DX lens struggles at its extremes
The Nikon ten-20mm lens is quite sharp in the centre of the frame across the entire focal length range, but at the broad end and when shooting wide open up in particular, the performance drops off quickly equally you move away from the center.
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| 10mm (15mm equiv.), f/4.5, one/500s, ISO 100. 100% ingather from the center of an unedited JPEG. Click for original image. Click here for the RAW file. |
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| 10mm (15mm equiv.), f/four.5, 1/500s, ISO 100. 100% crop from a chip in a higher place the centre of an unedited JPEG. Click for original image. Click here for the RAW file. |
Stopping the lens downwardly does help dramatically, although performance at the very border will never be dandy at 10mm. On the other hand, at 15mm, functioning is impressive fifty-fifty when shooting wide open up across much of the frame.
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| 15mm (22.5mm equiv.), f/5.0, 1/320s, ISO 100. 100% crop from the center of an unedited JPEG. Click for original prototype. Click hither for the RAW file. |
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| 15mm (22.5mm equiv.), f/5.0, 1/320s, ISO 100. 100% crop from the top left corner of an unedited JPEG. Click for original image. Click here for the RAW file. |
At 20mm, performance worsens again - the extreme ends of the lens have issues - because the unabridged frame takes on a somewhat soft, blurry await. It isn't bad, it'southward but softer than at 15mm. On the plus side, functioning is more consistent across the frame at 20mm than at 10mm.
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| 20mm (35mm equiv.), f/5.0, 1/250s, ISO 100. 100% crop from the center of an unedited JPEG. Click for original image. Click hither for the RAW file. |
Overall, the lens is not very sharp at 10mm or 20mm but information technology performs very well at 15mm. In any instance, the lens is all the same quite impressive considering its toll.
Vignetting
At 10mm, at that place is considerable corner darkening (vignette), specially when shooting broad open, and the falloff persists throughout the unabridged aperture range. By the time yous get to f/eleven, you're beginning to have to deal with diffraction, and the driblet in vignette is and so minimal that I don't think it's worth worrying about in whatsoever event. Plus, it's non hard to correct for in post-processing. At 15mm, the situation improves and at 20mm, it's even better. At both 15mm and 20mm, you tin go rid of most of the vignette by stopping down.
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| 10mm (15mm equiv.), f/iv.5, 1/640s, ISO 100, +1 EV exposure compensation. Vignette test epitome. Resized JPEG paradigm. Click for original image. Click hither for the RAW file. |
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| 15mm (22.5mm equiv.), f/5.0, i/500s, ISO 100, +one EV exposure bounty. Vignette test epitome. Resized JPEG epitome. Click for original image. Click here for the RAW file. |
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| 20mm (30mm equiv.), f/5.6, one/800s, ISO 100, +1 EV exposure compensation. Vignette test paradigm. Resized JPEG paradigm. I am unsure why the camera metered 20mm exam images differently. This happened on a few occasions during general testing with this lens. Click for original paradigm. Click here for the RAW file. |
Abnormality and flare: A lot of chromatic aberration near the edges
Chromatic abnormality is a problem for the Nikon x-20mm f/iv.v-5.6G VR AF-P lens, particularly when shooting broad open at 10mm. As you work your way toward the edges of the frame, and I don't hateful very far from the heart, CA is quite noticeable when viewing uncorrected files. The camera (a D500, in this example) does correct information technology a little with the in-camera processing, but not by much. The situation is a little better at 15mm but information technology gets poorer again at 20mm, especially with respective to majestic fringing effectually high contrast details.
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| 10mm (15mm equiv.), f/4.5, i/500s, ISO 100. 100% crop from the left edge of a RAW prototype processed with Adobe Camera Raw default settings. Click for the original JPEG prototype. Click here for the RAW file. |
However, flare is handled very well by the 10-20mm lens. I struggled to introduce lens flare in nearly situations, which is great for such a wide lens. Overall, the chromatic aberration prevention leaves quite a fleck to exist desired, but the handling of flare is impressive and I retrieve that generally, it's a skilful lens. When y'all make a lens this compact and affordable, there will be some compromises to be fabricated optically.
Distortion: A moderate amount at 10mm, improves every bit you zoom in
It is unreasonable to expect a 10-20mm (15-30mm equivalent) zoom lens to perform with cipher distortion, specially at the wide end, but the distortion isn't bad in real-earth shooting. At 10mm, at that place is a fair fleck of barrel distortion, as you can see in the imperfect testing shot below. It'south not a lab situation, merely it illustrates distortion. Past 15mm, the state of affairs improves and is meliorate at 20mm.
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| 10mm (15mm equiv.), f/iv.5, one/15s, ISO 250, +0.67 EV exposure compensation. Distortion exam image. Resized JPEG image. Click for original epitome. Click here for the RAW file. |
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| 15mm (22.5mm equiv.), f/five.0, ane/25s, ISO 720, +1 EV exposure compensation. Distortion test image. Resized JPEG image. Click for original image. Click hither for the RAW file. |
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| 20mm (30mm equiv.), f/5.6, 1/30s, ISO 1800, +1 EV exposure compensation. Distortion examination image. Resized JPEG image. Click for original epitome. Click here for the RAW file. |
In the Field: Nikon x-20mm performs well in real-earth shooting
Autofocus: Fast and repose
One of the large new features of the 10-20mm DX lens is its AF-P autofocus system. The internal focus lens has Nikon'southward new Pulse Motor (AF-P) organisation, which relies on stepping motors. The stepping motors provide smoother and quieter autofocus than previous drive organization, and the quieter focus in item makes the 10-20mm lens a proficient option for recording video. In real world apply, the autofocus proved very placidity and quick, so the promise of the AF-P organisation is certainly realized with the 10-20mm (equally it has been with other AF-P lenses I've used).
On the other manus, the AF-P organization and the lack of Manual Focus/Autofocus toggle and VR switches on the lens barrel means that the new 10-20mm DX lens is not fully compatible with all Nikon DX DSLR cameras. The lens is fully compatible with the following cameras: Nikon D7500, D5600, D5500, D3400 and D500 (and any newer cameras). With a firmware update, D5300 and D3300 cameras are also fully uniform. Somewhat contempo cameras which are incompatible include the Nikon D7000, D5100, D90 and D3200. Cameras older than these models are also, understandably, incompatible. For instance, on the D800E (ignoring the cropped image circumvolve), the Nikon ten-20mm will not focus at all, both manually or with AF. It is worth zilch that with the AF-P 10-20mm lens, there is full-time manual focus override, so there is not much need for an autofocus style switch on the lens.
Close Focus: Non a macro lens, simply information technology'due south notwithstanding best to have an extra step dorsum
The Nikon AF-P 10-20mm lens is certainly non a macro lens, but it is still capable of taking fairly close shots. Its close focus distance is 0.eight feet (0.22 meters), and information technology offers a maximum magnification of 0.17x (i:5.9), which is decent for a broad-angle lens. Tamron's latest 10-24mm lens offers very similar specs with regards to close focus, for example. 1 aspect of the lens worth pointing out that it is noticeably softer at 20mm when focusing very closely than when shooting at 10mm, every bit yous tin see in the pair of test shots below.
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| 10mm (20mm equiv.), f/4.5, 1/20s, ISO 100. Close focus test paradigm. Resized JPEG image. Click for original image. Click here for the RAW file. |
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| 20mm (30mm equiv.), f/v.half dozen, one/30s, ISO 280. Close focus test prototype. Resized JPEG epitome. Click for original prototype. Click here for the RAW file. |
There is also a quite a scrap of falloff in sharpness when shooting at the close focus distance, equally you lot can see in the two shots below. Detect, in particular, when shooting at 20mm the loss in detail, and that there is considerably more than fringing than in the 10mm shot. Does shooting at 15mm, for example, help solve the outcome and offer something of a remainder between the ten and 20mm shots? Yes, the functioning is improved at the close focus altitude when shooting at 15mm, but information technology still shows more fringing than the 10mm shot.
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| 20mm (30mm equiv.), f/5.vi, ane/640s, ISO 100. Shut focus examination epitome. 100% center ingather from JPEG image. Click for full-size image. Click hither for the RAW file. |
If you want the best optical performance, stepping back even a foot or two beyond the close focus altitude helps considerably. Not only are issues with fringing basically eliminated when y'all aren't near or at the close focus distance, the consistency of image quality across the frame is much better.
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| 20mm (30mm equiv.), f/5.half-dozen, i/800s, ISO 100. Close focus exam paradigm. Slightly further away than minimum focus distance. 100% center ingather from JPEG image. Click for full-size image. Click here for the RAW file. |
Epitome Stabilization: VR works well
The AF-P 10-20mm f/4.5-v.6G VR lens has Vibration Reduction, as is evidenced past its very name. The VR is rated to offer 3.v stops of image stabilization. I was able to capture some sharp images at shutter speeds as depression equally 1/5s and 1/6s at 10mm and 20mm, respectively. That's pretty skillful, although in most cases I'd want to shoot at ane/15s and one/20s, respectively, because my charge per unit of precipitous shots was essentially 100% at those shutter speeds.
Real-earth shooting
The Nikon 10-20mm lens performed well in real-earth shooting situations. Information technology's not a highly versatile lens given that its zoom is just 2x (in dissimilarity to the two.4x zoom offered by Nikon's 10-24mm lens) simply information technology delivers consistently good performance, so long as I was non shooting a very shut-upwardly subject field.
Armed with AF-P autofocus tech, the 10-20mm lens is very quiet and lightweight, which are two aspects I liked a lot. While I am non a big video shooter, the AF-P is very well-suited for recording video. Whatever Nikon shooters who need an ultra-broad DX lens for video should definitely consider the new AF-P 10-20mm f/4.v-v.6G lens.
I've selected a few of my favorite images I captured with the Nikon 10-20mm lens to help illustrate what it can do.
Field Test Summary
Ultra-wide zoom at an ultra-affordable toll
What I like:
- Lightweight and compact
- Good optical performance
- AF-P autofocus is quick and essentially silent
- Congenital-in VR works well
- A great value at just over $300
What I dislike:
- Not a very fast lens in terms of maximum aperture
- I'chiliad not sure it would stand up to harsh shooting conditions
- Sharpness performance drops at close-focus
- Some compatibility issues due to AF-P, but for newer cameras, it is all set
When you're talking about a roughly $300 lens, it tin can exist like shooting fish in a barrel to be too harsh a critic. Later on all, gear should exist evaluated within a context. Looking at just eyes, the Nikon ten-20mm is an impressive lens whose image quality far surpasses its price point. Add in the fantabulous AF-P autofocus system, and this is a slam dunk ultra wide-angle zoom lens for ingather-sensor DSLRs. For stills and video alike, the 10-20mm lens is a bang-up addition to any beginner's bag and is worth a look for those considering the much more expensive Nikon 10-24mm lens, which, while offering a bit more zoom and faster apertures, is hard-pressed to elevation the new x-20mm lens in terms of bang-for-your-buck.
• • •
Nikon ten-20mm f/4.5-5.6G VR AF-P DX Review -- Overview
(From Nikon lens literature) The AF-P DX NIKKOR 10-20mm f/4.five-5.6G VR -- Ultra-Wide Zoom Lens That'southward Meaty and Portable.
The new NIKKOR 10-20mm is an ultra-broad-angle DX-format zoom lens that opens new perspectives and possibilities for those new to photography, and is platonic for shooting travel and scenery, existent estate, large group portraits or vlogging. This new lens combines superior image quality and an attainable toll to give consumers wide-angle versatility with a lens that'due south remarkably compact and lightweight.
Like all NIKKOR lenses, the new AF-P DX NIKKOR 10-20mm f/iv.five-v.6G VR provides avant-garde optical technologies for stellar image quality in any light, whether shooting a sun-drenched littoral vista, tight spaces or the dark sky. The lens features the equivalent of 3.5 stops* of Vibration Reduction (VR) performance, to assistance capture sharp images while handheld or in challenging calorie-free. Additionally, it utilizes Nikon's Pulse Motor applied science for super-fast and whisper quiet AF operation -- which is especially useful when recording video. The optical formula contains three aspherical elements for excellent image quality with minimal distortion even at the widest focal length.
This is a versatile lens that not but excels at shooting expansive horizons, but also offers a remarkably close working distance that's useful for images or showing up-close details when making product-related videos or how-to content. To get closer to capture pocket-size objects with big details, the lens has a shut minimum focusing distance of only 8.six inches (0.22 meters), bringing small objects to life in glorious size.
The AF-P DX NIKKOR x-20mm f/4.5-5.6G VR will be available in tardily June for a suggested retail price (SRP) of US$309.95.
* Based on CIPA Standard. This value is achieved when DX-format uniform lenses are fastened to a DX-format digital SLR camera and zoom lenses are set at the maximum telephoto position.
Nikon 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G VR AF-P DX Nikkor
Nikon 10-20mm f/four.5-five.6G VR AF-P DX Nikkor User Reviews
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10 out of 10 points and recommended past sjkip (26 reviews)
Very sharp across the frame; useful specialized focal length range; lightweight
None, except typical plastic structure.
reviewed July 27th, 2017 (purchased for $307)Subsequently a two day rental, I sent it back and decided to purchase i. It arrived today, ii days later.
With the rented lens I took dozens of sets of six images each...10, 12, 14, sixteen, 18 and 20mm...from stock-still positions to run across which focal lengths render the best composition. With good subjects to begin with...our local mountain canyons, over a mountain lake, at a nearby Spanish mission, gnarly tree branches and roots, and indoors...most of the best are at 10 to 14mm, optimizing, to my taste, at 12mm. The of import thing is that this lens does well throughout its focal range, whatever your gustation. It's easier to get proficient final images at the longer end of the focal length range, although more dramatic ones at the shorter stop.
Autofocus is very fast and authentic, merely not quite as fast equally with the other two AF-P DX lenses I take, although information technology'due south faster than any of my AF-S lenses. Yeah, y'all take to take one of the most recent Nikon cameras. Merely all of these AF-P lenses, including this ane, work perfectly with my D7200 and D7500s. I haven tried it on my D3300 backup camera yet, but I'm sure it'll work fine, just as the other two do.
With the latest firmware update, shooting .NEF 14-bit lossless compressed, all barrel distortion seems to be automatically removed with Distortion Control ON. At least I can't see whatever in the converted .JPGs even at 10mm, where you'd look to encounter a lot of information technology. I didn't endeavour turning DC OFF, but who cares?
Nikon's latest version of Capture NX-D tin can read and process DC ON images from a D7200 or D7500. That'south what counts to me.
As with all of Nikon'southward latest lenses. VR works and then well that I'g able to take perfectly sharp - aye, I looked very closely to nitpick them - hand-held indoor shots at ISO 800, 1/4 2d, f/8. Of form, at ultra broad focal lengths it'due south easier to do that than with a longer lens. But it's squeamish to have really good VR anyway.
Ultra wide is non the easiest type of photography to get right, with so many epitome elements, at different distances, to be reconciled by careful subject selection, camera setting, shooting and processing. Composition, and even the bending at which the camera is held, are critically of import. Information technology can easily await similar there's poor resolution at the image edges. But careful composition will testify that this is more likely technique, e.chiliad., failure to annotation varying subject focal planes, than the lens.
But with this lens at f/8, which is the aperture it'due south probably optimized for and what I usually shoot anyway, resolution is tack sharp in the center and, with careful composition, very good all the mode to the edges, even at 10mm. So you have a flexible, efficient tool to work with.
Information technology probably can't be used as a general walkabout, because nearly subjects don't benefit from ultra wide. But I've already gotten some dramatic shots down long corridors and over a lake with reed foreground and mountain, forest and cloud backdrop. Such shots take a lot of processing to eliminate diddled cloud highlights and too-deep shadows to "look right." Everyone who shoots ultra wide knows what i mean.
I think that anyone who is familiar with ultra broad will honey this lens, as volition as those who are willing to climb the adequately steep learning curve to become proficient with it. This is non a lens for those who remember they tin can only go click and produce an countless succession of Wow shots without working at it. Such results don't come piece of cake. Merely this lens, with careful subject selection, photographic camera setting and limerick. and expert processing, tin produce results that are breathtaking.
And, hey, the price is right. I'm a cheapskate, and I bought one.
Source: https://www.imaging-resource.com/lenses/nikon/10-20mm-f4.5-5.6g-vr-af-p-dx-nikkor/review/
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