Nikkor AF 28mm f/2.8D

The lens features a CRC (Nikon's close-range-correction, commonly known as "having floating element") design, non-rotating front element, 52mm filter size, 6 elements in 6 groups construction. The closest focusing distance is 0.25m (0.8 ft) and the minimum aperture is f/22. This lens is very compact with a fine built quality. Manual focusing feels OK. (Note: Nikon's 1996-1997 Full Line Product Guide's lens specification page mistakenly used the data set of the non-D version for this lens. Hove's Magic Latern Book Nikkor AF Lenses follows that mistake.)

I trusted David Ruether, the net's Nikkor wisdom. So I sent this lens to him for an evaluation, as he had expressed an interest in doing so. The following is what he posted on the net (rec.photo.equipment.35mm newsgroup), and to me. (Note: I haven't obtained his consent for quoting the following e-mail. Please do not repost!)

Date: Sat, 05 Apr 1997 22:49:11 -0500
To: Liang-Wu Cai (cai@MIT.EDU)
From: Bob Neuman (rpn1@cornell.edu)

Hi--

I just posted this:

Due to the generosity of Liang-Wu Cai (for the loan of the Nikkor
28mm f2.8 AF-D), and to Donald Specker (for the Nikkor 35-105mm
f3.5-4.5), I was able to compare these newer lenses with the
optically different AIS versions. The 28mm D (6 elements, one
floating) is a rather large improvement over the generally poor 
5-element (none floating) non-D version. It is useable wide-open
(though the edges are not crisp) and edge performance gradually
improves with stopping down (though the far corners are not 
crisp, even at f11). In comparison, the AIS version (8 elements,
one floating) is subtly superior at all stops f11 and wider.
The 28mm f2.8 AIS is good wide open, short of the far corners
(which become OK by f5.6, and fine by f11). The image across the
frame at each stop f11 and wider shows slightly better sharpness 
than the AF-D version. The AF-D 28mm f2.8 is a good lens, but 
the AIS 28mm f2.8 is a somewhat better lens. 

(... comments about 35-105 f3.5-4.5 zoom deleted ...)

Alas, some of the more affordable newer AF Nikkors appear to be
slightly inferior in sharpness to their AIS counterparts (the
28mm f2.8D, 35mm f2, and 35-105). Though most other relatively
inexpensive AF short primes and zooms have the same optics
as the AIS versions, I have noticed that the zooms often do not
check out quite as sharp as the optically similar MF versions...
I do hope that Nikon does not discontinue its AIS line of lenses!
 Hope This Helps (If all goes well, "HTH" and "Bob Neuman" will
                  become "David Ruether" - with the advent of
                  a web page and a new e-mail account...;-)

To which I would add: your 28mm appears to be well-aligned,
and likely a good sample - and the 35-105 D I tried was a tad
softer at the edges than I like, though not bad (I did not see
serious light fall-off, though there was some). Thanks, again
(the lens is packed, ready to return Mon., if I get to it).

David Ruether 

I'll do my own set of evaluations later during the spring time.