Nikon 10–20mm review

Nikon has successfully created the most versatile lens for DX shooters by creating this AF-P DX NIKKOR 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6 G VR Ultra-Wide Zoom Lens. Along with a wealth of photography features, this lens gives users access to Explore Dynamic Landscapes and Discovering Macro Photography from a whole new perspective.

Nikon 10–20mm review

Nikon 10–20mm is a lens that provides users with the perfect tool ideal for taking both scenic and close-up photographs. It is also a piece of valuable learning equipment to refine your photography skills.

Nikon’s wide-angle zoom is a 15-30mm-equivalent focal length range lens that is ideally suited for capturing landscapes, architecture, cityscapes, and interior shooting. Even though it has a wide field of view, the Vibration Reduction image stabilization reduces the appearance of camera shake and leads to much sharper handheld shooting.

It also incorporates a pulse stepping motor AF system that helps both video and photo shooting because it has quiet, quick, and smooth focusing performance. Moreover, it has an optical design with three aspherical elements that control spherical aberrations and minimize distortion through the zoom range, thus resulting in enhanced sharpness and clarity.

There is also a Super Integrated Coating, which reduces ghosting and lens flare when shooting in strong light conditions.

Let us have a detailed look at Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6 G VR Ultra-Wide Zoom Lens, and find out about its worthy features:

Nikon 10–20mm – product overview:

As a proud owner of this Nikon Lens, I am pretty surprised to see its performance as it is the best that Nikon has to offer. And that too, in half the price.

So the low cost had me in doubts about practical functionality, but I am thoroughly satisfied after using it. It might not be super-fast, but most wide-angle lenses are not as quick as they are ideal for shooting landscapes, architecture, and macro photography. But when it comes to sharpness, size, and autofocus speed, this lens has got it all.

Let’s start with the Wide-angle zoom range this lens has to offer. Nikon designed DX-format F-mount DSLRs and featured a 15-30mm equivalent focal length range, which is quite awesome.

Once I received the lens, it was very light to hold and had a very classy feel. It was quite small and compact, and it weighs a little above slightly 8 oz, making it feel as light as a feather. I noticed that it has a 72mm filter thread, but this can be adjusted using the 72-100mm adapter ring.

Vibration reduction image stabilization

Despite the wide field of view, this lens also sports Vibration Reduction image stabilization for better handheld shooting. It may not be quite as important with a wide-angle lens as it is with longer focal lengths. It surely helps to reduce the appearance of camera shake and creates much sharper results!

Nikon’s 10–20mm design has three aspherical elements included in its optical design, which helps to minimize spherical aberrations and distortion and enhances sharpness and clarity.

In practice, this lens is extremely sharp and even wide open. Users will find it the sharpest in the f/8-f/11 range. Concerning autofocus performance, the AF-P pulse motor, as indicated by the “AF-P” in its name, makes use of stepping motors so that impressive smooth, quiet, and quick performance is delivered for both stills and video.

Moreover, there is an option for a full-time manual focus override, which is simple to operate. It also uses an internal focusing design, which only allows the internal lens groups to move during focusing so that the lens’s overall length is maintained during use, thus promoting faster-focusing speeds.

Nikon 10–20mm also has a Super Integrated Coating on all its elements so that internal reflections, ghosting, and flare are suppressed. This improves contrast and color accuracy, especially in brighter conditions.

Wide compatibility

It is fully compatible with most of Nikon Cameras, such as D7500, D5600, D3400, D5500, D5300, D3300, D500, D5XX-, D7XXX-, D5XXX-, and D3XXX while it is Compatible with Limited Functions with cameras like D5, D850, D810/A, Df, D750, D5200, D7200, D7100, Nikon 1-series with FT1 adapter.

Just a reminder that most cameras will require a firmware update before compatibility. Additionally, it is great to use with tripods. Its construction and compact design make it ideally suited for a smaller-sized tripod. Users will not feel it unsteady like some larger lens, as it fits perfectly both in hand as well as a ton of tripods and is comfortable to use.

It is convenient to carry and doesn’t take much space, and is not much of a burden as it weighs less. Thus, it is perfect not only for everyday use, but it is also good for traveling.

When I tested the lens with smaller apertures, it successfully maintained its sharpness at smaller aperture settings as well, for increased depth-of-field and for trying out some fun “sun-star” effects.

Although the lens is at its sharpest at f/8 or f/9, it remains very sharp at f/10 and f/11. Even though it has some distortion at shorter focal lengths, especially when capturing buildings and other subjects with straight lines. But there is nothing that Adobe Lightroom cannot correct.

There is also a bit of chromatic aberration, but it can be easily corrected using Light room’s “remove chromatic aberration” feature. So, all in all, it’s an all-rounder lens that must be a part of every photographer’s kit.

Pros:

•  Light and compact
•  Silent and quick autofocus performance
•  Extremely sharp images
•  Full-time manual focus override
•  The internal focusing design promotes faster speed
•  Super Integrated coating reduces flare and ghosting

Cons:

•  Slight distortion
•  Produce a bit chromatic aberration
•  Not very fast

Nikon 10–20mm specifications:

• Focal Length: 10 to 20mm
• 35mm Equivalent Focal Length: 15 to 30mm
• Max Aperture: f/4.5 to 5.6
• Min Aperture: f/29
• Lens Mount: Nikon F
• Format Compatibility: APS-C
• The angle of View: 109° to 70°
• Max Magnification: 0.17x
• Min Focus Distance: 8.66″ / 22 cm
• Optical Design: 14 Elements in 11 Groups
• Diaphragm Blades: 7, Rounded
• Focus Type: Autofocus
• Image Stabilization: Yes
• Filter Size: 72 mm (Front)
• Dimensions: 3.03 x 2.87″ / 77 x 73 mm
• Weight: 8.1 oz / 230 g

What’s in the box?

• Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G VR Lens
• Standard LC-72 72mm front cap.
• Standard LF-4 rear cap.
• HB-80 bayonet hood.
• CL-1218 case.

Conclusion

To wrap up, this AF-P DX NIKKOR 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G VR Lens <- Affiliate link  🙂 is so far the best Nikon creation as it provides excellent performance and that too at a very affordable price.

With these advantages, it is a win for all photographers as it’s an extremely profitable investment. Not only will you enjoy clicking pictures with Nikon 10–20mm, but the results will awestruck you and make it a worthwhile purchase. And the best part is that it neither heavy on the pocket nor in your backpack! No doubt Nikon has kept its quality maintained with this beauty as well.

So get going, and click some extraordinary images with the best lens in town!