The AF-P 10-20mm F4.5-5.6G VR Lens is Nikon’s latest gear release announcement that heralds a new option for photographers looking for a cheap and light weight wide lens for APS-C bodies (such as the D7200, D500, D5500 and D3300).
The Vibration Reduction (VR) performance that is being claimed by Nikon for this lens is three and a half stops which will be helpful for shooting hand held in challenging lighting conditions.
The press release from Nikon claims “minimal distortion” at 10mm, but we'll be interested to see how that performs on that score once it comes out.
What is the AF-P 10-20mm F4.5-5.6G VR Lens Best for Shooting?
This focal range is going to be popular among budding landscape photographers who wish to shoot wide vistas. You're also going to be able to use it for tight spaces inside (think real estate photography).
Nikon is also touting it as a potential lens to shoot night skies. Usually for such shots you will want as wide an aperture as possible – this one goes down to f/4.5 so while it will be able to be used for that, it won't quite be in the same company as some of the more expensive and faster wide angle lenses.
They're saying this one will retail for $309.95 which might send shivers down the spine of the folks at Sigma who make a very respectable 10-20mm 3.5-5.6 that is currently retailing on Adorama at $449, even though it's a little faster.
Expect the AF-P 10-20mm F4.5-5.6G VR to start shipping in June.
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“Nikon is also touting it as a potential lens to shoot night skies. Usually for such shots you will want as wide an aperture as possible – this one goes down to f/3.5 so while it will be able to be used for that”. How that possible if the lens is a 4.5-5.6?
Magic mainly.
“Nikon is also touting it as a potential lens to shoot night skies. Usually for such shots you will want as wide an aperture as possible – this one goes down to f/3.5 so while it will be able to be used for that, it won’t quite be in the same company as some of the more expensive and faster wide angle lenses.”
f3.5? Don’t you mean 4.5?
Why yes, yes I did.
To shoot night skies you need a respectable ISO (1600 is a good place.to start) as big an aperture as possible, as long an exposure as you can get away with and dark skies. With a 10mm (15 accounting for crop factor) you can get away with an exposure of around 25-30 seconds before obvious star movement. If you get and inexpensive sky tracker or motried scotch (or barn door) tracker you can go much longer. With reasonable alignment you can get 120+ seconds of exposure. If you want to go crazy you can then stack images with PS or more specialized software and get some pretty awesome stuff.
This was.my first attempt at Deep space object photography with kit zoom and a d5500. https://m.facebook.com/Searchphoto/photos/a.1354055521295521.1073741839.1163076850393390/1354055551295518/?type=3&source=48
Can it be used on D7000?
See below.
No!! It will NOT focus at all on a D7000.
Look in the middle of Nikon’s page for the list of “incompatible” cameras. https://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-products/product/camera-lenses/20067/af-p-dx-nikkor-10-20mm-f%252f4.5-5.6g-vr.html
Ooops – you’re right.