Nikon 28mm vs 24mm

Nikon 24mm AF-S f1.4 vs Nikon 28mm AIS f2.8

Little and large - the new Nikon 24mm AF-S against the older Nikon 28mm AIS f2.8 (on the right)

I need a wide angle lens for travel - has to give high image quality and be as small as possible
AF is always good to have but not essential - likewise f1.4 is good to have but again not essential for me

This side - results from the 24mm

1.Whole frame - 24mm at f8

Crop from 1. above

This side - results from the 28mm (except one thats marked)

2. Whole frame - 28mm at f8

Crop from 2. above

3. Whole frame - 24mm at f2.8

Crop from 3. above

5. Whole frame - 24mm at f16

Crop from 5. above

Crop - 24mm at f11

Crop - 24mm at f2.8

Crop - 24mm at f8

4. Whole frame - 28mm at f2.8

Crop from 4. above

6. Whole frame - 28mm at f11

Crop from 6. above

Crop - 24mm at f11

Crop - 28mm at f2.8

Crop - 28mm at f8

All crops approx same size - this one from a 35mm zeiss lens

Conclusion - Both the 24mm and the much older 28mm are very good performers with not much to choose between them when looking at the results. This is good news for the traveller who doesn't mind manual focusing, is not worried about fast apertures and has to justify every gram of weight in the bag (not forgetting size). If the lenses were more or less the same size I would go for the 24mm as it possibly has the edge optically. The AF on the 24mm was a little hit and miss and could have been better (AF was used in this test and I'm not convinced it was consistently spot on but that was part of the test). Cost - second hand the 28mm is around £350 the 24mm around £1100, which is something else to bear in mind - I think from the results the 28mm is the one for me - solid, beautifully made and so small.