The Nikon 12-24mm DX is a great wide lens for digital shooters. I bought it because my widest lens was previously a 24-85mm, which digitally amounted to a 36-127.5mm lens, too tight for many journalism applications. I needed something that would fit more information into the final image, and something that would provide dramatic angles. This did all that, and its zoom ability made it even better.

I won't get into the fine details of image quality, sharpness, and all that jazz--that's not me. Let's be honest: it's a Nikon lens; it's going to be great. What I care about is how it works in everyday life, and in everyday life it works just fine. I hardly ever use it at its widest angle because the distortion is too strong. I usually shoot at 15-18mm and then go tighter if needed. The minimal distortion at these settings provides dramatic images with movement. For less or no distortion, I zoom to 24mm for group portraits or other wide needs.

Of course, on a Nikon digital camera, this lens amounts to a 18-36mm lens. It's the lens I use in most journalism situations because of its dramatic viewing angles and wide view. But I don't consider it an average lens, like the 24-85mm or 17-55mm. I think of it as a wide lens. It has a maximum aperture of f/4, which is bright enough for most conditions, but I do wish it was a f/2.8 because I do so much indoor shooting. It's easy to focus and zoom and is light weight. For general wide angle uses and its zoom ability, I would recommend this lens. The filter size is 77mm, which falls in line with that of the 17-55mm DX and 70-200mm VR lenses.

The DX designation means this lens was not designed for film cameras, as it will not capture the entire frame of film. It can still be used on film cameras, however.

As with all Nikon equipment, be sure to buy from an authorized Nikon dealer. My favorite on Ebay is Cameta Camera. If you don't buy from an authorized dealer, Nikon will not honor your warranty. If you like this guide, please vote.