Rokinon RK20MAF-N 20mm

This manual focus Rokinon 20mm f/1.8 punches way above its price tag for astro and landscape shooters who don't need autofocus. Sharp, bright, and stupid-good value—just don't expect tank-like build or weather sealing.

What surprised us most isn't just the center sharpness—it's how well the corners hold up at f/1.8. Most budget fast primes fall apart at the edges until you stop down, but this Rokinon stays crisp across the frame for astro and landscape work. That's thanks to a dozen elements and some smart aspherical and ED glass. Bokeh is nice and smooth, too, with that 7-blade rounded diaphragm giving you pleasing out-of-focus backgrounds when you get close. Just don't expect miracles at f/22—diffraction hits hard, like on most lenses. And you'll miss focus peaking or a split-prism finder if you're on an older DSLR body, but the focus throw is long and precise enough to nail your shot.

Nikon's own AF-S 20mm f/1.8G is the obvious rival, and it adds silent autofocus plus better build, but at nearly triple the price. Then there's the Viltrox Air 15mm f/1.7 for mirrorless shooters—wider and even cheaper, but it's an E-mount lens. If you're invested in Nikon DSLRs and want a fast, ultra-wide prime, the Rokinon is the value champion. Zooms like the Sigma 10-18mm or Nikon Z 18-140mm give you flexibility, but they can't touch this prime for light gathering or bokeh. The choice boils down to whether you'll trade AF and some niceties for optical performance and cash in your pocket.

At around $444, this lens is a ridiculous bargain. The price spread across vendors is laughable—some listings climb into ridiculous territory—but the real-world cost sits way below Nikon's own 20mm f/1.8G. If you can find it from a reputable seller near that lower mark, you're getting 90% of the optical quality for a third of the cash. For astro shooters who manually focus anyway, that's a no-brainer.

The Rokinon 20mm f/1.8 is that rare lens that makes you wonder why you'd ever pay three times the price for a first-party option. It's a manual focus, ultra-wide prime built for one thing: delivering sharp, bright images without emptying your wallet. Astro photographers, in particular, have flocked to this lens because it grabs stars like few others at this price point. The f/1.8 aperture sucks in light, and the optical design keeps coma and distortion well under control, even wide open. If you can live without autofocus, this is hands-down one of the best values in the Nikon F-mount ecosystem.

If autofocus is a must for video or fast-paced scenes, stop right here. The Nikon 20mm f/1.8G is your upgrade path but costs a bundle. Also, if you're shooting handheld in dim light without a tripod, the lack of stabilization will lead to blurry keepers—grab a stabilized zoom instead.

If you shoot astro, nightscapes, or carefully composed landscapes on a Nikon DSLR, buy this lens. The sharpness and f/1.8 brightness will make you smile every time you pixel-peep, and the manual focus is a non-issue when you're working on a tripod. Just know that it's not a run-and-gun lens—skip it for events or video if you can't handle twisting a ring every shot. The plastic body won't survive a downpour, but treat it right and it'll reward you with images that look like they came from glass costing far more.