Two Ways of Seeing: A Tale of 20mm

Some lenses speak loudly. Others whisper. And sometimes, two lenses with the same focal length can offer entirely different ways of seeing.

I’ve been walking Phnom Penh with two 20mm primes—a Nikkor 20mm f/2.8D and a Sigma 20mm f/2.8 EX. On paper, they’re similar. In the field, they’re not. One I’ve trusted for years on my D3. The other I picked up used for $60, almost as an afterthought. But both have something to say.

🧠 The Nikkor: Familiar, Organic, Honest

The Nikkor 20mm f/2.8D is a lens I know well. It’s compact, fast to focus, and renders with a warmth that feels filmic. On full-frame, it’s wide without being wild. On the D300S, it becomes a 30mm equivalent—perfect for environmental storytelling.

It’s a lens that doesn’t try to impress. It just sees. And it sees in a way that feels organic, especially in mixed light. Skin tones, textures, shadows—it all comes through with a quiet honesty.

Nikon D300S + Nikkor 20mm f2.8D

🧱 The Sigma: Solid, Neutral, Surprising

The Sigma 20mm f/2.8 EX is heavier, cooler in tone, and a bit more clinical. It doesn’t have the same emotional pull as the Nikkor—at least not yet. But it’s sharp, especially stopped down, and it handles contrast with confidence.

On the D300S, it offers a slightly different rhythm. The rendering is more neutral, the micro-contrast a touch stronger. It’s not a lens I reach for instinctively, but it’s one I’m learning to listen to.

🎯 Two Ways of Seeing

What’s fascinating isn’t which lens is “better.” It’s how each one shapes the moment. The Nikkor invites intimacy. The Sigma encourages clarity. One leans into mood. The other into detail.

Nikon D300S + Nikkor 20mm f2.8D

And that’s the beauty of walking with both. I’m not comparing specs. I’m comparing feel. How the lens responds to light. How it frames a gesture. How it interprets a scene.

Sometimes, the Nikkor gives me a frame that feels like memory. Sometimes, the Sigma surprises me with a crispness that cuts through the haze.

📷 The Verdict? Not Yet.

I’m not rushing to choose. I’ll keep walking. Keep listening. Keep seeing. Because photography isn’t about verdicts. It’s about presence. And these two lenses—each in their own way—are helping me stay present.