Back in the film days, my only wide angle landscape lens was my Nikon 24mm f/2.8D. We had many fine moments together. Like the time we hiked seven miles one way to photograph a field of wildflowers in front of Mt. Rainier. Or the time I actually injured my Xiphoid process while spread eagle over a stream to photograph the East Temple in Zion National Park. And how could I forget my first published image: a 24mm wide angle shot of a field of lupine on Hurricane Ridge with Mt. Olympus in the background. I loved looking at the world through 24mm eyes. Ahhh… memories…

Then digital came along with sensor sizes smaller than 35mm film and all of a sudden, my beloved 24mm lens wasn’t so great for wide angle landscapes any more. I was sad. But then I got the Tokina 12-24 f/4 to satisfy my digital wide angle lust. But it wasn’t the same. It’s never the same.

As some of you know, I recently bought the Nikon D810, a full frame camera. I keep finding more and more to like about this camera. For example, I can now hold down the depth of field preview button and change the aperture at the same time. This is invaluable in helping to pick the best aperture to use, especially when photographing close ups. I like how I can change the image crop as needed. I love the in-viewfinder virtual horizon. All in all, lots to love about this camera.

But then I attached my old 24mm lens and it was like slipping into a favorite old pair of jeans (that, remarkably, still fit) or riding a bike. It was as if we never parted. We fell back into our old comfortable routine. I knew just how to set the focusing for the optimal hyperfocal point, knew how close to my foreground I could get, and knew how well this lens performs at f/22. I comfortably fell back into viewing the world with 24mm eyes and realize just how much I missed using that lens. But now we’re reunited, thanks to that D810.