Ultra-wide prime · Full frame

Nikon Nikkor AI 15mm f/3.5

The Nikon Nikkor AI 15mm f/3.5 is a full frame prime lens (15 mm, f/3.5) for Nikon F. It belongs to the ultra-wide prime class — ideal for astrophotography, landscapes and dramatic perspectives.

15 mmf/3.5Nikon F
15 mm
Focal length
f/3.5
Maximum aperture
111°
Diagonal angle of view (Full frame)
Full frame
Designed for

Specifications#

Brand
Nikon
Model
Nikkor AI 15mm f/3.5
Lens type
Ultra-wide prime
Focal length
15 mm
Maximum aperture
f/3.5
Image circle
Full frame (36×24 mm)
Mount(s)
Nikon F
Projection
Rectilinear
Lensfun correction profile
Yes — distortion/vignetting/TCA

Equivalent focal length on different cameras#

Field of view and depth-of-field equivalence when this lens is used on bodies with different sensor sizes (natively or via an adapter).

Camera formatAt 15 mmEquiv. aperture (DoF)
Full frame15 mm · 111°f/3.5
APS-C22 mm · 86°f/5.2
APS-C (Canon)24 mm · 84°f/5.6
Micro Four Thirds30 mm · 72°f/7.0

Depth of field & background blur#

Computed on its native Full frame format (CoC 30 µm). “Blur @2 m” is the size of an out-of-focus point at infinity, as a percentage of frame width, with the subject at 2 m — a simple bokeh index. Full table: 16 mm f/4 on full frame.

FocalApertureat 1 mat 2 mat 5 mat 10 mHyperfocalBlur @2 m
15 mmf/3.51.17 m26.1 m∞∞2.16 m0.1%
15 mmf/41.45 m∞∞∞1.89 m0.1%
15 mmf/8∞∞∞∞95.2 cm0.0%

Handheld & night-sky limits#

NPF assumes typical 20–24 MP sensors (≈6 µm pixels on full frame, ≈3.9 µm on APS-C, ≈3.3 µm on Micro Four Thirds).

BodyMin. handheld shutter (longest focal)500 rule at 15 mmNPF at 15 mm, f/3.5
Full frame1/15 s33 s20 s
APS-C1/25 s22 s16 s
APS-C (Canon)1/25 s21 s16 s
Micro Four Thirds1/30 s17 s15 s

Adapt it to other systems#

Frequently asked questions#

Is the Nikon Nikkor AI 15mm f/3.5 full frame?

Yes — it covers the full 36 × 24 mm frame.

What is the Nikon Nikkor AI 15mm f/3.5 equivalent to on APS-C?

On a 1.5× APS-C body it frames like 22 mm, and like 24 mm on Canon APS-C.

What is the Nikon Nikkor AI 15mm f/3.5 good for?

As a ultra-wide prime it suits astrophotography, landscapes and dramatic perspectives.

Sources & licences#

Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources

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