Sover,
I have never used the 18mm f/3.5, but I do own the 18/2.8 AF-D. The lens is
VERY sharp, the only thing I don't like about it is that it is only a 18mm,
I would LOVE it to be wider!
I don't think people really realize the usefulness of AF with super wide
angle lens. When there isn't much light and you are shooting wide open it
is very possible to be out of focus with the lens. Considering everything
is so small, it makes it all the much harder to focus manually. AF solves
that problem. I find myself using AF on my 18mm far more often then I do
with my 105/2 AF-DC simply because I an tell when the 105 is out of focus.
There is one last issue with the AF lens over MF lens. If you have an AF
body with the matrix metering, you will get full use of that with the AF
18mm, you won't with the MF lens. Personally I think it is well worth the
extra money to get the AF.
Sam
